tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post4012388870098304086..comments2022-02-23T09:47:24.205-05:00Comments on Romance with a wild streak: Only you know what works for youLydia Darehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178136567476666348noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-81902990438153438022010-01-29T08:30:32.051-05:002010-01-29T08:30:32.051-05:00Great blog, Lydia. I completely agree. My process ...Great blog, Lydia. I completely agree. My process is so weird, I can't imagine telling someone else to use it. I always start with Chapter 5. I don't know it's Chapter 5. I always think I'm starting at the beginning. But it's just a scene. And then I realize it doesn't make sense unless I put something in front of it. When my first scene becomes chapter 5, then I know I have enough to make a book and I run with it. Imagine a workshop teaching that. LolGail Zerradenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-62940789571316610662010-01-29T09:16:27.356-05:002010-01-29T09:16:27.356-05:00Wow, Gail! You are up early on the West Coast.I ca...Wow, Gail! You are up early on the West Coast.<br><br>I can't imagine trying to teach a workshop on the process you described. Just thinking about it makes me giggle. Although, it does sound similar to the process I used when I was first starting out. I'd write a scene that went here, a scene that went there - at different points in the story. Then I'd have to find a way to make them all connect. Now I just start at the beginning and work my way to the end. <br><br>I think the process you use can change and morph as you travel down the path toward publication and beyond. The important thing to remember is for the path to be your own and not someone else's.Lydia Darehttp://www.lydiadare.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-57147130571282451032010-01-29T09:18:50.855-05:002010-01-29T09:18:50.855-05:00LOL, Gail. Well, if you tend to start with Chapter...LOL, Gail. Well, if you tend to start with Chapter 5, I tend to start with Chapter -5. I usually start my story way too early, and then have to cut and cut and cut to get to where the action is.Catherine Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05830640955594808304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-82459274980669229032010-01-29T09:20:14.275-05:002010-01-29T09:20:14.275-05:00Lydia,You are so right. There are many ways to wri...Lydia,<br><br>You are so right. There are many ways to write, or do anything for that matter. Everyone processes and creates in different ways. For me, the key is to try something different every once in a while, because it unlocks my creativity. And I'm not talking about trying something different in writing only. Maybe it's listening to new music, trying a new recipe, taking time out to watch a movie, creating something artistic -not that I'm any good. :) In fact, writing this comment sparks an idea for a future blog. <br><br>Love your writing and can't wait for the new book to be released.Samantha Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16043060709341696044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-51297715875762401852010-01-29T09:27:17.895-05:002010-01-29T09:27:17.895-05:00Catherine, I've heard that same thing from sev...Catherine, <br><br>I've heard that same thing from several authors. Those first five chapters you end up scrapping have information that YOU need to know, not necessarily the reader. But once you do know it, then you're good to go. Thanks for posting. <br><br>Samantha, <br><br>Thanks for your sweet words. I can always count on you to be the kindest person in any group. I am curious - what is the best idea you've gotten from changing things up in your life? And what was the cause - a new recipe? A new song? Do share.Lydia Darehttp://www.lydiadare.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-48315206678621517762010-01-29T11:11:01.163-05:002010-01-29T11:11:01.163-05:00Great post, Lydia. I tried to be a plotter becaus...Great post, Lydia. I tried to be a plotter because I went to a workshop where they said this is the way to be a successful writer, but trying to plot killed my creativity. I'm a panster, but I would never think to tell someone else how to do it. Each one of us has to figure that out on our own.Julie Johnstonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02714565503799628340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-92179391561909260122010-01-29T11:18:50.974-05:002010-01-29T11:18:50.974-05:00While I think I will always be a panster at heart,...While I think I will always be a panster at heart, the way I write has changed with the more I write. I used to go straight from beginning to end. Now, little scenes will pop in my head and I have to type them out and go back and put them in somewhere. And, there are times when I am not sure how to get from point A to point B in a story so I will leave a big blank area with bold words "PUT SOMETHING HERE". Once I've written more of the story I usually know what I need to go back and add in the blank spot. Not one book as followed the same pattern and basically I am all over the place.Amy DeTrempehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785965181851533070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-52263601869812947922010-01-29T11:28:40.277-05:002010-01-29T11:28:40.277-05:00Julie, That's amazing! Your suspense plots are...Julie, <br><br>That's amazing! Your suspense plots are so intricate. That just goes to prove that you can be a pantser and write a plot driven book. I'm glad you finally realized what process works for you. :)Lydia Darehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178136567476666348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-67737556033057402632010-01-29T11:38:28.101-05:002010-01-29T11:38:28.101-05:00Amy, That is so interesting. We've switched pr...Amy, <br><br>That is so interesting. We've switched processes. That's exactly how I used to write. Now I start at the beginning and work my way back.Lydia Darehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178136567476666348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-47550427394433302442010-01-29T12:07:59.420-05:002010-01-29T12:07:59.420-05:00I was a pantser for many years and I would start a...I was a pantser for many years and I would start and stop tons of stories. I would write myself into a corner and I couldn't figure out how to get out of it. So I tried to plot and it worked for me. I've never believed there is a one size fits all in writing but I do believe you should always try something new and then figure out which way works best for you.Melissa Dawn Hartehttp://www.melissadawnharte.