I finished a good story in 988 words and submitted it on a site. My first submission. I hope it works!
This time around the critiques were fewer, which can mean that the story was better written and there were no easy comments to give. Also, the comments that were there were pretty basic. Nothing exceptional, just 2 sentences in passive and an adverb that I missed. I can live with that.
Thursday, December 17
Thursday, December 10
Status update
I have decided to send out at least one short story each month to the various online publications that are there. The whole point of writing is to get published. And If I want to be considered as a serious writer, then I think its better if my name can come up in a few online searches. Of course, all this considering about a quarter of my stories will be published. Hopefully!
On a less serious note, finished two chapters. Not getting the hang of writing for a younger audience. I mean, what I have written is fine, but it's in too much detail! I list every activity the protagonist carries out, which is not what I seem to remember from the books I read in younger days. The second problem that comes with this is a lots of sentences with he did this, he did that, then he did the other. Irritating, but I dunno a way around. In any case, I will keep writing it and not worry much about the style. Its always easier to skip extra details later, than adding more of them.
Also trying to figure out a thousand word story. Can we do it, I ask myself. Yes, we can, I answer!
On a less serious note, finished two chapters. Not getting the hang of writing for a younger audience. I mean, what I have written is fine, but it's in too much detail! I list every activity the protagonist carries out, which is not what I seem to remember from the books I read in younger days. The second problem that comes with this is a lots of sentences with he did this, he did that, then he did the other. Irritating, but I dunno a way around. In any case, I will keep writing it and not worry much about the style. Its always easier to skip extra details later, than adding more of them.
Also trying to figure out a thousand word story. Can we do it, I ask myself. Yes, we can, I answer!
Tuesday, December 8
Studying, reading and writing
Now that I want to write a simple story, I genre is shifting towards children's writing. So just did some basic research on what constitutes writing for children. A net search revealed that I knew very little about it. All my readings were made up of Enid Blyton's books, so her writing I know, but not much else. I was disgusted to find that not one of her books made it into the top twenty books for children. Not even Famous Five! It also may have to do with the fact that most of the lists were American in origin. But anyhoo, I looked up the list and came up with a few books which were common in all of them. I have read Narnia out of them, but I ordered the other eleven. This is so much fun. Not only will I learn how these authors wrote for children, their tones, their voices, their words, but I will have a heck of a good time doing it.
The best list I thought, was http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm
One more thing I realised, I have better talent at this type of writing, where I dont have to worry about sounding intelligent or ponderous, but just have fun writing. I am done with two chapters in just a couple of days. The chapters aren't that great, but then its a first draft and not supposed to be great.
Today's thought for the day: A completed manuscript in the hand, is worth twenty ideas in the bush. Not mine, I came across it on the internet, but I dont remember where. On the whole, though, a very apt thing to keep in mind.
The best list I thought, was http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm
One more thing I realised, I have better talent at this type of writing, where I dont have to worry about sounding intelligent or ponderous, but just have fun writing. I am done with two chapters in just a couple of days. The chapters aren't that great, but then its a first draft and not supposed to be great.
Today's thought for the day: A completed manuscript in the hand, is worth twenty ideas in the bush. Not mine, I came across it on the internet, but I dont remember where. On the whole, though, a very apt thing to keep in mind.
Wednesday, December 2
A simple story
What I cant understand is why cant I write a simple story? Why do all my stories end up with a convoluted plot about kings and princes and saving the world and what nots! I mean, if I tell you the plotline of my latest story, you will be impressed. But writing it would be like climbing Everest, especially for someone who gets tired climbing hills in the Western Ghats. The thought of writing it sinks my heart somewhere near my toes and gives me a severe case of the heebeejeebies.
What I want is a simple story, not quite the 'boy meets girl' type, but not much harder and more importantly not very long. Somewhere near 70k-75k words is enough! I wont feel overwhelmed while writing it, so it might actually get written.
Yesterday night, just telling a bed time story, I made up a good deal of a fairy tale. It had a good deal of fun in it, but only for young readers, probably preteens. Let's see, if I can keep it simple, I will have a decent plot to write about. I may not be able to publish it, but at least I would have climbed a decently sized hill, which would make Everest seem just that bit smaller.
What I want is a simple story, not quite the 'boy meets girl' type, but not much harder and more importantly not very long. Somewhere near 70k-75k words is enough! I wont feel overwhelmed while writing it, so it might actually get written.
Yesterday night, just telling a bed time story, I made up a good deal of a fairy tale. It had a good deal of fun in it, but only for young readers, probably preteens. Let's see, if I can keep it simple, I will have a decent plot to write about. I may not be able to publish it, but at least I would have climbed a decently sized hill, which would make Everest seem just that bit smaller.
Wednesday, November 18
Finally!!!
Finally, I think I am ready to start again. I spent the last two months trying to improve my writing. Spent a lot of time on the net, especially for English grammar and styles of creative writing- trying to find out what is good writing and what is not. And of course, how to write fantasy, its potholes and not-dones. One of the better links I found is Limyaael's Fantasy Rants. One should go through all of these, at least to avoid the basic stereotypes and errors in fantasy fiction. I assure you, there will be a lot to ponder in here, and your story will be much the better for it.
Now, I have also worked on some softwares, mainly open-source, which can help me in writing. I will probably share my experience with them in some latter post. But, just for now, openoffice.org rocks!
