Doing an interlude with the villain. Ugh. Got his philosophy tonight. 467 words in twenty minutes. I’ve heard this guy in various guises in the real world, and I didn’t like him or his view of the world any better on my pages.
But he is what he is.
How about you and your words?
{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
I got 350 words on a short story, finished Worksheet 1-A for my novel revision, and figured out how I want to set up Worksheet 1-B in the information management software I use.
I know we’re supposed to just print out the worksheets and write on them, but I really prefer to use software when it comes to accumulating and organizing information. I like the portability of my laptop and the reassurance of using an online backup service to protect my work in case my apartment building catches on fire or is attacked by worksheet-eating zombies.
I did print out a hard copy of my draft and will use it for the revision–I’m just using a computer instead of worksheets. I might discover that kicking back with a 400 page manuscript while trying to operate a laptop at the same time is unwieldy and lame. If it is, it shouldn’t be too bad to transfer stuff to worksheets and move on from there, zombies or no.
Just curious, which software are you using? I am thinking of doing the same thing with the worksheets on scrivener.
I’ve been using Scrivener for the actual writing, but I’ve been developing my notes in Tinderbox. Tinderbox can do some pretty neat stuff, but it’s expensive and I doubt I use enough of its advanced functionality to fully justify what I paid for it, but I generally like using it. I bet Scrivener would work very well for digitizing the worksheets.
I’m rethinking the idea of using a computer, though. I can see how paper worksheets would be much easier to use while managing a manuscript. I’ll experiment with both when I start reading my manuscript today and just go with what feels the best.
254 words, they were hard to write. They are the first words I wrote for a pivotal character. For a time, he will appear to be the protagonist, but he is, instead, a victim of the real protagonis. Is it possible to have a sub-protagonist?
I also wrote a stack of timeline/plot cards and I think they turned into scene cards. I started some character cards. And discussion cards that are really culture cards. These are the thing the things the characters talk about, the standing arguments of the adults, the teenagers rebellion on same, and the new thinkers.
I just spent two days getting rid of “stuff” so I can use my work space again. I am getting rid of books and files and paper and notebooks. My workspace is almost usable again. I think I will start doing this yearly, either in the spring or early fall.
I love books. I hate selling them or giving them away. But I just can’t keep them. I don’t have room. That is one thing about reading on an ereader that I like. Since they are electronic, I won’t have to painfully give them away some day. I will still buy books, but the special ones, the research ones. But, I already have a small bag of books on my ereader that I won’t have to give away!!
That’s what I love about ebooks too. I can collect more books than I can ever read and they don’t take up any room, except for those I buy for research or because I like them enough to get them in hardback or something.
Glad someone else feels this way about books.
I was actually dead set against ereaders. I’m one of those people who loves to collect the books I read. If it was up to me, I’d have every single one I’ve ever read, but…um…we kind of need space in the house for us, too. The moment that changed my mind was when my bookcase collapsed and buried my dog.
Don’t worry, she wasn’t hurt, she’s a big dog. So, I’m waiting for Christmas and getting an ereader.
I love technology and gadgets, and I love the feel of real books. (but storing, moving, and dusting the books is a real pain, over time. I ran out of space.) The e-reader took some getting used to, but I have found I do like it, for certain books. It is also a nice way to carry books, like around town or traveling. Excellent for reading while eating, it lays flat, period, and does not flop around and close and lose my page in a breeze. By Christmas they might have some new versions out.
I had a hard time deciding which one. You might be able to check out the different brands at the library. Read one short book on each one, and see which one you like.
@ Hanna
Sadly, I live in small town and I don’t have the option to test read. But, that’s not to say I can’t do some research online and make the best choice based on reviews and word of mouth.
But, I completely understand how you feel about an actual book in your hands. My dream is to one day buy a house and dedicate a room to be my personal library, then I’d never have to get rid of a book again.
Right with you.
Our homes have gotten progressively smaller—this is the smallest place I’ve ever owned, and I have NO space. I love my real books. I have always loved being surrounded by them, loved the smell, loved the texture of paper.
