tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post8620189851889791472..comments2023-11-03T05:49:10.841-04:00Comments on Storytelling Rules: Stop StartMaureen McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-53391772721622720272010-09-05T17:52:36.869-04:002010-09-05T17:52:36.869-04:00This sounds so much like me it's scary. I ofte...This sounds so much like me it's scary. I often write individual scenes that come to me when nothing else will, even if they're not planned until later in the story. I figure it gets them out of my head so I can better focus on the scenes I'm having trouble with. When I write daily I'm so into it and so productive. When something breaks my flow it can takes days (dare I say weeks) to get back into it. But I always do!<br />Good luck!Wendy S Marcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590562856819593365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-41546151350902778202010-09-03T18:47:48.004-04:002010-09-03T18:47:48.004-04:00It's so not easy! Today I had everything plann...It's so not easy! Today I had everything planned out. Work til 1:30, then gym, then home to write until it was time to go out to the movies at 7.<br /><br />Well, my mom got sick so in the middle of that was two and a half hours to take her to the doctor, which meant I didn't leave work until 3:30 which mean I had to choose between gym and writing. I chose writing. Next week, I might choose gym.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803986849921870941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-51223854828226570052010-09-03T17:51:24.074-04:002010-09-03T17:51:24.074-04:00It's the writing every day thing, even a coupl...It's the writing every day thing, even a couple of pages. I need to do that, and it takes discipline and the ability to block everything else out. <br /><br />I'm working on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-56974342394476922722010-09-03T11:12:40.307-04:002010-09-03T11:12:40.307-04:00I'm with you, Sinead. You know, I just read a...I'm with you, Sinead. You know, I just read an article in the RWR by Lani Diane Rich (whom I adore) about taking creative breaks and I thought "Nope. Won't work for me."<br /><br />When I first started writing in two different genres, I would take a little break when I finished one stage on a project before getting to the next stage on another. It was like throwing on the brakes completely. A week off would stall me out completely for two or sometimes three weeks. Heck, sometimes just the weekend makes Monday a total nightmare writing-wise.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803986849921870941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-45006871322878631762010-09-03T10:20:05.284-04:002010-09-03T10:20:05.284-04:00Absolutely writing is all about a rhythm. I think ...Absolutely writing is all about a rhythm. I think anyway.<br /><br />That's why I'm taking a week off. I was on a roll, got derailed by the whole submission process. Now I need to get back on track. My hope is to carry the momentum of the week into the next month.<br /><br />And I also use that trick of adding a few lines of dialogue - to remind myself where I planned to start the next scene. That has helped. Also sometimes I have to force myself not to go back and read everything agian. That tends to bog me down with changes instead of moving forward w/ page count.<br /><br />There was a line from Throw Momma from the Train... Billy Crystal says... "A writer writes. Always."<br /><br />That stays with me. I think doing it on a consistent basis is crucial.Stephanie Doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448686465587131952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-45137245903666349742010-09-03T10:12:40.350-04:002010-09-03T10:12:40.350-04:00I'm definitely like that. And it doesn't t...I'm definitely like that. And it doesn't take much to push me off the rails. Then so, so hard to get myself back on. When I'm not immersed in the story, I can loose faith in it. This past week has been way slower than it should have been and now I'm doubting everything again.<br /><br />One thing that I've done on occasion, is when it's going well, but I know I'm going to be interrupted for a bit, is to leave a few notes/sentences/lines of dialogue for the next few scenes coming up. Then it's easier to pick up again. Unfortunately, most of my stops on this ms have been unexpected... I just grind to a halt for no apparent reason. :(Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-80311082789324760412010-09-03T09:58:49.656-04:002010-09-03T09:58:49.656-04:00Yeah, I'm kind of like that. I haven't wri...Yeah, I'm kind of like that. I haven't written anything for my current WIP in a few weeks and I think I'll have to go back and re-read what I had so far to get back into the tone and voice.Lisa Galekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02438927319122874125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-61656002662038740262010-09-03T09:08:25.943-04:002010-09-03T09:08:25.943-04:00Sinead, I'm the same way. Heck, I even have t...Sinead, I'm the same way. Heck, I even have trouble picking up where I left off when I pick up the story on the next day!!!Karen Wnoreply@blogger.com