So I’ve been writing this manuscript by hand for the past few days (because my special keyboard is broken and neither David Tennant nor James May have turned up for secretarial duties yet) and I’m finding it rather nice. It’s a bit slower than typing, which is frustrating. But, it’s been gorgeous outside and I’ve been able to sit at a table in my garden writing, which is lovely. Also, it sort of makes my writing process more explicit. When I type, I can cut and paste and erase and edit as I go. But when I write, I have to cross out and draw arrows and asterisks to insert new things and make notes in the margin and stop to do a quick flow chart of what’s going to happen next. It’s all quite immediate, and messy, and creative.
On Friday, I printed out all the parts of the draft so far that have the hero in them, and I used a pen to edit them and add in quite a bit of conflict and character arc. (Then I watched Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang as research, because I felt I was sort of in danger of forgetting what Robert Downey Jr looked like. Or that’s what I told my husband, anyway.)
I spent half an hour this morning listing the stages of the hero’s character arc, which sort of gives me a nice road map of what’s already been done and how far he has to go.
This book has two stories, and the structure of it means that I spend a bit of time on one story, and then go to the other story, and that was making me lose sight of the over-arching development of the main story. I was sort of getting distracted. Separating them out like this has been really helpful. I think once I’ve finished the draft I’ll separate them out again and read each story in isolation before I put them together, just to make sure they’re logical and properly paced.
Anyway, it’s been very interesting. Though I still wouldn’t mind Mr Tennant coming over to take dictation.
DT as a personal secretary….been listening to him today as he did the narration on a cbbc programme on internet safety for kids on line…
I am spending more time working in pen and paper and finding it really useful too.
You have also given me the nudge to individual arc’s for Demi and Victoria. Thanks
lx
I don’t suppose the keyboard doctor is going to be able to fix your keyboard?
I’d love to write. I love the whole messy, creative bit, but for the moment my shoulder drops two inches when I do which makes me look kind of lopsided, it’s very attractive. Can you feel the burn of my jealousy? Can you???
Liz, it’s been really useful for me. I’m glad you’re enjoying the lo-tech style of writing too!
Lacey, the keyboard is well and truly fried. No chance for it.
I’m sorry about your shoulder. Is there treatment/physio to help?
I was a devoted long hand writer, until birthday treat of laptop 3 years ago. Still can’t resist the lure of new writing pads and pens though.
Aww well you can say you did a good job at destroying that keyboard, can’t you?
Thanks re the shoulder, it’s okay as long as I don’t write or do too much with it. A physio’s managed to get it level so I’ve lost some of my unique looks