Comments on: Novels That Write Themselves https://writesex.net/?p=257 How to add erotic elements to your writing Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:02:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: thomasroche https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1492 thomasroche Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:27:18 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1492 @ Daisy, finishing every story you start is probably a very good policy. At the very least, it forces you to experience the whole plot cycle even if it feels like it's not working. I think that's almost always valuable. @ Daisy, finishing every story you start is probably a very good policy. At the very least, it forces you to experience the whole plot cycle even if it feels like it’s not working. I think that’s almost always valuable.

]]> By: Daisy Harris https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1490 Daisy Harris Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:55:23 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1490 I used to take pages and pages of notes, but other than outlining big stuff like black moment and plot resolution, I would outline as I went. I call it a plot-pants-plot approach. But I also have an insanely involved revision process which smooths out a lot of the wrinkles. But now I'm using Scrivener, and it's awesome because I can plot, then write, then revise my outline before writing again, which is way more fluid than my old method. I've been a medical/technical writer for years and am very used to having to produce copy. So I find it a little nuts when folks expect their muse to do all the work. I agree, you can't force a cohesive story to leap onto the page from nowhere. And at the very least, you can't do it fast. Otherwise you have a nightmare of revision and rewrite on your hands. And I always force myself to finish every story I start. But that's just me. Great post! Thought provoking. I used to take pages and pages of notes, but other than outlining big stuff like black moment and plot resolution, I would outline as I went. I call it a plot-pants-plot approach. But I also have an insanely involved revision process which smooths out a lot of the wrinkles.

But now I’m using Scrivener, and it’s awesome because I can plot, then write, then revise my outline before writing again, which is way more fluid than my old method.

I’ve been a medical/technical writer for years and am very used to having to produce copy. So I find it a little nuts when folks expect their muse to do all the work. I agree, you can’t force a cohesive story to leap onto the page from nowhere. And at the very least, you can’t do it fast. Otherwise you have a nightmare of revision and rewrite on your hands.

And I always force myself to finish every story I start. But that’s just me.

Great post! Thought provoking.

]]> By: thomasroche https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1486 thomasroche Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:58:08 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1486 Thanks for the great feedback, everyone. @Cher, I can't decide myself. I think the idea is to write as much and as many as possible, in different ways, and see what works best. Getting attached to any one story other than the process makes one gun shy. Thanks for the great feedback, everyone. @Cher, I can’t decide myself. I think the idea is to write as much and as many as possible, in different ways, and see what works best. Getting attached to any one story other than the process makes one gun shy.

]]> By: Margie Church https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1485 Margie Church Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:44:10 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1485 Good article. I especially like it because I subscribe to outlines for plots and characters. I tend to outline characters more heavily than plots but that's just me. I also find that these outlines are really handy if you write a sequel or a series. The high points are easy to reference - god forbid you forget a tidbit or two months later! Once the outlines are done...I write by the seat of my pants and let the characters inspire me. Good article. I especially like it because I subscribe to outlines for plots and characters. I tend to outline characters more heavily than plots but that’s just me. I also find that these outlines are really handy if you write a sequel or a series. The high points are easy to reference – god forbid you forget a tidbit or two months later! Once the outlines are done…I write by the seat of my pants and let the characters inspire me.

]]> By: Cher_Dawn https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1483 Cher_Dawn Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:35:48 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1483 You\'re a riot! I must remember not to read you while eating or drinking because oh...the spewage caused by unexpected laughter.! I can\'t decide if you\'ve talked me into or out of outlines! I don\'t usually use them but then, having just discovered that one of the books I\'m working on absolutely sucks because of stupid things that I could\'ve kept track of w/an outline...I might convert. If I do, I\'m going to whine about it A LOT though because I really get off on the pantster lightning bolt thing. You\’re a riot! I must remember not to read you while eating or drinking because oh…the spewage caused by unexpected laughter.!

I can\’t decide if you\’ve talked me into or out of outlines! I don\’t usually use them but then, having just discovered that one of the books I\’m working on absolutely sucks because of stupid things that I could\’ve kept track of w/an outline…I might convert. If I do, I\’m going to whine about it A LOT though because I really get off on the pantster lightning bolt thing.

]]> By: Cher_Dawn https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1482 Cher_Dawn Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:35:22 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1482 You're a riot! I must remember not to read you while eating or drinking because oh...the spewage caused by unexpected laughter.! I can't decide if you've talked me into or out of outlines! I don't usually use them but then, having just discovered that one of the books I'm working on absolutely sucks because of stupid things that I could've kept track of w/an outline...I might convert. If I do, I'm going to whine about it A LOT though because I really get off on the pantster lightning bolt thing. You’re a riot! I must remember not to read you while eating or drinking because oh…the spewage caused by unexpected laughter.!

I can’t decide if you’ve talked me into or out of outlines! I don’t usually use them but then, having just discovered that one of the books I’m working on absolutely sucks because of stupid things that I could’ve kept track of w/an outline…I might convert. If I do, I’m going to whine about it A LOT though because I really get off on the pantster lightning bolt thing.

]]> By: thomasroche https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1481 thomasroche Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:08:22 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1481 I have the same experience with outlines -- "vague idea" becomes "Man, that can't be his father, because that would be stupid." Outlines save an awful lot of rewriting, especially if you're Chelsea Quinn "80 books and counting" Yarbro, apparently. Still, I love that drunken orgy of creativity that comes with an unplanned first draft, or at least the first half of one. If it ever happens again I will have to try to lure it into a Ghostbusters box and keep it in my top drawer next to the jock straps. I have the same experience with outlines — “vague idea” becomes “Man, that can’t be his father, because that would be stupid.” Outlines save an awful lot of rewriting, especially if you’re Chelsea Quinn “80 books and counting” Yarbro, apparently.

Still, I love that drunken orgy of creativity that comes with an unplanned first draft, or at least the first half of one. If it ever happens again I will have to try to lure it into a Ghostbusters box and keep it in my top drawer next to the jock straps.

]]> By: kathleen bradean https://writesex.net/?p=257&cpage=1#comment-1480 kathleen bradean Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:36:58 +0000 https://writesex.net/?p=257#comment-1480 Thomas - I'm trying NaNoWriMo for the first time this year. Veterans told me to prep, so for the first time, I wrote an outline instead of sort of knowing where I wanted the story to go when I started writing. What I've learned is that there's a huge difference between imagining I know the outline and having to commit to it on paper. I always thought outlining would suck the creativity out of the process. Hardly. While I haven't plunged into the mad dash for word count yet, the experience of writing a detailed outline has been wonderful. It's so much easier to go back a few pages in an outline to tighten or change something rather than scrolling through thousands of words and wonder if the adjustment cascades through everything I've written. Also, it was easy to see what wouldn't work in the novel before I wasted time typing it. This is a habit that will stick with me no matter how much I crank out next month. Thomas – I’m trying NaNoWriMo for the first time this year. Veterans told me to prep, so for the first time, I wrote an outline instead of sort of knowing where I wanted the story to go when I started writing. What I’ve learned is that there’s a huge difference between imagining I know the outline and having to commit to it on paper. I always thought outlining would suck the creativity out of the process. Hardly. While I haven’t plunged into the mad dash for word count yet, the experience of writing a detailed outline has been wonderful. It’s so much easier to go back a few pages in an outline to tighten or change something rather than scrolling through thousands of words and wonder if the adjustment cascades through everything I’ve written. Also, it was easy to see what wouldn’t work in the novel before I wasted time typing it. This is a habit that will stick with me no matter how much I crank out next month.

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