Yesterday I started a new novel. I’ve had this idea in my head for a while, and after jotting down notes and what I think might be the major events, I was ready to go. It’s always exciting to start new projects, even if it’s as simple as a short story. The brain responds well to new ideas and I always find myself writing like crazy when working on something new. I wrote 4,000 words alone yesterday, and for me that’s super-good going. I tend to write somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 a day. First drafts get finished within three months which I think is perfectly fine. So, new ideas, huh?
A New Direction
The last novel I wrote taught me so much about writing. So much in fact, I’m not bothered that I’m not sending it out. Maybe later when I revisit it I’ll see if it’s got what it takes in the wild. Right now, I’m happy to ride the success of the lessons it taught me and use them on my future projects. For instance, I used to be a writer who meticulously plotted and planned each chapter and rarely strayed from the path. And with every novel written I’ve done that less and less. Now, I’m convinced in working with story than plot. It’s so satisfying to write something and not know where it’s going, and when you find out where it’s gone you’re quite often surprised. The author, I guess, is the first reader, and it’s great to experience the story’s unravelling and surprise yourself with where things go. I want the story to unfold by itself, and not by me pulling it apart.
I also learned that, although I like reading dark stories about monsters and evil people, I don’t particularly like writing them. Yes, I do add dark themes and characters, but in the end I try and inject some lightness into the narrative. The Fault in our Stars is a good example. It’s a terribly sad novel, but it’s funny and light-hearted, too. It’s not all shadows and death. I also like writing stories where the action always feels like it’s moving. Changing settings for example. I want to explore the worlds in books instead of exploring one single location. I’ve written stories that have done both, and I always prefer the changing locations. Stephen King’s The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is one of those stories that stays in the same location, more or less, and although it’s great, it does slow up a bit. That might also have something to do with spending time with one character for most of the trip, but still. Then you’ve got his book, Revival which skips across many different places, sometimes returning for revisits, too. They both work great, but I prefer the changing places.
I also learned that, although I like reading dark stories about monsters and evil people, I don’t particularly like writing them. Yes, I do add dark themes and characters, but in the end I try and inject some lightness into the narrative. The Fault in our Stars is a good example. It’s a terribly sad novel, but it’s funny and light-hearted, too. It’s not all shadows and death. I also like writing stories where the action always feels like it’s moving. Changing settings for example. I want to explore the worlds in books instead of exploring one single location. I’ve written stories that have done both, and I always prefer the changing locations. Stephen King’s The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is one of those stories that stays in the same location, more or less, and although it’s great, it does slow up a bit. That might also have something to do with spending time with one character for most of the trip, but still. Then you’ve got his book, Revival which skips across many different places, sometimes returning for revisits, too. They both work great, but I prefer the changing places.
New Tricks
Trying new things is also well worth your time. All writers probably do. I don’t want the next story to sound like the last, but we all have our own various ticks and signature elements no matter how obscure or well-known we are. We all have something that makes our stories ours. Nobody can write a story like you, and that’s the important part. I remember Neil Gaiman put it brilliantly: ‘Nobody gets to be you, except you.’ And I just think that is the best thing anybody has ever said. Although, I get why some may want to write like Stephen King, but you’re time is better spent writing like yourself. And then maybe one day, someone will say that they want to be able to write like you. And yes, all writers copy each other, they do it all the time. That’s nothing new, but worth mentioning. As long as you remain who you are, you’re doing nothing wrong. Keep trying new things. Always try new things.
Anyway, I’m going to get back to writing my novel because I miss it. In the meantime I’ll carry on with the smaller stuff, shorts and whatnot. Can’t forget about those things. Writing short stories helps a lot, and I can’t stress that enough. Always write short stories, as well as those novels. They’re golden. Some of the scariest Stephen King stories for me are shorts, like Apt Pupil and 1922. New projects are always exciting, but do try and avoid taking on more than you can manage. If you don’t then you might find yourself burning out of energy and the thing you really want to work on becomes jaded and pale. Stick at it and see what happens. Hey, if you write something bad, don’t get annoyed about it. You wrote something. That’s always worth celebrating.
Songs of the Week:
Anyway, I’m going to get back to writing my novel because I miss it. In the meantime I’ll carry on with the smaller stuff, shorts and whatnot. Can’t forget about those things. Writing short stories helps a lot, and I can’t stress that enough. Always write short stories, as well as those novels. They’re golden. Some of the scariest Stephen King stories for me are shorts, like Apt Pupil and 1922. New projects are always exciting, but do try and avoid taking on more than you can manage. If you don’t then you might find yourself burning out of energy and the thing you really want to work on becomes jaded and pale. Stick at it and see what happens. Hey, if you write something bad, don’t get annoyed about it. You wrote something. That’s always worth celebrating.
Songs of the Week:
- 'Planes' by T.C.C ft. Nick Reeves
- 'Mine' by Phoebe Ryan ft. Illenium
- 'Black' by Pete Yorn
- 'Life on a Chain' by Pete Yorn
- 'Sleep Better' by Pete Yorn
- 'On Your Side' by Pete Yorn
- 'Dust and Echoes' by Halo: Combat Evolved Soundtrack
- 'Rock Anthem for Saving the World' by Halo: Combat Evolved Soundtrack