Thursday, February 10, 2011

My internal editor was right for once....

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So after blogging myself into a fervor, I opened my story and dared my internal editor to say something.

And he did.

With the smoothness of an executioner's blow, he said:

"Well... congrats... But remember you changed the story?"

Yes. So?

"So where are you headed?"

...

And there it was.

The bastard had a point.

As a card-carrying pantser, I can get very lost very easily.

That is why I have one plotterish rule that I don't deviate from for as long as I am writing Doorways.

Always. I repeat. ALWAYS know where you're going.

I decided to change the order of events in James's side of the story, not realizing how far it would change things.

When the I.E. spoke, I realized that I had been getting myself lost. Badly lost.

No wonder I've been stalling.

Now I'm just glad that I stall rather than write nonsense.

If I didn't there would have been a lot of time wasted.

So here I will say something that I never thought I'd say.

Thanks Ed.

Anyone else get saved by your internal editor?

14 comments:

  1. Hm, no. My internal editor is... quite silent for the most part. It's a lurker, springing out when I least expect it!

    Very good thing he spoke up. That could've been bad.

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  2. LOL cute post. I'm a rabid pantster, in fact my writing partner just did a post about what happens when two pantsters collaborate on a book:) I think for me, the key to not getting lost is making sure that I know the beginning and the end. . .the stuff in the middle usually comes as I write. Nice to stumble across your blog - new follower:)

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  3. I always outline before I start a book because I need to know where I'm going. Of course, things do change along the way, but I have some trouble with the pantsing. So I guess my internal editor is always on, and we're good pals.

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  4. When I pull it out and start working on it again, I'll let you know, LOL.... the poetry is more fun right now and I have a publisher for that already, story not so much.

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  5. Yeah, the tricky thing is that you want your internal editor exercise restraint during the earlier stages, but you don't usually want complete silence, I think.

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  6. yeah... i'm sure my ie has helped me, but i'm too busy trying to gulp in air in the moments his strangled hold loosens to remember when...

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  7. My I.E. is always hanging around when I least need her and you guessed it, GONE when I could use her advice. You just can't find good help these days. *sighs*

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  8. I completely understand. After two major rewrites on my first novel that now collects dust under my bed, I write a broad synopsis. I've even graduated to a detailed synopsis and notes for scenes and sequels. Now, I tend to plot slower, but produce a book quicker. You have a great story. Don't give up, just get organized, take a deep breath and write on. Never stop writing. :)

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  9. Glad your internal editor helped you out! I am not an outliner, but I am definitely a timeliner--I get bogged and go off somewhere I can't get back from if I don't know what the next big stuff is... I'm flexible enough to CHANGE that (provided it doesn't screw up EVERYTHING) but the only places I've stalled out have been when I didn't stop to check (okay what are the next few big things?)

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  10. Several times my Inner Editor has helped me out!

    Great post!

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  11. Inner Editors are absolutely great for giving you that nudge you just can't ignore.

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  12. I'm so jealous, Devin. Mine never shuts up. I try to tune him out, but it never stops. :-)

    I also work like that, Lindsay, but I messed up by forgetting to look at how the change in the middle was affecting the end. :-)

    That's a good point you're making, Sarah. I guess there would be a difference in relationship between plotters, pantsers and their respective IEs. :-)

    Lol Joe, I can't wait to hear what you think when you do pull that ms out. :-)

    I agree with you there, Nevets, except that my IE always want to get me stuck at the first line of my ms. ;-)

    Hahahahaha Amanda I got tears in my eyes when I read your comment. :-D

    L.A. that sounds frighteningly like my muse. I wonder if she's moonlighting behind my back... ;-)

    Thanks for the advice, Ciara. It meant a lot to me. :-)

    That happens to me too, Hart. :-)

    Thanks Golden! :-)

    I agree with you Shannon. I just mine would stop trying to nudge me to stop writing. :-/

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  13. I used to be a panster--good fun, that. Then I realized I created too much chaos that needed correcting, so I switched to outlining. There's still room for flexibility, but as everyone said, at least I know where I'm going. Structure is IMPERATIVE!

    Nice post!

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  14. Sometimes I want to slap my internal editor, but that's usually because he's right and it would be better if I took his advice and wrote things his way. But it almost always means a heck of a lot more work for me!

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