Monday, February 21, 2011

What's on the Page?



I just spent the weekend with two other writers, and we did more brainstorming and hashing out our stories than we did writing. Some people may think that brainstorming only comes at the beginning of the story when you're setting everything up, but there can be times when it is necessary while writing the book.

In the case of one friend she was finding the type of story she wants to tell can't be contained in one book. It's the story of not only a character but of a community and to get all the elements of the community and it's wonderful characters into the story she needs more time and length. We discussed her making it a series of several book. With each book being a particular event in the year of this main character's major decision. She liked that it freshened the stagnant pond she'd found her self swimming in.

My other friend is having to cut some scenes that drag on. She was having difficulty deciding how and what was the most important thing she needed to leave in.

Myself...The same old thing with this particular book. Incorporating the history correctly but keeping my characters together when they are at odds. It's working, I think, and I'm pretty happy, but every time I finish a scene with just the hero and heroine and have to get back to the forward motion of history I have to stop and figure out how to make it work. I know one thing. I'm not writing a book that parallels history so much again!

This just proves even when you think you're on a roll things can come up that need another perspective.

How was your weekend

4 comments:

Lauri said...

Sounds like an awesome weekend! I love brainstorming, and getting new perspectives always enriches the story.

Paty Jager said...

I agree, Lauri.

Joanne Stewart said...

Great post. I too love brainstorming. With my latest manuscript, I've found my critique partners invaluable in this area. It helped tremendously to get someone else's perspective, to help me see beyond the box I'd gotten myself stuck in.

Paty Jager said...

Exactly Joanne! Sometimes we can write ourselves into a corner and can't see the way out but a good brainstorming can knock down the walls we built by our narrow approach to our story.