tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post9117661237108178371..comments2024-03-29T11:42:44.511-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: STARTING SOMETHING NEWJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-14149926368072449042013-03-04T16:47:46.840-05:002013-03-04T16:47:46.840-05:00Yes, sometimes the start is hard. Sometimes though...Yes, sometimes the start is hard. Sometimes though, it's incredibly easy to begin but harder to get through that long middle. One thing I do which helps is set a very easy-to-meet time goal. "I'll just work on this for 15 minutes," it's usually all I need. Getting something down gets me over that initial resistance, and then I look forward (most of the time) to continuing!Joy Choquettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13704641909358172763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-29277007450006195242013-02-28T14:09:36.434-05:002013-02-28T14:09:36.434-05:00Such good advice from all of you. I really think m...Such good advice from all of you. I really think my major problem is I'm focusing on getting two other books ready to go. I like your advice to start a short story with the character, E.B. I might write my subplot as a short story first and then work it into my main plot.<br /><br />Kara, most of my plotting comes while walking in the woods or doing a mindless job like washing dishes or weeding, too. <br /><br />Pat, except for creating my murderer in advance, I'm a pantser, too. In my last book I had a terrible time coming up with an ending where my murderer would be figured out by my protag because he/she was such a nice person no one could suspect him/her. I did leave clues here and there, but still . . .<br /><br />Marilyn, I like to think my characters are very important to my plot, too, even the minor ones. I find, though, by writing up short bios of them, I get to know them better. As they reveal themselves in new ways while I'm writing the book, I go back and add those new things to their bios.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-43794429734995657272013-02-28T11:53:06.510-05:002013-02-28T11:53:06.510-05:00I think starting a new book or a new series brings...I think starting a new book or a new series brings a certain amount of anxiety to most writers. Like you, I gather my characters, though I don't necessarily write a list of their attributes. I find my characters reveal themselves through their actions. I also like to have a main event or situation to start me plotting. Though my books are character driven, they need to act in order to carry the novel along.<br />Good luck with your new book!Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-38813763234719603852013-02-28T11:22:14.791-05:002013-02-28T11:22:14.791-05:00I'm such a pantser, I can't even imagine c...I'm such a pantser, I can't even imagine creating all those notes about a story. If I have an idea, it has to produce a first chapter. The true test is: can I write the ending. If yes, then the problem is creating a road map between them. I will sit down and fly by the seat of my pants from there.<br />Kara, Agatha was the best!<br />PatgPatghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046665022709722606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-55360280771086691852013-02-28T11:04:38.263-05:002013-02-28T11:04:38.263-05:00I have trouble starting a project when I don’t hav...I have trouble starting a project when I don’t have a clear direction. Then I follow Agatha Christie’s advice, “The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.” It helps to keep my hands busy with simple tasks while my mind is free to work on more complex ideas. I had an “aha” moment on Tuesday about a story while clearing clutter out of a bathroom cabinet. But when I’m really stuck, I just dive in and write.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-82322579387294549992013-02-28T10:32:07.080-05:002013-02-28T10:32:07.080-05:00Try writing a short story about the character firs...Try writing a short story about the character first, Gloria. You can start before your novel begins or write the backstory for your novel in a short form. It's a good way of easing into a novel, getting to know your character and practicing your theme. I've never done it before, but I did this time. It seems easier like I know where I'm going because I've already written part of the story, at least the history.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-61248654346540663382013-02-28T10:21:51.866-05:002013-02-28T10:21:51.866-05:00I think just about everyone experiences this feeli...I think just about everyone experiences this feeling. We just have to start anyway.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-9209165518804609302013-02-28T09:48:12.238-05:002013-02-28T09:48:12.238-05:00KB, my house is a mess, too. :-) I think part of m...KB, my house is a mess, too. :-) I think part of my problem is I want to get my second book published through CreateSpace because it's done and almost ready to go - mostly waiting on the cover. I have multiple people begging for that second book. I still need to get the first draft of my 3rd book polished and ready to go, too. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-68543231886145094522013-02-28T09:44:45.347-05:002013-02-28T09:44:45.347-05:00Clair, I think I'll take your advice. I've...Clair, I think I'll take your advice. I've already plotted out a subplot I'm going to use bringing back an event that happened with two secondary characters in book two that was kind of left up in the air when they took off on an adventure together. The one character will be telling my main character about something that happened on her trip - another murder.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-77063576501058473582013-02-28T09:41:31.719-05:002013-02-28T09:41:31.719-05:00Jim, I don't expect my first draft to look any...Jim, I don't expect my first draft to look anything like it will eventually get to, but somehow trying to come up with that first scene has me procrastinating. Maybe I should just sit down and write it this week.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-18478394615421432872013-02-28T07:58:49.288-05:002013-02-28T07:58:49.288-05:00I have no difficulty starting something, but then ...I have no difficulty starting something, but then my house is a mess, too.KB Ingleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06089951663907060127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-5465779862723259282013-02-28T07:58:04.960-05:002013-02-28T07:58:04.960-05:00Thank you for sharing this, Gloria. I'm in a s...Thank you for sharing this, Gloria. I'm in a similar boat right now as I have a thought in my head but I haven't begun writing it yet. But that's more because I don't know where I want it to go.<br /><br />When I'm writing, I don't worry about where to start. I start anywhere that I'm comfortable and get the story (or grant narrative) on paper. I can always go back and find the perfect opening later. What's important to me is to let the words in my head get onto paper so I can do more with them.<br /><br />You definitely apply careful structure to your writing style. I admire that; you go a bit further than I do. I simply put plot and character elements into a spreadsheet and add to it over time. <br /><br />If you're having a lot of difficulty starting this next one, have you thought about starting in the middle, where some aspect of the story is strong in your mind? Think of it as the foundation for why you are writing. There's an event or series of events that hold up your novel. You can worry about the front door (opening) later.Clamo88https://www.blogger.com/profile/16742188896080634218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-59935300000584951002013-02-28T07:34:06.749-05:002013-02-28T07:34:06.749-05:00I think I've mentioned this in comments before...I think I've mentioned this in comments before, but I take an entirely different approach to my first crack at anything. <br /><br />I do not expect perfection from my first draft; in fact I expect it to be crap. But I need the first draft to be able to get to the second draft. So in the first draft I get the story down and then I work on making it an excellent story.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com