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-67786635889517771742010-01-29T12:45:05.983-05:002010-01-29T12:45:05.983-05:00Absolutely, Melissa. Everyone has their own path, ...Absolutely, Melissa. Everyone has their own path, and they just need to determine what it is. No process is better than another, only what is better for YOU. <br><br>Taking classes, going to workshops, buying writing books - all of those should be tools in helping a writer determine what works best for them. <br><br>Part of the journey is making that discovery. <br><br>In everything, you should take what works for you and throw out the rest.Lydia Darehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178136567476666348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-23683432584633349402010-01-29T13:43:08.741-05:002010-01-29T13:43:08.741-05:00A friend of mine once told me I go get all the res...A friend of mine once told me I go get all the research and study something before I make up my mind and do whatever I want.<br><br>I've taken plot classes (at Nationals and online) and I'm still mostly a pantster but I do some prep work from the plotting side of things to make sure I have some idea of most of the high points I need to hit in the story.<br><br>I've moved off the plot wagon and onto characters. Still haven't figured out a good system for them yet. But doing long characters sheets is not for me. :)Beth Caudillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07822034586213938181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-56231594091143532592010-01-29T13:43:08.740-05:002010-01-29T13:43:08.740-05:00I am a panster and I'm PROUD to be one!! Actu...I am a panster and I'm PROUD to be one!! Actually, I tried to do it the other way just because I heard it might work better...but for me it didn't. Once I plotted my story, I didn't want to write because my muse figured the story was finished. lol There have only been a couple of books I've written where I had to figure out some kind of outline only because of the many sub plots in the story. I never thought of it was plotting...just helping me to go in the right direction. But seriously, I want to be surprised when I get to the ending. I don't want to know what's going to happen before I get there. (grins)<br><br>~Phyllis~Phyllis Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14769290385657892832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-51722879561265581792010-01-29T14:30:51.511-05:002010-01-29T14:30:51.511-05:00Beth, Well, 1 process down - 999,999 to go. Let me...Beth, <br><br>Well, 1 process down - 999,999 to go. Let me know when you find the magic combination that works. <br><br>Phyllis, <br><br>I've done the same thing. Especially when you get closer to the end - just to make sure all the loose ends get tied up.Lydia Darehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178136567476666348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-51739801551548845842010-01-29T15:49:39.306-05:002010-01-29T15:49:39.306-05:00Great post, Lydia, and I completely agree. Like Ga...Great post, Lydia, and I completely agree. Like Gail said, my process is so bizarre, I could never tell someone how to do it. I half plot, half pants, and I teeter-totter between the two throughout the writing of the manuscript. Plotting a chapter might inspire the writing of said chapter, and that chapter might inspire another chapter that I have to go back and add to the ever-expanding outline, and while I'm outlining, I'll think of the next chapter, which I'll jot down in the outline...you get the picture, right?? LOL! It's kind of like "If you give a mouse a cookie," which, ironically enough was my favorite book (and still is) as a child :)AvonLadyJerricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14611705826419158520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-26207265516977577472010-01-29T15:54:46.201-05:002010-01-29T15:54:46.201-05:00Funny, Jerrica. I can see pages flying in every wh...Funny, Jerrica. I can see pages flying in every which direction from your description. :)Lydia Darehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10178136567476666348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785254196690450747.post-55047862992763542572010-01-29T20:00:01.342-05:002010-01-29T20:00:01.342-05:00Lydia,I wish I had a good example. When I listen t...Lydia,<br><br>I wish I had a good example. When I listen to new songs, sometimes a lyric will resonate with me. Most of the time I don't hear the lyrics to songs I listen to all the time, so a new one will grab my attention better. Anyway, the lyric usually sparks a visual image for me, sometimes more of a mood, which then leads to a scene in my head. <br><br>I know this isn't a very good explanation. The main thing is doing something new forges new neural pathways in our brains, so if you are blocked, it might help. Also, sometimes the distraction in itself takes away the pressure, freeing up our creativity.<br><br>Actually, I came up with a wedding breakfast scene in Maid for Seduction while gardening.Samantha Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16043060709341696044noreply@blogger.com