“I’ll get to it tomorrow.”
“Maybe after watching the football game...”
“I’m too tired.”
“Pizza? Writing? Pizza? Writing?...PIZZA!”
“A movie? No, I need to get some writing done...WAIT!...I really want to see this movie. I’ll write later.”
“Just one quick game of chess...”
“Oh, I love this episode. Kirk and Spock fighting to the death. Writing can wait.”
Distractions, a writer’s worst enemy. How distractions are dealt with can make or break a deadline. For a great idea on how to use distractions to an advantage, scroll down to a previous post. But in order to learn how to eliminate distractions all together, keep reading.
It is a simple, time-honored tradition that all successful writers preach, setting goals. I heard that! I mentioned the words” setting goals” and some of you groaned. You’re thinking, “it’s bad enough I have to write thousands of words on these blank pages before my deadline approaches and you’re telling me to waste time setting goals for myself. OK! Here’s a goal. Finish writing my manuscript before said deadline approaches. Happy?”
When setting writing goals, it is important to have several goals broken down into achievable chunks. It would be unrealistic to expect a 300-page manuscript be completed in a month’s time. That type of goal would not only lead to failure, it would frustrate the author and possibly jeopardize future endeavors. An achievable set of goals is the key. Start out small to keep the pen flowing and to build up confidence. Once the first several goals have been met, gradually increase the workload, never going beyond what is possible.
For my works in progress (WIP), I like to outline a two week time-frame. Day one might be something as simple as coming up with a concept for the book. Thirteen year-old Julian Torres discovers a jeweled stone buried in the backyard of his Dad’s beachfront property in Costa Rica. Extensive research reveals he may have discovered a piece from the legendary Treasures of Lima. A Goal for the next two days is to come up with character names and profiles. Day four’s goal is to write a page length summary of the story. Day five’s goal; create an outline of events. Day six; work on writing the first chapter summary. Next week’s daily goals are to write a chapter summary per day. I then figure out another two week’s worth of goals. Once the first draft starts, I go with a moderate goal of writing two pages per day. With these achievable goals, I will have no problem keeping the fingers pecking away at the keyboard. It also helps me to organize my day. If I really want to see a movie or catch an episode of Star Trek, I make sure to get my writing goal finished first.
Setting achievable goals will move any WIP along at a comfortable rate, keeping the writer satisfied. A satisfied writer (or better yet, a satisfied writer’s characters) can do anything; climb Mt. Everest, wrestle a great white shark, throw the game winning touchdown in a championship game, or solve a fantastic mystery that has baffled authorities for months. So keep those goals coming.
Today’s goal: submit post for “Educated Writer” blog...DONE! Now I can watch Spock take a swing at his captain. Dun dun Da Da Da Da Da Da Da dadun Dah Dah brrrrrraaaaahhhh!!! Or better yet, Chip Douglas battling Steven Kovacs.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Perseverance
Take a moment to think about the hard work that goes into writing. It can be a multi-step process that spans months, if not years. Before I began writing (way way back in grade school...see a previous entry for more on that), I had limited knowledge of the process. To me, writing a story was as easy as sitting in front of a pad of paper and re-writing Star Wars with different characters, ships, and planets. Many years and many writing courses later, I have gained a valuable insight into that process.
It takes a lot more than an afternoon or two of writing to finish a well-polished manuscript. A plot, settings, and characters all need invented. In order to accomplish those feats, the writer must first outline, profile, and summarize. After all the details of the story are worked out, it’s time for a first draft. Many stories written by both amateur and professional writers rarely make it past the first draft. If it does, you can bet there was a lot of sweat, tears, and hair pulling involved. Once all the sweat and tears have been replenished, the slightly balder writer enters the editing and revising process—egad! A final polish and—after several months of sleepless nights and dozens of fast food meals—a presentable manuscript is ready for the mail slot, yes? No! Now the writer must dedicate several hours, days, even weeks or months to find a suitable publisher. That polished sci-fi manuscript won’t go anywhere if it is sent to a publishing house that only prints non-fiction books or poetry.
The writing is done. The research is complete. Now the writer must craft a query letter, cover letter, and/or a proposal. The letter must be concise and engaging or the publisher won’t waste more than a few seconds on it. That’s the brutal truth of the publishing industry. Many writers spend countless hours on a manuscript only to have a publisher glance at it before deeming it ready for the recycle bin. When that happens, don’t give up. Try another publishing house. Keep sending that manuscript away. If several rejections occur, a writer can always re-examine the story. Maybe more editing and revising would strengthen the manuscript. Perhaps a step back from the current manuscript would be beneficial to a new work in progress.
