Writers and Working

Writing a novel is a lot of work. It's not like you can just sit down and start writing. Well, I guess you could but I call that stream of conscious typing. That is how I used to write. I would sit down at the computer and let my fingers to do the walking.

Ah, the woe's of not knowing shit.

I have to say maybe it would be better if I didn't know anything. I wrote my first stories like that and then wondered why in the hell when I hit page 60 I ran dry. I mean really ran dry. The story stopped and I never could figure out why. I probably have sixty of these types of stories in my filing cabinet. I was so blissfully unaware.

I knew that something was missing. I just didn't know what. I would sit and scratch my head, and yes I cussed a lot. However most of what I was missing I now call pre-planning. Yes, to write a good story you must plan it. [I speak only for myself here-Some people simply cannot pre-plan] I'm not talking about planning out everything and practically writing the book in an outline style so that when you do sit down to write it feels like all the creative energy has been sapped from your bones. No, I'm talking about character and story lines, growth arcs, and throwing alligators in the boat.

Fiction is larger than life. If we all wrote about our daily lives and what problems and traumas we go through, I doubt very many people would actually pick it up saying "Oh, how interesting--must read this" So story is about ordinary people doing miraculous things. That is how I like to start my stories off.

Characters have to change and grow as well. They can't remain static. Where's the fun in that? I mean think about it. The guy in the bank line that is rocking back and forth on his well buffed shoes wearing his three piece suit, with his hair combed over his receding hair line who looks like he's going to have a heart attack if he doesn't get to the teller in the next three seconds--What is his story? You know he has one. Is he embezzling money? Is his checking account about to be overdrawn? Or is he just an impatient ass who cares for nothing but his agenda and what he must do next? Which one do you think would make the better story? The more interesting story?

I'm all for the embezzling story, lot's of good stuff with that theory!
Anyway, I'm off to go to the day job, one must eat!