One major change I have made in my writing schedule is that I wont try to write a certain number of words a day. I will just write a single scene each day. That is easier to write and I dont have to think ahead while writing. I can spend the whole next day wondering what to do in the next scene and then spend an hour or so writing it down. There might be some discontinuity involved, but since it will be the first draft, it will be allowed.
Happy writing to me again. I hope this time at least, I go past ten chapters.
Now, I have also worked on some softwares, mainly open-source, which can help me in writing. I will probably share my experience with them in some latter post. But, just for now, openoffice.org rocks!
One major change I have made in my writing schedule is that I wont try to write a certain number of words a day. I will just write a single scene each day. That is easier to write and I dont have to think ahead while writing. I can spend the whole next day wondering what to do in the next scene and then spend an hour or so writing it down. There might be some discontinuity involved, but since it will be the first draft, it will be allowed.
Happy writing to me again. I hope this time at least, I go past ten chapters.
Tuesday, September 29
A good start
There were a few things I had not ironed out during my last attempt at writing a novel. So I ended up with a few issues. Most of them could be blamed upon not thinking things through. To point them out
1. Characters: I had chalked out the main characters well enough, but I didn't think through enough of the side characters. So after a certain point in the story, the motivations of my main characters didn't seem real. This time round, I will not only chalk out the main characters, but also flesh out as many of the side characters as I can.
2. A thorough plot/storyline: I thought out the main storyline well, but didn't follow through on the subplots. So I missed out on a lost of conflict that could have been added. Now, though I am done with the storyline, to a large extent, I am still ironing out the plots within the plots. And believe you me, the subplots add so much to the story. A little love story on the side, and the motivation of the characters can change. They also open up a lot of other avenues and options that the character can choose from, which makes the story more fun.
So, version 5.0 of the story will be put through the planning stage in a far more effective manner.
3.
1. Characters: I had chalked out the main characters well enough, but I didn't think through enough of the side characters. So after a certain point in the story, the motivations of my main characters didn't seem real. This time round, I will not only chalk out the main characters, but also flesh out as many of the side characters as I can.
2. A thorough plot/storyline: I thought out the main storyline well, but didn't follow through on the subplots. So I missed out on a lost of conflict that could have been added. Now, though I am done with the storyline, to a large extent, I am still ironing out the plots within the plots. And believe you me, the subplots add so much to the story. A little love story on the side, and the motivation of the characters can change. They also open up a lot of other avenues and options that the character can choose from, which makes the story more fun.
So, version 5.0 of the story will be put through the planning stage in a far more effective manner.
3.
Thursday, September 17
An example of some very good writing
I got myself a copy of Dan Brown's latest book, The Lost Symbol. Though I have just finished some fifty pages of the book, one thing struck me right between the eyes. The book is an excellent example of how to write. I will not comment on the content, but the style is fantastic.
On all my research on how to write, I came across the following points
1. No adverbs
2. Show, not tell
3. No infodumps
1. No adverbs: I came across only one adverb in the first fifty pages. Even if we say that I missed nine or ten for the one I picked, that's still only one adverb per five pages, a brilliant ratio in my ledger. And it will be lesser than that.
2. Show, not tell. This requirement says that you don't tell that Jorge bought a new red car. You say Jorge opened the door of his scarlet Ferrari and took in the smell of the new leather seats. He slid in, still unfamiliar with the size of his new car, after the humongous SUV he drove, and took hold of the steering wheel. Even when the car was not running, its power made him come up in goosebumps.
I guess you get the point. Read Dan Brown's book, purely from the writer's perspective. It will be a lesson in how to do the above, page after page, line after line.
3. No infodumps: As my main genre will be fantasy/speculative fiction, I need to give the readers a large amount of information so that they can understand the entire system of the world I am putting them in. I have to do it, so there's no escaping that, but the tact is in how to do it. You have to make sure that the information is not boring and that it does not take the reader's mind off the story. So it needs to be presented as a part of the story.
Dan Brown also has to provide chunks and chunks of obscure information on his topics, and he does it well. He slips it into conversations, or puts in flashbacks of the protagonist's lectures, which somehow don't deter the reader from the story. He gives you information before he uses it, so you as the reader are already trying to join the dots on how the information would be used. Of course, the dots you join are never as exciting as the real story, but that is a different story.
On all my research on how to write, I came across the following points
1. No adverbs
2. Show, not tell
3. No infodumps
1. No adverbs: I came across only one adverb in the first fifty pages. Even if we say that I missed nine or ten for the one I picked, that's still only one adverb per five pages, a brilliant ratio in my ledger. And it will be lesser than that.
2. Show, not tell. This requirement says that you don't tell that Jorge bought a new red car. You say Jorge opened the door of his scarlet Ferrari and took in the smell of the new leather seats. He slid in, still unfamiliar with the size of his new car, after the humongous SUV he drove, and took hold of the steering wheel. Even when the car was not running, its power made him come up in goosebumps.
I guess you get the point. Read Dan Brown's book, purely from the writer's perspective. It will be a lesson in how to do the above, page after page, line after line.
3. No infodumps: As my main genre will be fantasy/speculative fiction, I need to give the readers a large amount of information so that they can understand the entire system of the world I am putting them in. I have to do it, so there's no escaping that, but the tact is in how to do it. You have to make sure that the information is not boring and that it does not take the reader's mind off the story. So it needs to be presented as a part of the story.