No matter what stage of the writing process you are in, dedication will get you through it. Be stubborn about writing. Set aside a chunk of time each day to fulfill your writing needs and don’t quit until it’s absolutely necessary. Perseverance is a quality all writers must have. Harness that quality, use it day in and day out and you’ll become the writer you always wanted to be.
It takes a lot more than an afternoon or two of writing to finish a well-polished manuscript. A plot, settings, and characters all need invented. In order to accomplish those feats, the writer must first outline, profile, and summarize. After all the details of the story are worked out, it’s time for a first draft. Many stories written by both amateur and professional writers rarely make it past the first draft. If it does, you can bet there was a lot of sweat, tears, and hair pulling involved. Once all the sweat and tears have been replenished, the slightly balder writer enters the editing and revising process—egad! A final polish and—after several months of sleepless nights and dozens of fast food meals—a presentable manuscript is ready for the mail slot, yes? No! Now the writer must dedicate several hours, days, even weeks or months to find a suitable publisher. That polished sci-fi manuscript won’t go anywhere if it is sent to a publishing house that only prints non-fiction books or poetry.
The writing is done. The research is complete. Now the writer must craft a query letter, cover letter, and/or a proposal. The letter must be concise and engaging or the publisher won’t waste more than a few seconds on it. That’s the brutal truth of the publishing industry. Many writers spend countless hours on a manuscript only to have a publisher glance at it before deeming it ready for the recycle bin. When that happens, don’t give up. Try another publishing house. Keep sending that manuscript away. If several rejections occur, a writer can always re-examine the story. Maybe more editing and revising would strengthen the manuscript. Perhaps a step back from the current manuscript would be beneficial to a new work in progress.
No matter what stage of the writing process you are in, dedication will get you through it. Be stubborn about writing. Set aside a chunk of time each day to fulfill your writing needs and don’t quit until it’s absolutely necessary. Perseverance is a quality all writers must have. Harness that quality, use it day in and day out and you’ll become the writer you always wanted to be.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Distractions, Distractions
For the writer, distractions come in all shapes, sizes, and sounds. From food, to TV, to the fine art of relieving oneself. Not a day goes by without at least a dozen distractions pulling the writer away from the written page, or in my case, the unwritten page. The phone rings, the dog barks, Grandma Gertrude comes over for a visit, the neighbor is mowing the lawn, the aroma of fresh, hot apple pie drifts through the door crack. How can a writer deal with such distractions? Short of locking oneself in a small, white-walled, soundproofed, square room with pad and pencil, the “educated” writer must learn to use the distractions to his or her advantage.
There is a knock on the door. The “educated” writer will use this moment to contemplate who could be standing behind the door. A shady neighbor from down the street collecting donations to a phony charity. Perhaps this neighbor has a debt to settle with a loan shark and is desperate for cash. He needs to “raise” two-thousand clams by nightfall or he’s history.
Aha! That would make a great character in a novel about a single dad trying to prove his ability to raise four children to a demanding social worker . His wife had died two years ago. He lost his job shortly after that and has been gambling away what little money he had left. He managed to win a few pots in some high stakes poker games, but his luck has recently turned. Now with no money and no other choice, he turns to the streets for help.
Quickly, the “educated” writer jots down the notes then answers the door. It turns out to be an elderly woman who had the wrong apartment number. The “educated” writer gracefully accepts her apology and returns to the keyboard. With a moment’s thought, the “educated” writer wonders, what if the elderly woman did have the correct apartment? Perhaps the middle-aged man who answered the door abducted the friend she thought lived in the apartment. He only pretended she had the wrong apartment so he could get rid of the body without any witnesses. Again, the “educated” writer jots some notes. That scenario may not work in the current work in progress, but it might play well in a future piece.
With a question and a few thoughts, the “educated” writer used the distraction to his advantage, weaving a simple knock at the door into a well-rounded character and the elderly woman’s mistake into a suspenseful scene. The same can be done whenever the phone rings or dinner is calling. Ask a question. Contemplate the situation. Let your imagination run wild. Scribble some notes and you’ll be well on your way to defeating those annoying distractions.
