Comments on: Wherein I Try to Explain … http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/ Urban Fantasy Author Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Carradee http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-8039 Carradee Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:12:53 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-8039 Hm. I don't write your way, not really, except for in one particular WiP--but even that one still spawned from a beginning situation and what unusual thing I wanted to do with a particular theme or plot element in the resolution. (Narrator doesn't want to marry prince <em>because</em> she loves him... That sort of thing.) Even so, I've noticed that what works for one story idea won't necessarily work for others. I greatly enjoyed <em>The Red-Headed Stepchild</em>--looking forward to the sequel! Hm. I don’t write your way, not really, except for in one particular WiP–but even that one still spawned from a beginning situation and what unusual thing I wanted to do with a particular theme or plot element in the resolution. (Narrator doesn’t want to marry prince because she loves him… That sort of thing.)

Even so, I’ve noticed that what works for one story idea won’t necessarily work for others.

I greatly enjoyed The Red-Headed Stepchild–looking forward to the sequel!

]]> By: JayeWells http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-8004 JayeWells Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:36:54 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-8004 Tom, NANO is in November, I think. Laurel, yes, there is some cramming of the story around the scenes. But rarely does the story follow any of the prescribed plot structures you normally see. Somehow it all works out though. What's odd are the synchronicities that kind of appear out of nowhere during this process. Tom, NANO is in November, I think.

Laurel, yes, there is some cramming of the story around the scenes. But rarely does the story follow any of the prescribed plot structures you normally see. Somehow it all works out though. What’s odd are the synchronicities that kind of appear out of nowhere during this process.

]]> By: Laurel http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-8003 Laurel Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:23:27 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-8003 This is quite a relief. Someone who is published does this. I experience the same phenomenon...an entire scene, clear to the details like smells and where the light is coming from, appears in my head. Then I have to build the story around it. I can work around a theme or concept but plotting for me unfolds over many, many rewrites. Painful and convoluted, but the scenes are so real I can't cram them in to the story. It feels backwards. So I cram the story around the scenes. I've concluded it is entirely valid to take your entire inspiration from the character or setting you envision rather than the much more logical approach of outlining the plot first. After all, if you know the character it's much easier to imagine the backstory that made him or her what they are today. This is quite a relief. Someone who is published does this. I experience the same phenomenon…an entire scene, clear to the details like smells and where the light is coming from, appears in my head. Then I have to build the story around it.

I can work around a theme or concept but plotting for me unfolds over many, many rewrites. Painful and convoluted, but the scenes are so real I can’t cram them in to the story. It feels backwards. So I cram the story around the scenes.

I’ve concluded it is entirely valid to take your entire inspiration from the character or setting you envision rather than the much more logical approach of outlining the plot first. After all, if you know the character it’s much easier to imagine the backstory that made him or her what they are today.

]]> By: Tom Gallier http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-8002 Tom Gallier Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:27:57 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-8002 NaNo next month? Isn't it still in November? Thank the Demons of Rage and Writers I have my outline done. Whew. I have to go to the NaNoWri site and check it out. NaNo next month? Isn’t it still in November? Thank the Demons of Rage and Writers I have my outline done. Whew.

I have to go to the NaNoWri site and check it out.

]]> By: JayeWells http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-8001 JayeWells Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:55:51 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-8001 Gareth, I hadn't though about doing Nano this year. But since I'll be knee deep in the first draft then, I have a feeling I'll be participating unofficially. Gareth, I hadn’t though about doing Nano this year. But since I’ll be knee deep in the first draft then, I have a feeling I’ll be participating unofficially.

]]> By: Gareth http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-8000 Gareth Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:11:56 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-8000 Jaye, If it helps, I'm what I like to term as a Jog Pantser. Enough of a plan to have structure, enough freedom to be comfy. Out of curiosity are you taking part in Nano next month? Jaye,
If it helps, I’m what I like to term as a Jog Pantser. Enough of a plan to have structure, enough freedom to be comfy.

Out of curiosity are you taking part in Nano next month?

]]> By: lee http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-7994 lee Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:04:18 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-7994 Here you go again, describing how similar our writing styles are. All dialogue? Sure! Unconnected scenes? Hell yeah! It's like having an archipelago and having to build bridges from island to island in the proper order. Finding the islands is easy--building the bridges is hard. Here you go again, describing how similar our writing styles are. All dialogue? Sure! Unconnected scenes? Hell yeah! It’s like having an archipelago and having to build bridges from island to island in the proper order. Finding the islands is easy–building the bridges is hard.

]]> By: JayeWells http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-7993 JayeWells Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:21:20 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-7993 Amy, glad it reassures you. It's exactly like a jigsaw puzzle and, despite the hair-pulling, it's pretty amazing when it finally all comes together. Amy, glad it reassures you. It’s exactly like a jigsaw puzzle and, despite the hair-pulling, it’s pretty amazing when it finally all comes together.

]]> By: Amy http://jayewells.com/2009/08/31/wherein-i-try-to-explain/comment-page-1/#comment-7992 Amy Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:17:53 +0000 http://jayewells.com/?p=1038#comment-7992 Wow! That's...well, it's reassuring. I always feel more comfortable writing scenes and putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle. You describe the process perfectly. Thanks! Wow! That’s…well, it’s reassuring. I always feel more comfortable writing scenes and putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle. You describe the process perfectly. Thanks!

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