Preparing months ahead to make sure nothing will interrupt the new WIP??

Fantasy_trader · Apr 3, 2010

I'm just in the stage of finishing off my first book (beta readers are on it) and preparing to start my my second, which I think of as my first 'proper' novel - seeing as the first was only 26k words.

I find myself taking notes every day on my ipod... I've amassed over 200 and I have this idea in my head that I can't start till I have over 2000. By notes I mean interesting phrases, things people have said, good words and names for things and little ideas for characteristics of the characters (e.g. "Man with tree trunk staff" or "A Twat of Goblins").

The problem is this:

- I'm going to America for the summer to hike the appalacian trail for a month (I live in the UK). I will absolutely not be able to write, but I will be able to make lots and lots of notes on my ipod.
- I will be leaving in about two or three months, which isn't long enough to start and complete the first draft.
- I can't leave a first draft alone for long or I lose my interest in it and want to scrap it and start something different. This is something to do with me (probably delusionally) thinking that I've mentally developed so much in that gap that if I started again on something different it would be 10 times better.

So you see the dilemma. If I don't start my new book right now I will have to wait till I am back from America, which might not be till september (Seeing as I'll also be on an archaeological dig for a month after the hike).

What am I to do? Should I just continue to amass notes and then in september explode all over the page? What if I don't make it that long and start writing half finished chunks of fragments of chapters? I have a term of University between now and the summer and my University terms are 'notoriously' unstable because of the nightlife ruining my ability to get any sort of consistent work done... (that may have to change by the final year).

Pointless side note:

The other day I turned on the Gladiator battle music really loud and wrote this for no apparent reason:

Hempfer Juggard hurled himself into a fray of enemies. Whirling and twirling his mighty blade above his head he struck two enemies in twain with a single stroke. Their severed bodies quivered as the men around them dropped their weapons with a clang and fled the scene. He turned, muttered something up to the heavens and stabbed his blade into the ground.

Waellacti teracktae! He bellowed, spreading his arms wide. Waellacti teracktae! The furs of a wolf pack he slaughtered as a teenager caught ablaze on his broad shoulders. He crouched low, bowed his head before raising it up and shot upwards into the sky

I NEED to start something!

Does anyone else face this sort of problem where you have to have months ahead set to be living in a 'standard and sustainable fashion' before you can start?

Maryn · Apr 3, 2010

Sure, some do. If it were me making the decision (surely you're ceding all decision-making to me, right?), I'd keep making notes (and make back-up copies somewhere) and not begin until my return.

In the meantime, find a shorter project which is do-able, perhaps a short story? Just to keep your hand in.

Maryn, who'll tell you what time to get up tomorrow, but not right now

Renee Collins · Apr 3, 2010

What do you feel like doing?

Sounds like cop out advice, but it really is the only answer. If you really, really want to start writing, if the thought of waiting until September makes you unhappy than by all means start working on it. See how it goes.

And on the other hand, there's nothing wrong waiting a few months to start a story. A few months of hiking could really hone your idea. You could get a full outline done.

I don't think there's a right or wrong choice. Just go with your gut.

Wordwrestler · Apr 3, 2010

Professional writers must sometimes stop working on one project in order to devote attention to another (revisions on an older ms that has just sold, for example). So it may be a valuable learning experience to figure out how to put a project on hold, then pick it up again where you left off.

blacbird · Apr 3, 2010

Seriously, you expect to be able to set up a situation months in advance where nothing will interrupt you?

I'd like to visit your planet.

caw

shaldna · Apr 4, 2010

matt608 said:
- I'm going to America for the summer to hike the appalacian trail for a month (I live in the UK). I will absolutely not be able to write, but I will be able to make lots and lots of notes on my ipod.

Is there any reason you won't be able to take a notebook and a pen with you? How heavy is a notebook?

I will be leaving in about two or three months, which isn't long enough to start and complete the first draft.

Sure it is.

What am I to do? Should I just continue to amass notes and then in september explode all over the page?

take a notebook and pen. Or just make notes. Or do what I did and get yourself a blackberry.

kaitie · Apr 4, 2010

Why not take some small notebooks and write in those? You don't need a computer available, and even a half hour before bed every night would be something. I actually imagine you'd really want to have some notebooks because if you're anything like me, hiking or walking around leads straight to thinking about stories, and it'd be really frustrating to not be able to write those down.

