"working on a story"

[aamcnamara]

Here's a theory, because I've felt inadequate a few times recently.

When most people think about writers, and the act of writing a story, we think about first-draft, putting words on the page. Outlining, just sitting and thinking, staring at that first draft and trying to see the shape of the story that's in there somewhere, chipping the story out slowly from the stone by changing one word or another... those aren't "really" writing.

So when I say I'm working on a story, most people think I mean I'm typing one paragraph after another. I think I mean I'm typing one paragraph after another. Not "I'm going through a Word document of my third draft, highlighting all the bits I want to change in the next draft, or that I need to think about, transferring notes from my paper copy like 'lifevest?'".

Surely it can't just be me who's gotten this idea? It's pernicious, because all the parts of writing are difficult, so degrading this aspect of the process is entirely unhelpful. And it sneaks in, through the inevitable cracks in your facade.


In happier news, a third of my story is now highlighted in cheerful turquoise! The parts which are not highlighted will have to wait for later drafts, because I can't see what's wrong with them right now.

I've been using an external mouse since my laptop's click-button died. It works very well, except when I want to sit on my bed and work on a story (again, the pernicious!). Then after half an hour my hand starts cramping up because the angles are weird. Oh, technology, why must you make me sad? (Anyone had experience with this problem? I have a MacBook, almost two years old now.)

Comments

[janni.livejournal.com]

I have a revision-based writing process. I regularly meet the notion that the hard work is the first draft, and after that everyone seems to want to believe it's just some sort of mechanical cleanup. But for me the real work doesn't even begin until that first draft is done.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

At least at this point in my life, I seem to be about half and half.

Maybe this goes along with the "Writers just write down what the Muse whispers in their ear" bit, and the "Writers are not human as you and I are" idea? There are actually a lot of these insidious ideas floating around about What Writers Are and What Writers Do.

[acm28.livejournal.com]

I used to have an incredibly amusing piece of paper with all my notes for the next draft of a certain story. I wish I could find it, if only because out of context it made no sense. Things like "PIRATES!" in big letters and "I despise the arrogant wombat" scrawled along the side.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. I love those. Cryptic notes and shorthand.

Someday I should do a "things I shamelessly love about being a writer" post. That would be one of them. Google history and baby name sites would also make the list.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

This is not just you. Most writers have difficulty convincing the people around them that staring at the ceiling is writing. Many have difficulty convincing themselves it is. But only as pertains to themselves--some other writer who is staring at the ceiling is clearly working out something brilliant and interesting.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

That was kind of what I thought.

Oh, of course! All the other writers are busy composing their deathless prose, whereas I am messing around with words/avoiding homework/taking commas out and putting them back in.

[kelljones.livejournal.com]

Yup, not just you. IMO, this is one of the best things about knowing other writers and reading about other writers' processes -- before that, all I had was The Unstrung Harp and Mr. Earbrass to validate my process to myself.

My current discussion with myself on this topic involves trying to reframe the metaphor from a turn on the tap/turn off the tap concept (writing/not writing) to a gathering the supplies (ideas), determining the pattern/schematic, composing key elements, layering in materials/mosaic concept. I'm not sure yet if my subconscious is buying it or not. I would say one key part for me is not to have to validate my process with others; it's hard enough to convince myself most days!

Regarding the mouse: um, maybe try a trackball, or another external mouse (possibly even wireless?) Is it the angle of the mouse-parts that's the issue, or where the mouse sits?

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

I would say one key part for me is not to have to validate my process with others; it's hard enough to convince myself most days!
I hear you.

Good luck on the metaphor-shifting. I like the gathering/pattern/composition/layers idea. Now I'm going to spend a while trying to think of a concrete metaphor I could make out of that for myself--laying down silt, compacting it into rock? Something, anyway.

The problem is where the mouse sits--my laptop is on me, the mouse is on the bed next to me. I doubt there's really a solution, apart from actually going in to get my laptop fixed.

[aliseadae]

Re: the mouse. Find a five inch tall book. Use it as a mouse pad. I used to use my mom's yoga block thing as a mousepad when using a laptop with an external mouse on the bed.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

I was going to say, "And where would I find a five inch tall book?" but then I remembered about Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

[jesstherobot.livejournal.com]

It's nice to see from the other comments that it is, indeed, a common mindset and that it should be discredited whenever possible. I have been feeling quite unproductive lately, writing-wise, because I started a new story that's an alternate history, and the amount of research I'm having to do is unbelievable. Then I keep getting a snarky voice in my head telling me that research is just an excuse for not spending time REALLY writing. It is a tough battle between putting words on page and having to stop ever three sentences to find out when post office boxes became a thing or what parts of Boston would have had electricity at the turn of the century. feh. o.O

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

...just an excuse for not spending time REALLY writing.
Oh, yes. I know that snarky voice. Good luck! (I always think, in that situation, "I should just start something else I can be drafting while I'm researching/revising this other story!" but it never quite seems to work out.)