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Neil Gaiman does it too!
I'm kind of hung up on this music and writing thing. I'm rediscovering music after a period of a few years where it hasn't been as big of a part of my life. I forget sometimes just how connected I am and how much better things work when I've got a melody streaming into my ears from somewhere. Silence is indeed golden and I appreciate it when I'm able to snag some. But the wheels of the machine turn in time to a tune.
I just read this article and brief interview with Neil Gaiman and apparently he writes with music if he's in a place where he's able. So, if one of the most prolific and talented writers of our time does it, there must be something to it, right?
I've been really slogging through the first chapter this week. First, it's been hard to transition from outline to draft structurally. Second, because I know the end of the story and so many questions between here and there are begging to be answered, it's too easy to get distracted by other parts. I've just got to make myself focus on what's at hand. There's a tinge of "why bother" haunting it as well, since the end is set. I almost don't want to get emotionally invested in the characters knowing what happens to them. Too late now. I've started this monster, I'm going to finish it.
Also, I already had kind of a rough draft of the rough draft written for this scene and it's hard to go back and fill in with description and subtle action. I'm always afraid of overwriting it. But I also want to make sure there's enough substance to really put the image in the reader's head and make the chapter long enough. I'm not really hung up on page numbers, but I do have kind of a minimum page count in my head per chapter. In the end, it'll take what it takes, but not hitting those numbers might make me look more critically at something and consider if I've got enough substance there or too much if it runs long.
So today, I put on the album I was listening to lots when I first started the outline and things are clicking again. Yes, more Coldplay. I really need to diversify, but not right now. This is working. Nadine is human in my mind again and fearing Aedan like she's supposed to. It was hard to get back to that mentality after so much had gone on. It's kind of like how it's hard for me to go back and watch Fellowship of the Ring after just having seen Return of the King. I feel a little like Frodo, realizing there's no going back to the way things were. But, this is my story and if I want it told, I've got to rewind and put myself back in that mindset.
It feels a little like going backwards to go forwards, but it has to be done, and I still wouldn't avoid doing an outline next time. I've read that some writers don't like to for this very reason. But I think once you get over that initial transition from end to beginning and outline to draft, it makes for a much better process. I wouldn't know where to go from here if I didn't have that outline waiting in the wings. I have to have a global view of things for it to all make sense. It's the same reason I'm addicted to lists. It is kind of weird to force my perspective like that though. Makes me wonder what else I can do to my mindset with the right music and a little focus (and a little surrender).
A few boring stats for my own benefit:
I wasn't keeping up when I put down the first scenes back in November, but I believe I started with something around 1000 words in chapter 1 and another 1000 or so for what is now considered chapter 9*. I seem to remember a total number around 2300 or so, which would include some notes for chapter 8*. After manuscript formatting, I had about 12 or 13 pages (4-5 of which were chapter 1, 1 page for chapter 8 and 7 pages for chapter 9).
I now have 10 pages and 3198 words for chapter 1. If I had to guess, I've got another 4-5 pages before I'd consider this chapter "done". It was too short to end it at the high point, so I've got to build to another one while staying within the scene.
The entire document now sits at 5385 words and 20 pages. The rest is some notes on Chapter 8 and a fair amount of Chapter 9 is hashed out (it sits at 1951 words and 7 pages right now).
Once chapter 1 is "done", I'll put it up in my writer's journal for posterity. I want to be able to see how it changes over time but I don't want to keep tons of documents around.
(*chapter numbers subject to change)
I just read this article and brief interview with Neil Gaiman and apparently he writes with music if he's in a place where he's able. So, if one of the most prolific and talented writers of our time does it, there must be something to it, right?
I've been really slogging through the first chapter this week. First, it's been hard to transition from outline to draft structurally. Second, because I know the end of the story and so many questions between here and there are begging to be answered, it's too easy to get distracted by other parts. I've just got to make myself focus on what's at hand. There's a tinge of "why bother" haunting it as well, since the end is set. I almost don't want to get emotionally invested in the characters knowing what happens to them. Too late now. I've started this monster, I'm going to finish it.
