I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through
Hey Ken, you're welcome. I find these things as I go along during the day, and then I post them to share as well as a way to remind me that I need to finish reading it.
My boss still looks over my shoulder during parts of the day, so I only get to read parts. Plus this way I make sure I go back and read the whole thing.
Camille, me as well. Having talked about this with many a writer, I'm begining to hold the impression that those writers that go from front to back in one long train haul, and then rewrite cutting 10% out each time through are a rare bread these days. Most writers I talk with get an opener and start with that, get the ending and write that, then work out the middle. And on the first rewrite add between 10-40%. Then they may start cutting.
Sometimes I get 75% of the story, but usually I'm lucky if I get a whole scene intact. If I had normal writing times this wouldn't be a bad thing. I can connect scenes pretty well now, and I do know how to write without inspiration. I think if I could get a normal schedule I could produce a several short stories a month, and get a novel out at least every other year.
Steve: I never ever ever get the ending first, though I've, also, read others do. I get the beginning, and maybe a vague glimpse of the middle. The ending occurs when it occurs. If I'm lucky (for the purpose of submitting to current short fic markets), it occurs in something under 5,000 or 6,000 words.
5 comments:
Great topic Steve, I always learn so much from the things you link too. Keep it up!
Hey Ken, you're welcome. I find these things as I go along during the day, and then I post them to share as well as a way to remind me that I need to finish reading it.
My boss still looks over my shoulder during parts of the day, so I only get to read parts. Plus this way I make sure I go back and read the whole thing.
With me, sometimes, a whole story starts with nothing other than a title or an opening line in my head.
Camille, me as well. Having talked about this with many a writer, I'm begining to hold the impression that those writers that go from front to back in one long train haul, and then rewrite cutting 10% out each time through are a rare bread these days. Most writers I talk with get an opener and start with that, get the ending and write that, then work out the middle. And on the first rewrite add between 10-40%. Then they may start cutting.
Sometimes I get 75% of the story, but usually I'm lucky if I get a whole scene intact. If I had normal writing times this wouldn't be a bad thing. I can connect scenes pretty well now, and I do know how to write without inspiration. I think if I could get a normal schedule I could produce a several short stories a month, and get a novel out at least every other year.
Steve:
I never ever ever get the ending first, though I've, also, read others do. I get the beginning, and maybe a vague glimpse of the middle. The ending occurs when it occurs. If I'm lucky (for the purpose of submitting to current short fic markets), it occurs in something under 5,000 or 6,000 words.
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