tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post2235014463968686211..comments2024-03-20T08:27:29.290+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: The Strength of a StoryLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-63808323198721403122011-01-07T08:13:51.747+11:002011-01-07T08:13:51.747+11:00Vatche, I do a lot of staring at the blank page ;)...Vatche, I do a lot of staring at the blank page ;) But, yes, it is a slow process and one full of discovery.<br /><br />Damyanti, my inner edit won't shut up sometimes ;)<br /><br />Trisha, good way to put it: 'less weighed down.<br /><br />Melissa, I try too, but it doesn't always work out that way ;)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-71933429651028921162011-01-06T14:42:25.671+11:002011-01-06T14:42:25.671+11:00I always try to keep my end game in mind from the ...I always try to keep my end game in mind from the beginning.Melissa Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02700191547004665402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-33028974381973328192011-01-06T14:36:28.018+11:002011-01-06T14:36:28.018+11:00Yep, it is difficult, but it definitely makes me f...Yep, it is difficult, but it definitely makes me feel less 'weighed down' with extra words I don't need ;)Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-14435936012685039072011-01-06T12:43:22.502+11:002011-01-06T12:43:22.502+11:00I love the first line of your post, it is so true....I love the first line of your post, it is so true.<br /><br />Yes, story supersedes everything, and a good editor would point that out. Our inner editor should be able to do that as well.<br /><br />Thanks for this post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-7190326615536135482011-01-06T11:12:49.046+11:002011-01-06T11:12:49.046+11:00Hey, Lynda! This post holds a lot of truth to it. ...Hey, Lynda! This post holds a lot of truth to it. I think that if it doesn't have to do with the story it has to be let go, even if it was one of your favorites. It's hard, trust me, I know, but it's got to be done.<br /><br />As for how I develop a story, I start with a simple idea and when I'm ready to tackle that idea I stare at the blank page and write what the characters are telling me to write. They are the things that move the story along while I just listen and type their parts of the story. It's not quick, but it's not a slow process either. It takes time, but eventually sets its own pace and you get a feel for how the characters faced certain dilemmas. Write what you feel is absolutely necessary first. Then, go over it and edit out the parts that don't really add to the story because you don't want to go off any tangents with the reader.<br /><br />Anyway, enough of my side of the writing experience, you go ahead and do what you do best and that is: write on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-77514813950271497152011-01-06T10:08:22.531+11:002011-01-06T10:08:22.531+11:00Ben, love the "low rumble of intellectual quo...Ben, love the "low rumble of intellectual quotations". it's so true -- many writers think it should be about the art. Yes, there is a place for that kind of writing, but it's not where I wish to go with my own writing.<br /><br />Julie, best of luck with your revisions. It's hard work.<br /><br />Carol, hehe so true. The editor/agent will not be so gentle (which is a good thing - but it's better if we do the cutting first). Great example too. So true.<br /><br />Toyin, thanks :)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-68771136837677330582011-01-06T10:04:04.739+11:002011-01-06T10:04:04.739+11:00Donea, I like the way you approach your stories. S...Donea, I like the way you approach your stories. Starting with a title is cool. I'll have to give that a go some time.<br /><br />M Pax, knowing the purpose before starting is a great help. An enormous help, actually.<br /><br />Misha, If the bones are solid, then it might be easier to do it that way ;)<br /><br />Doris, I like those type of endings too.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-66468129830331390832011-01-06T09:56:22.267+11:002011-01-06T09:56:22.267+11:00Rachna, chopping scenes is difficult, yet necessar...Rachna, chopping scenes is difficult, yet necessary.<br /><br />L'Aussie, ah, those poor darlings. We can't let them run rampant ;)<br /><br />Clarissa, yes!!! wholeheartedly agree. <br /><br />Trisha, congrats for doing the necessary cuts! It will always be hard to cut out that much but the end result is so worth it.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-82030357303739983292011-01-06T09:52:09.120+11:002011-01-06T09:52:09.120+11:00Words Crafter, many of the prize winning books I&#...Words Crafter, many of the prize winning books I've found are like the ones you mentioned. They have that literary quality that impresses but lack a pacy story. Best of luck with the start of your editing!<br /><br />Mary Mary, That's what I found. My endings are rarely exactly as I had first planned. And an outline definitely helps me to keep focussed too.<br /><br />Carolyn, knowing and gnashing...familiar territory ;)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-65023403922143314382011-01-06T09:47:43.684+11:002011-01-06T09:47:43.684+11:00Nancy, interesting. I'll have to check out tha...Nancy, interesting. I'll have to check out that book you mentioned.<br /><br />Paul, yes exactly. The actual writing CAN be adjusted, but if we don't have that solid foundation of story first, then no matter how much we edit, we won't get it right.<br /><br />Hanny, I hadn't thought of music needing story, but it's true. Story based music is what I respond to the most.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-46587493257621785542011-01-06T09:43:29.529+11:002011-01-06T09:43:29.529+11:00Summer, yes, I think it's important to remain ...Summer, yes, I think it's important to remain flexible because sometimes the story tells us to go in a different direction.<br /><br />Jamie, yes and yes!It's sometimes difficult to get rid of those scenes, but it's so important.