I made my way to Body Combat early this morning. The snow began to fall just as I left. I allow myself to be lazy after workouts like that. To lie on a couch and dream a novel forward.
I write so slowly now. But I never mind the time I make to dream a novel forward.
In between I read the astonishing work being sent to me by the
YoungArts writers; our literary future, ladies and gentlemen, is in excellent hands. I read, as well, Katrina Kenison's glorious new book,
Magical Journey, of which I
wrote not long ago. Look for a chance to win your own copy here, on New Year's Day. All you'll need to do is tell me what makes you quietly glad, and your name will be put into the hat.
Finally, I discovered, thanks to a little white-winged bird, that A.A. Omer, a reader of discerning tastes (in my humble opinion), placed
Small Damages number one in her five-book list of the year's best writing. It joins the work of David Levithan, Moira Young, Ilsa Bick, and Wynne Channing. It is an act of greatest kindness. Thank you.
One of the books that is on my TBR list this summer is Blood Red Road by Moira Young.
It’s a novel set in the future after the land has been ravaged and now mostly a wasteland of dust. The main character Saba is forced to go forth into the unknown world and search for her twin brother who was kidnapped.
I recently read some thoughts from the author about her journey to writing this book as well as some of her influences. This stood out for me:
“I didn’t plan this book. When I did, mainly it didn’t go according to plan, although sometimes it did. I found that characters did what they did and said what they said and waited, sometimes impatiently, while I wrote it down. But I did have to sit there at the table, at my computer, and write. Even if every word I wrote that day turned out to be a dud. I had to sit down and write. And once I’d finished the first draft, that was just the beginning. Only then did I really start to write the book.”
This is so true. Sometimes even a plot chick like myself cannot plan some of the things that happen while writing a novel. Ironically, it’s the unplanned novels that are the most riveting — for both the reader and the writer.
You can read the rest of what the author had to say about her novel here.
Writer friends, how you found that some of your best ideas come from being open and not sticking to the original plan for your novel?
Although sometimes it can be hard to move away from your original plan, especially when you don’t know for certain if it’s going to work (and it could me hours of wasted writing), I think most of my best ideas have come along spontaneously. Being open to thinking about alternative ways to write a scene or a plot event is a key quality in a writer, especially when it comes to revisions!
A lot of times my best ideas come when I’m in the middle of writing. And as a fellow plot chick, I go through and adjust my outline however I need to. Something just don’t come until your writing.
Definitely! My best ideas always surprise me. I love it when a book does that, both in reading and writing. I’m going to have to add this book to my list.
That is how I feel as well, when I let my thoughts and character do as they please, writing tend to be a little more creative and interesting (even to me) than when I sit down and stick to my own focused ideas. But then, it is also a balancing act. You have to begin somewhere, with an idea but then after that, let the idea go and see where it takes you :D I will have to go check out the link you provided :D Thanks Karen!
I like this. I planned out my book before writing and it’s changed a lot as I’ve written my first draft. I love the last couple of lines because I feel like my first draft is all about getting the ideas down but the real writing will come when I revise. I’m looking forward to it!
Totally! When I got my novel idea I thought to myself, “You don’t write that type of story.” Then I thought WHY NOT? Why limit myself, and why not just go for it?