Dan Brown also has to provide chunks and chunks of obscure information on his topics, and he does it well. He slips it into conversations, or puts in flashbacks of the protagonist's lectures, which somehow don't deter the reader from the story. He gives you information before he uses it, so you as the reader are already trying to join the dots on how the information would be used. Of course, the dots you join are never as exciting as the real story, but that is a different story.
Monday, August 31
An odd coincidence
I was reading P.G.Wodehouse's Uncle Dynamite, where I came across two names.
1. Harold Potter
2. Hermione Bostock
Then I read another one of his works, Plum Punch: Four Short Stories, which had the names
1. Dudley Jones
2. Stanley Pettigrew
Which led me to think that maybe, just maybe, some of the names in Harry Potter are taken from Wodehouse's creations. This is wild conjecture, but it leads to an interesting observation. When I need a new name, I search through a huge database on the net, struggling through to find a name which fits the character in my head. However, what Rowling may have done is picked up a book from her shelf, turned to a page and stuck to the name she found. I think that is a good method, much better than mine. It leads to no waste of time and is quite practical. No human has a control on his name, then why should a character.
On the other hand, when parents name their kids, they do take some trouble finding the name. Then, shouldn't it be same for writers and their characters.
I think that the main characters should be names properly, and the others should hope that they dont get named Polly Parrots or Pongo Twistleton.
I, myself, would prefer to be known as "Absolutus Fantasticus", thank you very much!
1. Harold Potter
2. Hermione Bostock
Then I read another one of his works, Plum Punch: Four Short Stories, which had the names
1. Dudley Jones
2. Stanley Pettigrew
Which led me to think that maybe, just maybe, some of the names in Harry Potter are taken from Wodehouse's creations. This is wild conjecture, but it leads to an interesting observation. When I need a new name, I search through a huge database on the net, struggling through to find a name which fits the character in my head. However, what Rowling may have done is picked up a book from her shelf, turned to a page and stuck to the name she found. I think that is a good method, much better than mine. It leads to no waste of time and is quite practical. No human has a control on his name, then why should a character.
On the other hand, when parents name their kids, they do take some trouble finding the name. Then, shouldn't it be same for writers and their characters.
I think that the main characters should be names properly, and the others should hope that they dont get named Polly Parrots or Pongo Twistleton.
I, myself, would prefer to be known as "Absolutus Fantasticus", thank you very much!
Monday, August 3
Note to myself on adverbs
Adverbs! I have been breaking my head on them. Writers are supposed to avoid them like the plague, but I cant seem to do so. A few do creep in, unpretentiously.
But I have come to a final conclusion. Adverbs can remain, if they really add value to the sentence.
e.g.: There are two adverbs in this post. The first is unpretentiously, which does not add any real value to the sentence, as when I say things creep in, then doesn't that already include the 'unpretentiously'. So, that can be cut off!
However, the 'really' in the next line seems necessary, so it can stay.
One more thing I can do is change things like "He smiled brightly" to "A smile lit up his face." A much better way to write.
PS: I have come up with a background over the weekend. This week will be spent in ironing out anomalies and inconsistencies. Next week I will start worrying about the story and by end of August, I plan to have at least four to five chapters finished.
But I have come to a final conclusion. Adverbs can remain, if they really add value to the sentence.
e.g.: There are two adverbs in this post. The first is unpretentiously, which does not add any real value to the sentence, as when I say things creep in, then doesn't that already include the 'unpretentiously'. So, that can be cut off!
However, the 'really' in the next line seems necessary, so it can stay.
One more thing I can do is change things like "He smiled brightly" to "A smile lit up his face." A much better way to write.
PS: I have come up with a background over the weekend. This week will be spent in ironing out anomalies and inconsistencies. Next week I will start worrying about the story and by end of August, I plan to have at least four to five chapters finished.
Saturday, August 1
Calculations
I want to finish a book this year. Let's say, that it's just the first draft. Now then, I have 5 months left. A book is anywhere from 80000-120000 words. The first draft may be lesser or more, but lets say on average that it is about 100000 words long.
So, one assumed constant in the equation is 100000 words.
I may not be able to write for a couple of weeks to three weeks. Let's fix that to three weeks. So I have exactly (31+30+31+30+31-21)=132 days left
So per day of the remaining days, I will have to write 100000/132 = 758 words.
My daily target is usually 1000 words, so this is still doable. Yup, boys, we are gonna have out book this year. We might even be able to move to a second or even a third draft, if we kept at it!
So, one assumed constant in the equation is 100000 words.
I may not be able to write for a couple of weeks to three weeks. Let's fix that to three weeks. So I have exactly (31+30+31+30+31-21)=132 days left
So per day of the remaining days, I will have to write 100000/132 = 758 words.
My daily target is usually 1000 words, so this is still doable. Yup, boys, we are gonna have out book this year. We might even be able to move to a second or even a third draft, if we kept at it!
Friday, July 31
Compart-mental-ization
Wanted to write, but had a couple of bad days at office. So bad, that I couldn't even sleep properly. So writing took a backseat. I have realized that I cant compartmentalize now, almost at all. Earlier, I could leave office and not worry whether even if the building fell down. Now, I cant leave the office behind. It stays with me day and night. I need to relearn how to do it. My life is getting complicateder and complicateder, and I don't see anyway I can avoid it. Maybe meditation would help?
Wednesday, July 29
Back again? I hope so!
