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NancyBrooke
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Joined: 11 May 2003
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Location: In a motel 6 by the airport
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 Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 10:48 am Post subject: A Writer's Conflict - Sympathy Please |
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So, there's a story I've been blocked on for some time now. I have the first few pages right where I want them, I know where I want it to go, I have scenes to come in my head, and I know what it's about. But ... now that I've worked out (what feel to me like) some critical logistics, I'm faced with having to scrap much of what I'd imagined.
So now I'm caught between writing the story I want, and a story that 'works'.
Sympathy and advice are welcome
 
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Nazgul #3 in charge of ducking & sniggering
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Haleth
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 538
Location: The ruins of Tharbad.
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| Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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I hear you loud and clear.
My advice is write the story you want to write. Forget about what works. What works is highly over-rated. The beginning of the end of my writing career was the day I started worrying about what worked because what works is often logical, predictable and as dull as old lady's sock water.
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Books would not be read, and pipes would not smoke. The day slipped out of his hand, running aimlessly to waste. JRR Tolkien. The Lost Road |
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NeumeIndil
Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 1084
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 1:34 am Post subject: |
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It seems like the stories that are "the best" are the ones we let write themselves. Trust it to come together as you write it. The logistics are what editing's for. 
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ZeeDrippyVessel
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 144
Location: deep south
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 12:27 am Post subject: |
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I agree with Haleth. Had I written 'what worked' I would have never written Empty Vessel.
Of course, there are probably tens of thousands of people who wish I HADN"T written it... 
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dolarabee
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Joined: 21 Apr 2003
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Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:53 am Post subject: |
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| ZeeDrippyVessel wrote: | | Of course, there are probably tens of thousands of people who wish I HADN'T written it... |
Bah.
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Je sais de la vie qu'elle se termine souvent au lit,
Et que d'autres ont bien plus de chance trépassent de rire ou de jouissance,
Mais pire que la mort qui vient c'est l'amour qui ne vient jamais.
~ Daniel Bélanger |
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Sulriel
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Posts: 286
Location: Imladris (or maybe Texas ...)
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: A Writer's Conflict - Sympathy Please |
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| NancyBrooke wrote: | So, there's a story I've been blocked on for some time now. I have the first few pages right where I want them, I know where I want it to go, I have scenes to come in my head, and I know what it's about. But ... now that I've worked out (what feel to me like) some critical logistics, I'm faced with having to scrap much of what I'd imagined.
So now I'm caught between writing the story I want, and a story that 'works'.
Sympathy and advice are welcome
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try looking at the story you want to write ... what elements are there that you think "don't work"? ... what do they need to work?
i've found that there is very little that really doesn't work (as long as you don't bore the readers).
use what you like and what you want and make it work. you have plenty of talent to do that!
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NancyBrooke
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Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 160
Location: In a motel 6 by the airport
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you all, your words really hit the spot.
I think I've got it worked out, found a way to tell the character story I want and still have it have some logistical basis in fact (i.e. you can't get from there to there in that amount of time ...).
Now if only I can find some time to write! I'm actually hoping to get some done at work this week when so few folks will be in the office! shhhhhhhh ... don't tell.
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NB Duchess of WHY TF Cant'chu Punctuate, First Duchess of F*&(ing &*ll yur comma placement sux!
Nazgul #3 in charge of ducking & sniggering
Garo golf a conu ned i eneth aran an ir ho delitha ad |
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Sulriel
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Posts: 286
Location: Imladris (or maybe Texas ...)
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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"May it be a light to you in dark places." |
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ZeeDrippyVessel
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 144
Location: deep south
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| dolarabee wrote: | | ZeeDrippyVessel wrote: | | Of course, there are probably tens of thousands of people who wish I HADN'T written it... |
Bah. |
This is usually followed by 'Humbug'
Or in my case, Rohirrim doing what they damn well please!
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Zee |
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ZeeDrippyVessel
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 144
Location: deep south
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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| NancyBrooke wrote: | Thank you all, your words really hit the spot.
I think I've got it worked out, found a way to tell the character story I want and still have it have some logistical basis in fact (i.e. you can't get from there to there in that amount of time ...).
Now if only I can find some time to write! I'm actually hoping to get some done at work this week when so few folks will be in the office! shhhhhhhh ... don't tell. |
For some strange reason, i have found I have the most bunnies to wrangle when I simply don't have time. But wayhey! Hopefully, it will be quiet and you'll get lotsa stuff done!
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Haleth
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 538
Location: The ruins of Tharbad.
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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| ZeeDrippyVessel wrote: | | For some strange reason, i have found I have the most bunnies to wrangle when I simply don't have time. But wayhey! Hopefully, it will be quiet and you'll get lotsa stuff done! |
Zee, truer words were never spoken. Why is that always the way? And as soon as things slow down and I do have time, the bunnies don'e look so shiny anymore.
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Books would not be read, and pipes would not smoke. The day slipped out of his hand, running aimlessly to waste. JRR Tolkien. The Lost Road |
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ZeeDrippyVessel
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 144
Location: deep south
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:57 am Post subject: |
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Right now, I'm actively working on 5 Rohirrim fics, (3 currently being posted, 1 set to post come May and the other one when I feel like it) one Doom fic, 2 original fics, inactively wrangling (meaning playing in) 1 crossover that I've been working on for 9 years and another Rohirrim fic. The Doom fic and the 3 Rohirrim fic fight to get out at the same time. Right now, I'm working them in a circle. It's just unreal.
The voices in my head are NEVER quiet.
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Zee |
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NancyBrooke
Challenge Admin
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 160
Location: In a motel 6 by the airport
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| ZeeDrippyVessel wrote: | | Hopefully, it will be quiet and you'll get lotsa stuff done! |
Let's not hold our breath *shrug*
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NB Duchess of WHY TF Cant'chu Punctuate, First Duchess of F*&(ing &*ll yur comma placement sux!
Nazgul #3 in charge of ducking & sniggering
Garo golf a conu ned i eneth aran an ir ho delitha ad |
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Viv
Challenge Admin
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Posts: 71
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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As a pantser, I probably shouldn't even answer this question as I have never worried about whether a story worked. Not at first draft, at any rate.
I would have advised, "Oh, just write it and let it decide for itself how it wants to go," but that results in is a novel sitting on my hard drive that is decent enough but implausible in a least two parts and I have no idea how to fix it without rewriting it in a big way.
So your planning-ahead process is probably a good idea.
What has worked for you before, in terms of process? |
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