The smartest thing I did before sitting down to write was to list all my characters and their part in the story, then create a detailed synopsis. Then I broke down my synopsis into a detailed chapter by chapter outline. Granted, I know my story better than I've known any story. Don't ask why because I have no idea. This story just excites me. My heroine popped into my head with real experiences and the story grew out of her.
Yesterday, I met my friend Janie at the Mustang Library. We were there from 9:30 until almost 3:00 and I churned out 3,677 words. We skipped lunch. And while my stomach howled, I wrote and wrote and wrote.
A lot of writers (called pantsers) don't believe in outlines but I do so much better with them. Having one doesn't mean I'm locked in. I feel like an outline gives me freedom to write. With my 'map' in front of me I can get to the treasure-- the finished manuscript.
I don't expect to churn out that many words every day. In fact, today I feel a little brain dead and very drowsy.
How many words do you consistently write a day? Do you ever feel mentally exhausted if you over do it? Do you work with an outline--vague or detailed--to get you to the end of your project?
5 comments:
I am still working on my first and it was suggested that I write with an outline, which I believe when I start typing the story will help keep me in context.
Yea!!! for you, Jess. Think it might be that fresh Okla. air instead of the plants-juice we have to breathe down here? :>)
That sounds like a fabulous day! I don't plan on paper, but when I get an idea it comes packaged with title, character names, first paragraph, last paragraph - the stuff in the middle is a little bit harder, but I rarely aim to write a full-length novel.
I love writing to exhaustion, and then falling into bed as though I've run a marathon. I even like that brain-dead feeling the day after, because I know it'll be followed by another huge session later.
So far I haven't been one to outline, but I'm thinking it might help maximize my writing time. I like to get about 1500 wds at a sitiing, which really isn't that tough if you have the scene mapped out. Glad you're writing. I'm 1600wds into the BLOOD BIAS sequel.
I never thought about how many words I write a day - and do you count everything you write? Or just the particular project you're working on? I need to work more on a schedule and sticking to it!
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