I think now I am ready to write again. At least, I dont break into a cold sweat every time I stare at a blank white screen. Moreover, I can think again. For quite a few days, that hadn't been possible. I have thought of a couple of stories, one short, one a little longer, that seem to be quite interesting, thought they are in the nascent state.
Today's agenda: Sit in front of the laptop, stare at the white screen and not panic. At least for 2 hours. Type whatever nonsense that comes to mind. This will get me writing somewhat decently by Saturday.
Today's agenda: Sit in front of the laptop, stare at the white screen and not panic. At least for 2 hours. Type whatever nonsense that comes to mind. This will get me writing somewhat decently by Saturday.
Monday, July 6
An uncontrolled hiatus
I have given up on writing, at least for the next few weeks. Too many things going on, and I cannot concentrate on writing. In the next few weeks, I hope things settle down enough for me to ascertain whether I can write or not. At this point, the moment I sit to write down, my brain shuts off, the computer screen blurs and I start to hyperventilate. Same with reading, or any other activity where I need to stimulate my mind. Cant get beyond the first three lines. The only thing that helps is the TV, which I can watch and while away my time in insipid mind numbing entertainment. I seem to get on well enough with office work though, and I am afraid to actually state what this may mean.
So, no writing in the near future for me, and not for lack of trying!
But as one famous charactor said famously, "I will be back."
So, no writing in the near future for me, and not for lack of trying!
But as one famous charactor said famously, "I will be back."
Monday, June 29
Writer's block
A big fat roadblock, that's what this is! The first weeks of June were productive to the extent of being misleading; I felt a book could be done by October or November. The last weeks have been rather eyeopening. Nothing more than a hundred words, and a genuine problem. Do I continue on the same story, or do I move on to a new one, having more zest. And it doesn't help that my concentration has completely shattered. Cant spend even ten minutes trying to think on the story without any unrelated thoughts creep in and cause train wrecks in my mind.
Wednesday, June 24
A new backdrop and conflict
Yesterday I didn't manage a chapter. All I managed were thirty three lousy words. But I realized it was not my fault. The story refused to be written, because it knew it was not going anywhere great. To put it in simpler words, the protagonist did not have any motivation for going after the antagonist and the antagonist did not have any reason to do anything. Frankly speaking, I did not even have a fully chalked out antagonist. He was, kind of, behind a blanket of mist.
So, I have decided to give in to the whims of the story and bring forth the antagonist. That should add the necessary conflict to make the story spicier. Of course, the first chapters will have to be rewritten, but I will continue on assuming they are. Oh, I hate first drafts! It will be fun for the reviewers, when suddenly after chapter 9-10, the story stops making sense, or at least seems discontinuous.
I will spend the next few days working on the newer story. This will make it version 5, I think. Or at least, 4.1, depending on whether there are so many changes that it can be classified as a new release.
Memo to myself, don't force the story. If it's not coming naturally, then something is wrong. Try and figure out what.
Second memo: Add as much conflict as possible and in liberal doses.
So, I have decided to give in to the whims of the story and bring forth the antagonist. That should add the necessary conflict to make the story spicier. Of course, the first chapters will have to be rewritten, but I will continue on assuming they are. Oh, I hate first drafts! It will be fun for the reviewers, when suddenly after chapter 9-10, the story stops making sense, or at least seems discontinuous.
I will spend the next few days working on the newer story. This will make it version 5, I think. Or at least, 4.1, depending on whether there are so many changes that it can be classified as a new release.
Memo to myself, don't force the story. If it's not coming naturally, then something is wrong. Try and figure out what.
Second memo: Add as much conflict as possible and in liberal doses.
Tuesday, June 23
A chapter today, or bust!
I am going to finish a chapter today, screw it! The last two weeks have been such a waste of time. Now, enough is enough. I will finish chapter 10 today, whatever happens.
I have come up with a foolproof method to ensure I keep writing. If I don't write, or intend to write that day, then only corn flakes for dinner. So, it's a win-win situation; either I finish a book, or I lose some weight. Nice!
I have come up with a foolproof method to ensure I keep writing. If I don't write, or intend to write that day, then only corn flakes for dinner. So, it's a win-win situation; either I finish a book, or I lose some weight. Nice!
Sunday, June 21
Tense and nervous, can't write
I got stuck in chapter 9 longer than I care to remember. Finally, sick of it, I left it alone and started chapter 10. But it's so difficult to kick start writing again. I cant get beyond the first few words!
I think it has got to do a lot with the fact that the last week or so has been disturbed. I was very busy at home, not able to concentrate on writing. Then there have been office tensions; I shouldn't have taken on the new project; not worth the hair I am losing. And the big fat issue! Spent the weekend looking for a house to buy. Not easy, I tell you. Now I am so tense that I am afraid it would creep into my writing.
Writing is a peaceful process. It sets the mind at peace, within and without. I know, or at least I feel, that if I can spend just half an hour writing, the tensions and apprehensions would be forgotten and the words would come out automatically. But I am so nervous that I cant even get that half an hour of crappy writing out of the way. I am off my chair in five minutes at best. Big fat numbers, a few times my annual emolument, start floating in front of my eyes and my heart sinks low into my kidneys.
So, I am stuck into a vicious circle. Writing will have a calming effect on me, but to write I need to be somewhat calm. Now how do I break this, I don't know. Maybe music might help. Some Indian classical for the soul.
