Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Modes of Story Writing

I did a little bit of writing today: maybe 20 minutes worth. And a little is better than nothing. I'd like to get into doing it more regularly and doing more of it, though, because this story hasn't gained the momentum it needs to start moving along without a lot of extra pushing on my part.

Sisyphus (from
http://www.mythweb.com)
I find there's different stages, or maybe just modes, as stages implies a chronological order, to writing stories. The mode I'm in is the trying-to-overcome-inertia mode that NaNoWriMo is so wonderful for curing. The next mode, and the one I seem to spend the most time in usually, is the this-is-work-but-I-know-where-I'm-going mode. Then there's the story-is-writing-itself mode: that's the best one, the one I wish I lived in. It's rare and elusive, but usually by the last week of NaNo I reach it.

How about you, do you find your writing has different modes? Any tricks for how to get from one to the next?
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4 comments:

  1. Kathryn ButtercreamFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:39 AM

    I wish there was a March NaNo.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SophiaFebruary 23, 2012 at 2:41 PM

    Well, the official NaNo is in November, but there are several other sites that host NaNos in other months. Here's what I found for March:
    http://community.harlequin.com/forums/write-stuff/marnowrimo
    http://marnowrimo.webs.com/
    http://marchnowrimo.proboards.com/index.cgi

    Let me know if you decide to do one! I wish I thought it was within the realm of possibility for me... well, I suppose that's the whole point of the outlandish word count goal, isn't it. To panic you into producing! Hm... I'll give this some thought.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kathryn ButtercreamFebruary 24, 2012 at 11:58 AM

    Thanks for the tips and corresponding research on alternate Nanos!

    For me as well, the choice would require some sober contemplation resulting in a rational conclusion that I could do it without doing serious damage to my academic career. Then again, I guess the worst thing that could happen would be to abort mission and/or me *not* finishing the novel, and that wouldn't be the end of the world.

    I'll keep you posted! Keep me posted, too?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kathryn ButtercreamFebruary 27, 2012 at 7:51 AM

    I might try to finish a painting instead.

    ReplyDelete

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