There is a knock on the door. The “educated” writer will use this moment to contemplate who could be standing behind the door. A shady neighbor from down the street collecting donations to a phony charity. Perhaps this neighbor has a debt to settle with a loan shark and is desperate for cash. He needs to “raise” two-thousand clams by nightfall or he’s history.
Aha! That would make a great character in a novel about a single dad trying to prove his ability to raise four children to a demanding social worker . His wife had died two years ago. He lost his job shortly after that and has been gambling away what little money he had left. He managed to win a few pots in some high stakes poker games, but his luck has recently turned. Now with no money and no other choice, he turns to the streets for help.
Quickly, the “educated” writer jots down the notes then answers the door. It turns out to be an elderly woman who had the wrong apartment number. The “educated” writer gracefully accepts her apology and returns to the keyboard. With a moment’s thought, the “educated” writer wonders, what if the elderly woman did have the correct apartment? Perhaps the middle-aged man who answered the door abducted the friend she thought lived in the apartment. He only pretended she had the wrong apartment so he could get rid of the body without any witnesses. Again, the “educated” writer jots some notes. That scenario may not work in the current work in progress, but it might play well in a future piece.
With a question and a few thoughts, the “educated” writer used the distraction to his advantage, weaving a simple knock at the door into a well-rounded character and the elderly woman’s mistake into a suspenseful scene. The same can be done whenever the phone rings or dinner is calling. Ask a question. Contemplate the situation. Let your imagination run wild. Scribble some notes and you’ll be well on your way to defeating those annoying distractions.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The Writer's Perfect World
Lately, I've been swamped at work. To writers like myself, "work" is an acutal job that helps pay the bills. Unfortunately, "work" all too often gets in the way of my true passion, which is of course, sitting on my butt watching TV. OK, ok, "work" gets in the way of my second true passion, sitting on my butt and writing. If only I had several, non-stop hours to devote to writing.
In the writer's perfect world, there would be no day job to go to. The day would start off with the kitchen staff bringing me breakfast in bed; a tray filled with a plate full of hotcakes, egg bake and sausage gravy, and a glass of pineapple juice. After breakfast, I would stroll to the bathroom where the attendant has a warm bath drawn. With a ring of the bell, my robe and slippers would be presented. For the rest of the morning I would retire to my office, a spacious room with a spectacular view of my beach front property. After the maid tidies up my desk and the butler brings in a tray of snacks and drinks, it's time to buckle down. The fantastic sequel to "The Toupe'd Eagle" that was thought up while the masseuse worked out the kinks in my back the evening before, flows onto the computer screen as my fingers sail over the keyboard at an incredible rate. A week later, the first draft is done.
Line one of the red phone on my desk flashes. I pick up the receiver to hear my agent tell me "The Toupe'd Eagle" has been approved for publication. I slip in a joyful "YAHOO!" just before my agent informs me that the publisher wants me to author several other books in the series. I hang up ecstatic about the contract. I waltz over to the wall mirror. "Lucky I don't have a day job," I tell my reflection, which happens to wink back at me. "You have all the time in the world to write, you handsome author, you."
Corny? Yes! But a guy can dream can't he?
In the writer's perfect world, there would be no day job to go to. The day would start off with the kitchen staff bringing me breakfast in bed; a tray filled with a plate full of hotcakes, egg bake and sausage gravy, and a glass of pineapple juice. After breakfast, I would stroll to the bathroom where the attendant has a warm bath drawn. With a ring of the bell, my robe and slippers would be presented. For the rest of the morning I would retire to my office, a spacious room with a spectacular view of my beach front property. After the maid tidies up my desk and the butler brings in a tray of snacks and drinks, it's time to buckle down. The fantastic sequel to "The Toupe'd Eagle" that was thought up while the masseuse worked out the kinks in my back the evening before, flows onto the computer screen as my fingers sail over the keyboard at an incredible rate. A week later, the first draft is done.
Line one of the red phone on my desk flashes. I pick up the receiver to hear my agent tell me "The Toupe'd Eagle" has been approved for publication. I slip in a joyful "YAHOO!" just before my agent informs me that the publisher wants me to author several other books in the series. I hang up ecstatic about the contract. I waltz over to the wall mirror. "Lucky I don't have a day job," I tell my reflection, which happens to wink back at me. "You have all the time in the world to write, you handsome author, you."
