Novels are not only divided into chapters, they are also guided by scenes. Scene by scene moving the plot forward until the denouement, solution, finale or any other term you want to call it.
Scenes are within the chapters and chapters are within the structure of the book.
Outlines guide the creator to move the plot from beginning to the end.
Looks easy but not easy at all. It's like a sheepdog's work, guiding stray sheep from wondering off the trail to the finale. Any wondering or stray sheep that happened to be left behind reflects the shoddiness of the sheepdog and he will be reprimanded severely.
Reworking the plot or scene is another common occurrence that is both frustrating and rewarding in the long run. Why is this so? That's because it means, first, you're not facing writer's block and, second, you are moving the story forward. The final solution is now within your grasp and you're getting ever closer to your goal, which is, "The End".
All these work that seems useless are actually well worth the creator's time.
I'm going to practice scene writing and moving my plot forward to the final denouement.
The End.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Breakthrough Writing
What is the hardest thing to overcome in writing? If your answer is writer's block, you are not too far from the truth but not exactly hammering the nail on the head. Well, writer's blog is hard to overcome, yes, true but writer's blog is just a symptom of the number one brick wall to writing success.
So, what is the hardest thing to overcome in writing?
The answer is: our mind. Our mind is where apex from where we conjure up our stories, characters, plots. It is where everything starts or ends. If our minds is not first conquered we face mountains and mountains of writer's block time and time again.
Take for instance, a full-time writer. She has no other source of income except churning out story after story. She has to get into the mindset that churning out stories is her livelihood. No stories, no money. No money equals no food or the basic necessities of life. Writers say that writing to them is a business. It so happens to be something they do, something they like to do and that they are moderately or sufficiently good at. Some say that it's their life, which is very true also.
Conquer the mindset that keeps you from succeeding as a writer. Conquer that suffering inner editor that puts down everything you write. Shut him up but not for good though because you need him for the later stage of your writing to weed out unnecessary trimmings of your writing.
A process of self-encouragement, conquering mountains of self-doubt, perseverance, determination, arming yourself with loads of just-do-it mental attitude and slog on with a come-what-may attitude. Coax your mind. Do whatever it takes to get the first draft out for that darn editor you've shut outside your mind's door, knowing that he's waiting and hungry to edit your first draft should get your writing engine going.
You are a writer. Those feelings you're feeling every time you set out to write are exactly what every bestselling writer feels. They are normal feelings. They write passed those feelings to get to the plain golden meadow where the free writing spirit roams.
(Read: I'm normal)
Keep telling yourself you're writer. No stories, no food. Writing is a business. Writing is your job like any job. You have to spend time at it. Only you can write your stories. Nobody else can. So, you have to write it.
Conquer your mindset.
So, what is the hardest thing to overcome in writing?
The answer is: our mind. Our mind is where apex from where we conjure up our stories, characters, plots. It is where everything starts or ends. If our minds is not first conquered we face mountains and mountains of writer's block time and time again.
Take for instance, a full-time writer. She has no other source of income except churning out story after story. She has to get into the mindset that churning out stories is her livelihood. No stories, no money. No money equals no food or the basic necessities of life. Writers say that writing to them is a business. It so happens to be something they do, something they like to do and that they are moderately or sufficiently good at. Some say that it's their life, which is very true also.
Conquer the mindset that keeps you from succeeding as a writer. Conquer that suffering inner editor that puts down everything you write. Shut him up but not for good though because you need him for the later stage of your writing to weed out unnecessary trimmings of your writing.
A process of self-encouragement, conquering mountains of self-doubt, perseverance, determination, arming yourself with loads of just-do-it mental attitude and slog on with a come-what-may attitude. Coax your mind. Do whatever it takes to get the first draft out for that darn editor you've shut outside your mind's door, knowing that he's waiting and hungry to edit your first draft should get your writing engine going.
You are a writer. Those feelings you're feeling every time you set out to write are exactly what every bestselling writer feels. They are normal feelings. They write passed those feelings to get to the plain golden meadow where the free writing spirit roams.
(Read: I'm normal)
Keep telling yourself you're writer. No stories, no food. Writing is a business. Writing is your job like any job. You have to spend time at it. Only you can write your stories. Nobody else can. So, you have to write it.
Conquer your mindset.
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