Hi all! Just want to remind you to drop by tomorrow for our second visitor. Also, if you look to your right, you will see all the months that are available for other writers. So please contact me if you want to book a Friday. :-)
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?
Hm, no. My internal editor is... quite silent for the most part. It's a lurker, springing out when I least expect it!
ReplyDeleteVery good thing he spoke up. That could've been bad.
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:)
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteWhen 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.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 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.
ReplyDeleteyeah... 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...
ReplyDeleteMy 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*
ReplyDeleteI 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. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad 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?)
ReplyDeleteSeveral times my Inner Editor has helped me out!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Inner Editors are absolutely great for giving you that nudge you just can't ignore.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous, Devin. Mine never shuts up. I try to tune him out, but it never stops. :-)
ReplyDeleteI 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. :-/
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!
ReplyDeleteNice post!
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!
ReplyDelete