I love this! If you're blocked and struggling you are more likely to abandon a good novel instead of seeking out alternative ways to "manifest your vision." I love this so much!
Yay, Janice. I might add, that we find our creativity in the writing process. Its like a set of tools. We don’t use a screw driver, for example, to hammer a nail. In the past, like most writers, I’ve written intuitively. I know turn to my tool box. Best!
This is a great post and I will definitely be checking out that book. I’ve always been more of a pantser but I want to add some organization to the writing process.
Thank you so much Mariella. yes, I am mostly a pantser but this method has cut out a good few drafts and confusion. The pre-writing stage is more about just thinking and not sticking to anything just free flow. it’s really liberating.
Thank you for sharing this. I am determined to get my first book published in the New Year. I'm unfamiliar with Alan's book but I plan on getting it and adopting this process!!
This is such an inspirational post. I know that the story reveals itself in the process yet I still procrastinate often because I don’t know what to do next. This is a reminder to keep powering through.
Thank you Mara Enid.I would still have a loose arc, just make sure your protagonist is different/changed by the end of it and power towards writing the scenes that help bring about that change or expose that she needs to change. Power towards that to keep you writing then if your characters start to want to do somethign else go with.it!
Oooh, the things one learns! I've never really tried fiction, other than writing stories which are exactly 50 words long. Those I find easy, but as you can imagine, nobody's gonna make a movie outta that! Yes, sometimes there is gold in them thar hills, but sometimes, it's just tin. I tend to write fast too, but because it's not fiction where things have to follow logically, I usually just bash it out and press publish.
Hey Z. With plays you write five scenes of dialogue and it's done and you could write a first draft deffo over a weekend. Saying that I have a dozen or so half written plays in the bottom drawer.
I’m sure every play’s approach is as different as every novel, but do you pre-vis or outline those scenes, or do you start with a basic concept or characters and improv your way through? My early drafts in prose fiction are often riddled with rabbit holes and detours—in general, but especially in dialogue.
back in the day I would just write scenes that inspired me. It was a joyful process. As long as there's an arc you cna't go wrong. No outlines. The last couple of things I've done for theatres who have/wanted to commission me I've had to write outlines so they could see what they're getting. That's been a drag and a waste of resources if they don't ultimately commission you.
The first version of your process sounds great. Very freeing to have characters get together and play out possible stories. I enjoy that too.
I appreciate you mentioning the "arc," I've never really thought about an outline and arc as separate things, but they totally are. Maybe like the difference between a sketch and a gestural sweep.
I always thought of myself as a "pantser," but have to admit my first novel hung on a vague outline of true events, which taught me something. Thanks to you, I think it was actually an arc!
I'm writing my second book now, but it's an interactive novel, so an outline is super important. That hasn't felt stifling, though, because the outline is basically a list of chapter-sized arcs in which to explore.
And yeah! You said "Alan Watt's 90-Day Novel," and I read it as Alan Watts, a writer/philosopher I enjoy. He's got lots of interesting talks on all subjects. Here's a fun little abstract snippet: https://youtu.be/Dwo5USY8piY
The Watts stuff I like best are the long talks. You can find lots on YouTube. He covers everything from Buddhism to self-reliance to psychedelics to attentiveness to the ego. Interesting conversation fodder and refreshing changes in perspective.
I love when stuff like that comes out of what I’m reading or my own writing. For a long time, my biggest personal block was trying to start with a philosophical idea like that as the seed, but everything I wrote came out flat and overly conceptual. Once I focused on just telling a story, that stuff started to emerge subconsciously through the drafts. It still takes constant reminders to myself to get out of my own way and avoid navel gazing.
Yes! Knowing the ways in which the writing process manifests your vision is a huge boon in getting the work done.
I love this! If you're blocked and struggling you are more likely to abandon a good novel instead of seeking out alternative ways to "manifest your vision." I love this so much!
Yay, Janice. I might add, that we find our creativity in the writing process. Its like a set of tools. We don’t use a screw driver, for example, to hammer a nail. In the past, like most writers, I’ve written intuitively. I know turn to my tool box. Best!
This is a great post and I will definitely be checking out that book. I’ve always been more of a pantser but I want to add some organization to the writing process.