If I am in such a state from just the prices of the houses, what will I do when I actually end up buying one. Maybe the blog needs to be renamed as 'a book, sometime in this century'.
I think it has got to do a lot with the fact that the last week or so has been disturbed. I was very busy at home, not able to concentrate on writing. Then there have been office tensions; I shouldn't have taken on the new project; not worth the hair I am losing. And the big fat issue! Spent the weekend looking for a house to buy. Not easy, I tell you. Now I am so tense that I am afraid it would creep into my writing.
Writing is a peaceful process. It sets the mind at peace, within and without. I know, or at least I feel, that if I can spend just half an hour writing, the tensions and apprehensions would be forgotten and the words would come out automatically. But I am so nervous that I cant even get that half an hour of crappy writing out of the way. I am off my chair in five minutes at best. Big fat numbers, a few times my annual emolument, start floating in front of my eyes and my heart sinks low into my kidneys.
So, I am stuck into a vicious circle. Writing will have a calming effect on me, but to write I need to be somewhat calm. Now how do I break this, I don't know. Maybe music might help. Some Indian classical for the soul.
If I am in such a state from just the prices of the houses, what will I do when I actually end up buying one. Maybe the blog needs to be renamed as 'a book, sometime in this century'.
Friday, June 19
Review pains
My friend just reviewed the second chapter and sent it to me. I am tempted to reply back to the mail, saying 'Bah, what do you know!' or something to that effect, just stronger. Handling reviews is so difficult. It's like someone telling you that your baby is ugly. It becomes even more painful when we spend hours writing a line and then we are told that it's dumb.
But unfortunately, it is a pain that I will have to carry with me. The best method I have come up with is that read the review first, but I don't react, as the first reactions invariably involve doubting the reviewers sanity, intelligence and human origins. I don't do anything on it for at least a week, and then I go through the review again. Initially it does seem that the reviewer must have nuts for brains, but after a sufficient period of time, the review comes across as quite valid. Not all the comments may be right, but some are; and then, some are quite beneficial.
But unfortunately, it is a pain that I will have to carry with me. The best method I have come up with is that read the review first, but I don't react, as the first reactions invariably involve doubting the reviewers sanity, intelligence and human origins. I don't do anything on it for at least a week, and then I go through the review again. Initially it does seem that the reviewer must have nuts for brains, but after a sufficient period of time, the review comes across as quite valid. Not all the comments may be right, but some are; and then, some are quite beneficial.
Thursday, June 18
Half week holiday
Had to go down to my home town for some family emergency. Finished up some pending tasks at home, but got no time to write. Now back to the grind with nothing more than a pair of sleepy eyes, an aching head and about 1500 more words.
One good thing though. I continue writing in the passive form, but now I understand it during review. I read through a page and corrected all three sentences. Still no idea about how to go around the '-ly' words.
One good thing though. I continue writing in the passive form, but now I understand it during review. I read through a page and corrected all three sentences. Still no idea about how to go around the '-ly' words.
Friday, June 12
Heroes are dimwits and not writing puts me in a funk
I have been stuck in a chapter since Monday now. Didn't write anything on Tuesday, sat staring at the monitor on Wednesday, and got myself in another bit of a hole on Thursday. Though this hole is just a personal decision one. This is the first time in the book that the hero has a choice to do something heroic. Till now if he did something heroic, it was mainly because I left him no choice.
Now, he has to make a choice. Do something heroic, or take the easy way out. Most ordinary people would take the latter, but would our heroes do that? No! They would do heroic things, jump over lakes of fire, swim icy oceans, kill fiery dragons, and in general, other dumb things.
So, I have realized one more thing. Heroes are dumb, dimwits, who have no idea what's good for them. And that there's no way out. When faced with a choice, let's say, cooking for himself, in which he has to start from picking the food, or having dinner in a fine classy restaurant, the hero will have to take the former. Otherwise, what will the writer write? The hotel menu?
I think not writing daily has other disadvantages too. I have been in a funk on Tuesday and Wednesday, which I think came from not writing on earlier days. I wrote something yesterday, though inordinately crappy, but I am feeling much better. I am not sure about not writing putting me in a blue mood, but I will keep myself under observation, and update the results.
Now, he has to make a choice. Do something heroic, or take the easy way out. Most ordinary people would take the latter, but would our heroes do that? No! They would do heroic things, jump over lakes of fire, swim icy oceans, kill fiery dragons, and in general, other dumb things.
So, I have realized one more thing. Heroes are dumb, dimwits, who have no idea what's good for them. And that there's no way out. When faced with a choice, let's say, cooking for himself, in which he has to start from picking the food, or having dinner in a fine classy restaurant, the hero will have to take the former. Otherwise, what will the writer write? The hotel menu?
I think not writing daily has other disadvantages too. I have been in a funk on Tuesday and Wednesday, which I think came from not writing on earlier days. I wrote something yesterday, though inordinately crappy, but I am feeling much better. I am not sure about not writing putting me in a blue mood, but I will keep myself under observation, and update the results.
Thursday, June 11
Don't take breaks
I read in a book that taking a break from writing for even one day has disastrous results. I am experiencing that first hand now. Took one day off, as I felt sleepy, and today, I seem to have forgotten how to write. Cant put a single word down. I have lost the link and the continuity, but most importantly, I have lost my characters. Just because I didn't think of them for a day, they refuse to tell me what happened and how they reacted. And as a direct result, I have to write the story myself. And I am not such a good writer. If the characters don't tell me the story, I have nothing to write.
