It's funny how I can crank out a whole week's worth of blogs here on the CBEB in no time at all, but the ones I have to write for WR or Casablanca are like pulling teeth. Perhaps it's the naked hunks, but I'm thinking it has more to do with the fact that I feel more like I'm talking with friends here and don't have to create a great work of literature. Not that my other blogs are all that great, but these seem to flow better for some reason.
Sort of like
Renegade has been doing. I worked hot and heavy on the synopsis a while back, inserting needed scenes here and there and playing with the order of events. It was sort of like writing revisions: at least I had a clear outline to follow. Not that revisions are always that clear. It's best when you come up with them yourself, rather than having your editor suggest them, because you have a better understanding of your own ideas than you have of what's in someone else's head. Sometimes my editor's suggestions are very specific, but often they are quite vague and it's difficult to grasp the concepts.
I've never written a book before that had quite so much prep work done prior to the writing, which is, according to some, the only way to write. I must admit, the process of writing is much faster when you know exactly where a story is going and how to get there, but there are still some fun things to discover along the way.
One thing I don't get is feedback from readers at every juncture. With the exception of a few things that my friend and unofficial critique partner, Marie Force, has read, the writing all takes place in discussion with myself, and perhaps a few things I mention to my DH from time to time. He doesn't read any of it, but just explaining it to someone helps for me to understand the plot a little better myself.
Another nice thing about writing a synopsis first, is that you can spot the holes in the plot before you waste time writing the book. If it doesn't work in the synopsis, it probably won't work anywhere else, and I know I'll just end up rewriting it--which is something I hate to do. I really prefer to get things right the first time.
This whole writing thing has been a learning process, and I hope I've learned a few things. It amazes me how quickly some writers are able to write book after book in rapid succession and have them turn out well. It's a skill, one that is developed over time just like any other. I'm getting better at it, and hopefully this new process won't screw with my creativity.
Now, if I could just blog faster....
