The Fine Art of Writing…after a fashion…

It didn’t take me long to realize that each painting I painted had it’s own way of becoming. Granted, the basic rules applied, but I discovered there were infinite ways to apply those basic rules. That’s what kept it interesting and fresh for me during my painting career.

Now I’m writing books, and I’m learning that each book is getting written differently. I’m sure it’s me and the way I work with the stories in my head, but it is rather interesting.

And the basic rules need apply.

Basic Rule One—Write. You gotta get it out of your head and into text.  No matter how you write–whether a Plotter or a Pantser or a little bit of both–Do Not Stop Until That First Draft Is Done.

And that’s about the only rule you’ve got until Draft One is Done.

When I’m writing, lots of scenes play out in my head, almost simultaneously. I sit with them and noodle around with them and then I begin to write one to see where it takes me. What path does the story want to go? And is it going to be lickity split or slowly plodding? (Not the pace of the story, but the pace of getting it into first draft from.)

So far, Champions of Entean wants to be lickity split, and I’m having a hard time holding it back so that it makes sense to me. It’s like a big story flood and I’m trying not to drown in the images in my head because they all want to come out at once. Actually, it’s more like a big story whirlpool.

Geez!

So I’ve got little yellow Post-Its all over my note binder, plus the notes I’ve jotted down in the binder. Plus I’ve got notes within the manuscript document, itself. So far, I’ve got more notes than story.

And I’ve got scenes in my head that still need to get Post-It-ed and noted.

All this stuff swirling around.

Not at all how Sky Dancers was written. Not at all how The PeaceKeeper Corps was written. A little like The Place Between Worlds was written, but different.

Keeps it interesting. Keeps it fresh. The mind of a Pantser can be a scary place to be. But it’s my mind and I’m used to being in here.

Today, I’m leaving you with the face that began this whole story whirlpool.

It was sent to me by my editor who said something like, “Perhaps this will inspire you.”

Perhaps so!

Meet Eloch, the Champion of Entean.

Have a great week, Peeps! May you be inspired.