Memo to myself, WRITE EVERYDAY! Getting back into the flow is just so hard, that it's not worth lazing around for a day.
Memo to myself, WRITE EVERYDAY! Getting back into the flow is just so hard, that it's not worth lazing around for a day.
Monday, June 8
Writing is easy
I know I will write a contradictory post soon enough, but at this point writing is easy, writing is fun, and writing is joyous.
I wrote myself out of a hole this morning, and between you and me, it was a fantastic piece of writing. I was so happy, and I cant wait to go home and continue on ahead. I haven't got such a feeling of success since God knows when. This is great! This is what I want to do. The days of depression and disgust, all the struggling to put even a word on paper, all the self doubt, is worth it, just this one moment of complete and utter satisfaction and the uninhibited joy of creation.
I wrote myself out of a hole this morning, and between you and me, it was a fantastic piece of writing. I was so happy, and I cant wait to go home and continue on ahead. I haven't got such a feeling of success since God knows when. This is great! This is what I want to do. The days of depression and disgust, all the struggling to put even a word on paper, all the self doubt, is worth it, just this one moment of complete and utter satisfaction and the uninhibited joy of creation.
Saturday, June 6
A story has its own legs
There is this movie, Alex and Emma, which starred Kate Hudson and this guy, who is a writer. The guy, Alex, is broke and has the local goons behind him, so he needs to finish a book real fast. But these goons break his laptop, so he cant type. So he calls up Emma, Kate Hudson, as his stenographer. And then go see the movie. However, there was one scene, in which Emma asks Alex, how will his story end? Who will win and so on. Alex replies that he doesn't know. Emma is surprised. How can a writer not know how his book ends. Alex replies that he doesn't know the story, but he knows the characters, and the characters will take the story wherever it needs to go. When I first saw this movie, I thought that was such a load of crap. But that was the engineer in me, I guess. Now I know exactly what he meant. I knew my story intimately when I began to write it, but now I don't even know it as much as an estranged friend. I don't know what will happen, till I actually write it down. And then I get surprised at what I write!
I really hope that this is how things work. I have no prior experience of writing anything so long, and I dont want the story to meander and get itself lost. At this point, however, the story is roughly going where I want it to go, so I am not worried. When the story starts to ramble, probably I will lasso it and bring it to heel. Let it enjoy its freedom now.
I really hope that this is how things work. I have no prior experience of writing anything so long, and I dont want the story to meander and get itself lost. At this point, however, the story is roughly going where I want it to go, so I am not worried. When the story starts to ramble, probably I will lasso it and bring it to heel. Let it enjoy its freedom now.
Friday, June 5
Early morning sprint and review guilt
Mosquitoes woke me up at 4:30 AM. Had cornflakes, green tea with honey, lemon and ginger (going whole hog there), watched the last hour of October Sky(one of my favorite movies) and sat down to write at 5:30. Had a bit of an upset tummy, so between trips to the bathroom, wrote about 2000 words in two and an half hours. Now, no matter how many things go wrong at the office, which they tend to, more often than not nowadays, it cant really be a bad day. I have already achieved the double of my daily quota of writing. So it's already a day well spent!
I am giving the first drafts of my completed chapters for review to a couple of friends and relatives. Yesterday, one of my friends spent three hours (at least) reviewing one of the chapters. She did a very thorough job, pointing out most mistakes. But now I am not sure whether sending out first drafts is such a bright idea. I feel that if I would have gone through the chapters, I could have reduced the mistakes by fifty percent. It's not to say that I would have figured out everything, as she did point out quite a few things that I didn't know. Like I shouldn't start a sentence with anyway. I didn't know that, no sir.
But what I cant decide is that if I would have sent the second or third draft, so to say, with common errors like typos and tenses removed, wouldn't she have been more effective. The other part of the dilemma is if she wouldn't have acquainted me with the errors I didn't know about, then I would have continued making them till the end. So, all in all, I don't know. I think the time taken for review will not be reduced by much, nor the time to correct those errors, as percentage wise, I will make almost the same number of errors.
Memo to myself, never mix math and writing. But maybe it's to late for that.
Another pointer, continue as is with the review system. The way I see it is, at least I am getting some comments. Now if I stop sending out chapters to her, she will lose her link, which may reduce the comments she points out. Will give out for more reviews once my second or third draft is done, so my fourth or fifth draft is as good as it gets.
I am giving the first drafts of my completed chapters for review to a couple of friends and relatives. Yesterday, one of my friends spent three hours (at least) reviewing one of the chapters. She did a very thorough job, pointing out most mistakes. But now I am not sure whether sending out first drafts is such a bright idea. I feel that if I would have gone through the chapters, I could have reduced the mistakes by fifty percent. It's not to say that I would have figured out everything, as she did point out quite a few things that I didn't know. Like I shouldn't start a sentence with anyway. I didn't know that, no sir.
But what I cant decide is that if I would have sent the second or third draft, so to say, with common errors like typos and tenses removed, wouldn't she have been more effective. The other part of the dilemma is if she wouldn't have acquainted me with the errors I didn't know about, then I would have continued making them till the end. So, all in all, I don't know. I think the time taken for review will not be reduced by much, nor the time to correct those errors, as percentage wise, I will make almost the same number of errors.
Memo to myself, never mix math and writing. But maybe it's to late for that.
