stupid writing.

[rivendellrose]

NaNo Count: 4426 words. Yes, I've fallen behind.
NaNo Feelings: Who the hell gave me the idea that I could write original fiction? And can I hunt down that person and sue them for emotional duress? *Beats head on desk* I cannot plot to save my soul. I don't know why I forget this sometimes... somehow I get the notion that since I understand how plots should work, how things should fit together and all, and since I'm good at writing dialogue and character stuff, I should be able to make up plots that fit together and make sense and have interesting characters and stuff. I spent a bunch of time playing with online Tarot decks today, and I still don't have a plot. I have some interesting ideas, but... I just can't seem to find anything that screams "hey, this'd be a good book." Everything I come up with sounds horrifically boring. So I'm just drifting, writing set-up scenes, messing around with characters... and occasionally being tempted to write something completely different just because, what the hell, I'm already not going anywhere with this, right? ARGH.

Update: There is a magic power to ranting. Once I've gotten out a good rant, I return to what I'm doing with this grim sort of "okay fine" feeling... and it goes! *Joy* Still behind, but not by nearly so much anymore, and I have discovered that first person makes this easier, so... wheee. Also, slipping way the hell back to the beginning of everything that's happened is really helping. Background is good.

Yeah, if I'm having this much fun by four days in I can just imagine what I'll be like by halfway through the month. One day at a time. One bloody day at a time. *Grits teeth*

On the up side, I finished one fic, worked on another, completely neglected my B5 ficathon fic which I'm currently frightened of, and watched a bunch of Buffy. Anyone who knows me will be not the least surprised that I'm entirely enamoured of Giles. Also, Spike and Drusilla are adorable.

Comments

[lacrimaeveneris.livejournal.com]

You can make it! Keep messing... or hell, just keep writing. I've fallen behind too- we can catch up together. You can do this.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

It turns out that a good rant was the best thing I could've done. I came back to it, and... well, I still don't know exactly where I'm headed, but I seem to be doing better on the way, for the moment!

Thanks. *Hugs* It's just so easy to fall behind in this, it's really frustrating. You're right, though - we can pick it back up!

[nekokoban]

... if it makes you feel better, the big ceremony/go BOOM! thing that I thought would take place near the end of the book actually is going to happen near the beginning, and I am gonna hafta scramble to figure out how the rest of it goes -- I've realized that it'll be the fallout from Things Going Wrong, but see, I didn't really think it was about that when I started.

On the plus side, it lets me get a lot of word padding in as I try to set things up retroactively. :p

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Actually, the big ranty "ohmigod I can't do this!" thing seemed to help a lot. I'm still clueless, but I'm moving again!

And it turns out this thing wants to be written in 1st person. Who knew? Clearly not me... XD;;

[nekokoban]

Sometimes, a decent impetus is all we need! XD

And man, I haven't written in first person for years. Though after reading all the James Alan Gardner books, I almost want to try. XD

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Though after reading all the James Alan Gardner books, I almost want to try. XD

That's what did it for me, too. He does all his work in 1st person, pretty much, and he did such amazing things with it that I couldn't resist giving it a go. And the first little bit of this novel (which, at the time I had no idea was attached to anything) was written in 1st, in a random notebook that I now cannot find, so.... I guess that's just the way this one wants to come out!

[coralia13.livejournal.com]

I want you to take a moment to recognize how cool it is that you have done what you've done for NaNo so far. I intended to dedicate this past (four/five month summer) to writing at least the beginnings of a novel, and at the moment I have about thirty pages of absolutely nothing worth saving. Then I got bored and gave up. I'll be cheering you on the sidelines!

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

It is, it is. And I definitely think I've got better writing chops now than last time I tried (four years ago... I made word count, but damn that thing was a disaster).

*Hugs* Thank you. You're right about that being the important thing to remember.

[windrose.livejournal.com]

Go back and look over my writing posts about the novel. What do you see? A lot of "OMG, this is crap! I can't plot worth a damn! What was I THINKING?"

You know what everyone who has read the WiP has said? "OMG, this is great! Where's the rest? If you stop now, I will kill you!"

Writers are their own worst critics. We see the flaws, all the places where what came out on the page does not live up to the radiant prose in our heads. And if you're a newbie to original fic, like me, you freak out a lot. I can't tell you how many times I have made like Kermit the Frog having a panic attack at dancinghorse, only to have her say, "You don't get to decide it's crap. Keep writing."

And just for shits and giggles ... I usually refer to my internal editor as the snakes in my head, which inspired this cartoon from my friend mister_sunshine

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks you. Deep down, I know everybody who writes goes through this stuff (most of my friends are writers, that's how we all met!), but sometimes a rant is the only thing that cures.

I can't tell you how many times I have made like Kermit the Frog having a panic attack...

Best description ever. XD

"You don't get to decide it's crap. Keep writing."

That's my new writing motto, I think. And the snakes are wonderful. So very cute and eeeeevil! ♥

[windrose.livejournal.com]

Here's the exact quote from Judy:

Finish it. You're not the person to judge whether it has a future. Very few authors are.

Just get it done and see what you have. Either you've got a fantastic warmup or an actual publishable novel. Not your call.

She's good. Then again, given the number of novels she's published, she should be. 8)

Best description ever. XD

It's just so apt. ::flails muppet arms:: Aiiieeee!

;)

[shadawyn.livejournal.com]

There is a magic power to ranting.

Yes there is. Glad it worked for you :)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

It's kind of like going out and hitting a punching bag for a while, but it doesn't kill my knuckles. Or require a punching bag. XD

[shadawyn.livejournal.com]

I've also found ranting lets me get all the thoughts out (good and bad). By the time I'm done ranting, I've got all the pent-up frustration off my chest, and I usually know what the problem is.

I write and delete a lot of rants. LoL