Corny? Yes! But a guy can dream can't he?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Top 10 Childhood Accomplishments
Top 10 lists are enjoyable to create. They’re also fun to pick apart. Therefore, I have constructed a top 10 list of my biggest childhood accomplishments. Remember “accomplishments” means something entirely different to a seven or eight year old. This list may not look impressive to an adult, but it sure as heck fire will look cool to the grade schooler. So without further delay, here is EJ Sivad’s Top 10 Childhood Accomplishments... minus Casey Kasem.
#10) Woke up at 2:00 in the morning to catch Star Wars on the Movie Channel. We had a small, 20 inch black and white TV in our bedroom. Just about every night SW was on, my twin brother and I would set an alarm so we’d be able to catch the nightly viewing. We got caught once, but when mom came in we pretended we fell asleep with the TV on.
#9) Received a letter and a helmet sticker back from my favorite football team. In third grade I wrote to the Atlanta Falcons. They were my favorite because they wore red jerseys and helmets. I made sure to mention that I thought they had the coolest uniforms. I even included a neato play for them to use as a secret weapon to win their games. Three weeks later, I received a form letter back with a signature at the bottom (no clue who’s it was... I only knew it wasn’t Steve Bartkowski’s, William Andrew's, or Alfred Jenkin’s) a schedule for the upcoming season, four helmet stickers, and a thank you for the play. Of course, they have yet to run that play, but each week I sit in my recliner waiting for that moment when I can pat myself on the back and say, “I came up with that play!”
#8) Won $20.00 playing Bingo at the Springbrook family picnic. Springbrook is a gun club my dad belonged to. The dad’s shot clay pigeons while the mom’s played Bingo. I was on a roll that afternoon, calling out Bingo four times. Who wanted to pick up a rifle when you could rob a bunch of old ladies of their money?
#7) Played a rabbit in the second grade class play “The Forest Friends”. I may not have had any lines, but I sure could hop.
#6) California Angels get within 1 strike of going to the World Series. Though I had nothing to do with this personally, when you’re a 14 year old fan who has been through a few disappointing football and baseball seasons, you can’t help but feel your constant cheering had something to do with your team’s good fortunes. Unfortunately for the ‘86 Angels, good fortune ran out the moment I hollered for my mom to come watch what I thought was the final strike of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Mom came into the living room and said “Now watch this guy hit a homerun.” Next pitch, Dave Henderson of the Red Sox launched a screamer over the left field wall. The two run blast gave the Red Sox the lead and eventually the ALCS. You can bet I blame mom for that. In fact, I outlawed her from watching the 2002 World Series. Coincidentally, the Angels won that one.
#5) Completed my first story Mile High Hill in 6th grade. It was for a Choose Your Own Adventure contest. Needless to say, I didn’t win...but in 6th grade (and life in general) we’re all winners...right?
#4) Made 10 out of 20 free throws in the 5th grade free throw contest. It was a good enough showing to advance to the quarter finals where I made another 10 out of 20, but failed to move on to the semi-finals. To this day I still stand on the gymnasium free throw line and imagine how it would have been if I made two more shots in the semi’s. At least I know how Richie Cunningham felt when he blew the final free throw for Jefferson High in the state championships. Of course, I tossed my basketball at the hoops like a real man. None of that “granny shot” stuff Richie tried.
#3) Cub scout softball team comes back from 12 runs behind in the final inning to win the game. I had two hits, one run batted in, and two runs scored in that inning alone. Before that inning, our coach said if we came back and won, he’d treat us all to a twist cone. Boy did that ice cream at the DQ taste great that afternoon. And who says bribery doesn’t work?
#2) Sugar Ray Leonard beats Marvin Haggler and I make a small fortune in bets. Everyone, including my 10th grade Art teacher was picking Marvin Haggler to win the big boxing match. But me and my brothers knew better. We bet anybody and everybody that Sugar Ray would win. I could either lose $100 bucks I didn’t have or gain a small fortune and a ton of respect as a dude who knew what he was talking about when it came to boxing. We ordered the big fight on pay per view and were not disappointed with the split decision in Leonard’s favor. For the next two weeks, my brother’s and I were big shots. It was as if I stepped in the ring to win the fight myself.
