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My poor novel...

by Martooni
Posted to Diaries, Diary on Mon Feb 09, 2004 at 01:48:15 PM PST
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For the past month or so, I've been wrapped up in essays and term papers for school, drunken editorials (which have actually been published), and half-hearted attempts to rekindle my "poetic fire" on another writing site.

Unfortunately, my epic, overly-wordy novel has taken not just a back seat, but has been left on a stranger's back porch...

I know that some here (janra is one of them) somehow find the time and focus to knock out chapter after chapter of their novels. I, on the other hand, am so easily distracted that I've written two editorials that have been published (no pay), written a five-page essay on "School Prayer" (required for school), a ten-page term paper on "David Hume's Scepticism" (required for school, but not due until April), as well as several sorry attempts at poetry (which used to flow from my fingertips like fire). How can a writer who obviously exhibits all of the classic symptoms of ADHD make any progress on the one thing he (or she, but I'm a he) truly wants to write?

I open up that can of worms I call my "novel", stare at it for a few minutes, then immediately start writing something else. It doesn't matter what I write (this is actually a perfect example), but I can write for hours about anything and everything but can never seem to dedicate more than a few minutes of cursory (or cursing?) glances at the one work I desperately want to complete.

I've taken the advice of those few who took the time to read my epic monster's first chapter or two and have attempted to edit the chapters down (from 5K words each to 2K words each), but when I do that I seem to lose the story. I know where it needs to go next -- or better yet, where it *wants* to go -- but I end up scrapping the edits and never write a new word or sentence, let alone a paragraph.

I can probably answer that myself, but I'm wondering what others here do. Especially the ones who are able to focus on their "prized" works, regardless of what else is going on. I know its probably just a matter of prioritizing, but my "inspiration" seems to have targets of its own in mind -- and I can't just ignore it.

What to do?

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My poor novel... | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)

you overestimate me (3.00/0) (#1)
by janra on Tue Feb 10, 2004 at 08:09:17 AM PST

I know that some here (janra is one of them) somehow find the time and focus to knock out chapter after chapter of their novels. I, on the other hand, am so easily distracted that [...]

Your list of procrastination techniques reads much like mine, only with different titles :-)

I managed to "knock out chapter after chapter" only for the NaNo, and that only because I had a deadline (and a few readers cheering me on). My other novel is at some 80,000 words, granted, but when you consider the fact that I started it 8 years ago... suddenly it's not so impressive.

I'm currently in a very similar situation to the one you describe. I have a copy of my novel. I intend to work on it. But somehow I always end up doing other things... and when I do pick it up, I start reading recents parts (like the chapter immediately before what I want to write) of it over to remind myself of where I am, and that's all I get done. I, too, stare at the page for a few minutes then go to something else.

I'm not sure how your head works, but I seem to work most efficiently when I have a deadline, and not a randomly assigned one. NaNo worked for me because even though I didn't have to do it, the deadline was 50,000 words by November 30th. My 8-y-o novel on the other hand, has no deadline, so there's nothing pushing me to keep working when I don't have "inspiration" pushing me. And we all know how reliable "inspiration" is...

I'm starting to think that some sort of an exchange would help - I know hearing you demand more while I was writing my NaNo helped my motivation :-)

Some kind of schedule, agreed upon by the parties involved, where neither side will allow the other to slip... it doesn't even have to involve critiquing beyond the most general "point out one excellent and one bad thing", just get those words down and sent off on schedule and get the other person reading them so you know you're not sending them into the void.

And now, you see, I'm being verbose again. I have chores to do, then I think I'll try to get another chapter of my novel put together.

(I really need titles... "my novel" worked when I only had one of them. Now I have two, both untitled.)
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?

Deadlines seem so.... icky, though (3.00/1) (#2)
by Martooni on Tue Feb 10, 2004 at 02:20:56 PM PST

Your list of procrastination techniques reads much like mine, only with different titles :-)

Are you trying to tell me that I've been comparing myself to a false idol ;-)

Honestly, I was impressed with the NaNo piece. And I agree that deadlines have a way of focusing us. But deadlines stink of structure.

I like the idea of an exchange. I know there are a few out there already (can't remember off hand, but I know they're there). However, that opens an entirely new can of words ;-)

There are so many inherent (and probably inevitable) problems with an exchange (when I think of my personal schedule and tendency towards distraction). In an exchange, I would not only have to buckle down and actually write something, but I would also be expected to comment/critique others' writing as well. The concept appeals to me, but the application would be intimidating.

