A few weeks ago, I was at the half-way point of my first draft and having trouble with my plot. After ten months of steadily pounding away at the keyboard and chipping at the word count, I was increasing asking myself “what the $#*! happens now?” Although I knew what was going to happen at the end of my story, I didn’t know:
And frankly, it was driving me batty.
This week, I decided to take a break from my frustrations (otherwise known as a first draft) and trial the Snowflake Method of writing a novel. I even found a great Scrivener template to start me off.
When I started writing for more than just the amusement it provides, I scoured the internet for tips and tricks from established writers, unconsciously searching for a magic bullet (pill, sock, cat or milkshake) to write my book for me. Unfortunately there isn’t one, and what’s more writing a novel (which is a gzillion times longer than a tweet) requires discipline, planning and months, if not years or decades, of your life. Plus you don’t get paid for it.
But while I didn’t find the magic bullet (pill, sock, cat or milkshake) I did find some good advice ((My favourite is in Jennifer Cruise’s post Hello, I’m Your New PRO Columnist: Reflections on the Columns I’m Not Going To Be Writing where she tells readers to forget what everyone else is doing and “go write your good book”. Sound advice. What are you waiting for?)), some of which has informed the way I write now.
After more than two years of trail, error and some fruitless Googling, here’s what works for me and a few tips that might work for you.
I’m frustrated. I’m on the second re-working of the plot for my novel (the first re-working I consigned 17,000 words to the trash heap) and I’m still not entirely sure what the buggery I’m doing.
If you live in Melbourne you’ve probably seen the new (-ish) advertisements Yarra Trams is running.
Whoever came up with the skateboarding rhino idea should be congratulated. I think it’s a great mental image to get the message (don’t play chicken with trams) across. However, whoever came up with the print ad that’s been running lately (below) ought to be shot. It’s poorly worded and anything but memorable.