<br /><br />Nathalie, it's always a matter of finding what works for you :)<br /><br />Happy Whisk, to me, a good story is the most important partLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-68874802607906785102011-01-06T09:06:52.678+11:002011-01-06T09:06:52.678+11:00These are great tips, thanks for sharing.These are great tips, thanks for sharing.Toyin O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08429675861306256504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-83291287141718699342011-01-06T03:33:52.806+11:002011-01-06T03:33:52.806+11:00Wow, how brave of you to "kill your darling&q...Wow, how brave of you to "kill your darling"!! I have trouble doing that...but if a writer doesn't, the editor or agent will! <br /><br />I agree about storyline being the most important--and character, too. An example that comes to mind in movies is Star Wars Episode I in which it had wonderful special effects and scenery, but fell flat on story and character.Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-66355654692152216312011-01-06T03:25:11.723+11:002011-01-06T03:25:11.723+11:00So true! I have to remind myself to focus through...So true! I have to remind myself to focus through the first draft. Right now I'm revising, and cutting things that don't strengthen the story.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-87780578535505749822011-01-06T01:28:22.669+11:002011-01-06T01:28:22.669+11:00I agree. A lot of arists are butchering the narrat...I agree. A lot of arists are butchering the narrative angle of their movie/film, in an "aesthetic research". Jean-Luc Godard would be the greatest culprit. Sometimes he's amazing though, but most of the time, it's just a low rumble of intellectual quotations.<br /><br />I respect any form of art, but I respect narrative art more than any other form. Narration is used to spread ideas through the masses and to me, that's the magic of fiction.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483490020980574428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-20540068894409539262011-01-05T23:42:16.097+11:002011-01-05T23:42:16.097+11:00I like endings with a bit of suspense, not necessa...I like endings with a bit of suspense, not necessarily open ending, sore of happy but with a bit of : "hm... what if?" :-)<br /><br />Very educative post. <br /><br />DorisHold my hand: a social worker's bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283197748791227012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-36600763991154872011-01-05T21:55:48.591+11:002011-01-05T21:55:48.591+11:00I actually have the opposite issue. Everything I w...I actually have the opposite issue. Everything I wrote adds to the story, but draft one was bare bones only. <br /><br />Now I have to add in...<br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-35880984934567125782011-01-05T17:44:05.368+11:002011-01-05T17:44:05.368+11:00I can commiserate with cutting lovely scenes. I...I can commiserate with cutting lovely scenes. I've tossed entire chapters for the same reason.<br /><br />I usually have to know what my purpose is when starting a novel. In other words, I need to know what I'm writing toward. Otherwise, I feel it is an aimless mess.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-21329808637252754752011-01-05T17:14:32.629+11:002011-01-05T17:14:32.629+11:00I agree - I'd rather have a strong story (LoTR...I agree - I'd rather have a strong story (LoTR - I'm looking at you... hard read sometimes, but fabulous story!) I know I certainly need to tighten my own stories - they tend to lose focus, and perhaps that has to do with the way they start. If you can believe it - many of my stories start with a title. Then comes an idea about that title. Then I write down the first name that comes to mind and it (he/she) becomes my MC. Perhaps not the most focused way to write... but (sort of) works for me.Donea Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15393184831994368021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-62667877887121424112011-01-05T16:49:56.740+11:002011-01-05T16:49:56.740+11:00I'm learning this lesson at present. I've ...I'm learning this lesson at present. I've had to cut out like...5 chapters of 'backstory'! Now I think my beginning is really starting to shape up. Thankfully I'm not nearly as worried about the middle/end.Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-5786915407632733882011-01-05T16:13:10.284+11:002011-01-05T16:13:10.284+11:00I agree 100%. That's one reason I've start...I agree 100%. That's one reason I've started feeling frustrated with some of my favorite authors. It's like they're running out of stories and just fill their word quotas with filler. Grrrr.<br />CDAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-63263704385704040572011-01-05T16:08:58.483+11:002011-01-05T16:08:58.483+11:00I loved this thoughtful post and I admire the way ...I loved this thoughtful post and I admire the way you were able to kill your darlings when it added nothing to the story. I do a bit of plotting, but my stories can develop in all interesting directions and yes, I have to keep an eye on my darlings!Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-25286000377875527172011-01-05T16:00:21.440+11:002011-01-05T16:00:21.440+11:00I try to get the begining and end clear in my mind...I try to get the begining and end clear in my mind before I start the story. It may change after several rewrites, but the basic idea is in my mind when I start a new book or story. <br /><br />Like you, I edited out a scene in my current WIP, because I later realized it did nothing for the story.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-52329069306189129812011-01-05T15:17:12.174+11:002011-01-05T15:17:12.174+11:00Ohhh, I hate letting go of beautifully written sce...Ohhh, I hate letting go of beautifully written scenes.<br /><br />I do a little of both knowing what I want and gnashing of teeth. Somewhere I hope there is a great story in there. =)Carolyn V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15456210036213016603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-75523951204839934402011-01-05T14:47:06.826+11:002011-01-05T14:47:06.826+11:00Ah, the beauty of an outline. I have the beginning...Ah, the beauty of an outline. I have the beginning and the ending in my head the whole time. Filling in the tidbits in-between can be a bit challenging at times, and sometimes the ending doesn't necessarily come out exactly as I had envisioned. But then that's why I have an outline in place so I know the direction of my story and I just don't wander all over the place. Otherwise, I'd be writing a lot of those 'going nowhere' scenes! ; )<br /><br />♥ Mary MaryThe Sisterhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889577041903181315noreply@blogger.com