#1) Saw Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace 83 times in a movie theater. OK, so I wasn’t actually “a kid” in 1999. But I sure felt like a five year-old again each time I sat down in those comfy cinema seats with Nachos and super-size soda in hand while the opening theme song blared from the speakers. Just how much dough did I spend seeing a movie that many times? A ton. But I did save some greenbacks here and there the two years previous to May 19th, 1999. Not to mention the theater owner got so used to seeing my face, he let me in free several times. I still have the ticket stubs in my Yoda collector drink cup from Taco Bell.
Ah! What great memories! It’s always fun to think back to your youth. If you’re having a hard time doing so, try a top 10 list of your own. Or better yet, sit down with your wife (and children) and have them join you. Then take turns reading off each number from 10-1.
#10) Woke up at 2:00 in the morning to catch Star Wars on the Movie Channel. We had a small, 20 inch black and white TV in our bedroom. Just about every night SW was on, my twin brother and I would set an alarm so we’d be able to catch the nightly viewing. We got caught once, but when mom came in we pretended we fell asleep with the TV on.
#9) Received a letter and a helmet sticker back from my favorite football team. In third grade I wrote to the Atlanta Falcons. They were my favorite because they wore red jerseys and helmets. I made sure to mention that I thought they had the coolest uniforms. I even included a neato play for them to use as a secret weapon to win their games. Three weeks later, I received a form letter back with a signature at the bottom (no clue who’s it was... I only knew it wasn’t Steve Bartkowski’s, William Andrew's, or Alfred Jenkin’s) a schedule for the upcoming season, four helmet stickers, and a thank you for the play. Of course, they have yet to run that play, but each week I sit in my recliner waiting for that moment when I can pat myself on the back and say, “I came up with that play!”
#8) Won $20.00 playing Bingo at the Springbrook family picnic. Springbrook is a gun club my dad belonged to. The dad’s shot clay pigeons while the mom’s played Bingo. I was on a roll that afternoon, calling out Bingo four times. Who wanted to pick up a rifle when you could rob a bunch of old ladies of their money?
#7) Played a rabbit in the second grade class play “The Forest Friends”. I may not have had any lines, but I sure could hop.
#6) California Angels get within 1 strike of going to the World Series. Though I had nothing to do with this personally, when you’re a 14 year old fan who has been through a few disappointing football and baseball seasons, you can’t help but feel your constant cheering had something to do with your team’s good fortunes. Unfortunately for the ‘86 Angels, good fortune ran out the moment I hollered for my mom to come watch what I thought was the final strike of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Mom came into the living room and said “Now watch this guy hit a homerun.” Next pitch, Dave Henderson of the Red Sox launched a screamer over the left field wall. The two run blast gave the Red Sox the lead and eventually the ALCS. You can bet I blame mom for that. In fact, I outlawed her from watching the 2002 World Series. Coincidentally, the Angels won that one.
#5) Completed my first story Mile High Hill in 6th grade. It was for a Choose Your Own Adventure contest. Needless to say, I didn’t win...but in 6th grade (and life in general) we’re all winners...right?
#4) Made 10 out of 20 free throws in the 5th grade free throw contest. It was a good enough showing to advance to the quarter finals where I made another 10 out of 20, but failed to move on to the semi-finals. To this day I still stand on the gymnasium free throw line and imagine how it would have been if I made two more shots in the semi’s. At least I know how Richie Cunningham felt when he blew the final free throw for Jefferson High in the state championships. Of course, I tossed my basketball at the hoops like a real man. None of that “granny shot” stuff Richie tried.
#3) Cub scout softball team comes back from 12 runs behind in the final inning to win the game. I had two hits, one run batted in, and two runs scored in that inning alone. Before that inning, our coach said if we came back and won, he’d treat us all to a twist cone. Boy did that ice cream at the DQ taste great that afternoon. And who says bribery doesn’t work?
#2) Sugar Ray Leonard beats Marvin Haggler and I make a small fortune in bets. Everyone, including my 10th grade Art teacher was picking Marvin Haggler to win the big boxing match. But me and my brothers knew better. We bet anybody and everybody that Sugar Ray would win. I could either lose $100 bucks I didn’t have or gain a small fortune and a ton of respect as a dude who knew what he was talking about when it came to boxing. We ordered the big fight on pay per view and were not disappointed with the split decision in Leonard’s favor. For the next two weeks, my brother’s and I were big shots. It was as if I stepped in the ring to win the fight myself.