I *do* like the way NaNo worked. You post a chapter or you don't. Somebody comes along who actually likes the story and they beg for more. Begging beats nagging anyday.

I guess I just need to start posting my stuff somewhere conspicuous and wait for that first bite -- like fishing.

[ Parent ]

deadlines (3.00/0) (#3)
by janra on Wed Feb 11, 2004 at 07:01:05 AM PST

Are you trying to tell me that I've been comparing myself to a false idol ;-)

I'm trying to tell you you're comparing yourself to your overestimation of somebody who's just another human... "false idol" always makes me think somebody somewhere is lying.

I agree that deadlines have a way of focusing us. But deadlines stink of structure.

Structure is a bad thing? I didn't expect that from you Martooni... maybe from one of the young'uns who whine so much in your classes...

The more I write, the more I find that structure helps. Not a rigid structure, because that often turns out to be a straightjacket, but some kind of scaffolding that'll stand up on its own that you can hang your story off of. Whether that's outlines, deadlines, a plot goal toward which you drive your story, or whatever else, it gives you focus and support.

I like the idea of an exchange. [but] I would not only have to buckle down and actually write something, but I would also be expected to comment/critique others' writing as well.

Only if that's what you agree on with your partner. In an exchange that's there for support and to get that first draft written, both parties could well agree to read each others' chapters and indicate that they'd read them by making some very minimal comment about its content and restricting their "critique" to the kind of thing you did for my NaNo - "I want more!" or "Ooooh, this is getting interesting" or whatever comment is appropriate.

I actually think a critique should wait until you've got the first draft down (well, with the exception of stuff like "er, this makes no sense at all"), because otherwise - and I know this from experience - you'll end up re-writing and polishing the first few chapters over and over again in response to those critiques and never get any farther. Ever wondered why I have a novel that's 8 years old and still not finished? I've rewritten the first 5 chapters probably ten times already...
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?
[ Parent ]

uh oh... (4.00/1) (#4)
by Martooni on Wed Feb 11, 2004 at 10:26:47 AM PST

I think I need to install one of those breath-a-lizer thingies on my computer (like the ones they put on the cars of people convicted of DUI that prevent the car from starting unless they blow into the tube). In my case, I should be prevented from using the "Enter" key (or any other "send/submit" function) unless I'm sober.

"false idol" always makes me think somebody somewhere is lying.

I was exaggerating maybe, but not lying. At least not intentionaly. I was very impressed with your NaNo entry (and may have falsely assumed that you make the same progress with other writing). But you're right -- reading that statement with sober eyes gives it a completely different meaning than what I may have intended.

[regarding structure]

Didn't mean to sound like a "whiner" there, but I *do* have some major issues with structure. And authority, too, I guess. A deadline (or any other "structural" method/tool) is not evil by nature (and would probably have a beneficial effect), but I have a natural aversion to anything that might impose "limits" on my creative output. Lame excuse, and one full of holes, I know, but if I can't rail against what I believe (mistakenly or not) are institutions (or institutional thinking), then I'm forced to blame myself. ;-)

To be perfectly honest, I have a feeling that my words would flow much more freely and with much more coherence if someone was standing over me with a whip and spell-checker.

[regarding critiques]

I agree that the critiques should wait until the final "first" draft (except, as you mentioned, the "this makes no sense" cases). Especially in a novel situation (as in book-writing, not uniqueness ;-) ). The "cheerleading" comments are always welcome -- no matter the source -- and have a tendency to motivate, but that type of commenting can be handled by a Perl script. In my opinion, as much as I would be tempted to join a "writing circle" or whatever, I think the writers we all admire (and your favorites do not have to match mine) would find the concept offensive. An "editorial circle", on the other hand, may be just what we need, and what we are actually looking for.

A "circle of editors" would be able to point out our flaws and provide applicable criticisms regarding style, grammar, direction and much more. Unfortunately, the really good editors (for the most part) are pre-occupied with paying gigs and could care less what "us hacks" manage to pound out -- unless it comes across their particular publishing house's doorstep. For example, my grandfather's cousin (does that make her my 3rd or 4th?) was one of the people who helped develop the APA writing guidelines (American Psychological Association). While she's happy to hear that I'm pursuing a degree in her line of work (even at her alma mater) and is well aware of my locally published works, if I were to ask her to professionaly (or even off-the-record) critique a piece of my writing I would have to cough up some serious cash.