But when we moved from the 2000 square-foot place to the 1400 square foot place, half the books went before the move.
When we moved again from the 1400 square-foot place to this place, which has 1100 usable square feet, we cleared out book inventory again.
And I still have boxes of books that are unpacked since the move just over a year ago that are making my office impossible. I have to get rid of them. At this point, they’re seriously affecting the quality of my life and the usability of the space I have. I’m not thrilled about the necessity, but once I get past this round of migraines and vertigo, my next big project is to debook us of everything not critical.
Two weeks of “Life” brought my daily word count to a screeching halt. I was finally able to squeeze in a timed writing session this morning and got 376 words. Irritating as hell, because I should be past 35K total now, but instead at 31,100. I broke my story into 6 smaller parts to make it easier to plan. When I finish the scene I’m working on, part 2 of 6 will be done.
Got more work done on HTRYN this weekend–but not as much as I would like. Being a holiday and all I guess its okay to take it easy, but I was really hoping I could finish the lesson today. Looks like tomorrow is gonna be a long day
And the HTTS Walkthrough…it has been such an amazing experience watching it my Muse basically forced me to start the process of planning my next story. I’m praying I get far enough through HTRYN that when I start this book its better than my last first draft–because it would suck to have to do this much work a second time.
Whatever happens…I am excited!
This weekend… hmmm, a lot of work.
I finally filled in something I’ve been stuck on for a long time. But, mistakenly applied it to an unrelated thing. Which broke a LOT of stuff. Spent much/much time yesterday trying to figure out how to keep the fix but not break everything else. And then on the drive to work this morning, I was just idly thinking about my original question and realized where I’d gone wrong. Now I think I actually have my fix and nothing’s broken. yay
No word count this morning.
1268 words. The pictures in my imagination are racing ahead of my ability to find words to capture them.
This scene doesn’t seem to want to end, and I know, I know, I’m writing way too much for a card that has just a sentence and a scene purpose. But it’s there for me, so real that I can’t let it be. It wants to be written this way.
Did I mention that I’m having fun?
I will have to untangle it in the revision of the revision.
brainstorming went well last night. figured out a few key things
Ooh, getting inside a villain’s head is so much fun. It’s creepy too!
My characters have done something relatively immature which resulted in something bad. Now they’re sitting around blaming themselves while trying to figure out the best course of action. Not the best scene, but it will end quickly with the introduction of an unexpected plot twist…
Going well so far!
With apologies for my prolonged absence, I’m back to the constant migraines and vertigo. I know overwork is causing it: I’m currently both doing the walkthrough and getting things ready so I can move all my courses to NovelWritingSchool.com, and I’m on the ragged edge of exhaustion.
I’m still working on TalysMana—it’s my bit of fun when I can get a few minutes. There just haven’t been minutes lately.
So sorry to hear you’re not feeling well again.
Ack. Take it easy, Holly! Have you had any recent luck finding treatment for the vertigo spells?
Yes, I agree. Take it easy! You’re already doing so much!
Hope you feel better soon. We miss you.
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Good vibes to you, Holly. I hope you can squeeze in some down time (tea and something akin to cookies, too!
).
Sorry to hear the vertigo is back. I guess you are still finding your edges around it. Finding new normal is tough, but it can be interesting, depending on how one views it.
Yeah, Holly
You take it easy and I hope you feel better soon.
No words yesterday, lots of work today but not story words. I started answering questions for a pivotal character. He is a secondary protagonist, if there is such a thing. He dramatically changes the course of my MC’s life, unintentionally, while another does so maliciously and intentionally.
This is my first novel, working title Bx2 and I am doing it backwards. Or sideways perhaps. But, today, I realized I am right on track, for me, and I am writing outside in.
I am over halfway to my word count, and I have established a lot of my world, characters, scenes, culture. Now, I am examining my characters i that world. Getting them fleshed out, vulnerable, prepared and ready to enter the stage.
