WIP Challenge Check-in -- Day 20 (Wednesday)

[linaewen]

Oops, almost forgot to do a post today!  Sorry if some of you missed out because you have already called it a day!

How was your Wednesday for writing?

• productive?  If so, how?
• meh, so so? If so, what kept you from accomplishing your goals?
• abysmal?  If so -- sorry!

If you could describe your day in 4 words or less (fic-wise or in general), what would you say? _________

The following discussion topic is close to my heart this evening:

 

Does knowing exactly what happens next help you actually write it, or does the writing still have to be dragged out of you kicking and screaming?  Are outlines and plans generally helpful or do you work better just letting the writing take you whither it will?
 

Comments

[linaewen]

My day was a bit meh, though it's getting a bit more productive now. It could have been quite productive if I hadn't diddled and dawdled around and postponed my writing until late. I had a hard time sitting down to it and concentrating. But I have managed to write 313 words so far, and I am hoping for more before bedtime.

My four word day: Too hot to work!!!

The discussion situation is one I am dealing with as we speak. I have the best outline ever, very detailed, even has some dialogue in it -- but trying to make it become the next part of the story is not going smoothly. I feel like I'm fighting for every word, and they aren't going together happily. So in this case, knowing what I need to write isn't as helpful as I'd like it to be at this point!

[lexicalcrow]

I spent too long world-building, and not enough time writing. I like drawing maps as much as I like finishing WIPs, it seems. So not a whole lot of work, but that's okay. Worldbuilding is important anyway so I don't feel like it was too much of a waste.

And, eh, knowing what happens next isn't always helpful if my characters disagree and decide to change things as I'm writing them. This has happened more times than I'm willing to admit and is the main reason I stopped writing to plans/outlines. More often, I work with a vague, more general sense of the story arc and leave the details to the writing. What happens, happens. It's far less stressful to just go with the flow for me than fight my characters every step of the way.

[linaewen]

World-building and map-making is definitely an important part of writing and not a waste. My son writes, too, and he is one who can't actually do the writing unless he has the world established and a map made for it.

When characters disagree with your outline is when you get your best story written, I think. They seem to know better most of the time where it has to go! Maybe my problem lately is that I'm not listening to my characters in the chapter I'm working on currently...

[lexicalcrow]

Yeah, I've always liked drawing maps too, so I don't really mind. I've still got all the maps I've ever drawn, and I sometimes look back on them and think about the characters I left there. I don't always need maps, but sometimes it's helpful for getting a better picture of how things are arranged.

The first and last time I planned anything, it was for my 2006 NaNo, and two days in, my characters hijacked it and wrote a totally different story instead. Still, it wasn't that much of a waste. I got a complete 130k novel out of it, four years later. XD

[xpaperplanex]

I wrote today! I wrote today! For the first time in a month at least. Only 250 or so words, but it was for my evil WIP that I hate and they were good words, so I'm all happy :DDDDD

I usually try to be pretty flexible with my planning and if something else feels like it wants to happen next, it tends to work out better if I just go with it. Of course there are times when nothing else can happen and I still can't write what needs to come next and that's what happened with the evil WIP.

My four word day: Shingles sucks. Yay writing!

[linaewen]

Oh, no! Are you being plagued with shingles? That's a wretched thing to have. I had that last year and it definitely, definitely sucked!

But yay writing indeed! May this be the beginning of lots more writing so that your evil WIP will turn to the good side again. ;-)

[xpaperplanex]

I am :( It's in the healing stages now, fortunately, but it's very, very itchy! But not causing agonizing pain anymore, so it's better. It is indeed wretched and anyone who has suffered it has my undying sympathy.

I certainly hope so, I miss my evil WIP back when it wasn't so evil.

[rebecca2525]

I wrote a little over 300 word yesterday. Given that it was a very busy RL day, that's awesome.

My four word day: I need more time.

For longer fics, I need an outline, for shorter fics a pretty good idea in my head suffices. I have this huge fear of the white empty space ahead of me, of writing myself into a corner, or of not being able to work as much on my WIP as I'd like and then forgetting where I wanted to go with it or losing the mood that lead my up to that point.

I'm generally a slow writer, but my most problematic moments are often those where my outline is very hand-wavey.

My current WIP is a bit different, though, as I'm retelling a classic story, so the outline isn't completely "mine." Let's see how that works out!

[linaewen]

300 words is nothing to scoff at if it's words written in the midst of a busy day. That's where I'm at, too. 300 words a day won't get my WIP finished on time, but it's still encouraging -- especially when they are good words! Here's hoping you have another good writing day today and can get in 600 words! :-D

[pensnest]

I need to balance somewhere between knowing what happens next and not having a clue... The story I've been intending - and failing - to write this month would benefit from me knowing something about the plot so that I can actually produce a scene or two. But sometimes it 'just happens'. I remember with great fondness writing a story which had hold of me so tight that every time I came to a stop, I went downstairs to make a coffee or do a modest amount of kitchen-cleaning, and when I came back to my computer, there was more story ready to be written.

I dare not write a plot outline, though. That way lies 'not needing to write the actual story, thanks'.

Wednesday was a good day, in that the vague notion I'd had in mind suddenly blossomed into "That's how I write it", which is quite exciting.

[linaewen]

It's great when an idea stops lurking and makes its full-fledged presence known, and all you have to do is write it down!

[jagnikjen]

Yesterday was okay. I tweaked my newest HP fic, chapter one a bit more and sent off to my CP and fellow HP fan. It came back this morning with "I love this." and "Awesome as always." so that was nice.

I got back my challenge fic from the beta reader so it's time to get back to work on that.

And knowing too much about what happens, plans, full outlines, etc, are DOOM for me. At that point I know what's going to happen and how, so why actually write the story?? :) So I've learned not to think too much ahead and in only the most general terms I can. Or if I sort of know the end, then I can write my way there. But otherwise, it's really by the seat of my pants.

[linaewen]

so why actually write the story??

Hah, good point! I might have to try the seat of the pants thing, and see if it works better. My problem lately is that, if I can write such good ideas in my outline, why the heck can't I turn them into an actual scene with just a few more words added in?? ;-)

[jagnikjen]

Because you know what happens, YOU don't need more words for the pictures in your head. Once you know, it's tedious and boring to do it again. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

And once upon a time I thought people who said that were full of hooey. But I've experienced it myself now, so not much hooey left. :)

[xpaperplanex]

Oh man, that happens to me too. Sometimes when I get bogged down trying to write, I think to myself, well, I know what's going to happen. That's what counts. I find just writing and maybe surprising yourself with where you end up is the most fun. My best stuff has been done that way.

[bay_alexison]

LOL, I thought this is Day 21. I didn't do any writing on Day 21 as I decided to catch up on some reading, but on Day 20 I got done editing my ladyfest fic and had send it to my beta. A little nervous about what my beta will say, but what advice she'll give me will help me make the story better.

For me, I usually plan/outline the beginning, ending, and a few scenes, but that's about it. That way I at least know where I want the direction of the story to go and have some material but at the same time give myself a few surprises when writing.