Notes In The Margin #13: Sometimes You've Just Got To Get On With It!

I'm itching to write again. Not plan, not brainstorm, not blue sky, or mind map ideas.  I want to write words and string them into sentences, paragraphs, scenes and chapters and come out at the end of it with a new novel.

Even the old sketchbook's been out for map-making.
That's not writing.  That's drawing.  It's so easy to get the
two confused, isn't it?
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

It's only been a couple of months since I finished the fourth draft of 360 and while I've enjoyed planning and starting to create the world for the Kiranan's Crucible series, I'm also acutely aware that there's a corner of my writer's mind that's chomping at the bit to actually get going on them.

So, I've decided to just get on with it and start on the first book.

It's not like I haven't done any planning

Essentially, I'm going to be making it up as I go along.  OK, that's not entirely true.  I have mapped-out the main plot and a handful of sub-plots along with the general arrangement of the world (like which side of the continent the capital is, how big the country is and its general geographical features) and I've also identified some of the more more minor details (like the names of a few roads, markets and taverns in the capital).

Oh, and the names of the majority of the main characters in the first two books.

But the rest is still up for grabs.  I could spend months coming up with lots of lovely ideas and funny little details about certain aspects of the world in which my characters will be hurled into their adventures, but the truth is I just need to get some words strung together.

So, it's not like I haven't done any planning.  It's just not that I've done all my planning before I start. Which means it's not a complete pantsing-fest.  It just feels like it is.  That may actually be a help.  It may actually give me some freedom when I come to write scenes.  Rather than reaching a point in the story where I feel constrained by all the rules and "guidance" I've concocted, I'll be able to approach a scene, or plot point with some wiggle room where I can solve any problems with creative and imaginative solutions.

I'm not saying that all first drafts are ugly behemoths...

And let's face it.  I usually end-up going "off-piste" anyway, even when I have meticulously planned a scene or chapter.  I might as well take that as my default position and work form that point upwards anyway.  First drafts always get a major hacking anyway, as do the subsequent drafts.  The trick is to get the story down then to start working on it, crafting it, ironing out the bumps and sculpting it into something more refined and beautiful.  That's the theory at least.

I'm not saying that all first drafts are ugly behemoths.  Just mine.

Hopefully though, this behemoth will be smaller than its predecessors and not quite as ugly - a bit like a baby woolly mammoth (although I do rather like mammoths and I don't consider them ugly so maybe that analogy doesn't work).

Yeah, these haven't seen much use this summer.
I'm going to have to work on that too...
[Photo: Jack Gilbert]

I am aware though that I'm our of practice.  It's just as important for a writer to exercise their writing "muscles" it is for an athlete to exercise their physical muscles.  It's been too long since I've really given my wordsmith skills a really good workout.

Blogging and the little bits I had to do for editing are good for stopping me from completely forgetting how to craft the English language, but there's nothing quite like good novel to really get those creative warmed-up.

Although, thinking about athletes and their muscles, I should probably get back to doing some of that that again as well...although the urge to start running again isn't quite as strong as the urge to write...

I'll think about that one later.  One thing at a time.  Let's get the writing routine sorted first then I'll think about the running.

So, I have the tools (new comfy keyboard) and I have the plot (for the first book), the routine and the desire.  What more could I possibly need?  It's time to throw away the excuses and get on with it!

First draft by Christmas?