Also, I already had kind of a rough draft of the rough draft written for this scene and it's hard to go back and fill in with description and subtle action. I'm always afraid of overwriting it. But I also want to make sure there's enough substance to really put the image in the reader's head and make the chapter long enough. I'm not really hung up on page numbers, but I do have kind of a minimum page count in my head per chapter. In the end, it'll take what it takes, but not hitting those numbers might make me look more critically at something and consider if I've got enough substance there or too much if it runs long.
So today, I put on the album I was listening to lots when I first started the outline and things are clicking again. Yes, more Coldplay. I really need to diversify, but not right now. This is working. Nadine is human in my mind again and fearing Aedan like she's supposed to. It was hard to get back to that mentality after so much had gone on. It's kind of like how it's hard for me to go back and watch Fellowship of the Ring after just having seen Return of the King. I feel a little like Frodo, realizing there's no going back to the way things were. But, this is my story and if I want it told, I've got to rewind and put myself back in that mindset.
It feels a little like going backwards to go forwards, but it has to be done, and I still wouldn't avoid doing an outline next time. I've read that some writers don't like to for this very reason. But I think once you get over that initial transition from end to beginning and outline to draft, it makes for a much better process. I wouldn't know where to go from here if I didn't have that outline waiting in the wings. I have to have a global view of things for it to all make sense. It's the same reason I'm addicted to lists. It is kind of weird to force my perspective like that though. Makes me wonder what else I can do to my mindset with the right music and a little focus (and a little surrender).
A few boring stats for my own benefit:
I wasn't keeping up when I put down the first scenes back in November, but I believe I started with something around 1000 words in chapter 1 and another 1000 or so for what is now considered chapter 9*. I seem to remember a total number around 2300 or so, which would include some notes for chapter 8*. After manuscript formatting, I had about 12 or 13 pages (4-5 of which were chapter 1, 1 page for chapter 8 and 7 pages for chapter 9).
I now have 10 pages and 3198 words for chapter 1. If I had to guess, I've got another 4-5 pages before I'd consider this chapter "done". It was too short to end it at the high point, so I've got to build to another one while staying within the scene.
The entire document now sits at 5385 words and 20 pages. The rest is some notes on Chapter 8 and a fair amount of Chapter 9 is hashed out (it sits at 1951 words and 7 pages right now).
Once chapter 1 is "done", I'll put it up in my writer's journal for posterity. I want to be able to see how it changes over time but I don't want to keep tons of documents around.
(*chapter numbers subject to change)
no subject
I have a chapter that consists of a Ball scene. I was scared to write it. How to convey music with words?
In research, I found the music I imagined being played. Listened to it over and over the whole day I wrote that scene. Helped me get over the fear, and somehow I think I was able to translate what I looked for onto the page...
Do you have a private locked writers journal? Just curious.
I also like keeping records of draft versions and notes of changes for posterity.
Yay for writing!
y
no subject
I can see where a Ball scene might almost require that sort of treatment. Come to think of it, I remember you linking some videos of waltzing and such, right?
I have an account, but I've not put anything there or even set anything up yet. I'll probably share it once there's something there. But yes, it will be friends locked.
no subject
Yes, you remember correctly, I shared videos of Baroque dance, along with the music for each named dance I mention. My pre-readers loved that chapter.
Yes, I highly recommend keeping that journal flocked. Sharing to some is good... you will want the feedback.
y
no subject
Oh yeah, I know what you mean... remember my faerie dancing scenes?
no subject
And I loved those scenes.
Did you get my e-mail?
y
no subject
no subject
And you're welcome. ;)
y
no subject
no subject
Some time soon I'll take a look at the first chapter side by side... Most recent set against the very first draft... Wow. That will be a TRIP.
y