Learning New Tricks

I have a really clear memory from high school which begins with me panicking minutes away from the bell ringing for second period English class. All at once, like a douse of cold water,  I remember a) I didn't do my vocabulary homework and b) I didn't do my vocabulary homework so the test I'm taking in 3 minutes will be an excruciating fail.

Like the heroine I usually am in my own mind, I grabbed my friend Joyce's homework, copied the words (kids, don't try this at home. It is CHEATING.) into my book and at the same time committed those words to memory. I aced the vocab test. And ever since, procrastination and last minute inspiration has been my modus operendi much more often then it should.

I write the same way. Pantser. No outlining. No editing during the first draft. Going where my story takes me. I guess you could say I do well under pressure. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I can problem solve, turn on a dime, find a replacement staffer a half hour before show time, pull out a plot twist seemingly from thin air.

BUT.

I'm not sure it's completely working for me. While I was traveling last week, I ran in to some trouble with a scene I was writing. It was stalling. Just kind of sitting there, looking pretty but not going anywhere. I decided to do something I've never done before - write out of sequence. (I wrote about it here on my writing group blog.) I know lots of people do this ALL THE TIME. I know lots of writers who can't even conceive of writing in order and who look at me like I'm certifiable when they hear how I write. But for me it was revelatory.

I don't think the scenes I wrote, which were far down the road in my book, will remain. But they were excellent for taking me out of the very narrow confines which I'd barricaded myself into and giving me distance. I saw that I was meandering. I was word painting. I was effing around, if you must know.

So what's my solution? Do more uncomfortable stuff.

Even though I'm only about a third of the way through this book I'm going to stop drafting and start thinking. My plan is to use Donald Maass for all he's worth (I hear that's quite a lot.)

For the next few weeks I'm going to subject FIND ME to The Break Out Novel Workbook. It's going to be carnage. And it's going to make me slow down and think. I may have to (gasp) outline. I will absolutely have to do some work on my characters before hand, instead of discovering who they are at the end of the book. There will definitely be blood - or ink - spilled. But I'm feeling a little reckless. Like a change is a good thing. And I'll share my experiences with you starting on Thursday with Adding Heroic Qualities.

So, how do you learn new tricks?

Live! from the Pennwriters Conference - Day 1

The last workshop of the day and someone lost their sh-t. 

"So, what's the point here? Why would anyone do this?"

I'm all for asking questions but there's no need to be rude. The workshop leader tries to explain.

"I just don't believe I've wasted my time on this. You're not telling me anything I don't already know."

But she didn't leave, she kept sitting there silently and not so silently fuming. At the end of the workshop, when the leader asked if anyone had questions I really hoped that she wouldn't go there, but this dissenter did.

"So what you're saying is, just go figure it out for yourselves. You're not telling us anything."

She left maaaaad.

What was the topic? Unlocking your Writing style. The leader was a writer and an educator and the idea was to analyze your learning style (are you visual? verbal? Active, reflective?) so that you can better understand the way you learn. This would enable you to take advantage of the right techniques that exist out there - is Outlining for you? What about character profiles? Journaling? Concentrating on details? Sequential thinking or Global? 

It was a cool little workshop. The leader seemed a little hesitant, a little preoccupied, and I think that's one reason this person felt they could jump on her and vent. It was a pretty intellectual approach to writing, when this unhappy writer, in her own words, wanted 'answers, how tos' 

It was kind of a downer for a good but exhausting day. My butt hurts from sitting so long. I got some great feedback (more on that later) and some lukewarm feedback (from an agent pitch - boo-hoo)

Later Tonight: Anonymous Read & Critique. I wish I could go in my PJ's