on writing: why sometimes it doesn't pay to plan ahead

[lagilman]

I really really wish there was a magical wand you could wave over a dead-end in a story and make it go right.

Well, there is, actually. It's called the delete key.

According to my outline, character A and character B were supposed to do something at X point in the storyline. Only when I wrote that, it felt off, both in timing and believablity. I wanted to stick to the outline -- the outline was good, solidly plotted, and logical. It also, apparently, was wrong. For values of 'wrong' that means 'doesn't satisfy.'

I tried to fix it, but it wasn't so much broke as not-happening. And there was no way to go forward from there, as when Something happened would impact the timeline for the rest of the story. So today will be spent backing up (replete with warning beeps and swearing) until I reach the part where it last flowed easily, and letting A and B do what they want to do, when they want to do it.

And, hopefully, once I've made A and B happy, everything will kick back into a steady progress.

And while I'm at it, this post-WFC catarrh? Can bite me. And then go away. NOW.

So. Less blogging. More writing.

Comments

[authorm.livejournal.com]

...what about a story that just dead ends even though it's already finished! :(
Good luck with backing up! (I think I just need to start over from the beginning!)

--M

[lagilman]

rip it to shreds and use the bones for soup.

[authorm.livejournal.com]

I might have to do that! :)

[rwglaub.livejournal.com]

Here, have some nice, hot, homemade chicken soup...

[lagilman]

I actually just dragged myself out for groceries and came home with a rotisserie chicken, which smells good enough to tempt the otherwise blah appetite. We shall see.

[rwglaub.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. Too bad you're not going to Philcon, I hear there are lots of good eateries near the hotel. My first time at the new location; been a few years since I last made it, but the room rate was too good to pass up...

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

catarrh

I didn't know this word (despite performing very well on the recent vocabulary test meme going around), and had to look it up. Ooooh, good word. Thank you.

Assuming you're going to be at Philcon next week (though I think I'm recalling you saying you wouldn't) can I get you to pronounce it for me?

[lagilman]

It's one of my favorite slly-but-useful words.

I won't be there, no -- in light of my cold, a good thing! -- but I remember learning somewhere that the proper pronunciation involves equal amount of phlegm and disgust.

It may originally have been a Klingon word, in fact.