Writerly thoughts....

[cairistiona]

I love reading author interviews, because, invariably, something they say will resonate.  In this case, I was reading an interview of a new writer, Mazarkis Williams, on Fantasy-Faction.com (a terrific website, by the way) .  I haven't read his book (he's a first-time author with one book out, called The Emperor's Knife, which is now on its way to me via my library) but this quote caught my eye:

"All day long–if I am not reading, or physically writing–I am mentally writing. Whether I am driving, making toast, or trying to go to sleep at night, there’s some kind of story winding its way along my neurons. Writing them down is harder than I always think. It’s just right there in my brain, right? Wrong. It’s teeth-grindingly awful to get those words up on the page. But at least I know what the story is before I start."

Does that happen to any of you?  I have to say that this *exactly* describes my brain.  No matter what I'm doing, either in the foreground or the background of my mind, characters are walking along doing, saying, jumping, sleeping, eating, fighting, falling in love, sh**ing themselves from fear, or laying bleeding and dazed... and I think, "Oh, I need to write that!  It's so vivid it'll be dead easy!"

And then I sit down and, um.  Yeah.  Not so easy.  Completely freakin' hard, most of the time.  So it's nice to hear another writer bemoaning that he has the same trouble.

Comments

[scarvenartist.livejournal.com]

Oh, THIS. Though actually, I find sometimes that I use precious little of what I daydream about. Typically, I indulge in all kinds of angsteh drama in my head that would never actually do any service to the plot...so when it comes to writing it down, I have to reign in all of these self-indulgent rabbit trails. A lot of what I imagine my characters doing in my head is just the boring facts of living, but I find this continual thinking crucial to actually conceiving of my characters as living people. And do I enjoy it? Why, yes. ^_^

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Yep, yep, yep... I hear you with both ears. Angsty rabbit trails, I goes down them, I does!

And yes, yes, yes... the whole idea of the boring facts of living is soooo important when it comes to writing a character. Somehow, even though it doesn't make it into a story, simply *knowing* the order that Character A puts on his socks and shoes helps bring the character to life. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN!! I NEED TO KNOW!!!

[dreamflower]

Yes; stories are always churning away in my brain...getting them from brain to actual words on paper or computer is a different thing altogether...

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

WHY can't it be easier?? Why oh why?? *sigh*

[dreamflower]

It used to be. When I first started writing fanfic, the stories just flowed out of me like a river. Now I am constantly having to try and un-dam the flow just to get trickles...

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I liken that to a sort of "honeymoon" period. When I first got into fanfic, yeah, it seemed like I couldn't write fast enough. Now it's more of a slow but (mostly) steady flow. Some days I stare at the computer for ages and then finally throw up my hands with a muttered, "I got nothin'!" but usually after stepping away from a story for a day or two, the flow kicks back up again. For me, writing Tolkien fanfic is a passion and so there's always that fire there, whether it's in full flame or simply banked coals, and I'm learning bit by bit not to get too frustrated when it's in the "banked coals" stage.

[ellynn-ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Not all day long. I mean, I am not mentally writing 24/7. There are periods when I am "out of writing", if you understand what I mean. Then, there are opposite periods - those in which I do write all day long. And finally, as for sitting and actually writing... well, it depends. On the topic, on my inspiration, on other things. Sometimes it's difficult, sometimes if flows easily.

I wasn't of much help, was I? Seems like there is no strict rule for me...

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I wasn't of much help, was I?

Oh, but you are! This post is about wondering how other writers think and what their approaches and thought processes are. That sort of thing fascinates me, so yes, your comment *does* help. :)

I suppose when you get down to it, I don't *literally* write 24/7 either, but in the quiet moments when "real life" isn't occupying my mind--that is, when I'm not chatting with my hubby or daughter or concentrating on fixing a meal or planning a trip or reading someone else's book etc etc etc--I do find stories and characters sort of living in my mind. And even then, I'm not really "writing" them so much as just... watching them. And saying that, I realize that I'm making myself sound quite mentally deranged! LOL

[mrowe.livejournal.com]

I do find stories and characters sort of living in my mind. And even then, I'm not really "writing" them so much as just... watching them.

This.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Yep. It's like having a movie in my brain. *g*

[mrowe.livejournal.com]

Except more real :-)

[vamp-ress.livejournal.com]

Yes. Absolutely. I still distinctly remember that I was mentally writing my autobiography when I was about ten:)

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Wow! I can't say I've ever had any desire to write my autobiography, and ten or otherwise. I don't even like writing bios for things like LJ. *cringes*

But I do remember even as a kid imagining stories in my head, mostly featuring my favorite tv stars (which, um, I think the earliest ones would have involved Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees). Nowadays my head's population is mostly Tolkien folks, with the odd original storyline flitting through now and then, frustratingly just... out... of... reach....

*flails*
*misses*
*overbalances*
*falls out of chair*
Ow.

[vamp-ress.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did that too. Also with my favourite movie characters. Which were Winnetou and Old Shatterhand back in the day. And if Hollywood really decided to remake those movies, you're in for a real treat. It's Aragorn/Legolas friendship all over again. Seriously! Fandom will love it.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I looked those up because I'd never heard of them... German Westerns, or I guess "Eurowesterns". It does sound like a great buddy/friendship film. Who would you cast if you were in charge of a remake?

[nierielraina.livejournal.com]

How eloquently put!! Yes. That describes me too, and getting it from head to paper has proven difficult enough that without a lot of motivation/incentive, I've given up. They just remain in my brain now, where at least *I* am entertained. ;p

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

He did put it exactly right, didn't he.

