Chapter 2- Magic on Tap
Oooo things are happening. I've heard writers talk about 'the magic' before and it is 100% truth. Sometimes, you sit down to write and, lo and behold, ideas are there, the words are flowing, plots are coming together. It feels charmed/meant to be/freaking amazing. I have had that in buckets and I'm so thankful. It is tough going without it. Think riding a bike up a mountainside versus coasting blissfully down a smooth gentle slope. Effortlessness makes it all feel so much better.
Not that I haven't been working, mind you.
In my previous post I had listed four items of prep work to get done so that I would be ready for my pre-writing routine.
I am happy to report that, yes, I did walk right out the door after I pushed 'Send' on my last blog post to get that book on writing out of my car trunk. Not only that, I read a few pages out of it. Trust me, that is awesome for me. I am a voracious reader...of fiction. Non-fiction has always been more of a struggle for me. It isn't that I don't enjoy it, I really do. On the contrary, I read a few paragraphs and like to take time to reflect on what has been said. But still, the book is in the house!
I did in fact buy an awesome journal for my notes. It is filling up quickly!!! If I could pass a single piece of advice on to another hopeful author, it is 'WRITE!!!' Write everything. Anything. In any order. Just start writing and let the magic flow through you. I had the barest of bare ideas. Just three words and a few wisps of ideas. I started writing, 'stream-of-conscious'-style and now I have a ton of world building done, a plot, two subplots, seven main characters, a few supporting roles and major political history for the last fifty years (yes, it is important to the plot). If you compare my notes on the first page to what I have now, yes, you can tell that it has developed. But that is how it happens. You let the ideas flow and keep moving forward and it will all come together. What is important is that you don't stop. Be like the little blue fish and 'just keep swimming'.
My only snag so far is my cup. I wanted the perfect cup for my tea or coffee while I write. But, I have yet to find the perfect thing. So the search continues. Camp Nanowrimo starts this Saturday, so I still have time before my writing officially begins.
So, aside from a bit more cleaning (which got a big leg up since we had a repairman coming in. No one cleans like people expecting a repairman. When neighbors come over, they just sit and drink coffee. Repairmen move things...shudder), I am working on my plotting. Since things are going so well, I feel comfortable giving myself some goals:
Goal One: Name all of my major characters. While it might seem silly, I'm one of those people that get picky about my character's names. I can spend DAYS reading through lists of baby names, literary names, traditional Gaelic names and on and on. Not this time. If I change a name later, that's fine. But for Saturday, I want at least place holder names ready to go.
Goal Two: Plot from each character's perspective. So, I have a basic plot. But I want to know how each character comes into it and how they react to the twist I am working on. Also, depending on what sort of character they are, what kind of conflict can they provide to the story? After all, conflict makes everything fun. That way, when I switch to a different character, I want to know their voice and attitude right away.
Goal Three: Be happy! Honestly, writing is 90% your attitude. Like I said, the most important thing is, simply, to write. If you get in a funk, it is HARD. Like 'slogging through sucking mud with snow shoes on'-hard. Right now, I'm on top of the world about this project. I know that I will be busy and work will get in the way. But I want to promise now to be kind to myself, to love my vision enough to come back refreshed when I miss a day or three of writing.
Sound do-able? If not, I still plan to be writing on Saturday. I can't let Dory down.
Not that I haven't been working, mind you.
In my previous post I had listed four items of prep work to get done so that I would be ready for my pre-writing routine.
I am happy to report that, yes, I did walk right out the door after I pushed 'Send' on my last blog post to get that book on writing out of my car trunk. Not only that, I read a few pages out of it. Trust me, that is awesome for me. I am a voracious reader...of fiction. Non-fiction has always been more of a struggle for me. It isn't that I don't enjoy it, I really do. On the contrary, I read a few paragraphs and like to take time to reflect on what has been said. But still, the book is in the house!
I did in fact buy an awesome journal for my notes. It is filling up quickly!!! If I could pass a single piece of advice on to another hopeful author, it is 'WRITE!!!' Write everything. Anything. In any order. Just start writing and let the magic flow through you. I had the barest of bare ideas. Just three words and a few wisps of ideas. I started writing, 'stream-of-conscious'-style and now I have a ton of world building done, a plot, two subplots, seven main characters, a few supporting roles and major political history for the last fifty years (yes, it is important to the plot). If you compare my notes on the first page to what I have now, yes, you can tell that it has developed. But that is how it happens. You let the ideas flow and keep moving forward and it will all come together. What is important is that you don't stop. Be like the little blue fish and 'just keep swimming'.
My only snag so far is my cup. I wanted the perfect cup for my tea or coffee while I write. But, I have yet to find the perfect thing. So the search continues. Camp Nanowrimo starts this Saturday, so I still have time before my writing officially begins.
So, aside from a bit more cleaning (which got a big leg up since we had a repairman coming in. No one cleans like people expecting a repairman. When neighbors come over, they just sit and drink coffee. Repairmen move things...shudder), I am working on my plotting. Since things are going so well, I feel comfortable giving myself some goals:
Goal One: Name all of my major characters. While it might seem silly, I'm one of those people that get picky about my character's names. I can spend DAYS reading through lists of baby names, literary names, traditional Gaelic names and on and on. Not this time. If I change a name later, that's fine. But for Saturday, I want at least place holder names ready to go.
Goal Two: Plot from each character's perspective. So, I have a basic plot. But I want to know how each character comes into it and how they react to the twist I am working on. Also, depending on what sort of character they are, what kind of conflict can they provide to the story? After all, conflict makes everything fun. That way, when I switch to a different character, I want to know their voice and attitude right away.
Goal Three: Be happy! Honestly, writing is 90% your attitude. Like I said, the most important thing is, simply, to write. If you get in a funk, it is HARD. Like 'slogging through sucking mud with snow shoes on'-hard. Right now, I'm on top of the world about this project. I know that I will be busy and work will get in the way. But I want to promise now to be kind to myself, to love my vision enough to come back refreshed when I miss a day or three of writing.
Sound do-able? If not, I still plan to be writing on Saturday. I can't let Dory down.
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