I think almost every writer out there has to deal with time issues. Unless you're someone lucky enough to manage to do it full time, most of us have day jobs, or families, or other commitments. It's a matter of finding the time to write, even if it's just a little.

lucidzfl · Apr 4, 2010

matt608 said:
- I will be leaving in about two or three months, which isn't long enough to start and complete the first draft.

I wrote my last MS in 20 days.

matt608 said:
Does anyone else face this sort of problem where you have to have months ahead set to be living in a 'standard and sustainable fashion' before you can start?

There is no fucking way I could count on having 2-3 days in a row without some wild crazy shit happening.

thethinker42 · Apr 4, 2010

It's impossible to plan so that nothing will interrupt a new WIP. Clear your schedule all you want, shit can still happen. Life is funny that way.

I started writing full-time in November 2008. Since then, I've moved to Japan, made two trips back to the States, both of my parents have gone through cancer treatment, my grandfather died, I've lost three pets, and I've had some health problems of my own.

And during that time, I wrote 15 novels and sold 7 of them.

Life is going to happen no matter how much you plan for it not to. If you know your schedule is going to be packed, carve out some time when you can...an hour in the morning, a few minutes here and there, nix watching television, something. Even a few minutes a day will add up. But if you wait until you have loads of time and nothing going on, you'll never get it written.

Sage · Apr 4, 2010

Every writer works differently, so what's best for someone else, might not be best for you. Some writers can write a full book in 2-3 months (some in a week), but some need much longer. Some writers get tired of the book if they plan it too much, some need the guidance. Some writers cannot take a long break without losing their enthusiasm for the book, but some need the break to come back to the book with fresh eyes and enthusiasm.

I've done all of these

Sometimes, it depends on the book, too.

I am wondering why you think you'll lose your enthusiasm if you start now, take a break, then go back, but not if you put off starting. 2000 is an awful lot of notes to compile if you never end up writing the book. Even if you start now, take a break, where you still could write notes like you were going to during that time, that should bring you the same level of enthusiasm you would have had if you didn't start. And if you have an epiphany during the trip and for some reason need to start from scratch, there's no shame in that. But maybe you'll just have a head start on a wonderful novel.

shaldna · Apr 4, 2010

lucidzfl said:
There is no fucking way I could count on having 2-3 days in a row without some wild crazy shit happening.

I second this. If you think it's tough trying to fit in writing time when hiking for a month, try fitting it in around kids, full time jobs, college, social life, sleep and pee breaks.

You have to learn to wing it. There's absolutely no way I could plan on quiet time.

Polenth · Apr 4, 2010

Two or three months sounds like a good chunk of time for getting stuff done. You may not finish, but you'll have a reasonable amount done.

cwfgal · Apr 4, 2010

As someone else said, take a pen and notebook. Or take a small laptop. If you want to write, you'll find a way.

Beth

Jamesaritchie · Apr 4, 2010

I've never been on a vacation where I couldn't find time to write. I doubt anyone else has, either. For me, notes are something you pass in school. Writing is something you do today.

The way you prepare months ahead is by forming the habit of writing each and everyday, no matter what, no matter where.

Bubastes · Apr 4, 2010

matt608 said:
Does anyone else face this sort of problem where you have to have months ahead set to be living in a 'standard and sustainable fashion' before you can start?

I don't even know what the heck this means, considering that I get most of my writing done like this: link.

Ken · Apr 4, 2010

... yep. Steady schedule is the key. If you were just going for a week or two I'd say leave the notepad behind and just enjoy. But since it's going to be months, bring that pad and pen!

ps And it may well turn out to be years, instead. Many visitors to the States become so enamored that they stay permanently.

job · Apr 4, 2010

matt608 said:
I've amassed over 200 (notes) and I have this idea in my head that I can't start till I have over 2000.

This is probably unwanted advice here -- But I'd say to try to get over the notion you need 'notes' before you can start 'writing'. Especially try to get past the idea you need '2000 notes'.

Because you don't need 2000 notes. You just need to sit down and start putting electrons on the screen.

It was easy to say that. I know it's much harder to take this advice.

matt608 said:
won't be able to write for a month

Life happens. Sometimes the house burns down, or you get a spiral fracture of the femur, skiing, or you're arrested for nonpayment of taxes, or your computer gets stolen from your car, or you go on your honeymoon, or you get tapped for jury duty, or you're caught in a revolution, or the new baby gets colic, or your job transfers you to Yellowknife, Canada, (on the Great Slave Lake,) or you're kidnapped by aliens and subjected to invasive and oddly sexual medical procedures.

Ideally, a writer trains himself to get a little writing done even when life is hectic.