Where can we find those rare individuals who are both editors and philanthropists?

[ Parent ]

editors (3.00/0) (#5)
by janra on Wed Feb 11, 2004 at 11:22:55 AM PST

Unfortunately, the really good editors (for the most part) are pre-occupied with paying gigs and could care less what "us hacks" manage to pound out -- unless it comes across their particular publishing house's doorstep.

Ah, but do you need a professional editor to whip your stories into submission-ready (note I didn't say publication-ready) shape? While I recognise that good writers aren't necessarily good editors, having editorial feedback from other writers, even those on the same level as you are, helps a lot. Likewise, critiquing/editing other people's work makes you a lot more sensitive (as in detecting small things, not touchy-feely ;-) ) to flaws in your own, and makes you a better self-editor.

Personally, I use critters, a SF/F/H online critique group, and IMO the best setup for getting good critiques online there is.

as much as I would be tempted to join a "writing circle" or whatever, I think the writers we all admire would find the concept offensive.

Depends on the writing circle. I never was a fan of the "writers groups" that banded together to praise one another's writing because they often made me gag, both in the quality of writing and effusiveness of undeserved praise. A lot of people seem to mistake insincere praise for encouragement, and think that constructive criticism consists of making trivial suggestions for changes that won't "hurt" the author when the story really needs, say, a plot.

On the other hand, having a few people spontaneously let me know they were enjoying my NaNo had a huge impact on how motivated I was to work on the novel. (And in most cases, it wasn't a spontaneous "I like it", it was a spontaneous "you didn't post anything yesterday! you are still working on this right? keep posting please!" which told me a lot more than just "I like it"...)

I think an "enjoying it so far, keep up the good work" comment that comes spontaneously is far more effective than the same phrase offered by somebody who feels obliged to comment on your story, and so much better than the same phrase offered by a perl script every time you post a chapter that you can't even compare them. Even though they're exactly the same words. Humans are strange.

PS: re the "false idol" and lying, it wasn't you I was referring to... it's one or more of the people who set up for others, and promote to others, worshipping a false idol that I think of as lying somehow. You know, the mysterious "they"...
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?
[ Parent ]

structure (3.00/0) (#6)
by janra on Wed Feb 11, 2004 at 11:48:10 AM PST

(missed part of your comment in my other reply... replying to it here)

I have a natural aversion to anything that might impose "limits" on my creative output. Lame excuse, and one full of holes, I know, but if I can't rail against what I believe (mistakenly or not) are institutions (or institutional thinking), then I'm forced to blame myself. ;-)

Weren't we both telling hellish recently not to do exactly what you say you do here? ;-)

I thought that too. "Don't tell me what to do, you're limiting me!" and so on. But I've learned the value of structure, and (even better, and a little harder to learn) I've learned how to work within somebody else's structure and make it work for me instead of fighting it. I'm no expert at it and do still fight it sometimes, but working with it and bending it to make it work for me always results in a better final product as well as an easier time while writing.

I chose scaffolding as my metaphor quite deliberately. It may not be pretty, it certainly isn't as strong as the finished product, and it has all kinds of corners sticking out and gaps you can fall through, but it stands on its own and makes it so much easier to build the finished product while still allowing necessary changes to the final product.
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?
[ Parent ]

: you got me on this one... (3.00/0) (#7)
by Martooni on Wed Feb 11, 2004 at 12:23:38 PM PST

Weren't we both telling hellish recently not to do exactly what you say you do here? ;-)

Yes, we did.

I have a love-hate relationship with structure. I love it in the sense that it forces me to do things in a certain way, or to do things in a certain time frame that ultimately result in productivity. But I hate it for the very same reasons. I imagine that you (and possibly others) might agree with me there. It's like paying taxes: No one really wants to pay them, but if no one does, everything falls apart. That doesn't mean, however, that you have to *enjoy* paying them. ;-)

And if hellish happens to come across this post, I hope my conflicting and contradictory opinions on this matter are not discouraging. Writing (and creativity in general) is a living process. Nothing is absolutely right or wrong. What works for one is poison to another. But the ability to ADAPT to STRUCTURES is paramount to a writer's personal growth.

Forgive me for shrinking.

[ Parent ]

My poor novel... | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)