OK, so I occasionally have a useful thought on a Monday morning. Only on rainy Monday mornings in California, on odd-numbered days in November.
Here was mine today – I should not be trying to avoid making mistakes with this novel. I should be making all the mistakes on purpose, just to get them out of the way. And I’m doing a great job of it so far. Here are is the story of all my mistakes, thus far.
Prologue: I have a prologue (see previous post).
Chapter 1: I began this book without having a clue how it would end. I know some writers thrive on that. I am not one of them.
Chapter 2: The h/h both begin the book (convinced that they are) in love with other people. *smacks forehead* It’s way too late to change it now.
Chapter 3: My hero defies definition. He is alpha outside, beta inside, with a fudge torture ripple. He’s a torbelpha. And despite all of that (or perhaps because of it) he’s far from the most interesting character in the book. Right now, he’s coming in at about fourth.
Chapter 4: As mentioned in a previous post, my plot involves hunting, fishing, and riding — none of which I have ever done. Write what you know? Hah!
I know there are other mistakes I’m forgetting, others I haven’t yet realized I’ve made, and still more I haven’t gotten around to making yet.
Help me round out the list. What other mistakes should I just commit and get out of my system NOW?
November 27th, 2006 at 4:42 pm · Link
Hi,
I’m another member of the Avon Fanlit,
I once found some interesting advice…, that you should put anything you want in your first Draft, because it’s your first draft, lol. You can always edit it out later. Wish I could remember who and where i read that. It could have been on Fanlit for all I remember. haha.
Hope that help,
Annie
November 28th, 2006 at 11:40 am · Link
Eve, I’m going to quote from a book I bought called Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver.
You must write badly first.
Mistakes lead to discovery.
Letting yourself be bad is the best way to become good.
Everything can be fixed.
The less you care, the better you write.
Hemingway in typical macho style, said, “The first draft is always sh**.” If Hemingway’s first draft was sh**, why should you expect more?
So I figure, if I’m going to screw up the book, I want to do it in my first draft where I feel free to make as many mistakes as I want.
Don’t be to hard on yourself. You’ll do just fine. 🙂
P.S. I WON NANO!!! I’m halfway finished my manuscript now. 🙂