Once Begun Is Half Done

This entry is for Friday, February 13

I'm about half way through the first draft of my new short. 90% of the material is there. Now I have to go through it, check for flow, story logic, all that stuff. Then I will have a working first draft.

Today's writing: 1.6 hours/ 3 pages

Thursday

Today's writing: .75 hours/2.4 pages

A New Spark

I've started something new that could turn out well. It has a good premise. I know where I'm going with the first draft. I think it will wind up being short, which could be what I need, too.


Yesterday's writing: 1.2 hours/1.4 pages

I Need a Break...

... from the story I was working on. It's not the routine that's got me bummed out - or maybe it is - but I need some space to get perspective on the story. Not sure where it should go. Plus, I need a fresh start, so I started working on another short story. I'll come back to the original one soon (at the latest during some time off I have next week).

Today's writing: 1.2 hours/1.4 pages

Two Problems

I keep getting on what seem like tangents or subplots when I do my daily writing on the short story I'm working on. At some point, I'm going to have to streamline and do a lot of editing. I guess it's better to keep writing and have a lot to choose from, even if a lot gets scrapped. I just have to watch my time. I don't want to spend a year on one short story so maybe I'll set a deadline for my first draft soon. I feel like I need a big block of time to look at this thing as a whole for a while, maybe two whiles. I have some off time to work with coming up. See how it goes.

I've got to keep the action moving more. I keep falling into this pattern of telling, telling, telling. Descriptions of how the characters feel and why instead of showing it in their actions. I'd like to comb through what I've done so far and try to weed out description and replace it with relevant action. I think it will help a lot.


Today's writing: .75 hours, 1.3 pages, plus the above

Show Don't Tell

Looking back at some of the writing I have done on this short story it feels like I am forever giving background. Instead of showing by what the characters do I am telling the reader. Not good. Not enough action, too much bla, bla, bla...

I think I will reread with that in mind, cut out the fluff, and figure out ways to show and not tell.

Another thought: I am liking getting into a routine of writing a little each day. The one page minimum is something I can handle. Lately, though, I feel like a good stretch of time would be a great help so I can focus on the whole thing for a while and pull it all together.

Today's writing: 2.3 hours/2.1 pages plus editing

11 Don't Forget Stimulus and Response...


...when you can strengthen your writing through cause and effect.

* Readers usually need specific stimulus right now and outside the character that causes a given response in the next few moments.
* You have to provide all the steps - background, motivation, immediate stimulus - for the reader to believe and understand the character's actions
* Physical stimulus (something the reader can see or hear now) and physical response are critical to story logic, not just background, motivation, character thought, or character feeling







Today's writing: more than one page......blogging, writing about writing, etc.