by Jennifer Faye
When starting a new book, I’ve learned from experience that
I need an outline to follow. Not an outline like you learned to do in school
with the roman numerals and letters. No, what I’m talking about is more like a
long synopsis. But sometimes I’ll included chunks of scenes. If they come to me
in that moment, I’m not going to pass up a chance to record it. The only thing
that my outline must have is chronological order. Anything about and beyond
that is fine by me. It’s there to keep the juices flowing and remind me of
where the story is headed. NOTE: my stories/characters don’t always play along
with the outline. Detours are not uncommon, but they don’t detour too far from
the program and eventually they meander back to the outline.
Next comes the first draft. I must confess that I thought I
wrote messy, dirty drafts, but I’m coming to learn that they aren’t so messy
after all. My scenes, for the most part, are in the right order. Once in a
while, I jump the gun and have something happen too soon. That’s when my
wonderful editor taps me on the shoulder and suggests I move such and such
later in the story. And generally she’s right and it strengthens the story.
BUT, and yes, that’s a big but, the first draft of my first chapters
is usually very messy. I don’t know how else to dive into the middle of
characters’ lives without just throwing down words and seeing what happens. In
the opening chapter, I move scenes around. I move dialogue around. I change
settings, weather, days of the week, POV’s. You name it, I probably change it.
By chapter two, I’m usually cooking with gas and know where I’m going. Things
are really picking up by now. ;-)
As such, I am in awe of those writers who can sit down and
write clean first drafts the whole way through. Now, I’m not referring to those
people who write a page or two and then tinker with it until it shines before
moving on, but rather I’m referring to the people who sit down and write really
clean drafts from the get-go. Those are the writers who only need to do light
editing before submitting. I actually know some of those people and they amaze
me.
How about you? Are you a messy writer? Or a clean one?
I'm very messy--especially with the first three chapters! It seems as if that's where I'm still trying to find my groove. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally understand where you're coming from. We have to build a firm foundation for the story before we can move on. :-)
DeleteGreat post, Jen. I wrote one truly clean draft before and that was the first book I sold. Since then, it has been messy drafts for me, and the first three chapters are always the messiest. I don't like to move on until I have the partial where I want it, and then usually chapter four is smoother sailing :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the clean first book. That's exciting. :-)
DeleteI find that those first three chapters are never quite done until I type "The End". The more I write, the more I learn about the characters thus having to go back to the beginning to adjust/add.
I'm an edit as I go writer. I can't move on until I'm happy with a scene. I don't recommend it.....
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy! Thanks for stopping by. :-)
DeleteI only edit as I go in the first chapter or two. I just can't write more until I have a firm grasp on the opening. Not that it isn't tweaked/adjusted later. But it's my anchor and it has to be sturdy. The rest of the book I write and tell myself I'll fix it later. ;-)
I'm both, I guess. My drafts are pretty clean now (it's taken time to get to that point!) but I write out of order, so there's work in knitting everything together. However, the heaviest editing I do is the first three chapters.
ReplyDeleteAmi, I must admit that writing out of order sounds very challenging to me. You must have some heavy-duty knitting needles. ;-) But whatever your process is, it works for you. Your debut was great!!!
DeleteI consider all of my drafts to be messy. I constantly tinker, and I'm rarely satisfied. I have definite perfectionist tendencies -- but I'm working on it! :-)
ReplyDeleteI always see things that I could tweak in my stories. However after doing my first set of AA's, I learned to squelch those voices of doubt. At some point, I have to let go. :-)
DeleteI have your debut next to my chair. I can't wait to start it. I just need more hours in the day.