#1) Saw Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace 83 times in a movie theater. OK, so I wasn’t actually “a kid” in 1999. But I sure felt like a five year-old again each time I sat down in those comfy cinema seats with Nachos and super-size soda in hand while the opening theme song blared from the speakers. Just how much dough did I spend seeing a movie that many times? A ton. But I did save some greenbacks here and there the two years previous to May 19th, 1999. Not to mention the theater owner got so used to seeing my face, he let me in free several times. I still have the ticket stubs in my Yoda collector drink cup from Taco Bell.
Ah! What great memories! It’s always fun to think back to your youth. If you’re having a hard time doing so, try a top 10 list of your own. Or better yet, sit down with your wife (and children) and have them join you. Then take turns reading off each number from 10-1.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Planning: the Best Defense Against Writer's Block
For me the easiest part of writing is the first draft. It’s exciting to turn my characters, settings, and situations into words. The most satisfying moment is when the last words to my manuscript have been typed. Of course, after that comes the painstaking chores of editing and revising. This can take two to three times longer to complete than the actual writing. But I’m not going to bore you with that aspect of writing (see previous entry). What I am going to preach about today is what goes on before the first draft: the planning.
For some writers, plot outlines, chapter summaries, and character profiles are more tedious than editing. Many writers can weave a single idea into a satisfying manuscript without a single moment of planning. A spark ignites, the plot and characters unfold as they type and... VOILA...the first draft is done. I went that route with my first manuscript. Unfortunately, in my case, that only prolonged the revision process. I had that initial spark for my story ten years ago and am just now putting the finishing touches to it. This story has gone through three major overhauls in plot, setting, and characters. Since then, I’ve learned that a little planning can reduce the time spent revising.
It’s fun too. Much like the fun in planning a Walt Disney World vacation. What hotel to stay at, what parks to visit (setting). How to get there, what attractions and shows to see, where to eat (plot). Who is going (characters) and what are they interested in doing? Planning helps make a satisfying and successful vacation. The same applies to writing. A sturdy outline of events keeps the plot anchored so I don’t need to stop writing to conjure up the next scene. All I have to do is refer to my outline and my index fingers can keep pecking away at the keys. A firm character profile keeps continuity from page to page with my literary cast. I know how each character will respond to any given situation because I have laid out their age, history, families, likes, dislikes, and witticisms before bringing them to written life. Solid chapter summaries keep me focused on setting, character interaction, and specific details to the plot so I don’t have to waste precious time battling writer’s block.
The planning method works well for the “chunk” writer. No I don’t mean the overweight writer. A “chunk” writer is one who devotes small chunks of time to writing by either necessity or choice. For me—having a job and family...coaching, Cub Scout den leader, classroom volunteer, etc.—chunk writing is necessary. I may only have thirty minutes to write on Monday and two hours on Tuesday (if only I had two hours every day). With a detailed plan, I can pick up right where I left off. I know what I am going to be writing about the moment I sit down.
Planning is not limited to the few ideas mentioned above. All writers are different. One writer might only need to create a one page summary. Another may need to outline the plot, draft setting summaries, and produce family trees. A writer friend of mine once created a glossary of terms for his alien race. No matter what the case may be, there is a benefit to planning. For me—and I’d be willing to bet for most writers—planning saves time. Not to mention ease headaches. So for those of you who have yet to write a character profile or a plot outline, give it a try. You won’t be sorry.
For some writers, plot outlines, chapter summaries, and character profiles are more tedious than editing. Many writers can weave a single idea into a satisfying manuscript without a single moment of planning. A spark ignites, the plot and characters unfold as they type and... VOILA...the first draft is done. I went that route with my first manuscript. Unfortunately, in my case, that only prolonged the revision process. I had that initial spark for my story ten years ago and am just now putting the finishing touches to it. This story has gone through three major overhauls in plot, setting, and characters. Since then, I’ve learned that a little planning can reduce the time spent revising.
It’s fun too. Much like the fun in planning a Walt Disney World vacation. What hotel to stay at, what parks to visit (setting). How to get there, what attractions and shows to see, where to eat (plot). Who is going (characters) and what are they interested in doing? Planning helps make a satisfying and successful vacation. The same applies to writing. A sturdy outline of events keeps the plot anchored so I don’t need to stop writing to conjure up the next scene. All I have to do is refer to my outline and my index fingers can keep pecking away at the keys. A firm character profile keeps continuity from page to page with my literary cast. I know how each character will respond to any given situation because I have laid out their age, history, families, likes, dislikes, and witticisms before bringing them to written life. Solid chapter summaries keep me focused on setting, character interaction, and specific details to the plot so I don’t have to waste precious time battling writer’s block.
