tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post2553587191739049670..comments2024-01-08T00:51:30.080-05:00Comments on Write Now: Avoid a Messy First Draft by Alex J. Cavanaugh Karen Langehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-83832195554019166072015-06-20T16:53:25.312-04:002015-06-20T16:53:25.312-04:00Susan,
I know you are a diehard SOTP writer! I'...Susan,<br />I know you are a diehard SOTP writer! I'm thinking the outline is in your head. lol :) <br />Happy writing,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-79617206302556255992015-06-20T16:33:47.239-04:002015-06-20T16:33:47.239-04:00I'm glad outlining works for you, Alex. I thin...I'm glad outlining works for you, Alex. I think I've tried almost every plan out there, but SOTP it is for me. Best wishes with the new book!<br />Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-86089923732755495952015-06-18T21:31:06.899-04:002015-06-18T21:31:06.899-04:00Spacerguy,
I think coming up with and working with...Spacerguy,<br />I think coming up with and working with the end is cool too. Need to give it a try. Thanks for stopping and following! :)<br /><br />Yolanda,<br />I like the idea of going sotp then outlining - sounds like you can really fill things in that way. Good to meet you! :)<br /><br />Michelle,<br />Why is it too, that some drafts have more mess potential than others? Or maybe it's just me with certain projects. lol :)<br /><br />Rachna,<br />It's fun to see how the Captain handles the drafts, isn't it? Always something for us to learn! :)<br /><br />Sherry,<br />Appreciate you stopping by. Sounds like you and Alex are those great minds who think alike! :)<br /><br />Happy writing,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-83239875735668750332015-06-18T14:19:47.131-04:002015-06-18T14:19:47.131-04:00You sound a lot like me when I write. I have the o...You sound a lot like me when I write. I have the outline, and then I do a ton of research to build a believable world.Sherry Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844837212122243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-79396465320726341062015-06-18T09:35:43.577-04:002015-06-18T09:35:43.577-04:00It helps to go into a lot of detail before writing...It helps to go into a lot of detail before writing.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-42137562235539111312015-06-18T09:33:34.677-04:002015-06-18T09:33:34.677-04:00Michelle, mine aren't a big mess. By outlining...Michelle, mine aren't a big mess. By outlining to death, I avoid having to move things around or change point of view or key scenes.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-76428603029212261452015-06-18T09:30:45.654-04:002015-06-18T09:30:45.654-04:00You're not out there!You're not out there!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-61053094112787742832015-06-18T07:03:18.968-04:002015-06-18T07:03:18.968-04:00Hi Alex, I like your outlining process. With such ...Hi Alex, I like your outlining process. With such a detailed process one definitely won't have a messy first draft. I will try this process for my next book. Thanks for sharing your writing method with us.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-58086637884667120322015-06-18T01:09:04.797-04:002015-06-18T01:09:04.797-04:00Silly question: is a first messy draft really and ...Silly question: is a first messy draft really and truly avoidable? To a certain degree, I suppose? <br />I'm sure a combination of outline + experience of story structure etc. also helps avoid that initial mess...<br />Well, I'm thinking that I need a CP to help me fill in story blanks.<br />Thanks for the insight...Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-20433937158136378502015-06-17T20:34:38.150-04:002015-06-17T20:34:38.150-04:00I use outlines too, very dynamic though, as in alw...I use outlines too, very dynamic though, as in always changing. Write by the seat of my pants and then outline to see if I can deepen the plot lines and subplots.<br />Wonderful to read your process, lets me know I'm not too out there with mine. My endings usually come first too!<br />Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-64061932319048868452015-06-17T17:04:18.835-04:002015-06-17T17:04:18.835-04:00I always know the ending first. Weird, huh?I always know the ending first. Weird, huh?Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-70950162158599050282015-06-17T17:03:41.521-04:002015-06-17T17:03:41.521-04:00You learned, right?You learned, right?Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-12885242933935949822015-06-17T17:03:21.817-04:002015-06-17T17:03:21.817-04:00Awesome! I shared the outline for my last two outl...Awesome! I shared the outline for my last two outlines with one critique partner and he really helped me fill in details and make it all make sense.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-90230482762150075382015-06-17T17:02:23.943-04:002015-06-17T17:02:23.943-04:00I'm slow, but not quite that slow...I'm slow, but not quite that slow...Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-39351239502044944852015-06-17T14:49:27.444-04:002015-06-17T14:49:27.444-04:00Characters, stories, get them right and thats half...Characters, stories, get them right and thats half the battle. The rest is like a little bit like (and this is where I go horribly wrong describing this, lol) like a future history and being Science Fiction, all I've got to do now is marry the lot together using the history as a backdrop. I love the bit about having an ending before putting pen to paper. Now thats pretty cool if you ask me.SpacerGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05575342869714342370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-41817161900818339502015-06-17T14:40:38.161-04:002015-06-17T14:40:38.161-04:00Denise,
