On Writing: writing proposals, in four stages

[lagilman]

Stage 1: I really hate writing proposals for books four and five when I haven't even plotted out book three yet.

Stage 2: I really love it when, in writing vaguely about book four, I realize what has to happen in book three.

Stage 3: I really think it's neat when, knowing what happens in books three and four, book five sort of falls into place. Vaguely.

Stage 4: I hate knowing that, despite knowing where everyone needs to start and finish, once I start the actual writing-of-story, all bets are off and the characters are in charge. And they're not much on logical plot-lines and start-and-finish.


Ah well. If it were predictable, I wouldn't enjoy the process quite so much. I guess.


*goes back into the word-mines*

Comments

[terri-osborne.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain.

I'm experiencing Stage 4 with the WIP, and it's only a single book in a potential series.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Stage Two rocks.

(Guess where I am in the process...)

[necessaryspace.livejournal.com]

That's the problem with characters. Mine are all starting at the end, while I start at the beginning. I keep asking, "Okay, what happens next?" and they're going, "Hey, two years from where you're at, this really neat thing happens!"

It's a good thing the writer has focus. Otherwise, nothing would get done. =)

[vampry.livejournal.com]

Speaking of which, there's a very nice review of "Staying Dead" in Starlog this month. Short but very favorable.

So that's how it works....

[cynnara.livejournal.com]

I had figured that even people who write fantasy had a great "plan". Imagine my surprise it's not written in stone. I feel....bereft, lost, no...I feel....like a writer.

You're an inspiration, Laura. Your voice is refreshing and down-to-earth. More importantly, you're a great woman with a fantastic gift.

I just wish you could've said it all works in stone. LOL

Cyn