Another pointer, continue as is with the review system. The way I see it is, at least I am getting some comments. Now if I stop sending out chapters to her, she will lose her link, which may reduce the comments she points out. Will give out for more reviews once my second or third draft is done, so my fourth or fifth draft is as good as it gets.
Thursday, June 4
Frustration, but progress
Yesterday, I went through my monthly installment of frustration. I thought that my book was useless, and no one would read it. I got myself depressed, and vague thoughts of throwing the remote on the TV didn't help soothe much. It started with one chapter, which I thought was forced on the characters. Then it just got worse. My characters are not good enough. My background is not good enough. This is a problem, that is a problem. How I would spend my entire life working like a donkey for some other donkey, how one day I will die having achieved nothing but obsolete knowledge of mobile networks. How my life is no better than a coolie's, how I am just a software coolie. Well, you get the idea!
However, unlike the last few times, there was a difference. I still continued writing. I only got about 300-350 words on the page, but they were good words. I surprised myself with the sudden change that took place in the book and the situation. I had thought of writing the whole book again with a first person narrative, as it would then have my tone, but I realized that the protagonist is not me, so I continued on. I may still change it later, but I find it unlikely.
Oh, and yes, I am writing myself into a dead end, and by the time I finish chapter 9, I would be thoroughly stuck. One of my close friends, who critiques the chapters for me, asked me why write myself in a corner then? My answer was, that if I dont take the difficult path, the book would not really be interesting. I mean, if I am in a hole, so is the character, and so is the reader. If I dont put people in holes, how is it supposed to get interesting.
However, unlike the last few times, there was a difference. I still continued writing. I only got about 300-350 words on the page, but they were good words. I surprised myself with the sudden change that took place in the book and the situation. I had thought of writing the whole book again with a first person narrative, as it would then have my tone, but I realized that the protagonist is not me, so I continued on. I may still change it later, but I find it unlikely.
Oh, and yes, I am writing myself into a dead end, and by the time I finish chapter 9, I would be thoroughly stuck. One of my close friends, who critiques the chapters for me, asked me why write myself in a corner then? My answer was, that if I dont take the difficult path, the book would not really be interesting. I mean, if I am in a hole, so is the character, and so is the reader. If I dont put people in holes, how is it supposed to get interesting.
Wednesday, June 3
Problem number 1
I have finally realized what my biggest problem is. I am not enjoying writing anymore. Writing has become work. I read one short chapter I had written about an year ago. It was funny, carefree and fun to read. That was because I didn't think much about it. I didn't think about the people who would read it, or its grammar, or its literary standards. In the last eight months, I have learned how to write correctly, but I have forgotten how to write.
I have forgotten the basic rule of writing. I should have fun while doing it. To heck with correctness.
I hope I get back my carefree writing again, otherwise I will become just like those hundreds of thousands of people, who write very correctly, but their writing holds no juice. It is just the dry pulp left behind after every drop of enjoyment has been squeezed out of the activity.
I have forgotten the basic rule of writing. I should have fun while doing it. To heck with correctness.
I hope I get back my carefree writing again, otherwise I will become just like those hundreds of thousands of people, who write very correctly, but their writing holds no juice. It is just the dry pulp left behind after every drop of enjoyment has been squeezed out of the activity.
Tuesday, June 2
Progress and problems
Over the last week or so, I have made a lot of progress. First, I am at least able to write for an hour each day. And this write means write; it doesn't include time spent in drinking green tea, or playing games, or hitting the space key a hundred million times. I have been able to reach the stage almost daily, where I can write without thinking.
And with the progress have come problems. I have seen two issues in my writing. I keep using -ly ending words a lot. I havent been able to see how to stop this, but at this point I will just keep writing and avoid them where ever possible. I will not be breaking my concentration, just because i wrote 'briskly' or 'promptly'. Once I am done writing, I will keep one revision only for -ly.
The second problem is time. How do I fill in time between two actions or speeches. I end up with a surfeit of phrases like "soon", "in a moment", "sudden" and "suddenly" (which is a culprit in two ways). I felt this to be a loose way of writing, and wanted to tighten things up, so I queried my writing group for the same, and got the following responses. All are good, and can be used depending on the situation. The most innovative, however, is marked in bold.
1. Why not describe something or have one of your characters do something, like fiddle with something, or move somehow? I don't know the context or setting, so it's difficult, but I seldom use "after a moment" or "soon after."
2. You can also describe something happening in the environment that implies the amount of time that has passed: the motion of a shadow, the changing sound of traffic, the melting of ice in a drink.
3. I usually describe it explicitly, eg 'seconds passed', or 'minutes later.'
And with the progress have come problems. I have seen two issues in my writing. I keep using -ly ending words a lot. I havent been able to see how to stop this, but at this point I will just keep writing and avoid them where ever possible. I will not be breaking my concentration, just because i wrote 'briskly' or 'promptly'. Once I am done writing, I will keep one revision only for -ly.
The second problem is time. How do I fill in time between two actions or speeches. I end up with a surfeit of phrases like "soon", "in a moment", "sudden" and "suddenly" (which is a culprit in two ways). I felt this to be a loose way of writing, and wanted to tighten things up, so I queried my writing group for the same, and got the following responses. All are good, and can be used depending on the situation. The most innovative, however, is marked in bold.
