Jessica Russell's Blog - Posts Tagged "scenes"
Sometimes You Have to Pause
There is a lot of controversy about whether or not "thinking" counts as time devoted to writing your novel. Most would say it doesn't. I disagree. I think authors who force themselves to sit down and write before the scenes are fully cooked in their head end up straining and pressuring themselves. I also think it shows in the writing.
I read books where it seemed like that was exactly what happened: the author sat down to force himself or herself to write so many words in order to prove that he or she is dedicated to finishing the book. But who are you proving it too, after all? You know in your heart whether it's just a hobby or you're actually going to do it. You know how dedicated you are. You don't have to prove anything by writing a certain number of words each day.
Sometimes when you stop straining and let your mind wander, the best ideas present themselves. I've gotten some of my most poignant scenes when I'm wandering around on the acres surrounding our house daydreaming. My mind find itself going over details of my book– in this case the sequel to Hot Winter– and suddenly scenes are pouring into my head and there was no straining involved. No stress, no pressuring myself, and no forcing of words that don't want to come.
I'm not saying you can default to "thinking" every day all day long and kid yourself into believing you're going to write a book that way, but sometimes there is cause for pause. It may take you little while to figure out when those times are, but when you find your stride, your books will come out a lot better. Write on!
I read books where it seemed like that was exactly what happened: the author sat down to force himself or herself to write so many words in order to prove that he or she is dedicated to finishing the book. But who are you proving it too, after all? You know in your heart whether it's just a hobby or you're actually going to do it. You know how dedicated you are. You don't have to prove anything by writing a certain number of words each day.
Sometimes when you stop straining and let your mind wander, the best ideas present themselves. I've gotten some of my most poignant scenes when I'm wandering around on the acres surrounding our house daydreaming. My mind find itself going over details of my book– in this case the sequel to Hot Winter– and suddenly scenes are pouring into my head and there was no straining involved. No stress, no pressuring myself, and no forcing of words that don't want to come.
I'm not saying you can default to "thinking" every day all day long and kid yourself into believing you're going to write a book that way, but sometimes there is cause for pause. It may take you little while to figure out when those times are, but when you find your stride, your books will come out a lot better. Write on!
