Wednesday, May 19, 2010

How Soon is Now?



Pondering as I often do about what to post, I considered a snarky post about story elements I don't like (Chosen One's) so criminally vulgar.
But
I decided instead to talk about when to write and considered How Soon Is Now? Every time I procrastinate things turn sour but if I strike while the iron is hot and use as many cliches as possible things get done.

It may be that while I consider briefly what I will write about, an idea that comes to me (or is summoned), I usually just start pouring it all forth and am as surprised as the reader at what presents itself. This is how a rough draft gets done. You just sit down and hammer it all out.
Then
Come back and do research, edit, formulate and magnify themes. I like historical's and fantasy's but don't believe I'll ever be afflicted with world builders disease because I only need to show you that part of the world that directly affects the story.
You can't get hung up on research, the story is king.
Who cares what they worship in the steaming jungles of Kamar-Lan-Pur, unless your protag is in the big black kettle and can recite their holiest of poems to delay the feast of 1,000 eyes.
So
To finish a book means getting to work on that now and not accepting the distractions and excuses that inevitably will come along.
A whole host of projects are lining up and I have to prioritize.
This was as much for myself as anyone.
Leave the door open to your muse and it will come.
And
A pair of reviews I greatly appreciate by Elizabeth Mueller at her Blog and at Mormon Mommy Writers thanks Elizabeth.

And I just noticed a second review by Nichole Giles Here

10 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I like it best when my muse propositions me.

LisaAnn said...

Good stuff to hear. It's easy to get bogged down in research and other things. Thanks for the advice!

Amalia Dillin said...

Agreed about the world-builder's disease. I know there is a lot of stuff going on in the background of my books in "the world" but I just don't bother with it until I have to, or someone asks me a question-- at which point, I kind of make it up and hope it was consistent, then go back and figure it out in my head. It all goes in a file, though, not in my books where it serves no purpose!

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Charles-that made me smile.

Lisa-yep, just keep pluging along with the story-polish afterwards.

Amalia-exactly, forest for the tree's kinda thing.

Angie said...

You're right about procrastination. That's been my downfall lately. I'm sitting around with nothing to do but write, and yet I haven't written. :( Hoping to turn that around soon.

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Angie-keep at it and once you start don't lose the momentum.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Hi, David. Hang in there. We can get to our Atlantis whenever you can. :)

you're welcome! :D

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Thanks Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Hey, David--I have an award waiting for ya! :D

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Thanks Elizabeth-though I hope you'll forgive me if I don't post the Sugar Doll award here.