Writing an Episodic Novel Day 1
What's a Lazy Writer to Do?
I'm taking my writer's struggle to the next level. Before yesterday, which was the day I joined Steemit, I journaled about the challenge of writing a novel in serialized form. I write every day. I write articles for clients, PLR that I sell, social media posts, emails, and assorted rants. But I do NOT write the story I love so much I can hardly wait to tell it.
I have had novels in my head all my life and while I did manage to get several of them written and up on Kindle, I have been hovering over this project for more than a year. It is frustrating, embarrassing, and totally futile.
Futile? Yes. I sit in my big comfy chair and read about how to plot a novel that is told in episodes. This is where I sat in 2011 thinking about writing my series of ghostly (yes, ghostly, not ghastly) stories.
Distracted? Me?
Seven years later, I am sitting in the Arizona sunshine not writing my stories. I get distracted with a couple of my hobbies. Like bridge.
(That's my cousin Dave, one of the more annoying bridge opponents I have. He just snickers when he sets us.) Here in the 55+ Park, I play bridge 5 days a week. Unfortunately, I treat it more like a game of chance rather than a game of skill.
Or bingo. Here are a couple of my bingo buddies from back home on Prince Edward Island, sister-in-law Leona (l) and cousin Peggy (r).
And then, because it is a retirement park, there's always happy hour somewhere.
Excuses. Excuses
Aha. Caught myself out with that photo. There is snow in the background so it seems that it is not the happy hour gang here that distracts me. It might be me. My oldest child did an imitation of me "working" after adding some items to my workspace.
A lot of items.
His erstwhile wig actually looks better than my real hair on most days and that is my favorite pink writing shirt.
Today I Begin
See, I knew putting this together here on Steemit would help. I can see how I let myself be distracted. Life is about balance. Writing a novel is not something that can be done in a day. If I were sitting in my big comfy chair, I'd get up about now and wander off to do something else.
Because I am here, I must finish this post. I must take the first step - make a list. Here is my to do list for writing this novel.
- Create the characters. DONE
- Create the setting DONE
- Plot episode one.
Okay. There's a sense that I have it started, in my head. And I know the next step - plot episode one. It must be broken down into components.
- Whose point of view
- Location
- Time of year
- Hook
- Arc
- Tension
Wish me luck.
I can relate to all of this too! I have stories in my head that are dying to get out, but when I finally get a chance to sit down at the keyboard, I find all sorts of things to do instead of actually writing the damned stories. I'll be following along to see how it goes :)
I will use any excuse -- good heavens, this morning I decided to handwash the dishes instead of writing. The I dithered -- should I write the episode I got mapped out in my head or should I dictate it. Awwk. I have to stop resisting....
Yes, you touched me in all the right places. We writers find the temptation of distraction irresistible!! I suppose it's not a flaw just in writers, but seems like we always hear about writer's block, facing the blank page, etc, etc. I guess that's because we don't answer to a boss who'll fire us if we don't produce. Anyhow, get to plotting now!!
OMG, I laughed reading this because as a writer, it's all true! The distractions: games, drinking, life. Good luck and maybe Steemit will make you become more accountable! I'm rooting for you. For you and that blue shoe!
I forgot to mention the 5 mystery audiobooks I listen to every week. Okay, maybe not five but certainly more than one. I hope Steemit does make me more accountable. Jeff got a couple of things wrong. Those are not my rolling papers. And those are not my chips. These are:
I am dying laughing! You are a riot, @joannereid!