The dividing line between productive writers and those who do not get their manuscripts done is very seldom the placidity or turbulence of Real Life.
It's more how the writer deals with the disruption and uncertainty that surrounds us all.

I will echo the very practical advice above. Pack two pounds of spiral notebooks. This is more than you can fill in 30 days.
But, speaking in a larger sense here, I would suggest you tackle what may be the underlying problem. Can you become more flexible?

matt608 said:
I can't leave a first draft alone for long or I lose my interest in it and want to scrap it and start something different. This is something to do with me (probably delusionally) thinking that I've mentally developed so much in that gap that if I started again on something different it would be 10 times better.

If you lose interest in a manuscript -- especially one where you have virtually nothing written on even the first draft -- it seems a minor problem.
Start another. You're not wasting anything but the time it took to make some notes.

I should mention that most manuscripts can be redrafted or reimagined to reflect any growth in writing ability.

matt608 said:
Does anyone else face this sort of problem where you have to have months ahead set to be living in a 'standard and sustainable fashion' before you can start?

There's an old truism -- 'The first million words are for practice.'
You've written 26,000 words. Can you writing another 974,000 words, knowing they may be just 'for practice'?

Can you allow yourself a long period of experimentation and less-than-perfect writing? This might allow you to settle for a less-than-optimal setting in which to write.

Fantasy_trader · Apr 4, 2010

Thank you all for your wise advice!

I've decided I'll spend this term completing a half finished manuscript that I ditched about half a year ago when I ran into some plot problems (didn't mention this one above). It's already about 25k words and should end up about 60-70k in so in the 2-3 months I have before leaving I should be able to get it pretty polished before leaving. The problem of becoming uninterested in finishing a story after a gap seemed to solve itself... i.e. after waiting a bit longer I become interested in it again.

Then notes made on the hike can be for the next one - which will be the third!

Polenth · Apr 4, 2010

Ken said:
ps And it may well turn out to be years, instead. Many visitors to the States become so enamored that they stay permanently.

...and then they get deported for being there illegally. It's very hard to emigrate to the US, so best not to ruin the chances of a visa with an illegal over-stay.

timewaster · Apr 4, 2010

matt608 said:
I'm just in the stage of finishing off my first book (beta readers are on it) and preparing to start my my second, which I think of as my first 'proper' novel - seeing as the first was only 26k words.

Sometimes you have to just do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P785j15Tzk&feature=related

Stormhawk · Apr 4, 2010

blacbird said:
Seriously, you expect to be able to set up a situation months in advance where nothing will interrupt you?

I'd like to visit your planet.

caw

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. o_o I mean, doing this practically tempting fate. -_-

cate townsend · Apr 4, 2010

shaldna said:
I second this. If you think it's tough trying to fit in writing time when hiking for a month, try fitting it in around kids, full time jobs, college, social life, sleep and pee breaks.

You have to learn to wing it. There's absolutely no way I could plan on quiet time.

Yeah. Exactly.

scarletpeaches · Apr 4, 2010

Do you want to write, or just plan to write?

KTC · Apr 4, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
Do you want to write, or just plan to write?

EXCELLENT POINT.

I went to Africa in December....I had a FULL schedule, and I still managed to write. My goal was to write an entire novel during the month I was there...but I didn't quite accomplish that. But I did get a lot written. First Step: throw away the iPod and take along a notebook. Second Step: stop writing notes and start writing your novel.

I do most of my novel writing in 48hour blocks. I sit at the computer for 48 hours straight and write a 50K novel.

You have MILES of time to write. Stop taking notes.

KTC · Apr 4, 2010

shaldna said:
I second this. If you think it's tough trying to fit in writing time when hiking for a month, try fitting it in around kids, full time jobs, college, social life, sleep and pee breaks.

You have to learn to wing it. There's absolutely no way I could plan on quiet time.

WORD!

Hiking is a perfect time to write. At night, when you are camping, you can write your novel longhand. The best part of my vacation was getting to write during the night and stealing minutes here and there...with a family and work and life and all the shit that goes with it...it's really hard to find time to write. When you're sitting in the mountains mid-hike (or in a tent on the Serengeti) there is LOTS of writing time. You might also find excuses, though, if that's what you're looking for.

Preparing months ahead to make sure nothing will interrupt the new WIP??

New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin

I Tried

Plotting . . .

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

With great power comes

Back from the dead

Abnormal Romance Author

Our Lady of Parentheticals

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Mushroom

On the rocks

bananaed

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin

Mushroom

present

Angry Bunny Girl

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stand in the Place Where You Live