When writing yesterday, I couldn't find the name of one of my characters. I was sure I had named her.Whilst rummaging about in my Word folders, I came across a document titled 'Reminder to self'. What could this be? I wondered.
The file was created in January last year. I have no memory of writing it, or the contents. But whoever it was who wrote it seemed to know what they were talking about.
I'm putting it here in the hope that it might help someone else who's writing a first draft, or just about to redecorate the living room, or anything else that feels big and scary. I should listen to myself more often ; )
PS random photo of a lovely cow because I couldn't think of anything appropriate.
Reminder to self
It’s not your job to decide whether or not the characters are believable, the plot is exciting, the speech sounds genuine, etc. etc. (obviously that is my job but NOT whilst writing the first draft - later!)
It is your job to write 1000 words a day about Joe and his aunt. Write the story, and if you get stuck then just write 1000 words on what kinds of clothes Joe wears, or what happened at his first day at school. That way you’ll eventually find your way into the story. You might not know what the story is until you’ve written the whole first draft and you can suddenly see what it is. That’s fine – that’s part of the writing.
Don’t forget the details.
Try and enjoy it – this can be fun! It’s less fun when you pretend you ‘have’ to do it, that your survival as a writer and as a person depends on you doing it, and doing it bloody well, that you only have one more chance to write a good novel or you’re doomed. All the stories you tell yourself about writing being hard, about first drafts being difficult – none of these really help. It’s self-congratulatory. (NB I don't think that last sentence makes sense - I must have been thinking of a different phrase)
Be kind to yourself.
Just write your 1000 words, THEN you can add to this list/do the washing up/have a cup of tea. OK – just write 10 words – and then 10 more.
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7 comments:
Cheers for the advice ^^ i think its good for anyone writing and might just have to pingback to my blog
(this is saharial from goodreads btw)
I really needed the advice of slightly-younger-Fiona today, so please thank her for me :D xx
I love your thoughts on this and the random photo of the cow.
"You might not know what the story is until you’ve written the whole first draft and you can suddenly see what it is." That's right! You can't worry too much about where you are going with something or it won't work. Anton Ehrenzweig would say you need to give yourself up to the creative process and allow it to happen. There is a certain degree of anxiety to be dealt with in that because you are giving up conscious control and allowing the unconscious to do it's work. If you haven't read his book The Hidden Order of Art then give it a go - I think you'd like it. But I am biased as I wrote my thesis on him! Beth
Glad it was helpful, peeps! Welcome, Saharial. Duly thanked, green ink. Glad you like the cow Beryl, good to see you here!
Beth - remimds me of the headlights idea - that we can only see a little way in front of our car, but we make the whole journey that way...
Don't you just love finding a piece of old writing, reading it and thinking WOW! What a great piece of work, then finding out it was you. I think the younger self just gives us a nudge sometimes to help us realise we are great writers, especially when we suffer from writers block or, even worse, procrastination. Thank you for this entry. Marie
Thank you, Fiona. I very nearly didn't read this post, being crazy busy right now, but I did and I'm very glad. Thank you. I'm just going to write my 1,000 words and stop out-thinking myself. (For the most part! :) )
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