I wax dramatic here … methinks this is a good thing …
No new words on the rewrite today, but plenty going on in the revision.
). Yay! I think that what I wanted to write can be salvaged, even at this stage. Going back into the notes and stuffing these scenes into the conflict arcs is always the snag for me, but I’ve done it before, and will do it again in the name of keeping the muse happy.
I realized that, thanks to HTRYN, I do have the tools to explore this puzzling scene I’ve created. So, even though I am itching to keep writing, I resolved to get out the timer (because I can do most anything if I only have to do it for half an hour at at time!) and apply the sentence, conflict and purpose to what I’ve written in this scene so far.
It appears that what I’ve done is try to fit three different scenes into one sentence, maybe because the heroine has decided to actually do something in this scene—and that I love what she has done because it goes back to the core of my theme.
Each new scene has its own purpose, its own conflict, and its own twist, and what might have confused me is that the setting is the same, as are the characters (well, except for the twist
Sounds messy because it is. But it’s the very best I can do. Still, I can’t wait to get back to writing words!
I worked on HTRYN yesterday and will be doing so today as well. I have about 10 cards left before reaching the end of the lesson. Taken longer than expected (Can’t believe how much I’ve said that!) but I’m starting to see the end. Maybe I’ll have enough inspiration to get it done today!
For HTTS I’m still having a hard time with The Sentence. I’m waiting for The Hotseat to be put up on the Walkthrough (It’s crazy but I find those extremely helpful…sometimes more than the actual lessons these days!) It may give me the inspiration to get it all sorted out.
For the HTTS project I’m freaking out. I don’t feel my writing skills are where they need to be to pull this story off. Tell me all, how do you write a story where your MC is BLIND? (And that’s not even the hardest part!)
I’ve read a few books where important secondary characters are blind, (and one where the characters were all bats–”Silverwing”, no colors except shades of black, white, and grey were ever mentioned) and picked up on a few things.
First off, don’t shy away from physical description.Things still happen. You might allude to the blindness by saying “Jane’s new dress rustled as she walked” but you don’t have to do that in every sentence.
Second, don’t limit the things your character can do. If you have an important scene at an art fair, have your character go, examine the woodwork and quilting and sculptures, but never look at the paintings.
Third–this comes from my sister’s fifth grade teacher. Take a day and spend it blindfolded. Plan ahead so you know things like if you can take a bus if you need to. You’ll learn a whole lot about a world of limited optical input than you could by reading about it.
THANK YOU Danzier! For the info about the books you read and the advice
I’m going to have a hard time with physical description, I know that at least. I’m thinking of adding another POV character (someone else important of course) but a person that can see so its not all without visuals
Oh, I won’t be limiting what my character can do. Actually she is very dangerous. But the bit about the art fair is very helpful thanks.
I’ve had a few people say I should spend a day blindfolded so I’ll try that for sure
I’m sure it’ll really help me understand some things.
Oz, thanks I actually remember that item being in the HollyShop. I may buy it if hubby lets me…we shall see. And you’re right. Lots of free stuff on the internet if I just know where to look!
Research is so fun…but how do you make sure it doesn’t turn into procrastination? Where is the middle ground? Do you think a month of planning/research is long enough to start writing the book?
Writing update: Finished Lesson 5! Woot! It’s been a long time in coming but now I get to start reading the next lesson
I feel very accomplished at the moment. haha.
“Research is so fun…but how do you make sure it doesn’t turn into procrastination? Where is the middle ground? Do you think a month of planning/research is long enough to start writing the book?”
Been there, done that, got the boxed set with gold edges.:)
When I’m writing, I put [[ ]] around things that need research. Like this: “Cole stared at the table full of tools. [[research aircraft mechanic tools; description here]]” The next day I list the things that have the brackets, research for about a third of my available time, fill the brackets during the next third, and then use the rest for new writing. If I don’t do it that way, I get lost in little details of research and never find a use for half the cool info I turn up–and my story starts to read like a trade journal.
