Sometimes it takes writing to figure out what you are writing about and then you must go back and start all over again.
My instructor for the children’s writing class said this the other day (I’m paraphrasing slightly).
I have a friend (no, this isn’t me in the guise of friend–for real) who claims to hate writing “under the burden of previously written scenes.” This person is a good writer (but look at how deftly I avoid revealing gender). But I’ve never seen this person (more gender-avoiding waltzing) do more than a rough draft of a novel. In a strange paradox, this person hates “wasted scenes” but has walked away from (by my count) four novels.
Oh, and I’m not talking about anyone who reads this blog. If you thought “That’s me!”
You. Thought. Wrong.
But I’ve been thinking about this. My instructor referred to it as impatience. When you write, it simply doesn’t all come at once. I suppose it could, for some people. I know my brain can only handle so much at a time. When I started the revisions for my current project, I was all about voice. So much so, I forgot about structure. Structure flew out the window, ran down the street, and I’m still calling her name, trying to get her back.
Actually, this week, I’m all about structure. You might say the Hard-looking, Eye-looking is courtin’ structure.
Let’s hope she’ll want to be my steady gal.
Writing Wrongs 