Sometimes mine does.
As I've mentioned, I'm revising my second novel (1855) right now.
The first chapters were heavy going, as I rearranged my mental map of the plot.
But when it feels like I'm hauling a ton of concrete every time I sit down at the computer, here's what's really happening:
Writing is hard work. Preparing the ground for a story sometimes feels like an endless drag, pushing that iron spike through the soil by force, constantly struggling to keep those horses in line. Sometimes the plow jumps the furrow and starts plowing the wrong track, and I have to go back and start that pass again. But I've now revised eight chapters of this 1855 novel. That's eighty pages. My writerly intuition tells me that my plowing is finished. Here comes Sunday.
I get to put away the draft horses and get dressed in my nice clothes.
Time to take the fancy horses for a spin. I usually find that somewhere between chapters five and ten, the real fun starts. The world of the novel has become solid, and I no longer need the heavy draft horses of analysis, character building, and structural thinking. The lighter, faster steeds of the imagination get to harness up for a race through the park.
Is this how it works for you? Is there a point when it gets easier? Or do you start with the fast fun horses, and switch to the draft haulers later?
This post is dedicated to Charmaine, because of her love for extended writing analogies. :-)
13 comments:
Ooh boy, I can totally relate to the load of bricks, Rosslyn! My first rewrites on the Preacher's Bride felt like pulling bricks through the entire draft. It was the hardest thing I think I've done (writing-wise). (I'm pretty sure child birth wins a first, but not by much!)
I'm currently working on a rewrite under Rachelle's direction. When I first learned that I had to ditch 86K words and add 75K new ones, I was in a state of shock. I had to take some time to plot before I tackled the writing. When I began, the words came with the speed of a massive download on dial-up. The writing was work. Hard work. Thankfully, the creative dam broke recently, and the words are flowing again DSL style.
I took heart in the fact that three agents posted recently about the reality of writing as hard work. Nathan Bransford ended his April 13, 2010 post with the words, "If writing is always fun you may be doing it wrong. "
I'm glad you're at the point where you're having fun with your story again, Rosslyn.
How fun! LOVE these pix. So apropos as I revised my revised proposal last night, reread the rereads...you get the "picture."
Yes, lately redrafting the draft of the draft has been like draft horses pulling stones. Too much draft.
But Lord willing, I'm about to set off for the Far East and leave the drafty old mess in my agent's lap!!!
Blessings!
Patti
I’m guessing that by chapters 5-10 you are probably at about the beginning of the second act. I would say this is the hardest section for me, in part, because this is the heart of the story. It’s going to end up on the back cover, so I want it to be good, but it’s also because the protagonist tends to dominate the villain in this section and we have to rely so heavily on the challenges of doing what the protagonist has chosen to do for conflict.
This is an awesome post!
Blessings,
andrea
Oh, those are great pictures - they make your point perfectly! I love the analogy! :-)
You're right. Sometimes hard work and sometimes fun, but always worth it!
I start with the fast and fun horses, racing out of the gate. Revision is the beast for me. But to get somewhere I need to tackle it.
Right now in draft one of my WIP I do have a character eluding me and I can't figure out what she's hiding. I've got to get to the bottom of it. It's made for a rougher ride these last 10K.
I'm diggin' the analogy too.
~ Wendy
As a visual learner I SO appreciated this lesson!
I'm still hauling concrete blocks :) Thanks for the encouragement and for sharing your road!
Great pictures. I just had to look up horse breeds for 1800s European work horses the other day. Best wishes for your writing.
Neat visuals, Rosslyn. Don't have a thing to offer.
I'm with Dorothy, as a fellow visual learner. I could literally feel myself take a breath when the white horses came on the scene. I could feel myself lightening up. The brick picture felt so heavy, just looking at it. But yes, I have felt this, definitely. Wonderful visual, Rosslyn!
Hehe, thanks for the analogy!
I usually start my story by pushing the cart a few steps, only to realise it'd be a lot easier with a horse.
Then I go back and measure the track, get a map of it, check I have all my necessary riding equipment and then the gate opens and we're off! Then I get lost and take a wrong turn but enjoy the countryside scenery.
When I finally find my way home - out comes that forgotten map and it's time to hitch up the Clydesdales and clomp my way through the MS.
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