I do something similiar, I precede the text or comment I need to research with ##.
Danzier that is SUCH a good idea! Thank you! That should help quite a bit with getting in my research and writing done. I certainly don’t wanna put writing off…but I also need to make sure I have the right info.
As far as my character though…do you think I should do a bit more prep work than usual? I know I need to spend a day blindfolded…maybe read up on Helen Keller like what Oz suggested. But…I’m still not positive how to go about writing the POV from the girl. How to give the reader a feel for the world without showing it visually…I CAN I do that and not cheat? I don’t even know anymore.
Anyway, thanks for the help. I have a lot to think about.
Gonna do some more work on HTRYN today, but not exactly sure how much of Lesson 6 I’ll get done. Using the promise scale again…I don’t do so well with that. lol.
I like the symmetry of doing the reserach right after the writing session. Often, I don’t have time, so at some point, when I go back to do deeper revision my number ## list will be long. I should probably start a list of them, soon, so I don’t get overwhelmed. Thanks for the ideas.
Well, you could maybe read stuff about famous blind people like Helen Keller. There might be autobiographical stuff available for free on the net or in library books. There’s also this item in the HollyShop. I don’t own it myself, so I can’t vouch for it–I just remembered seeing it in there.
http://shop.hollylisle.com/index.php?crn=222&rn=417&action=show_detail
Still writing almost every day, and mostly hitting my 1k/day goal. I’m very close to the end of this novel, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe two more writing sessions should do it and then I have to go back to the beginning and add some scenes and plot that will make the story richer.
Then, I’ll focus on HtTS and some short stories while I let the novel stew and by the time I’m ready to revise it, maybe I’ll have HTRYN.
Well, I still haven’t written. But it’s not as bad as it was. I think you guys have been right–I’ve got so much going on and so many stories going that my poor little brain has about exploded. I know my muse has been ruminating on the various aspects of three or four stories, but nothing’s been forthcoming.
So I’m going to take a couple of days off, maybe up to a week. I think I really need it. I’ve got books sitting here waiting to be read (two of Holly’s, two of Pratchett’s, and a couple of others) and the weather’s finally nice. Hopefully my muse will have things sorted out and be willing to play by then.
Tiny update not really writing related.
…I just found out that on Wednesday, tornados took out the town I grew up in, and a bunch of neighboring towns. I’m going to look into what I can do to help–I’m 1894 miles away, but there’s got to be something. Tornado pictures are usually scary, and I’ve lived in Tornado Alley for 15 years now–but it hits harder and faster when you see your old neighbor’s house smushed under your old roof. :S
So my laptop died, taking a lot with it (managed to save my writing, had it all backed up elsewhere anyway) and work has been grilling me, and my printer’s out of ink and I dont have a car to go get more, so once again I cant print worksheets. But none of this is a big deal, because I have an evil plan. I’m taking an empty folder to work and borrow my colleague’s computer to print every damn Htryn worksheet there is. Bugger “as needed”.
Oh my gosh! This is too funny Wanders! (Not about your laptop dying…that is never fun!) But using your colleagues computer is just…well, it made me giggle that’s for sure
I love your evil plan!
Sorry to hear about your computer. Compy death has been going around lately; it’s good you had backups.
You might take your HTRYN stuff on a jump drive and print it, so your work friend can’t get into your lessons through the History tab….
LOL – awesome!!
Operation: Sneaky Bastard = Complete.
Making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
Holly, I’m sorry to hear the vertigo is back. Ugh, that’s awful. I hope you start to feel better soon.
yesterday I got about 5 words on my lunch break (helpful ones at least)
then came home to no power. I had a good flashlight and candles but just too distracting.
today, I spent 2 hours working on the project. Lots of good stuff/very encouraging session.
In the last chapter of the first draft. Wrote 2018 words today and I just need to rap up the rest with another 1000-2000 words and it’s done. Yay! This will be novel #2 for me and it only took me like 2 months to write it. So exciting.