Good to meet you. :) It's always nice ...Denise,<br />Good to meet you. :) It's always nice to have Alex visit. I think he makes a great point here.<br /><br />Crystal,<br />Ha - maybe you are too nice! :) I might be too in that respect. Some things I can use an outline - or an outline-ish, others, not so much.<br /><br />Sheri,<br />Waving back - thanks! :) I liked hearing about your process. Sounds like the time was well spent for you! <br /><br />Jenn,<br />I like your comparison about the bull in the china shop. :) Live and learn, right? Will have to check out Alderson's book, thanks.<br /><br />Happy writing,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-46881070748342241152015-06-17T10:36:51.663-04:002015-06-17T10:36:51.663-04:00Great tips, Alex. I wrote my first novel without a...Great tips, Alex. I wrote my first novel without an outline. I. Will. Never. Do. That. Again. It took forever to finish and was about as structured as a bull in a china shop. Martha Alderson's The Plot Whisperer changed all that for me. Scribbles From Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01035720671975725049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-27170991289462144812015-06-17T10:31:16.540-04:002015-06-17T10:31:16.540-04:00*waves at Alex and Karen* I actually did something...*waves at Alex and Karen* I actually did something similar with the last YA novel I developed - due to start writing it this fall. I knew how I wanted it to end and then worked backwards. As the story slowly developed, I added more and more layers to character arcs, the world, and the main plot. Eventually, I even moved on to a few secondary characters in relationship to how my MC would bounce of them. But the reason I said all this is because it's the first time I EVER wrote a complete outline and synopsis and then shared it with a CP for a response. It really helped me. I'd recommend it to anyone. Thanks so much for sharing this, Alex, and to Karen for hosting you. S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-9636805854545607362015-06-17T08:26:45.299-04:002015-06-17T08:26:45.299-04:00Awesome. Sometimes I can write by an outline, and ...Awesome. Sometimes I can write by an outline, and sometimes I can't. They definitely make for a faster drafting process, but when characters decide they want to reveal new aspects of their story in the middle of a draft... Maybe I'm just too nice. ;)Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-37294117112746437632015-06-17T05:00:19.725-04:002015-06-17T05:00:19.725-04:00Yes, I've heard of some best selling writers w...Yes, I've heard of some best selling writers who take 2 years to outline, research, write character profiles etc. Seems a long time but I sometimes think I'd be better off this way. My pantser days are over!<br /><br />Thanks for hosting Alex, Karen.<br /><br />Denise :-)Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-37411108139509275452015-06-15T20:12:04.268-04:002015-06-15T20:12:04.268-04:00Hey Robyn!! Give it a try. It just might work.Hey Robyn!! Give it a try. It just might work.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-45853851244522012852015-06-15T17:27:25.698-04:002015-06-15T17:27:25.698-04:00Bish,
It's funny how we change things up over ...Bish,<br />It's funny how we change things up over time, isn't it? Guess it just changes with our projects and preferences. Always good to see you. :)<br /><br />Tyrean,<br />Alex's insight is helpful, isn't it? Even if our style is different, I think we can appreciate and learn from other writer's methods. :) <br /><br />Susan,<br />It's funny how sometimes we get different pieces to our writing, isn't it? I often start out with a sliver of an idea, then bounce to the end or middle. Appreciate you coming by. :)<br /><br />Lynn,<br />Alex's has some wonderful ideas, doesn't he? Ultimately it's what works best for us, but we gain so much insight from other writers. Glad you got to meet Alex. :)<br /> <br />Diane,<br />Reminds me of editing backwards - not something you initially think of! Thanks for coming over. :)<br /><br />Lori,<br />Appreciate your thoughts here. It's interesting how our writing comes together, outline or not, isn't it? :) <br /><br />Janice,<br />It does sounds like Alex has streamlined his process, doesn't it? Looking forward to giving it a similar try. :) <br /><br />Cecelia,<br />I think we all have to come to terms as to whether we like working with outlines or not. I don't like them as a rule, but they do help me stay focused, even if a general one, for certain projects. For others, I just wing it! lol :)<br /><br />Lisa,<br />I think there are many pantsters who struggle to be otherwise. But I think in the long run we do our best with what suits our style and all. Glad you got to meet Alex. :)<br /><br />Carrie-Anne,<br />It's interesting to see how we all like to work- what gets us to "the end" and all that good stuff. Appreciate you stopping by! :) <br /><br />Robyn,<br />Hey amigo - hope you are feeling better! You'll have to let us know how it goes if you decide to give Alex's method a try! :) <br /><br />Happy writing,<br />KarenKaren Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-71416643568453309452015-06-15T17:01:13.702-04:002015-06-15T17:01:13.702-04:00*waves madly* Hey, Alex. And howdy, amigo. I'm...*waves madly* Hey, Alex. And howdy, amigo. I'm a panster. A panster who jots a paragraph that masquerades as an outline. I can't even begin to imagine your outlines, Alex. But I do see how your first drafts are way cleaner than mine. I am bookmarking. When I start the next one, I'll try the Ninja Captain's method. To be continued. :-) Thanks for having Alex over, amigo. xoxoRobyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-38066757516212595602015-06-15T15:46:18.601-04:002015-06-15T15:46:18.601-04:00Carrie-Anne, I can only imagine your massive outli...Carrie-Anne, I can only imagine your massive outlines!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855485928545677951.post-22858978107028800512015-06-15T15:44:48.100-04:002015-06-15T15:44:48.100-04:00Lisa, try it and see what happens.Lisa, try it and see what happens.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com