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He finishes the first draft with a vengeance. His vision of a complex story crystalizes. The characters reveal themselves. The story world captivates. Action builds to a dramatic climax. Character grow and transform. Thematic threads run deep throughout the manuscript.
Celebration over his accomplishment is short-lived and little acknowledged in his eagerness to keep going.
He rounds up his notes and begins crafting and writing draft #2 and immediately comes to a screeching halt.
The quality of his writing in draft #1 dismays him. Doubt sets in. Energy lags. Procrastination takes over.
Yet, another example of what I've addressed the last two entries.
Any success stories about starting out on the next draft of your project?
We're halfway through December -- International Plot Writing Month. I trust the time you've spent reading the posts and exploring the exercises has given you a new angle, passion, and energy for your writing, and has deepened the meaning of your story.
So much of writing is by feel. The suggestions here are simply ways to help support your groping...
The Climax decides the Beginning. Examine the Climax you've written for insights into what is being revealed about the protagonist. Think of the protagonist's flaw as the weakest link in her growth -- I'd like to write: spiritual growth but am afraid the word spiritual will be misunderstood. What I'm referring to has nothing at all to do with religion -- it's the part of you that is beyond the physical body. Oops... I was talking about your protagonist, not you...
What does the protagonist have to overcome in herself in order to do what she does at the Climax???
A story is a spiritual quest. Once the character has taken the challenge and entered the story world itself -- Middle, she is knocked around, shaken up, challenged, and tested. In order for the quest to have meaning, the protagonist must share the gifts she has learned with the "tribe".
This is why so many stories are circular -- the protagonist must return home with the elixir -- the End circles back the Beginning...
Any character/person brave enough to step outside her comfort zone is being invited on a quest. Sharing the gifts completes the circle.
What is your protagonist's flaw? What does she do to sabotage herself from achieving her goals? What does she do to get in her own way of attaining her dreams? What is she doing to herself unconsciously that the story forces her to become conscious of and, once she aware of herself, is able to do things differently and thus, reach that which she longs for in life AND helps make the world around her a better place??? The answers to these questions will help determine what belongs in the Beginning of your story.
Frankly, I can't wait to get there. I'm still in the first round blues, I guess--though not really blue. Thanks to your BBP book and the tips on this site, I've taken eight random chapters, written a new beginning that I've continued to revamp and tracked its scenes. I'm anxious to continue.
I have my overall story, know where I want to go basically, but I'm not sure how many bumps in the road may be created on the journey. It's funny how these characters start to come alive through our fingertips with no preconceived notion that he or she was going to say or do that. As long as it moves my story forward and doesn't go too far off track from my original plot line (or hope), then maybe it's adding unforeseen interest and detail to the story.
One big hurdle for me now since I wrote the chapters out of order is to transition them well, if they'll work at all. Thanks to the scene tracker, this task will be easier. I really can't wait to get a finished first draft in my hands. My goal is to get there by the end of this month, but I'm not sure if that's realistic. As long as I'm not procrastinating and at least working on the story, then I'll cut myself some slack.
I've already fallen victim to what you warn about--not rereading what's been written, but I'm afraid if I don't reread it, then I'll forget where I was going and have too many inconsistencies. Wouldn't that create more work on the next draft trying to straighten out all the details that contradict each other?
So much to do! I look forward to the comments and posts on this site daily. Thanks for what you're doing.
It's a very different process. I think your client may be feeling overwhelmed at the thought of turning through those pages again, front to back. This may be one of those times when the stepping back and looking at big plot threads/character arcs to see the connections?
Thanks for your comments, DJ Lane. "As long as I'm not procrastinating and at least working on the story, then I'll cut myself some slack." I like that. Often, we set ourselves up to get there by... and when we don't reach our goal, we give up in disgust. Giving ourselves slack is ever so important indeed...
Your enthusiasm keeps you going. I see you surging forward with energy high!
beckylevine, the writer I was referring to was in shock over the difference between the generative stage and the next one -- editing, cutting, etc. From the creative to the analytical -- tough transition, but he's committed to 10 pages a day. He'll make it, or, answer to me... oooooohhhh, so scary, I can be......