Wow- congratulations! That’s quite an accomplishment
Thank you!
CONGRATULATIONS That’s excellent news. How long is the finished book?
Wow! Way to go, Jess!
Thanks evereyone,
Finished today, word count is 66,396 words. I was aiming for around 80,000 on the draft, so it ended up a little short, but when I go back and add stuff in revision, I think it’ll even out. There’s a lot of background and secondary plot that I can work in. Not to mention there’s a whole lot of talking heads in the draft, so that’ll add some words to the finished product, too.
I’m just happy it didn’t end up as long as my first attempt…203,000 words! It’ll be a lot easier to work with this time around when revisions come.
Start date: April 8, 2011
Goal: August 31, 2011
Wow, congrats on finishing! Especially so far ahead of schedule. Awesome work.
I’m back on the well marked path that is my revision.
I’ve done so much cutting and splicing with this first of the three new scenes I can’t figure out how to report a word count though. But I finished it, and am so glad I took the time out to untangle what I felt was wrong. I love how the twist sets up and foreshadows what is coming in the next scene.
May I just hop on? Started a new play today – short one-act thing, historical setting, (very) limited number o characters. Oh, and I should mention “commissioned work” and “anxious actors waiting for their words.” You know, the kind of job where “There’s no rush, take your time” actually means “Why ain’t you done with it yet?”
700 passably useful words tonight, and I may brainstorm some more about my heroine. Not a whole lot, but I’m happy I took the plunge and started it.
Hi, Ivye! Sounds like you’ve got quite a project here.
Yes, well… this was before I went to give a class in Pescara and, on my way back, twisted an ankle… Then my internet connection died on me, and then my computer crashed for the umpteenth time…
I’m still hopping around on crutches, I’m off to buy a new ‘puter tomorrow, and… as I said: yes, well.
The good news is, I had a lot of time as I sat nursing the darn ankle. So I finished a creditable first draft of the play on my laptop, and last night I had the actors over to discuss the changes they want – and it’s next to nothing.
They even looked a little guilty for rushing me – and me on crutches, poor thing…
Couple of hours today (can’t do word counts so I measure time instead)
brainstorming went well. I love what I’m getting and filling in a little bit more each time. wish I’d started doing this months ago. “Just show up/just show up!!”
1300 words this morning. That puts me at 75% to completion. I meant to write more character questions, but instead I wrote from the voice of the character. It started out benign but became a description of the day that would later define his life and the life of my MC, but from his viewpoint, not hers. I only got halfway through the scene but I am loving it. I will likely write more later today, after I think about it a bit. I need to do some reserach on the words wine conniseurs use to describe wine.
I don’t think I have enjoyed a scene this much in a long time, I want to be there, breathing it in, it was a happy, happy day for them all. A day of innocence before reality kicks in, with a vengeance.
Wow, some break I’m taking. I have 2 pages of handwritten “Get back on track” notes for Pipes. No word count–but the Idea count is at about six.
Anyone else notice that alarm clocks and telephones and other interruptions always come in the two pages/two minutes before the climax of the book you’re reading or the dream you’re having? That’s happened to me a lot this week.
1849 words.
I used exactly one sentence from my original manuscript but it was exactly the one I needed.
The writing feels very clunky at times, but at least the pictures in my head are getting clearer. This might be what this exercise is about, just getting it down and polishing it later.
Also, I’ve realized that one of my gimmicks needs more clarification. Right now, I feel I’m getting closer to figuring it out by actually writing it than I would by puzzling over it. I might be a discovery writer. We’ll see.
I’m pushing back at self doubt right now. Hopefully it will pass.
917 words this morning. I have fallen in love with my story. I liked it before. Now I love it.
The weird thing is that I am working on the protagonist, and I ran across some wonderful things about him when he was a child. I lost the thread of the intended chapter, but did not want to stop. I found out what turned him into the man he becomes, ignites him, what changed him into a mean man, and what will change him back.
