tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post2519320023846167486..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Don't Finish: Ways to be a More Productive Writer, Part 3Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-91994344102895731862020-04-13T11:10:56.318-04:002020-04-13T11:10:56.318-04:00Janice!Janice!Pamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10641800481681697132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59246498592634350902020-04-13T11:10:18.787-04:002020-04-13T11:10:18.787-04:00Excellent points. Never have I run across this kin...Excellent points. Never have I run across this kind of writing tips. I have an outline, yet have wasted time starting a new scene. Thank you, Jan7ce!Pamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10641800481681697132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-7781075975507753872014-07-03T07:46:23.559-04:002014-07-03T07:46:23.559-04:00I find it's a little different for me. Stoppi...I find it's a little different for me. Stopping in the middle of sentences tends to leave me thinking, "What was I going to say? and not remembering. It's like it cuts off whatever train of thought I was in. Might be because I'm an organic writer and the process is quite a bit different.<br /><br />Instead I go from beginning to end of scene, so the scene as a whole exists. But parts of it are incomplete. I might have left some of the descriptions out, or a place that was harder than I thought. So when I return to writing, I rummage around in the scene, filling in some of the gaps, then go on to create the next scene. The gaps don't always get completed, so I make multiple passes as I build new scenes.Linda Maye Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07203020058437093901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63696093048723322852012-05-14T16:05:10.578-04:002012-05-14T16:05:10.578-04:00Khaalidah, most welcome!Khaalidah, most welcome!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-91371905457536003252012-05-09T17:42:27.565-04:002012-05-09T17:42:27.565-04:00This is a super idea! I often have that "now ...This is a super idea! I often have that "now what" feeling when sit down to write. It's that "now what" feeling that makes it all the more easy to procrastinate further, check the email again, get on twitter and Facebook and otherwise waste time trying to drum up a start point. This is such a smart way to get the ball rolling during the next session.<br />Thanks for this.Khaalidahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00148190341832128084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-272379060888634912012-05-07T07:43:14.146-04:002012-05-07T07:43:14.146-04:00Jaleh, I think I'm more of a mid-paragraph gal...Jaleh, I think I'm more of a mid-paragraph gal myself, though once in a while I do stop mid-sentence. Usually on a sentence that's obvious what comes next. <br /><br />PentoPaper, welcome! It does save a little staring at the page time.<br /><br />Nicole, I like that idea. Same principle. <br /><br />R.E. Hunter, exactly, lol. <br /><br />Gypsyharper, I liked her idea too. And true, too much time between writing sessions does defeat the purpose :)<br /><br />Sarah, I've found it quite helpful. <br /><br />Tracy, that's totally what I found, which is how I figured this out. It's harder to start than it is to keep going.<br /><br />Patti, hope you're feeling better now!<br /><br />Jeff, most welcome. You'll have to share some tips on what keeps you so productive ;)<br /><br />Anna, awesome! I know it's weird, but location matters. <br /><br />Traci, good luck!<br /><br />Anastasialeach, worked for me, so I hope it does you as well. You might also try Nicole's idea about jotting down notes at the end of a session for the next one.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-35959216550593443272012-05-02T10:31:42.634-04:002012-05-02T10:31:42.634-04:00Brilliant. I definitely suffer from a block every ...Brilliant. I definitely suffer from a block every time I have to begin from scratch. The mid-paragraph interruption sounds like a way to cure that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21712059170708425572012-05-01T10:16:51.573-04:002012-05-01T10:16:51.573-04:00Good idea, I will have to try this!!Good idea, I will have to try this!!Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20714810539493678482012-04-30T23:37:31.077-04:002012-04-30T23:37:31.077-04:00So glad your back! I was in a bad rut and moved my...So glad your back! I was in a bad rut and moved my writing spot somewhere new. It worked like a charm! It was just what I needed. I'll try out this tip next.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10071535816891378260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-27689730033535107102012-04-30T17:48:42.714-04:002012-04-30T17:48:42.714-04:00productivity has never been a problem for me... le...productivity has never been a problem for me... learning the "proper" story construction and follow-through has been extraordinarily difficult--at least for me. your blog and your personal insight has helped beyond comparison, so thx for all you do.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-40311429616047589822012-04-30T15:03:12.098-04:002012-04-30T15:03:12.098-04:00Thanks!! I'm going to go check my work for tod...Thanks!! I'm going to go check my work for today and add enough to do that. I can use all the help offered as the bod/head recovers from a nasty bug.patti.mallett_pphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453756965198648016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66129741131881134782012-04-30T14:46:25.685-04:002012-04-30T14:46:25.685-04:00When I write I look for that sense of accomplishme...When I write I look for that sense of accomplishment, which I get from finishing a scene or a chapter. But the next time I come back to my story, the words don't flow.<br />Awesome tip, Janice. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-2467524539743046502012-04-30T14:46:24.760-04:002012-04-30T14:46:24.760-04:00When I write I look for that sense of accomplishme...When I write I look for that sense of accomplishment, which I get from finishing a scene or a chapter. But the next time I come back to my story, the words don't flow.<br />Awesome tip, Janice. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-30674176379863721282012-04-30T11:42:20.066-04:002012-04-30T11:42:20.066-04:00I've heard this one before, I think as I start...I've heard this one before, I think as I start the next novel I might have to try it.<br /><br /><a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Allen<br />(my creative writing blog)</a>Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39642341345239001972012-04-30T11:41:45.705-04:002012-04-30T11:41:45.705-04:00I think I'm with Jaleh in that ending in the m...I think I'm with Jaleh in that ending in the middle of a sentence would drive me nuts. I base this on the number of things I've started writing and gone back to much later that left off in the middle - and of course when you come back to something in the middle months (or years!) later, the momentum is long gone. Now that I'm getting back into writing, though, hopefully things won't sit so long and this might actually work for me - though I still would prefer not to end in the middle of a sentence, I think. <br /><br />I also like Nicole's idea of just jotting down some notes for the next day.gypsyharperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860444700834261053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-75827014744601996272012-04-30T10:59:35.300-04:002012-04-30T10:59:35.300-04:00Wow, what a radical idea! It's sort of like wh...Wow, what a radical idea! It's sort of like what a cliff-hanger does to readers. I'll have to give it a try (when I get that far).R. E. Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14439979667806333429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-82437418927146080262012-04-30T10:08:56.552-04:002012-04-30T10:08:56.552-04:00When I wrap-up a writing session for the day, I tr...When I wrap-up a writing session for the day, I try to jot down notes or lines I want to use for where the story's going next. You're right - it helps me jump back in quickly!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-14234576642431250462012-04-30T10:05:21.494-04:002012-04-30T10:05:21.494-04:00Hmmmm... yes. I like this approach. Getting starte...Hmmmm... yes. I like this approach. Getting started where there is already momentum is motivational to keep moving forward and sets the course for productivity. I am going to give this a whirl. Thanks for the perspective!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-55031407542987860812012-04-30T09:25:42.218-04:002012-04-30T09:25:42.218-04:00I do tend the be more productive if I'm pickin...I do tend the be more productive if I'm picking up from mid-scene, but I can't do the literal mid-sentence approach that Hemingway recommended. I seldom remember what I meant to say in that sentence, meaning I have to lop off the fragment. And then I'm starting my writing session by feeling irked because I can't remember. Interruptions can't be controlled, but otherwise, I have to finish noting down the thought in progress.<br /><br />But mid-scene works great. Or if I have to start a fresh scene, having previously brainstormed notes beside me will get me started.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02467289924719654371noreply@blogger.com