In the great night my heart will go out
Sep. 13th, 2005 04:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pjthompsonBrain rot of the day: I've been beta testing new publication templates at work. It's left me very little time for goofing off, which I deeply resent. And my brain has turned to mush. It didn't have far to go.
Writing business of the day: Started chapter 28. Realized that one of those added-in bits of plot from the last 6th century section may not survive into the second draft. It's tricky, though, because some of the themes tie in beautifully with the other two timelines. Must finish novel, then worry about that when I have a bit more perspective. These are the risks of being an organic writer. But I can't do it the other way.
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handworn asked me to explain my "novel so far" process mentioned in my last post. This is what I said:
Actually, I misspoke a bit. My outline was more "where do I go from here" or "what's left to get through." I always know the end point of my novels, but being something of an organic writer, the route to that end point sometimes changes along the way. Sometimes they are small changes, sometimes larger, or sometimes small-leading-to-larger. So I've gotten into the habit of stopping every 30k words or so and mapping the new path in broad terms to see if it's still feasible. This lets me know if I've gone off on a useless digression or if I'm still on course.
I suppose the "novel so far" bit would come in the synopsis I do each time I post a new chapter to the workshop. I do a longer version, hitting the highlights, then force myself to encapsulate the entire novel-so-far into a paragraph or two. Obviously, a lot of stuff gets left out that way--and it helps me see what is essential plot and what is padding or tangents. I usually don't do anything about all that at the time because I like to have a complete first draft before I do major revisions, but it helps tremendously when it comes time for rewrites. I'll probably continue to do this as an exercise even if I stop posting to the workshop because it really clarifies things for me.
Book news of the day: I've packed two shelves of books and only managed to get rid of two books. I put three aside to "think about." Must get tough with self. Not good at getting tough with self. How I got so many damned books to begin with. My TBR pile, I suspect, will take up several boxes.
Chant of the day:
How shall I begin my song
In the blue night that is setting?
In the great night my heart will go out,
Toward me the darkness comes rattling.
In the great night my heart will go out.
-Papago Medicine Woman Chant
Writing business of the day: Started chapter 28. Realized that one of those added-in bits of plot from the last 6th century section may not survive into the second draft. It's tricky, though, because some of the themes tie in beautifully with the other two timelines. Must finish novel, then worry about that when I have a bit more perspective. These are the risks of being an organic writer. But I can't do it the other way.
handworn asked me to explain my "novel so far" process mentioned in my last post. This is what I said:Actually, I misspoke a bit. My outline was more "where do I go from here" or "what's left to get through." I always know the end point of my novels, but being something of an organic writer, the route to that end point sometimes changes along the way. Sometimes they are small changes, sometimes larger, or sometimes small-leading-to-larger. So I've gotten into the habit of stopping every 30k words or so and mapping the new path in broad terms to see if it's still feasible. This lets me know if I've gone off on a useless digression or if I'm still on course.
I suppose the "novel so far" bit would come in the synopsis I do each time I post a new chapter to the workshop. I do a longer version, hitting the highlights, then force myself to encapsulate the entire novel-so-far into a paragraph or two. Obviously, a lot of stuff gets left out that way--and it helps me see what is essential plot and what is padding or tangents. I usually don't do anything about all that at the time because I like to have a complete first draft before I do major revisions, but it helps tremendously when it comes time for rewrites. I'll probably continue to do this as an exercise even if I stop posting to the workshop because it really clarifies things for me.
Book news of the day: I've packed two shelves of books and only managed to get rid of two books. I put three aside to "think about." Must get tough with self. Not good at getting tough with self. How I got so many damned books to begin with. My TBR pile, I suspect, will take up several boxes.
Chant of the day:
How shall I begin my song
In the blue night that is setting?
In the great night my heart will go out,
Toward me the darkness comes rattling.
In the great night my heart will go out.
-Papago Medicine Woman Chant