It’s all very twisted, and I am so glad. NOW it is turning into a story.
PS I just finished reading a book that I really like the pacing. I plan to go back and dissect it a bit, to see what I can learn from it as a writer. Any suggestions on dissection?
Saturday I put in about 1h30m. Sunday I was able to do about 2h30m. The hard thing right now is putting aside day-job stuff and focus on story work. Saturday was a rough day at work and it keeps intruding into my thoughts. Today I’m having trouble just getting into the right mindset at all.
But, on the positive side, I feel [thisclose] to finishing off my sub-ecosystem
Looks like today is going to be a day off
I did get a paragraph lol
Juggling day job and story is tough. Hang in there.
thank you, yes it really is. Good wishes to you as well
No work on Lesson 6 for HTRYN this weekend…or sadly the finishing touches for The Sentence for the Walkthrough. BUT I’m getting some ideas of areas that need fixing because of Lesson 6 that I didn’t see before, at least not in the way its presented. Yay!
Today I’m going to hop back on the revision train and finish that sentence as well.
I’m feeling good and am looking forward to making some awesome progress!
I did it! I finally finished my ecosystem. Woot. I must celebrate because it’s been over a week of almost daily struggles with it. Technically much longer as it’s been a black hole for a really long time (over most of the 3 years that I’ve been working on this story).
And it’s fun to celebrate the little milestones.
It’ll be right on to the next thing now: applying this to my villain (his plan, his powers and etc). But not tonight. Must give my brain a break now. Although I have presented the questions to Muse. Sometimes I have the best luck while I’m headed toward dreamland.
Huge congratulations. Getting the world to work can be tricky.
Thank you, Holly. Yes, it’s been quite the undertaking. But so much fun too
And the world is just coming alive. and fitting together… the way I was hoping so much to happen. My muse kept saying “trust me, this will all fit together”. Yay, I’m getting there.
My muse officially hates taking breaks. So, my break is done after tonight.
I’m going to go back to the 250-word challenge and start there; but I’m also going to try something new. I’ve been stumped a thousand times with my main story (AJCTA/Esuba series). I’ve only put an ending on…two stories, I think. Ever. And they weren’t the RIGHT endings; they were just the first endings in line. So I am going to practice endings, one story at a time.
I do have one delemma. One of the two stories with an ending is AJCTA. I can barely read the thing, it’s so awful…until about halfway through, and after that it gets slowly better. So I need to find the right BEGINNING for that one…and I haven’t got a clue how. The thing is, in the long series, AJCTA is book 2–or 3, depending on how PH2 ends. I’ve got so much work to do there!
Oh, Danzier, I know your pain, I really do. When you just up and tackle a huge series without a plan like I did, just thought it would all organically grow into place, you end up with a jungle, not a garden, and ..gah, well, I’m preaching to the choir. ^^
About the only thing in my favor for the series is that I got tired of writing longhand. When I started typing it, I discovered I didn’t like it, so I only wrote outlines. I’ve got bits of each story worked out, but as for the actual typing, PH2 has to be first. I can’t help thinking that once I get the right ending on that one, there will be a reason for the T to kidnap Jack.
260 words on this tonight.
A couple hundred words this morning, mostly notes. I am working my way through Holly’s Character Clinic questions. One question, one character and I got a ton of insight — fell back in love with the story, found the twist for one or the protagonists, fell in love with this protagonist (his pre-mean self), wrote over 2,000 words this week that will go in the book — and that was just the first question!! Now I am on question 2.
Today was a good day- about an hour. I was closer than I thought to figuring out villain’s powers: mostly just putting everything in one place and it seems to fit. So that black hole is filled for now.
Now the villains plan is going to take much longer. I made a start on it tonight. And came up with one complete “game-changer”- it breaks stuff but I really,really like what it adds. So I will think on it and weigh the pros and cons. I’ve figured out some possibilities already for most(?) of what it broke. I will come back to it tomorrow with fresh eyes.
