Comments on: Bad Habits

By: Suzanne Jones

Suzanne Jones — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:00:02 +0000

I'm probably too late, but I'd add my voice to the crowd shouting for your soldier boy.

XX

By: Janette Radevski

Janette Radevski — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:39:06 +0000

Hmmm – can’t decide, I like the sound of the soldier, but having just read your IT girl… Yep – it looks like a winner to me!!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:06:59 +0000

Caroline – righto! 🙂

By: Caroline

Caroline — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:43:47 +0000

Soldier – ’nuff said. Caroline x

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:29:39 +0000

Maisey – No worries. It’s a great story. Lol on the word verification. Could that be any more perfect?? 😉

By: Maisey

Maisey — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:38:24 +0000

hey, Jackie, thanks for the shout-out. 😀 Also…my word verifitcation is: pness

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:39:36 +0000

Jane – yeah, planning. What’s that again? Lol! I’m a pantser alas. I have curbed my pantsing ways in that I do have a vague plan for my stories these days. I know how the beginning is going to go and the end, it’s just that middle bit. And I kind of like to see how the beginning pans out before I decide that. Anyway, probably a synopsis would help. 🙂

Rula – that definitely sounds like something I should be doing – giving myself a deadline. I do notes as I go along too but sometimes I do do the ‘I’ll just write and see what happens’ thing. And then nothing happens! LOL. Time for me to start planning the rest of the book huh?

Francine – yep, I’m terribly unfaithful to my mss! I actually love this hero but I think it’s because this story is proving to be a difficult one. Don’t know why. Anyway, once it’s over, I may just try doing something different. 😉

By: Francine

Francine — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:02:16 +0000

Hi,

Oh lordy, nothing's changed this side of the blogsphere. Still no news!

LOL - Wips started and left unfinished.

Hmmm, sounds like "thrill of the chase" inspires air of lustful writer, and once the exciting first throws of love are ignited or near as damn it concluded (between the sheets) the novelty wears off!

Bad case of Butterfly Blues! You've yet to meet a new hero who's going to blow your mind and keep you writing. He's out there - you're just not looking in the right place.

Broaden your horizons beyond the familiar - comfortable aspect of present writing zone - and experiment, experience the thrill of going where you've never been before in your writing!

Dive into dangerous emotional waters, or climb high and freefall because there's nothing to keep you on solid ground. Let loose your wild side and party 'til dawn because it's your last day on earth, and see who comes to your aid, saves you from yourself.

EXPERIMENT!

WAITING kills CREATIVITY.

best
F

By: Rula Sinara

Rula Sinara — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:27:23 +0000

Hey Jackie,
I vote for the soldier story as well.
When I began writing, I was entirely a pantser. Now I include a bit of plotting into my methods. In depth spreadsheets aren't my style, but I do like to have a rough idea of what my turning points will be (not every scene in detail...for me that takes the fun out of writing). I start mentally then jot notes on paper. That way, while I'm writing, if I feel lost I can remind myself of where I'm supposed to be headed. Also, once published, submitting on proposal means having a synopsis ready. I guess starting with a rough outline is good practice for that.

The other thing I do is to stick myself with a deadline that I can't turn away from. Signing up for a major contest for example. That way I'm forced to complete the manuscript. I'm a one book at a time girl, but maybe that'll keep you from manuscript hopping? JMHO.

Now, we're all waiting on the sexy soldier story. Hop to it! You can do it!:)

By: Jane Holland

Jane Holland — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:46:54 +0000

Gosh, this is really one of the simplest problems to solve. It's not a Finish the Damn Book Club you need, it's a Plan the Damn Book Before Starting to Write Club, lol.

I would never start a novel without knowing at least roughly what was going to happen and in what order. Otherwise, it's a bit like setting out on a journey with no clear idea where you're going, except that it'll be somewhere nice. You'd have to keep stopping to consult a map and consider 'where next?', and for a writer, that breaks the creative flow and makes both engagement with your characters and a strong sense of continuity difficult to achieve.

So there's my advice in a nutshell. Plan before starting to write. That way you won't have to keep stopping to think midway through, and you'll keep writing instead.