The planning method works well for the “chunk” writer. No I don’t mean the overweight writer. A “chunk” writer is one who devotes small chunks of time to writing by either necessity or choice. For me—having a job and family...coaching, Cub Scout den leader, classroom volunteer, etc.—chunk writing is necessary. I may only have thirty minutes to write on Monday and two hours on Tuesday (if only I had two hours every day). With a detailed plan, I can pick up right where I left off. I know what I am going to be writing about the moment I sit down.
Planning is not limited to the few ideas mentioned above. All writers are different. One writer might only need to create a one page summary. Another may need to outline the plot, draft setting summaries, and produce family trees. A writer friend of mine once created a glossary of terms for his alien race. No matter what the case may be, there is a benefit to planning. For me—and I’d be willing to bet for most writers—planning saves time. Not to mention ease headaches. So for those of you who have yet to write a character profile or a plot outline, give it a try. You won’t be sorry.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Turning a Bad Idea into a Good One
Bad ideas are everywhere; the jet powered wheelchair, the inflatable dartboard, the flatulence deodorizer, and Superman III just to name a few. Even geniuses stumble—farting and belching in the Star Wars universe... come on! The funny thing about a bad idea is that somebody has to think it is a good idea initially.
When I was eleven, what I thought was a brilliant scheme to make a quick buck ended up being a colossal mistake. Every summer Mom would raid our closet for outgrown clothes and toys that had become dust collectors. She’d slap a piece of masking tape labeled with either a nickel, dime, or quarter onto it and place them in a rummage sale. Two days later, we carted the unsold items to Goodwill.
One such summer, my “brilliant” thirteen-year-old brother observed that none of us kids made a dime off Mom’s rummage sales, even though the majority of stuff sold belonged to us. After an emergency meeting with my older brother and my twin, we approached Mom. She agreed that if we helped and if we gathered our own stuff to sell, we could keep the money. A nickel here, a dime there and soon all three of us would be rich. We tore through our bedroom. Yes, all three of us shared a room. I won’t lie. It got messy. The first items I sorted through were the piles of dirty laundry on the floor. Curse Mom, I thought. I could have sold my old Smurf underoos for a nickel if she hadn’t labeled my initials onto the tag. Unfortunately, all of our socks had a J, an E, or an M inscribed on them in permanent marker. I ruled out selling underwear and socks.
Aha! My taekwondo trophies. Who wouldn’t want one of those? I piled them into a box and carried them out to the garage. Out strutted my older brother with a superior grin cemented on his fat face. He slid my trophies aside and set up a display of our duplicate Star Wars action figures; Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers, Star Destroyer Commanders, Hammerheads, Walrus Man, Jawas, and Tusken Raiders. Who needed five R2 D2’s anyway? At a dime apiece, those action figures flew off the table as if Obi Wan Kenobi himself were using a Jedi mind trick on our customers.
An hour later, we replenished our stock. Out came toy X-wings, TIE Fighters, sandspeeders, and a Death Star play set. BOOM! By the end of the day everything Star Wars had been sold. Even the Boba Fett I received from a third grade gift exchange was gone. It felt weird to step into our room and not see the Millenium Falcon dangling from the ceiling or the stacks of Topps Star Wars trading cards strewn about the shelves. The five or six dollars in my grubby mits helped soothe any pain the sight of a Star Warsless room may have caused my eyes. I don’t recall what I bought with my share of the money—no doubt important stuff like candy bars and soda—but what I do remember is how jealous I felt years later when my buddies set up a shrine to their childhood Star Wars collectibles. I also felt like a chump shortly thereafter when I thumbed through a toy collector magazine and saw the current value of those toys we had sold for pennies. If only my brothers and I would have thought more about what we were doing that fateful summer day back in 1983, I could have saved the hundreds of dollars it took to rebuy some of those items. The bad idea of selling our toys for a measly fifteen bucks could have evolved into a big-time moneymaker just by waiting a decade and a half later. We could have fetched a handsome sum by auctioning those vinatge Star Wars collectibles on eBay.
