As always, I’m reading about writing, looking for those secret words that will make me a better writer … instantly, if possible. I came across this quote from Ray Bradbury:
Find out what your hero or heroine wants, and when he or she wakes up in the morning, just follow him or her all day.
Ah ha! So simple. But … no. Not simple because before I can complete the instructions in the last part of that sentence, I have to find the answers to the many questions posed by the first part.*
- Do I know what my character really wants?
- Does she know?
- Why doesn’t she already have it?
- How badly does she want it?
- Will she get it?
- How?
- What will happen when she does—or doesn’t—get what she wants?
- Is what she wants even what she needs?
I’m sure that’s not the end of questions that could be asked. But that’s enough to show that Bradbury’s simple instruction leads to a complicated task. If writing is a breeze for you … you must not be doing it right. Because writing is complicated. There is no short cut. There is no secret. It’s hard work. It’s a joy when the story comes easy and it’s misery when it doesn’t. Either way, you have to do it.
The only way to write well is to WRITE. And write. And write some more. And then, rewrite.
*I’m so embarrassed, people. When Pamela commented, I realized that I posted the wrong version of this post! I’m not even sure how that happened, but the correct version was still in my dashboard marked “draft.” In that version I revised the very statement Pamela took objection to. The above version has been corrected after the fact. So if you read her comment and my response and got confused, that’s why.
I can state -- almost unequivocally -- that the title of this blog does not refer to my mental state. It refers to my writing, which does, of course, flow out of my mind. Sometimes the process of writing is messy, sometimes weird, sometimes beautiful -- and always harder than I wish, but I love it. As I wander back into the real world from time to time, I hope to entertain you with my musings.
All good advice. I got to hear Stuart Dybek speak at my writers’ workshop today. He expanded on Tom Wolfe’s ideas from The New Journalism. Here’s a little of what he (they) said about character:
Look for the status detail — this is a single detail that tells volumes about your character. It’s the essence of show don’t tell.
Yes, that’s good advice. I do that … I think.
Thanks so much for this one Linda. I needed this boost to remind me, that the crazy discontent comes when I get lazy and don’t write.
Make yourself write for at least 15 minutes a day … and if you do, you’ll probably go past that 15 minutes.
Sometimes when I was writing short stories, I really did follow the character with no plans at all, and the voices and stories that came were a surprise to me. They are my favorite works – they sound nothing like me at all.
Pamela, I’m not an outliner or strict plotter and I love when my characters surprise me by taking the story a direction I hadn’t foreseen. So I didn’t mean to say you have to have all the answers before you start to write. But don’t you think you have to answer those questions at some point in the writing?
Pamela, after I replied, I thought What? Didn’t I revise that? so I went to my blog to read the post (I usually do everything from the Dashboard) and realized that the wrong version got published. After I wrote that post this morning, I started thinking about my process writing the novel I just finished and realized that I most certainly did NOT know all the answers BEFORE I started writing. But I did know them by the time I finished. So I revised the post, but somehow instead of updating it, WordPress created two drafts and I accidentally posted the wrong one. The revised post is now online.
Linda, this makes sense! I was surprised because it didn’t seem like how you you write.
No, I generally start with a dream and plunge in.
I thought about my last novel and how I truly did ask these questions (though not BEFORE I started writing) and was genuinely surprised at some of the answers. One unexpected answer in particular changed the direction of the story.
Those are great questions for me to keep in the forefront of my mind as I work on my novel rewrite.
You’re loaded with insight and inspiration lately!
I’d like to think I’m learning something from all this reading!
I too am reading about writing. Actually been in my plans to post about it the last few days but haven’t had time…
I think for myself the harder part is knowing which parts of the characters day to include.
Yes, that’s true. All the more reason to ask questions, so you know what’s important to the story.
I love the Ray Bradbury quote and love how you added texture. Your list of questions is destined for the printer!
Thank you, Cathryn. Don’t you think not knowing the answers to these questions before you finish the writing, results in more revision afterward?
I think Ian McEwan took Bradbury’s advice to heart when he wrote Saturday.
I haven’t read that book, but if your character was interesting enough, you could do that and end up with a good book. I don’t watch the show, but isn’t that the premise of “24″ with Keifer Sutherland?
I am such the planner and plotter when writing a novel and I try to think every detail through before I begin to write. But when I write a short story I am guilty of starting the task with no clearly defined outline.
AH-HAH! Maybe that is why I have such a difficult time with short stories. You have given me much to think about today.
Thank you!
And I could probably save some time by being more a “planner and plotter” of novels … but then again, discovering the story is part of the fun for me. I guess you have to find your own balance.