Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Out with the old, #IWSG


Hi everyone! 


It's time to share our thoughts, insecurities, and encouraging words. Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and our co-hosts for keeping IWSG going. For those who aren't familiar with Insecure Writer's Support Group, just follow the link. It's a wonderful group.

I'm feeling pretty good this month, mostly because at some point in March things clicked. I'm more of a panster than an outliner. Most of the time, an idea will percolate in my head for several months before I start writing. By this time I know the characters and what they'll face, and I've usually mentally plotted out several scenes. I've found being a pantser more challenging now that I'm re-writing my middle grade novel. I think this is because I know the old plot intimately and like many of the scenes. Talk about killing your babies, I took a match and set fire to an entire novel. 

(Give me a moment, sometimes I still can't believe I did it.)

Okay, I'm better. So I tossed out the original plot (a.k.a filed the novel in a safe place on my laptop, because one day I may recycle a scene or two) and I started fresh. After a few false starts, some bumps and bruise, wine, chocolate, hair pulling, and binge-watching Charmed, I'm in a nice flow. I just checked my word-count meter and I'm 80% done with the first draft. This past weekend I mapped out the rest of the book. (I might even be able to call what I have an outline!) I'm hoping to have the first draft completed by the end of April. Wish me luck.   :) 

How's your writing coming? Are you a pantser or outliner? Are you participating in the A-Z Challenge? (I'm not, but I'll still hop around the blog-shere to visit friends.)

Happy April, and thanks for stopping by!

19 comments:

  1. Wahoo! Way to go. I have a novel like that too. Drafted, reviewed by content editor, completely rewritten. Such a painful/wonderful experience.

    Crystal Collier

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  2. Glad you're almost done!
    I have to outline or I'd have no idea what I was doing.

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    1. I'm going to try outlining my next book from start to finish. I may get the hang of it yet.

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  3. It can be hard to toss a plot aside. But if you know it's being replaced with a better one, it takes away some of the sting.

    I kind of alternate between being a plotter and a pantser, cycling back and forth as I work my way through the book. Ind of weird, but it's what works for me.

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    1. I seem to be doing more of that myself. If it works, why fight it.

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  4. Hi Cherie: Congratulations on getting to the home stretch. I'm a panster, though I consider the first draft an outline in long form. So, not sure what that makes me, LOL. Blessings

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    1. They do say to get the first draft done, right? My first draft is always rough. Maybe I could call it an outline. Hmm.

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  5. That feeling is good, isn't it. I've not managed much new writing over the past couple of weeks but am looking forward to getting stuck into my new novel (while the current one is with the editor). Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Starting a new novel is always a good way to pass the time while waiting for editors. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Wonderful progress, Cherie! I think I'm a hybrid plotter-pantster. A plontster? I have a rough outline but like to see where the characters take me. I did A to Z once and it overwhelmed me--I'm so impressed by people who do it year after year. Where do they find the time?

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    1. I'm in awe of those who manage the A to Z challenge. I don't think I could keep up.

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  7. You have a lot of courage to begin anew with your manuscript, Cherie. I've had to rewrite scenes when the computer ate my efforts before they were properly saved, but the words always sound reheated. I've gone the planner-pantser routes but like the pantser method better.
    Gail’s 2016 April A to Z Challenge
    Theme: The Fun in Writing
    #IWSG

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    1. Seems like there are a lot of pantser out there. We're in good company.

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  8. Sometimes the best solution is to start over. That the destructive flame can give you what you need to build new life in your project. Sometimes when I have writer's block, I just print out my story and begin rewriting the whole thing, and when I feel a change, I write the change. Then when I get to the part I was stuck, I find I can get past it.

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    1. The story does have new life, even though I had to keep myself from trying to snatch in scenes from the old story.

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  9. I soooo relate. I'm pulling cobwebs off a 5 year old MS after being hit with a lightning bolt as to why it didn't work. Dead darlings all over the floor.

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  10. Congratulations on your progress and being almost done :)

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