Pissed at the Muse. It’s been grinding me for weeks to write a scene with this new Soulscape idea of mine, revision or no revision, and I thought to throw it a candy bar, and when I sit down with the blank page, what do I get? A couple of paragraphs of generic, throwaway dream sequence crap and then it fizzles and dies.
Well it’d better not complain anymore, because I’m not going to give it a shot like that again. Got a revision to get through after all.
Try using it as a carrot on a stick. Next time your muse pops up (likely with a “don’t use my idea as a stick to beat me with!” comment), say, “All right, I’m sorry. Go ahead and play with it. I’ve got revision to do now, though.” And your muse will say, “Hmph.” But later your muse will mutter, “You’ve been revising; what about this idea?”
And you say, “Give me a good sentence–a Kodak-clear picture, in focus, right lens, all that. Pin it down, and then wave a flag at me and we’ll write it. Until then, I have to fix this thing here.” And secretly plan an early wrap on your revising. Then, when the muse gives you album-quality pictures, write them and nothing else, say “Thanks!” and go back to revision. The muse will be stumped… so repeat the line about the picture. Add “and a connection to that other picture.” And on it goes.
Wanders,
I think we have all been there to some extent, whether it turned out well or not.
I’m feeling a bit of guilt planning a story on the side while trying to focus on my revision…but I realized for me, as long as I only give myself a short amount of time on the new thing each week, it actually HELPS me not get bored with the revision process. I know that once it comes time to Cut I won’t be so bored…but for now I’m doing what it takes to get my Muse on board with my Me. It’s an interesting situation.
Maybe if you have ONE day set aside specifically for a special project it will help you stay on track on your revision like it is starting to do for me…but maybe not. Only you know if you can do two projects at once.
And crappy ideas are bound to happen at some point. It could be you just took it in the wrong direction…but I DO think your main focus needs to be on getting your book finished. Not worrying about the new ideas so much it bugs you.
Hope it gets better for you!
As for me…I’ve gotten some work on Lesson 6, after spending about 4 days doing absolutely nothing because I was so confused. I think I’m getting it now, but I’m also worried this lesson is going to take some time to get through. (Funny to say since they have ALL been like this so far…but this is a good thing!)
And as for the Think Sideways Walkthrough…My Me has always balked at the concept of the Dot and the Line. I just can never seem to get down info I can actually USE. I’m hoping after I watch the walkthrough a few more times and then after the Hotseat for the week is put up I’ll have a better idea on how to tackle this lesson. Something different is needed, this I know.
Unfortunately I left my muse with a very easy question to ponder all day. Took about 3 mins to write it out. And then… what to focus on next?
I started with just making a list of all the remaining black holes I could think of (including villain’s plan). I sat aimlessly for a bit and then happened across one that’s interconnected to everything and a basic building block to all the major players’ actions (including most importantly the villain’s plan).
Mainly tonight I accomplished: I know exactly[!] how little I know about it. LOL
I’m really excited about the potential impact once I do ‘get it’.
My muse is properly focused on it for tomorrow
I think this will be another banging head against wall/desk/any other hard surface that comes-to-hand for a few weeks.
Question 2 did not inspire 2000 words like question 1 did. A few, but not 2000. On to question 3+.
My research is paying off. While I am finishing character questions, I am dissecting a book.. It is turning out to be a worthwhile exercise.
553 words.
They were definitely better tonight. I could feel myself shaking the rust off.
I’ve been reading a lot of Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time) lately. Among the 1,000 things that man did brilliantly, the one that comes to mind is making characters real. His heroes struggled with doubt, with fear and anger and bitterness; and they did it with the non-linear, distracted thinking that characterizes strong emotions. Tonight one of my characters battled with fear, and depression, and loneliness and pride. So I decided to borrow a trick from Robert Jordan, and try to really make him *sound* and *feel* human.
I have no idea if it worked. I haven’t read it yet. But even if not, it represented trying something new; and isn’t that what we all have to do? If you’re not growing you’re stagnating.