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| Writing a Novel– via iAuthor |
I’m going to start on the third draft of my WIP soon.
I’m hoping it won’t involve major structural changes. The mists have cleared, and I can see the world in my story quite well, thanks, in large part, to some on-location research.
I do feel some trepidation, but nothing can match the confused elation of the first draft, that feeling of being lost yet excited.
Over the years, I’ve grown to love revision almost as much as the first creative burst. And I think the fun I’m having while making cuts has shown results on the page. My new high these days is the joy of finishing a story, writing ‘the end’ in my head– making sure each word needs to be there, each comma, every fullstop.
What gives you your high while writing? The first draft? Revisions? Reviews? As a reader, do you ever try to imagine when and how an author wrote a scene?
Hi human, Damyanti,
Okay, sorry, I know how you've been eagerly waiting for a comment from me, the celebrity dog!
This might seem strange to you, my dear friend. I don't revise or edit. In fact, I don't even do word counts. My paws would get too tired from counting on the words 🙂
Pawsitive wishes,
Penny
I love both the first draft and the revison, and what I like the most is when the revising process makes all the ideas of the first draft click into place.
Revision is my current fave– its nice to be able to sculpt the story. thanks for stopping by!!
It's great that you're feeling energized, and ready to start your third draft! Good luck, and thanks for the inspirational quote!
Julie
You're welcome, Julie.
Mine is when I realize something about a character that I must have known all along on some level, but didn't "see" until now. For example, I just realized that one of the characters I've been working on for a decade is gay. It explains the jealous fits he's been throwing. It explains his lack of interest in women. This one realization and I'm like, "oh… duh." It's so obvious to me now that I wrote him as gay, but never really explored his love interests deep enough in the story to have it slap me in the face. It seriously answered twelve of my "why" questions that I had been asking myself.
This happens to me too. Sometimes it puzzles me, what a character goes and does or says, and then I'm like, what does this dude want? 🙂
I am glad you are feeling energized. You have your ideas down and can go from there…it must be exciting
It is Birgit. I'll also get some beta reader feedback soon, and I'm all excited about that, too.
I agree with Peaches Ledwidge that writing the first draft is fun because the words flow without structure. It's interesting seeing the outcome before the task of editing.
Michelle, I love first drafts, too. But not on days when my muse is on vacation 🙂
I love writing the first draft because words are flowing and I don't think about structure. Revision, I don't like. It is tedious and then I have chop or add more words. I can sense how you are feeling – when the project is near completion.
Peaches, I used to hate revision, too, but not any more 🙂
Great Going Damayanti,
Keep Going!
All good wishes
T C
PS:
Hey As a reader, do you ever try to imagine when and how an author wrote a scene? – See more at: http://amloki.blogspot.in/2014/11/whats-your-high.html?
Hey hey, I never thought of it! Now I think the time has come to think on that line LOL
Thanks Daya for all the like at G+
~ Phil
Thanks Phil, for stopping by, and your comment.
Firstly, that quote is spectacular.
And my high, without a doubt, is the research whilst getting the story together in my head. Then, of course, writing 'The End' 🙂
Thanks Wendy, I'm glad you like it. Both of those are my faves too.
I get a bit panicky with the first draft, wondering if my story has enough oomph to get through to the end. I love revising and editing though. I do far too much! All the best with your new story and thanks for playing the writing game on my blog today.
Denise 🙂
Denise, I keep revising too. But as I realize, sometimes, it can be too much of a good thing.
I don't do drafts exactly. I edit as I go, and my "high" is when I know I've completed a perfect chapter. (No, it's not really perfect – my CPs will comment and I'll do little revisions, but only of prose.) On the down side, it takes me a while to craft each "perfect" chapter so it usually takes me a year to write and revise a novel. But it doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you still love that novel when you finally finish. Good luck on your third draft! 🙂
Thank you, Lexa. I wish I could prefect as I wrote. If I look back on what I've written, I develop this mega case of writer's block!
Sounds awesome. All the best!
Thankyou!
Definitely revisions. I loath the first draft. It's not until the words are on the page and I can see them that I really know what to do with the story.
Glad you had your breakthrough and are charged again.
Thanks, Alex. I now like both first drafts and revisions, for different reasons. But the joy of finishing something is my current high in writing 🙂