James Barclay
February 6th, 2006, 09:05 AM
OK, just for Holbrook (and for anyone else who might find this useful) this is a method of keeping up your momentum and continuity. It was given to me by David Gemmell and, having tried it myself, I can vouch for it. I'm sure he won't mind my sharing it with other writers.
Assume you are through early planning of your book and are now into the scene by scene drafting. What you might find you need is some way of rattling along, giving yourself daily deadlines, a start every morning and a sense of satisfaction every evening. Try this:
At the outset, plan three consecutive scenes. After that, the method is simple. On day one, write one whole scene and begin the next one but don't finish it. Lastly, plan the next scene (the fourth, so to speak).
Then, next day, read through what you've done, mark edits etc if that's what you do on first read. That'll give you a start into the scene you began yesterday. Finish the scene. Begin writing the next but don't finish it. Plan another scene (the fifth...).
And so on. It's a good, solid method for keeping yourself focused. The reason you're always planning two scenes ahead, by the way, is that it's always a good idea to know more just the next thing you are planning to write. Gives you breathing space and keeps you looking forwards.
There you go. All plaudits to the great man himself. Won't work for everyone of course but there you go.
NOM
Assume you are through early planning of your book and are now into the scene by scene drafting. What you might find you need is some way of rattling along, giving yourself daily deadlines, a start every morning and a sense of satisfaction every evening. Try this:
At the outset, plan three consecutive scenes. After that, the method is simple. On day one, write one whole scene and begin the next one but don't finish it. Lastly, plan the next scene (the fourth, so to speak).
Then, next day, read through what you've done, mark edits etc if that's what you do on first read. That'll give you a start into the scene you began yesterday. Finish the scene. Begin writing the next but don't finish it. Plan another scene (the fifth...).
And so on. It's a good, solid method for keeping yourself focused. The reason you're always planning two scenes ahead, by the way, is that it's always a good idea to know more just the next thing you are planning to write. Gives you breathing space and keeps you looking forwards.
There you go. All plaudits to the great man himself. Won't work for everyone of course but there you go.
NOM