Have I angered some writing god somewhere?

[wayfaringwordhack]

I tend to think of my particularly hardy brand of stubbornness and stick-with-it-ness as a good thing, but the constant need to chuck out and rewrite thousands of words is starting to get old. Especially when I know that it could probably have been avoided if I had only taken a moment to lift my head out of the wordy muck and breathe.

Not only am I stubborn, I am lazy, and therein lies the true problem. I'm too lazy to stop and rework my scene list. Too lazy to ask myself some basic questions about character, about need, about goals and vision.

One of these days I'm going to learn that it actually facilitates my laziness to do a bit of groundwork before slaving over words that will only have to be rewritten. Obviously that day hasn't happend yet. Or rather, I guess it has, just now.

So, I shall, from here on out, hold this kernel of truth tightly to my breast and do my utmost to stop and look around me from time to time, especially when I'm struggling with the sense that not all is well in my little writer's head. Yes, I shall...right up until that angry god makes me forget, yet again, my hard won lesson.

Comments

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I know what you mean. Like I should really stop and figure out place-names in my current wip. Calling things "Celtic World", "Tropical World" and "Post-Steampunk World" is not working. :P

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*lol*

But those filler names have such nice rings to them. :P

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Somehow, I have the feeling you're not the only writer to encounter this. :p

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

It would be a depressing world if I were. :P

[alaskanmermaid.livejournal.com]

Wait, we're supposed to do more than just write? What? ...damn....

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I hate those easily forgotten life lessons... but at least now you can come back to this post and remind yourself every few weeks.

I long resisted any sort of outline, but I have to admit -- they kind of do help, even when they need to be changed.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they didn't tell me that when I signed up for this thing... :P

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was the same with outlines, and like you, even when I have to change it, I see the benefit in writing toward something more specific than "The End."