I'm becoming steadily more interested by the process of writing this second novel.
It's so, so different from novel #1. It makes me wonder if the unique narrative challenges of each novel I write will inspire a different process. Novel #1 used four points-of-view, but Novel #2 uses only two. Novel #1 developed parallel plots that intersected one another at key moments. Novel #1 has to unveil its complicated subplots in a linear way, in which each subplot must "take its turn." It's interwoven narrative rather than intersecting narrative.
I find myself driven to keep going, keep drafting the original material. Even though my critique partners are giving me great feedback, I'm not doing a lot of editing right now. I print my partners' comments and file them for the time when I go back to write the second draft.
I'm taking their comments to heart as I move forward. For example, one of my heroine's relationships needs to change. So, from chapter ten on, I am writing that relationship in a new way. I base the new chapters on how the relationship will eventually appear in the previous chapters, even though I haven't revised them yet.
As I write, then, I'm creating a "ghost novel" in my head: the imaginary revised opening chapters of the novel that won't actually exist until the second draft.
The process feels more open than the driven inevitability of novel #1. At the same time, I'm not as emotionally invested in every scene yet. Some scenes, yes, but not all. But I've decided not to pressure myself about that. I think it may work differently this time. I'll let it take its own course.
How does it work for you? Do you edit as you go, or churn the whole thing out and then go back for the edits? Do you have a number of possibilities in your head, both forward and backward along the timeline, or do you see the plot as an inevitable progression?
3 comments:
It's hard to turn off the editor, isn't it?
I whip out a novel first. Spelling errors and all. I mean, every tag is he said, or he walked, or whatever. I just know that I can go back later and clean it up. I just want to get the story down.
My rough draft is usually only about 68,000 words. But after going back a second time and putting flesh on the characters. Depth to the plots, etc. it usually ends up around 78,000.
Then, I just set it aside. Work on another project or short story, or read some other books for fun...then I go back and do a few more run throughs...
Each writer has their own way to do things, it's whatever works for him/her.
I write whatever scene is speaking to my heart that particular day, and then edit to make it fit later on.
But like Lynn said, turning off that inner editor is difficult.
I'm way too random to be that organized. I write. When I make a mistake, I have to fix it right then, otherwise it'll bug me until I fix it. As for substance, I have a really hard time going back into a chapter and reworking it. I think it's my style and they way it flows. It makes it harder to fix later.
So, if it doesn't happen while I'm writing it, it might not happen at all!
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