|
|
|
GenericJoe
Note:
The original version of this post can be found at Katie McN wrote: 'The one that works' means a method that actually produces stories people want to read. We hear over and over again about the BHC and how this person or that has 50, 100, 150 or more stories in some state of not complete on their hard drive. The method they are using might not be a good one. Like Jeff said, part of the reason I have such a large hopper is that I've got a whole lot of documents with just a character name as title, and a few paragraphs holding the defining moment of that character. I consider their stories to be part of my hopper, even though what they are, really, are character-studies. Of course, I consider these characters, or their situations, interesting enough to want to write a story about ;) Nonetheless, I tend to agree with you that my story-writing process isn't the best, because it doesn't always generate completed stories -- even on the things I am actively working on. Katie, you once asked me if I plotted my stories, and well, the answer is yes and no. I almost always know where I want to go, either at the end, or "next". I sometimes write a plot, and discover that the characters don't want to go there. Overall, I'm *not* sure what works. Simple ideas get written, often, in one sitting. 300 words did. My upcoming story got written in one day, and then re-written from a new perspective the next day. But the stories that I love, that have some *meat* to them, never seem to get finished. And it's mainly stick-to-it-iveness where they are concerned, because I keep allowing myself to be distracted by other project (not always a story, but ususally). And, to be completely honest, my pattern from the summer and before has changed now that Tam moved in: I don't feel like I can cloister myself in my office for an evening or two or three, since I"m working hard at maintaining two primary relationships. Which just goes to show, that for me, the writing process isn't about the writing itself, but finding the space and time to write. I used to have a "writing ritual" but I've largely set that aside, and I need to resurrect it. Especially if I'm going to be working on part two of Body Double :)
GenericJoe
|
|
|