Saturday night's alright for writing

[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.

Comments

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Good advice! I should try it. Thank you!

It's always time for chocolate.

[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....

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Green hot chocolate? Colored green? Mint flavored?

[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...

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

"Tastes like Shamrocks!"
And you get a wish with every cupful...

[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!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I still make the bad turns, but I'm quicker at recognizing them than I used to be.

[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!

[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.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

You don't know how happy it makes me to hear a real writer say she does that too.

[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.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Having read 4 of your books, trust me, you're the real thing!

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

Well, then there's still hope for me :)