See what a little foresight can do for an awful idea? For a writer, bad ideas spring up all the time. They may hinder a character’s potential or even ruin the plot. Those ideas may be bad for that particular story; however, after careful consideration and planning, those bad ideas may work wonders for a writer’s next character or project. It takes time and effort to transform a bad idea into a good one. The key is recognizing that an idea needs more work. If I would have taken a moment to reflect upon how losing my favorite toys would make me feel instead of being blinded by the almighty buck, I might still have my entire collection to share with my sons.
At least I learned a valuable lesson. You can bet I’ll never sell my Jar Jar Binks collectors cup or my Darth Maul T-Shirt. Who knows, maybe I’ll draw some inspiration from my youthful mistake. There is a story idea in it somewhere.
When I was eleven, what I thought was a brilliant scheme to make a quick buck ended up being a colossal mistake. Every summer Mom would raid our closet for outgrown clothes and toys that had become dust collectors. She’d slap a piece of masking tape labeled with either a nickel, dime, or quarter onto it and place them in a rummage sale. Two days later, we carted the unsold items to Goodwill.
One such summer, my “brilliant” thirteen-year-old brother observed that none of us kids made a dime off Mom’s rummage sales, even though the majority of stuff sold belonged to us. After an emergency meeting with my older brother and my twin, we approached Mom. She agreed that if we helped and if we gathered our own stuff to sell, we could keep the money. A nickel here, a dime there and soon all three of us would be rich. We tore through our bedroom. Yes, all three of us shared a room. I won’t lie. It got messy. The first items I sorted through were the piles of dirty laundry on the floor. Curse Mom, I thought. I could have sold my old Smurf underoos for a nickel if she hadn’t labeled my initials onto the tag. Unfortunately, all of our socks had a J, an E, or an M inscribed on them in permanent marker. I ruled out selling underwear and socks.
Aha! My taekwondo trophies. Who wouldn’t want one of those? I piled them into a box and carried them out to the garage. Out strutted my older brother with a superior grin cemented on his fat face. He slid my trophies aside and set up a display of our duplicate Star Wars action figures; Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers, Star Destroyer Commanders, Hammerheads, Walrus Man, Jawas, and Tusken Raiders. Who needed five R2 D2’s anyway? At a dime apiece, those action figures flew off the table as if Obi Wan Kenobi himself were using a Jedi mind trick on our customers.
An hour later, we replenished our stock. Out came toy X-wings, TIE Fighters, sandspeeders, and a Death Star play set. BOOM! By the end of the day everything Star Wars had been sold. Even the Boba Fett I received from a third grade gift exchange was gone. It felt weird to step into our room and not see the Millenium Falcon dangling from the ceiling or the stacks of Topps Star Wars trading cards strewn about the shelves. The five or six dollars in my grubby mits helped soothe any pain the sight of a Star Warsless room may have caused my eyes. I don’t recall what I bought with my share of the money—no doubt important stuff like candy bars and soda—but what I do remember is how jealous I felt years later when my buddies set up a shrine to their childhood Star Wars collectibles. I also felt like a chump shortly thereafter when I thumbed through a toy collector magazine and saw the current value of those toys we had sold for pennies. If only my brothers and I would have thought more about what we were doing that fateful summer day back in 1983, I could have saved the hundreds of dollars it took to rebuy some of those items. The bad idea of selling our toys for a measly fifteen bucks could have evolved into a big-time moneymaker just by waiting a decade and a half later. We could have fetched a handsome sum by auctioning those vinatge Star Wars collectibles on eBay.
See what a little foresight can do for an awful idea? For a writer, bad ideas spring up all the time. They may hinder a character’s potential or even ruin the plot. Those ideas may be bad for that particular story; however, after careful consideration and planning, those bad ideas may work wonders for a writer’s next character or project. It takes time and effort to transform a bad idea into a good one. The key is recognizing that an idea needs more work. If I would have taken a moment to reflect upon how losing my favorite toys would make me feel instead of being blinded by the almighty buck, I might still have my entire collection to share with my sons.
At least I learned a valuable lesson. You can bet I’ll never sell my Jar Jar Binks collectors cup or my Darth Maul T-Shirt. Who knows, maybe I’ll draw some inspiration from my youthful mistake. There is a story idea in it somewhere.
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