1. Why not describe something or have one of your characters do something, like fiddle with something, or move somehow? I don't know the context or setting, so it's difficult, but I seldom use "after a moment" or "soon after."
2. You can also describe something happening in the environment that implies the amount of time that has passed: the motion of a shadow, the changing sound of traffic, the melting of ice in a drink.
3. I usually describe it explicitly, eg 'seconds passed', or 'minutes later.'
Thursday, May 28
Description
One of the major problems I am having is with descriptions. Mainly, how much is too much? Especially because in the genre I am looking to write, speculative fiction, books can be very descriptive. I think I don't have to go beyond LOTR to quote an example. But I cannot write that descriptively. If I do, I myself will lose the thread of the story, let alone the reader.
The second problem is, if I am not describing too much, am I describing too little? What if whatever I am writing makes no sense, because I have not set the place correctly or well enough.
I dont think there is a solution to this problem. I can only work out one way. Write the whole thing, all chapters, front to end, without going through too much rework. Once that is done, go through the entire book chapter by chapter. If I feel that somewhere description is less or more, then decorate or trim it accordingly. Once that is done, and I have corrected all the grammatical errors that I can find, then I can go ahead and submit it for reviews in the writers workshop I am a part of. With the multiple view points I get, I hope that this issue will be resolved suitably.
The second problem is, if I am not describing too much, am I describing too little? What if whatever I am writing makes no sense, because I have not set the place correctly or well enough.
I dont think there is a solution to this problem. I can only work out one way. Write the whole thing, all chapters, front to end, without going through too much rework. Once that is done, go through the entire book chapter by chapter. If I feel that somewhere description is less or more, then decorate or trim it accordingly. Once that is done, and I have corrected all the grammatical errors that I can find, then I can go ahead and submit it for reviews in the writers workshop I am a part of. With the multiple view points I get, I hope that this issue will be resolved suitably.
Wednesday, May 27
Motivation II
In my earlier post, I just touched on this point, but it seems that the characters take a life of their own, unknown and uncontrolled by me. When I sat to write down the book, I created an initial sketch of the characters: their physical traits, general habits, intellect etc. Now though the characters are still based on the initial sketch, they have moved on much higher and have ways of reacting and thinking, which I did not create. And I don't even know whether that is a problem. The characters a more lively and real, though more difficult to manage. If now I force them to act as I want them to, they will seem like puppets.
But I devised a solution at around one in the night. If they want to behave independently, I will let them. I cannot really control them, but I can control the situations they are in. Which is to say that I will give them hell. I will keep putting them in trouble, and they can take themselves out, if they can. Which means that I will be able to precisely act as God. I will put them in impossible situation after impossible situation, and then leave them to handle it on their own. Their thoughts and actions will take them out. If they cant get out, though, I will just change the situation to one which they can manage.
I think I have got myself a key for all fiction writing, at least from my point of view. I cant control characters as much as I can control situations. So I will control what I can. The book will go where its supposed to, as I will create the settings for it, only the path it will follow will not be the one I expected it to. And I will also punish the characters for being so independent. Buwahahahahaha!!!
But I devised a solution at around one in the night. If they want to behave independently, I will let them. I cannot really control them, but I can control the situations they are in. Which is to say that I will give them hell. I will keep putting them in trouble, and they can take themselves out, if they can. Which means that I will be able to precisely act as God. I will put them in impossible situation after impossible situation, and then leave them to handle it on their own. Their thoughts and actions will take them out. If they cant get out, though, I will just change the situation to one which they can manage.
I think I have got myself a key for all fiction writing, at least from my point of view. I cant control characters as much as I can control situations. So I will control what I can. The book will go where its supposed to, as I will create the settings for it, only the path it will follow will not be the one I expected it to. And I will also punish the characters for being so independent. Buwahahahahaha!!!
Monday, May 25
Motivation
Problem: I had made a complete story background and writeup, before I started to write. The characters needed to do certain actions, for certain other actions to take place. But now, as I get to chapter three, I realize that my characters have a life of their own. They think independently and differently than I do. So what I wanted to make them do initially, no longer stands, as they are not motivated by any thought nor does their seem to be any apparent benefit for me to force them to do this. And my story is stuck!
Learning:Motivation is an important part of each character. It is the only thing that keeps the story logical, true and consistent. It is so important that each word said by the character has to have some motivation. Except, of course, if your character is a complete moron, or a management professional. I cannot force the character to act as I want it to act. It has to take its own decisions.
Another example was a recent book I read. The villain, in the initial phase, blurts out all the plan. After that, he becomes silent and sullen and secretive over the whole book. The chapter in which he rants about the entire plot, seems to be out of place. It could have been done in a much more satisfactory fashion, if it were revealed slowly and at the correct time.
Extract: If my character is doing something he or she is not supposed to do, then he better not be doing it!
Learning:Motivation is an important part of each character. It is the only thing that keeps the story logical, true and consistent. It is so important that each word said by the character has to have some motivation. Except, of course, if your character is a complete moron, or a management professional. I cannot force the character to act as I want it to act. It has to take its own decisions.
Another example was a recent book I read. The villain, in the initial phase, blurts out all the plan. After that, he becomes silent and sullen and secretive over the whole book. The chapter in which he rants about the entire plot, seems to be out of place. It could have been done in a much more satisfactory fashion, if it were revealed slowly and at the correct time.
Extract: If my character is doing something he or she is not supposed to do, then he better not be doing it!
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