Thank you so much Mariella. yes, I am mostly a pantser but this method has cut out a good few drafts and confusion. The pre-writing stage is more about just thinking and not sticking to anything just free flow. it’s really liberating.
Thank you for sharing this. I am determined to get my first book published in the New Year. I'm unfamiliar with Alan's book but I plan on getting it and adopting this process!!
Let me know how you get on.
This is such an inspirational post. I know that the story reveals itself in the process yet I still procrastinate often because I don’t know what to do next. This is a reminder to keep powering through.
Thank you Mara Enid.I would still have a loose arc, just make sure your protagonist is different/changed by the end of it and power towards writing the scenes that help bring about that change or expose that she needs to change. Power towards that to keep you writing then if your characters start to want to do somethign else go with.it!
I love love LOVE the 90 Day Novel! It changed my life when I read it a couple years ago.
Oooh, the things one learns! I've never really tried fiction, other than writing stories which are exactly 50 words long. Those I find easy, but as you can imagine, nobody's gonna make a movie outta that! Yes, sometimes there is gold in them thar hills, but sometimes, it's just tin. I tend to write fast too, but because it's not fiction where things have to follow logically, I usually just bash it out and press publish.
congratulations and thank you for quoting my FAVOURITE author!!! good luck on your path!
You're welcome. I adore him. To have a slither of his talent! Can you imagine?
I know! I wish. I try to learn as much as I can while I'm reading his work. It's helped me with my first draft for sure!
have you done your first draft then? where are you at?
I’m 15k into it! It’s the first time I write more than just the first chapter (I’m on the fifth now) and it’s so exciting!
that is so exciting when the adrenaline is pumping!
Thanks for this, Janice. I’m starting a new draft soon and will definitely check it out
honestly, I am evangelical about it.
Haha, for a second I was like, Alan Watts wrote a book on writing?
How does your first-drafting process differ for plays versus novels?
Hey Z. With plays you write five scenes of dialogue and it's done and you could write a first draft deffo over a weekend. Saying that I have a dozen or so half written plays in the bottom drawer.
I’m sure every play’s approach is as different as every novel, but do you pre-vis or outline those scenes, or do you start with a basic concept or characters and improv your way through? My early drafts in prose fiction are often riddled with rabbit holes and detours—in general, but especially in dialogue.
back in the day I would just write scenes that inspired me. It was a joyful process. As long as there's an arc you cna't go wrong. No outlines. The last couple of things I've done for theatres who have/wanted to commission me I've had to write outlines so they could see what they're getting. That's been a drag and a waste of resources if they don't ultimately commission you.
Is there another alan watts?
The first version of your process sounds great. Very freeing to have characters get together and play out possible stories. I enjoy that too.
I appreciate you mentioning the "arc," I've never really thought about an outline and arc as separate things, but they totally are. Maybe like the difference between a sketch and a gestural sweep.
I always thought of myself as a "pantser," but have to admit my first novel hung on a vague outline of true events, which taught me something. Thanks to you, I think it was actually an arc!
I'm writing my second book now, but it's an interactive novel, so an outline is super important. That hasn't felt stifling, though, because the outline is basically a list of chapter-sized arcs in which to explore.
And yeah! You said "Alan Watt's 90-Day Novel," and I read it as Alan Watts, a writer/philosopher I enjoy. He's got lots of interesting talks on all subjects. Here's a fun little abstract snippet: https://youtu.be/Dwo5USY8piY
I thought I was a pantser - but I find I work faster with a page outline which I can loosely follow and deviate from if I want.
That snippet was fascinating! To have a conversation like that - you have to put something like that in your writing. I will! So deep!
The Watts stuff I like best are the long talks. You can find lots on YouTube. He covers everything from Buddhism to self-reliance to psychedelics to attentiveness to the ego. Interesting conversation fodder and refreshing changes in perspective.
I love when stuff like that comes out of what I’m reading or my own writing. For a long time, my biggest personal block was trying to start with a philosophical idea like that as the seed, but everything I wrote came out flat and overly conceptual. Once I focused on just telling a story, that stuff started to emerge subconsciously through the drafts. It still takes constant reminders to myself to get out of my own way and avoid navel gazing.