Into the Fire

Yes, we're often very much alike, but, yes, we can be so different.

Writers and authors all start somewhere. Many of us begin our stories in our elementary years when our little imaginations are set upon fanciful journeys stimulated somewhat by stories we've read. Skip ahead to the adult years, and this is where we decide if we'll continue to do this writing thing no matter what.

By "no matter what" I mean even if we don't ever make a dime from our efforts, we continue to author books.

So, let's talk methodology because, like those of us who write, we can have similarities with others who write and yet be so immensely different from still others. One of my favorite authors insists that the best way for her is to write unimpeded and refuse to self-edit until the words have accumulated on the page and created the story – or at least the storyline. I cannot do that. Cannot. Do. That. I can write at the most a few pages without interfering with the flow, but then it's time to take a break, come back, and start tinkering with the words I've written. Certainly, that tinkering isn't the final edit, but it's so necessary for me to do it as I go. 

We've mentioned here before that some authors use storyboards, pictures they've found which capture the essence of their characters, state plot points, and a variety of other things plastered to the board. 

Other authors actually do outlines of their story before a creative word is formed. That word "outline" makes me queasy and immediately takes all fun and pleasure from writing of any kind. 

The only addition I make to the actual writing of the story is to make a note for timing, for a future necessary plot point, for some small incident in the story which will need to be reconciled or included in the future, anything that I don't want to forget for a later event or even a part of dialogue. This doesn't always happen, but some notes might surface through the course of writing a novel – done in "long hand" in a notebook. 

Just a few things about writing and authors for this Friday . . . 

Father, I always keep saying "Apart from you, I can do nothing." Always so incredibly true. Thank you for every word, every story, every character. Please, keep them coming. You're the source of anything good I do. Only you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.