Down & Dirty-- First draft that is.

I really enjoy dreaming up a new novel. Developing the pefect characters and finding just the right place for the call to action. Should I settle for some place I'm comfortable with, like my home state? Or maybe a southern state would be better. One thing's sure, there's a time and place for skirting around the issue and NOT producing. Yep. Everything from reseaching tedious tidbits that lend realism to your story, to unearthing delicious details-- what dishes were prepared, the styles or dress of the day? and so on. The list is endless. And can qickly zap your zest of story faster than a power outage.

Because when you're feeling the rush and excitiment of discovery, the first draft is NOT the time to stop and go searching for perfection. I know, I love a tidy first draft. Hoping there'll be less work during revision. But how much time am I really saving? If I'm continually putting on the brakes and leaving the story idling while I'm off on a run-about, digging up something that may or may not even make it into the manuscript! I'm daring myself to run out of steam! Or worse...give up on the story all together.

And unless it's another writer, no one has an inkling of what I'm referring to when I talk about how hard it is breathing life into our story folks. We'll mimic our characters beneath our breath, weedle or beg...anything if it gets them talking. And when they do, go with it! Because this is exactly what first drafts are about! Trust your instincts. Give yourself free rein to stumble around while you're trampling the path the story will follow. Who cares if it's pages and pages of rubbish? You can clean that later!

Don't waste time second guessing yourself. Revision is the place for adding detail. Right now it's just down & dirty.

Many sucessful authors know the benefit of free writing. In case you aren't familiar with Candance Havens let me say she's one very productive author. She hosts workshops aimed at turning off the internal editor and writing a book in two weeks! Seriously! Her online workshops are bursting with energy and jam-packed with great information and heavy doses of encouragment to complete your story in record time.

Fast Draft and Revision Hell

Beginning October 15, 2012.
In the new version of Fast Draft, Candy teaches you how to let go of that internal editor and let your creativity flow. She has exercises and advice that will help you get those words on the page faster than you ever imagined. The last two weeks of the class are devoted to Revision Hell. Candy will take you through revisions so you may polish your prose to perfection. The best part is you must be accountable to the class on a daily basis and Candy is there to cheer you on or kick your butt, whatever the case may be. Cost is $20.

Or, if you work better with a ticking timebomb, I suggest Dr. Wicked. (I always mistakenly call him Dr. Evil and if I do, you know I'm referring to Dr. Wicked.) It's actually a very cool website that allows you to set your writing goal(s)to a timer. For instance, a word count of 500 words. You would type that into your screen as your goal. Then as you're typing along if you linger too long in one place the screen will change colors until finally (I think) a bloody red. Some claim if you're still long enough your monitor will explode. But I wouldn't know because I've always met my goal.

Check Dr. Wicked out here. http://writeordie.com/

I plan to sharpen my pencil and get down & dirty.

Wish me luck!