Plotting by hogwash

[pjthompson]

Quote of the day:

"Most people's lives aren't made up of stories with easily perceived beginnings and endings. Most people have to just muddle through as best they can, coming in somewhere in the middle, leaving before the outcome's known, half the time not even aware that they're in a story."

—Charles De Lint, Trader

Writing talk of the day: So, do you ever get that feeling, when you reach a big moment in your story which for all the months that you've been aiming towards it has seemed like a perfectly rational and logical progression . . . that it's really the deepest hogwash?

No, me either. Must be something I imagined or dreamed.

I may cop to having an uneasy feeling that I have yet again succumbed to plotting by stupidity. But that's not my problem. That's the second draft's problem. I think I'll let the second draft fix it on its own.

On another note, chapter 30 is now up on OWW. Chapter 29 has been in the underreviewed list for about a week now. Hardly surprising. It's a late chapter and BIG. Chapter 30 is even bigger. I have low expectations for the crit rate on that beastie, too.

Comments

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

I don't *quite* understand the quote, but I like it. *ponders* Does it mean the conflicts of our lives will have resolve but sometimes on a geological time-scale and sometimes without our knowledge? o.o

And, dude, your premise is not hogwash. *pets* Onward, dude. You will love it in a day or so. I swear!

[pjthompson]

I took it to mean that every life is a story, but we just don't see it from standing in the middle of it.

And the premise is okay. It's just that sometimes I decide to drift a bit on the plotting and then strange things happen, like I'm channeling some bad (really bad) romance novel or something. *sigh* But yeah, it will probably be better with a little perspective. *sigh*

[merebrillante.livejournal.com]

Try this one from Lawrence Block (frequently mis-attributed to Nancy Kress):

"Life is just one damn thing after another."

So are plots. It's okay, honey. If they ain't on Oprah, it's still like real life.

[pjthompson]

Ain't that the truth. I think I'm just having late draft slog paranoia. I don't remember the other novels being this hard to finish, but I've probably just glossed over the bad parts.

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

I took it as a nasty reminder that a story as told can never really reflect life, that all storytelling is selective and only has the structure we impose on it.

After a request from someone else, I'm still trying to find my list of the dozen basic plots (my current books is basically "Beauty and the Beast") but in writing we decide the beginning and the end, and the middle is what happens in the middle. And first drafts are for finding out what happens!

[pjthompson]

Thanks. You know, I know all that, and I'm usually good at reminding myself that first drafts are exploratory. It seems the whine component is much higher on this novel. Just this morning I was telling myself that the world of my flist doesn't need to listen to that anymore. Time to buck up and just get on with finishing this one. :-)

[merebrillante.livejournal.com]

You will send me a copy of the novel when it's completed, won't you?

[pjthompson]

In theory, yes, but I tell you what, I've realized I have to insert some things in early chapters and beat it with a club to reduce the fat and several other torturous thing, but I want to let it sit for awhile after it's done before I even look at it again. Not sure how long that will be.

I am thinking it's time to rewrite Shivery Bones again if you're interested in that one, but I understand if you'd rather wait for the devil you know. :-)

[merebrillante.livejournal.com]

I don't know either devil, so whichever devil you wanna send me is fine with me.

[jasperh.livejournal.com]

Chapter 30 will not baulk at the first hurdle. Now where is 31?

[pjthompson]

Ha! Thanks, buddy. 31 will be coming along in a week or so. :-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I have chapter 30 open now as I type. *sharpens knives before she tackles it*

Interesting that people interpret the quote in so many different ways. As for me, I took it to mean that most people live "the unexamined life." They don't have a goal. They just go through the events and situations that life throws their way without thinking of how they fit into a bigger picture or how their re/actions affect other people around them.

now...off to read about my fav vampire.

[pjthompson]

Interesting that people interpret the quote in so many different ways.

That's why posting quotes is such fun. I never quite know how people will take them. And it points out yet again that reading is 50% writer and 50% reader.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I'm lagging on my crits. :-(

but yeah, I never have doubts about my late drafts either. No sir. No way.

But if I did, I would sympathize with you... not that you have any yourself. Because you don't. But I'm sure if you did, they would be unfounded.

[pjthompson]

No, you and I never have any doubts about our work. That's one thing that's for certain and for sure. :-/