Comments on: Delany advice writ little

By: sjh

sjh — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 12:55:58 +0000

I discovered the trick of stopping in the middle of a sentence about four years through my five-year uni degree . . . and while it didn’t solve all of my essay-writing problems it certainly helped. I’m a big fan of it.

By: Little Willow

Little Willow — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 22:46:51 +0000

I seem to be the most creative when standing in my kitchen, walking somewhere, and / or talking to no one in my hallway.

They are sure to pad my walls for such behavior.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 09:02:35 +0000

hmm. i should try that. but i’ve always always always hated stopping in the middle of the scene. usually, i’d be interrupted to do something inane like chores or class (;)) so maybe if i interrupt myself, it’ll be different. it’d be hard to make myself do that though, even though it sounds like it might be just what i need.

By: Justine

Justine — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 00:55:33 +0000

Maria: That’s what I’m always afraid of! What if I stop in the middle of a scene and then come back to it a week later and have absolutely no clue where it was going?

By: Justine

Justine — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:29:55 +0000

Ben said: The difficulty is, of course, overcoming the temptation the day before, when you reach the end of a scene, to think that’s a good place to stop for the day!

Yup. That’s what I find hardest. A couple of times I’ve gone ahead and finished the scene which means I then have to start the next scene and remember to stop in the middle of it!

By: Ben Payne

Ben Payne — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 12:23:23 +0000

When I saw Raymond E. Feist years and years ago he said he stops in the middle of a sentence.

I haven’t gone that far, but I have tried to stop in the middle of a scene rather than mid-scene, for the same reasons you give.

The difficulty is, of course, overcoming the temptation the day before, when you reach the end of a scene, to think “that’s a good place to stop for the day”! Instead I need to work out what happens next, which is at times easier said than done:) But it *is* a good technique.

PS. Runaways rocks!

By: maria

maria — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:16:45 +0000

just so you know that this technique works for composing music as well. Sometimes it backfires though, and you forget what you were doing. Scary.

By: Penni

Penni — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 02:25:47 +0000

Hey, that’s a great idea…maybe I should try this. Maybe deep down I’m not lazy either.

Whenever I have bad writer’s block I start another novel. I have three substantial beginnings on my computer. One of them is half done and for a long time it was the thing I did whenever I was stuck (because there was no urgency or pressure it flowed quite well), but then I signed it with a different publisher and felt like I should be good and linear and focussed and not write books contracted to other publishers before I fulfilled my commitments with my first publisher. I miss it though, it’s a nice way to write.

By: Ted Lemon

Ted Lemon — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:57:10 +0000

Hm, that’s a good idea. I wonder if it works with geek things too….

By: may

may — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:51:49 +0000

i always do that. or at least leave enough of the previous scene that if i have to, i can revise/expand (i write short first drafts) before moving on.

By: Leah

Leah — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:42:32 +0000

This is a really good technique. I know that it’s one that I’ve used for years. Another thing that works for me is to read the last page or so of what I’ve written that day just before I go to sleep at night. I seem to sort of dream about the novel that night, and in the morning, I know exactly what it is I have to write next. This also has helped me figure out things, when I’ve been stuck on a plot point or something.

Best of luck with it all!

By: sara z

sara z — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:40:45 +0000

YES! This is something I learned years ago – I think from an old Mark Twain quote. Always stop in the middle of a scene, or even the middle of a sentence. Quit while you’re ahead.