They just remain in my brain now, where at least *I* am entertained. ;p

I have a lot of stories like that... non fanfic stuff, mostly. And a novel in a drawer that I did wrestle onto paper some 20 years ago nearly but didn't catch any agent or publisher's eye. Of course, looking back at it now... I can see why! :P

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

No, it doesn't happen to me, and I guess that is why I'm not a fiction writer.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I do think that most writers have that sort of inner "movie" flowing along. I've talked about it, or tried to, with non-writers and usually get either a blank stare or a very careful step backward and a calming, "Oh, yes, I see...." followed quickly by, "Oh, look at the time!"

Aaand... then they run. *sigh*

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That is exactly it, isn't it?

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

It really is! Right down to the "teeth-grindingly awful" part.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Yes that it exactly, especially the getting it down on paper bit!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I know I've certainly had my share of teeth-grinding moments!

[nefhiriel.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, very much so. ^^

Generally, I annoy Cami with commentary about whatever has occurred to me ("Oh! Kye would so do that!"/"Oh! Lucan's favorite color is red!"/"Oh! I know who my villain is!"). Poor Cami, she's so long-suffering in that regard. :) The best ideas are often the most subconsciousness ones, too, when you just get that "AHA!" moment, and know you know what your character would do in a situation.

...and then, yes, there's the getting it down on paper part, that takes time and dedication. I've found that the more strongly I feel about a scene, the harder it is to write it satisfactorily. So very often those "AHA!" moments become my *headdesk* moments thereafter. LOL.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I've found that the more strongly I feel about a scene, the harder it is to write it satisfactorily. So very often those "AHA!" moments become my *headdesk* moments thereafter. LOL.

Yeppers. This happens to me all the time. It seems like I'm so anxious to get it PERFECT that I end up having a sort of brain cramp and nothing happens. I have, however, learned that it's Okay to just slop the scene onto paper and then go back and revise and refine and scrub and polish and lather, rinse, repeat. But getting past that block initially can be hard.

[suzll.livejournal.com]

All. The. Time! I have an *entire* original fantasy story mapped out in my head and I am constantly revising plots, thinking of what the characters are doing right now, etc...and when my mind's not on that it's on a million fic plotbunnies!

And then I sit down to the computer screen. And, well...there's a reason not a word of that original fantasy story is on paper :P

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Hee! Bilbo!! *g*

And then I sit down to the computer screen.

WHY IS THIS SO HARD!!!! WHY?????

*sigh*

But it is. I guess you just have to slop it out at first and then go back and fix the ugly prose. There just doesn't seem to be any shortcuts.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

It is often like that for me

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I think it's that way for most writers. I guess it's a matter of just pressing on until you get it done.

[radbooks.livejournal.com]

It seems to mostly happen when I'm in the shower or if I'm on a long drive somewhere... basically when I'm not otherwise occupied with reading or watching something or playing a game, etc. I can have a whole story figured out in my head by the time I get to Spokane (where my mom lives) which is about a 2 hour drive, but getting it down on paper just never seems to happen!!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Ooh yes, long drives are great for story-crafting in your head! Er, so long as you still pay attention to speed limits. I was thinking about my Bowen Rushlight tale not long ago and didn't realize I'd reached the part of our small town where the speed limit suddenly drops 10 miles an hour. Fortunately, the town police officer just flashed his lights at me to remind me! (He's nice that way... no speed traps in our little burg.) That would have been a silly way to get a ticket! LOL

[imbecamiel.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. So very, very much. Although, I admit, my mental-writing version of storytelling tends to be ridiculously, ridiculously self-indulgent, to the point where I know very well it'd never work in written form, and must forever remain For Self-Entertainment Purposes Only. *g*

So... in many ways, I separate that reflexive storytelling part of my brain entirely from my actual srs bzns story plotting (which, for me, tends to be pretty disciplined and analytical, not terribly spontaneous) entirely. I guess because I am so conscious of the fact that it's self-indulgent, yet it doesn't just turn off, but I'm afraid of the tendencies toward over-the-top angstehness and marysue-izing of characters infecting my actual writing, so to speak. But I do wonder, sometimes, if writing would be easier and more fun for me if the two sides of the storytelling process (analytical, plotting vs. spontaneous, daydreaming) weren't so sharply divided in the way I think about things. Hmm...

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I too know the argh-ness of trying to figure out which is self-indulgent wallowing and which is Important To The Actual Plot. Because, seriously, whether I'm writing Aragorn, Bowen Rushlight, original characters in original fiction... I have this horrible predilection for liking to see them injured and lovingly cared for by some unlikely person! In fanfiction I can let that beast loose, but I have to reeeeeally rein it in when I attempt original fiction (like I'm thinking about writing an original fantasy short story for an anthology contest; I *know* I can't go overboard with the h/c... much as the h/c addict in me wants to!).

But I do wonder, sometimes, if writing would be easier and more fun for me if the two sides of the storytelling process (analytical, plotting vs. spontaneous, daydreaming) weren't so sharply divided in the way I think about things. Hmm...

I think that sort of melding of the two comes with a) experience; and b) good feedback/critique from trustworthy sources, ie: people who aren't afraid to throw a penalty marker down when they see something that doesn't help move the plot forward or reveal something important about the character. Of course, finding that kind of helpful feedback can be hard! And accepting that feedback can be painful. No one likes seeing their FAVORITE OMG I LOVE TEH SCHMOOPY HERE scene criticized as superfluous to the story... even if it is! I know I hate hate hate it, much as I hate taking nasty-tasting medicine that I know will cure me. :P