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[personal profile] pbray
Troll report: 4,500 words today in two long sessions, one in the morning and one just wrapping up.

The secret of production? Giving yourself permission to suck. In this case that means when I don't know how to start a scene, I don't allow myself to stare at the wordprocessor forever trying to craft the perfect opening sentence. Instead I just write
INSERT TRANSITION SENTENCE HERE
and start by writing the second sentence.

See? Doesn't that sound like I know what I'm doing? Why wasn't I this smart two months ago? Or six months ago? Why does becoming a professional writer mean learning the same lessons over and over again?

Can't answer that one. But I do know that it's time for chocolate.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 02:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melissajm.livejournal.com
Good advice! I should try it. Thank you!

It's always time for chocolate.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 02:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pbray.livejournal.com
Well chocolate while writing can make the keyboard sticky. Unless it's hot chocolate.

Which reminds me, I was given a package of green hot chocolate for Christmas that I have yet to try....

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 03:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melissajm.livejournal.com
Green hot chocolate? Colored green? Mint flavored?

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 03:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pbray.livejournal.com
Green in color, according to the label it's "Irish" hot chocolate. Though I suspect the color will bring kryptonite to mind, rather than Ireland...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 03:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melissajm.livejournal.com
"Tastes like Shamrocks!"
And you get a wish with every cupful...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 02:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kristine-smith.livejournal.com
Why does becoming a professional writer mean learning the same lessons over and over again?

Remember that old saying about experience being the ability to recognize a mistake after you make it again? That one.

Congrats on the production!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 03:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pbray.livejournal.com
Yeah, I still make the bad turns, but I'm quicker at recognizing them than I used to be.


(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 10:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mizkit.livejournal.com
Why does becoming a professional writer mean learning the same lessons over and over again?

I don't *know*, but *man* I wish I'd just learn them and not have to do it over and over again!

I've got to train myself to do that transition scene one. Or give myself permission to, perhaps more accurately. That's a much better idea than staring grumpily at the screen, especially if I know what happens later.

Yay for 4500 words!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 02:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pbray.livejournal.com
Thanks!

Yeah, it's amazing how that opening bit can be so hard to write, but if you give yourself permission to skip over it, once you've finished the scene it's completely obvious what that opening sentence needs to be.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 02:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com
You don't know how happy it makes me to hear a real writer say she does that too.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 02:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pbray.livejournal.com
Glad to have made your day.

I never think of myself as a "real writer." I'm just someone who has figured out a few things, and is lucky enough to get paid for what I write.

I remain grateful that there's not a webcam in the writing room because trust me, this is an ugly process.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 03:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melissajm.livejournal.com
Having read 4 of your books, trust me, you're the real thing!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-01-28 03:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com
Well, then there's still hope for me :)

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