Writing discoveries from book two so far…
Bleu in the car assisting with the writing of Book Two
Have you tried writing in the car? (Not when you are driving of course)
When I get to a certain part in my writing I start finding every excuse under the sun not to write. I find if I change up my environment, go amongst people, I can trick myself into getting back into the zone. But also, at a more advanced stage of my writing, I like to read my writing out loud. I like to hear the rhythm of the words. So that’s a bit of a conundrum. Going to a cafe is a bit tricky unless you pretend you are talking into a phone (which I’ve done before) or don’t mind people giving you strange looks (which I’ve had before). But writing in the car I’ve recently discovered is quite a good solution. You’re out, you can observe life passing you by, but you are also enclosed and it feels a bit sound proofed and you can’t do the washing or clean out the fridge.
During football practice for my daughter I found being in my car was quite productive (I know, I should have been watching the football practice but I was on a deadline…).
Do you have any recommendations for spaces that you write in - if you do drop me a line mel@mel.pennant.com. I’d love to hear what works for you.
Best writing tools I’ve found useful this quarter
Writing a novel can feel like a daunting prospect. “How can I write three hundred odd pages, x thousands of words?” I’ve found breaking the book down makes it seem more manageable.
Firstly, by initially planning the structure. (Nb some of my planning is probably just me procrastinating but it does help to test if the story has legs or where those legs might go). I try and plot out a basic five act structure. This time around I also used Save the Cat! Writes a Novel to help support the process. If anyone is interested in knowing more about the detail do drop me a line at mel@mel.pennant.com.
Writers have all different ways that they plan. Anything I can do in this space just makes the task of writing a whole novel feel more like stepping stones rather than stepping into a huge vast expanse.
Plotter or Pantser?
Once I get writing I’m much more of a pantser (fly by the seat of my pants, go wherever the writing takes me), than a plotter (know in advance exactly where the story is going and follow that plan religiously).
I went to a great event at the London Library (thanks Caroline for the suggestion) where another form of planning was discussed by one of the panellists, Sophie Hannah. I might try this out next time.
I also find breaking the book down into small chapters when writing really helps. I use a writing tool called Scrivener (I’m not being paid to advertise them etc) - which I remember someone recommending on a podcast. The best bit about the software for me is that you can move bits of the writing around very easily. With the first draft of book two I discovered after I’d written it that a scene should really come much earlier. I just moved it to that new section in the structure tree. Doesn’t sound revolutionary but trust me it kind of is.
When I have to submit the manuscript to anyone else I transfer it over to word. Then it becomes a big lump of 80,000 words and it becomes more unwieldy to navigate.
Getting your phone to read your draft book out to you!
I also now have word on my phone and discovered that it can talk to me. I haven’t as of yet mastered how to control which voice speaks to me but it’s game changing. If you know how to change the voice please let me know. It seems to oscillate between a Dalek and a Dalek.
Until next time. Melx
