Each time I start a new book I am a bit amazed that, a) I ever completed one in the first place and b) that I will ever be able to do it again. Before I pick the next project I dance around my ideas for days, weeks (okay months) and I worry because a character isn’t talking to me or I don’t know what will happen next or I don’t even know how to start. That’s where I am now. I know the form is another middle grade verse novel. I have a character but he keeps things locked up inside of himself pretty well. I don’t blame him. He hasn’t had an easy time of it lately. I did some research about some of the things I think the book will deal with, waiting for ideas to surface but mostly what I know now is what not to use. So I am drifting in that in-between time being obsessed with the story and not-knowing what to write. And then I remembered that in the beginning I really AM in charge and I can give things to my characters, give things to the story. They might throw them out later but that’s okay. As the author it’s my duty to give the first gift. If the gift is rejected, the character will usually offer something to me in exchange. And so it begins.
As the author it’s my duty to give the first gift.
I like that!
What’s really hard about a new book is that usually I’ve just finished the polish stage of the old one. And the new one is so messy, so uncertain of ever becoming a book, that it’s hard to remember that the old, polished one began the same way.
Yes, that uncertainty is there with every book, isn’t it? Funny how giving birth we later block the pain but with writing we have to feel our way anew each time.
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that the link on your old blog does ot work (the link you’ve been adding to your posts each day.) The first link you posted when you switched works. Here’s what I click on to get here–http://www.livejournal.com/users/susanwrites/
Here’s the one that doesn’t work: http://www.livejournal.com/susanwrites/
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I think the thing that has been most helpful about reading writers’ blogs is to realize that most people go through the same thing I do (just as you’ve described above). It seems somewhere I got this idea that it was supposed to be easy. Teachers, maybe? And, although I like to write and I do it because I like it, I find myself feeling inadequate. It’s such a relief to know that no one writes a polished first draft ala college test essay style or my old copywriting lab class.
Kim
Thanks Kim. I went back and fixed the link. Maybe a bit ego-minded to post it there but I’m still trying to figure out how to straddle the darn fence.
I feel the same way about reading about the various ways in which other writers work. It comforts me. Sometimes the writing IS easy, but you know what? That’s when I trust it the least.
Hi! I just saw you on the YA list and enjoyed looking at your LJ and your books. I love the idea of being in exchange with characters instead of controlling or being controlled by them. Good luck with the novel!
Thanks for stopping by. Characters are weird (in a wondeful way) and each one is different. With this character, Frankie, it’s a bit like a dog with a bone. I have to trade him things for pieces of information because he doesn’t want to let go of what he has.
pics
Susan, completely off subject. I like the way you have a different pic for almost every entry. Now Im headed back over to do your writing assignment while I have 10 minutes to kill at work.
Don
http://devast.blogspot.com
Re: pics
Don, Being able to have all those different pics is one of the reasons I moved over to LJ. Of course everyone has now seen the only good pictures of me that there are.