Wednesday, March 28, 2012

On Writing


I'm often asked - ah darn it no - I'm never asked about how I write. Well not often. I'm not one of the lucky ones who sit down at a computer and it comes pouring out. My stories rise slowly like hot air balloons and then eventually move forward. I wish I could write faster but I can't. I'm not slow but I so quickly get trawled up in plots and character that I have to backtrack over the first few chapters time after time until I feel happy moving on. So instead of plotting everything, I start off with nothing and then build it up like a tower of blocks, only to take a couple out every now and again and let it fall before I start off once more.
Current WIP - has me excited to write on and I can't until I have some sort of feel for where I'm going and why. For a change, I know what I'm going to be writing in a few chapters time and that's rare. Usually, it happens as I type. This is one is more of an adventure than some of my others. An MM story with the MCs so diametrically opposed, they're going to be fun to bring together.

2 comments:

Fred said...

Here's to slow writing! I get those ahead of time chapters all the time, but one of the hardest things for me to do is to link them up with where I am. Sometimes it feels like I'm trying to herd flies.

Arlene said...

Yep, I'm right there with you and Fred, Barb. Except I'm herding zippy fast moving bastards, not sluggish house flies. And my leaning tower is in violation of so many codes, it's just begging for the crane thing with that big black ball..can you tell I cant remember how to spell whrecking?