I caved.
I tried to resist, I tried so hard not to do it, but in the end, I couldn't stop myself. I just had to do it.
I'm weak.
What am I talking about? Have I given up chocolate for lent, and suffered a major craving that I couldn't resist and gone out and bought a bar of Cadburys? Have I gone and spent a whole lot of money on something that I don't need, but want? Or maybe I've been trying to give up smoking, and couldn't resist one more cigarette. Just the one ... it's only small, it won't hurt me ...
Nope, none of the above. For starters, I don't even smoke, and I'm not religious, so I've not given anything up for lent. And whilst I did buy a 3DS on Friday, I didn't pay the Earth for it.
So if it's none of those, what is it?
I started planning Pandora's Box. The great experiment is over. I must admit, I feel a lot better now that I'm planning the story, knowing that I have this structured backbone underpinning it. I'm still not quite sure where it's going, and I want to expand on some of the characters a little more, but at least I now kinda know what I'm doing!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
The writer's terror
I can feel the onset of writer's block.
It's like I've got a spectre, hovering over my shoulder, preparing to pounce and deny me my ability to put together a cohesive string of words. It's been a while since he and I last saw each other, one dark, dismal day, four years ago. the spectre rose up and did his best to make every last sentence a war, every word a battle. I suppose that's why I like to plan out my stories before hand. If I have a structure to work with, the words come more easily, because I know where the stories are going, so my characters are able to tell me how they are going to get there.
Right now, though, I'm just not feeling it. I think I can safely say this test of 'free-writing' has proved to be a bit of a failure. Having said that, I have at least learnt something about myself: structure is all. Structure is king.
On the plus side, I finished Dragon Age 2 last week - awesome fun - and have recently rediscovered the joy of Wind Waker. It's funny how a game you've had for years can suddenly rekindle a whole new sense of joy. I've only just started on my quest, but really looking forward to sailing the vast sea of Hyrule. Of course, I picked a fine time to get back into playing it, with the release of the 3DS right round the corner. C'est la vie!
It's like I've got a spectre, hovering over my shoulder, preparing to pounce and deny me my ability to put together a cohesive string of words. It's been a while since he and I last saw each other, one dark, dismal day, four years ago. the spectre rose up and did his best to make every last sentence a war, every word a battle. I suppose that's why I like to plan out my stories before hand. If I have a structure to work with, the words come more easily, because I know where the stories are going, so my characters are able to tell me how they are going to get there.
Right now, though, I'm just not feeling it. I think I can safely say this test of 'free-writing' has proved to be a bit of a failure. Having said that, I have at least learnt something about myself: structure is all. Structure is king.
On the plus side, I finished Dragon Age 2 last week - awesome fun - and have recently rediscovered the joy of Wind Waker. It's funny how a game you've had for years can suddenly rekindle a whole new sense of joy. I've only just started on my quest, but really looking forward to sailing the vast sea of Hyrule. Of course, I picked a fine time to get back into playing it, with the release of the 3DS right round the corner. C'est la vie!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Force is not strong with this one
I've discovered something about my writing style recently.
I don't like free-writing. By that, I mean I don't like writing a story without a plan. I like to sit and think about the path of my story, the characters in it, plan it out, starting with a list of bullet points and expanding on it until I have the main thrust of my narrative.
I like being in control. It's a stupid thing to say, I know - I'm the one writing the story. How can I not be in control. Except I don't feel like I am. I feel like I'm holding on to a castle made from jelly, and any second it's going to start coming apart and dribble through my fingers as I try grabbing for it like a cat pawing the air.
See, now that my book is finished, and the final draft is complete, I've decided to work on another project before I begin the next book. Heather suggested I write a fanfiction, as that way it would be a short inconsequential piece, just to get me back in gear. There was just one proviso: No planning. As it's been 8 months since I last did any writing that wasn't editing, I agreed to give it a go.
Turns out, I like planning a story. I like having the whole thing sorted out so I have my beginning, middle and end. I like knowing where a story is going.
And right now, I don't. It's all organic and flowing. For example, in the last chapter, I planned on having one of the main characters arrested, except that didn't happen, and she got off world. the little minx wheedled her way out of that trap, instead having a little chat with a bounty hunter.
It's bloody frustrating!
On the plus side, it's giving me a fresh perspective again.
At least the Jedi is doing what I want him to. For the moment.
The story's up on Fanfiction.net, entitled Pandora's Box (by MissingPerson), if you want a read.
Phillip J. Johns
I don't like free-writing. By that, I mean I don't like writing a story without a plan. I like to sit and think about the path of my story, the characters in it, plan it out, starting with a list of bullet points and expanding on it until I have the main thrust of my narrative.
I like being in control. It's a stupid thing to say, I know - I'm the one writing the story. How can I not be in control. Except I don't feel like I am. I feel like I'm holding on to a castle made from jelly, and any second it's going to start coming apart and dribble through my fingers as I try grabbing for it like a cat pawing the air.
See, now that my book is finished, and the final draft is complete, I've decided to work on another project before I begin the next book. Heather suggested I write a fanfiction, as that way it would be a short inconsequential piece, just to get me back in gear. There was just one proviso: No planning. As it's been 8 months since I last did any writing that wasn't editing, I agreed to give it a go.
Turns out, I like planning a story. I like having the whole thing sorted out so I have my beginning, middle and end. I like knowing where a story is going.
And right now, I don't. It's all organic and flowing. For example, in the last chapter, I planned on having one of the main characters arrested, except that didn't happen, and she got off world. the little minx wheedled her way out of that trap, instead having a little chat with a bounty hunter.
It's bloody frustrating!
On the plus side, it's giving me a fresh perspective again.
At least the Jedi is doing what I want him to. For the moment.
The story's up on Fanfiction.net, entitled Pandora's Box (by MissingPerson), if you want a read.
Phillip J. Johns
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