RHQ
Registered
Hello from a newbie
I only joined AW about a week ago. I soon found this thread and it is all I've been reading in my spare time since! Thank you Mr. MacDonald for such an informative thread! I have read many books on writing, but none of them gave such down to earth and understandable advice as you do.
I will soon be published. My first book is called Open Your Heart with Quilting and is due out in August 2008 from Dreamtime Publishing. (And to steal a bit from UJ - Buy one! Buy a dozen! Pre-order now!) I know that's a non-fiction title, but it's a start and I'm just thrilled that I'll have an actual book in the stores!
Since starting to read this thread (I'm only up to page 98!) I have used your index card method to outline a novel that has been percolating in my brain since last fall. About a month ago it finally came to me how to tell a story I've been mulling over and using the index cards helped me organize my thoughts.
I had never thought of writing in terms of individual scenes, but that has helped me see where I need to add or subtract certain things that I just assumed would be included (or not). I copied my outline notes into a spreadsheet because I find that more user-friendly than the cards. I added columns to indicate which characters are in a given scene, whose POV it is told from, who the main character is, and other details. Now I can sort by any of those criteria with just a click (which is a lot easier than reorganizing a mess of cards!)
I have started allotting some time every day to BIC - but not two hours. With other things going on in my life right now (planning a wedding for one) that's not feasible, but I did write first drafts of two scenes the other night, so I'm making progress. Since I earn my living at something other than writing, I don't mind taking my time.
Anyway, thank you for this thread! I'll try to catch up!
And I am amazed to see that this thread is still alive 4 years after it started!
RHQ aka Kelly aka RedHeadedQuilter
I only joined AW about a week ago. I soon found this thread and it is all I've been reading in my spare time since! Thank you Mr. MacDonald for such an informative thread! I have read many books on writing, but none of them gave such down to earth and understandable advice as you do.
I will soon be published. My first book is called Open Your Heart with Quilting and is due out in August 2008 from Dreamtime Publishing. (And to steal a bit from UJ - Buy one! Buy a dozen! Pre-order now!) I know that's a non-fiction title, but it's a start and I'm just thrilled that I'll have an actual book in the stores!
Since starting to read this thread (I'm only up to page 98!) I have used your index card method to outline a novel that has been percolating in my brain since last fall. About a month ago it finally came to me how to tell a story I've been mulling over and using the index cards helped me organize my thoughts.
I had never thought of writing in terms of individual scenes, but that has helped me see where I need to add or subtract certain things that I just assumed would be included (or not). I copied my outline notes into a spreadsheet because I find that more user-friendly than the cards. I added columns to indicate which characters are in a given scene, whose POV it is told from, who the main character is, and other details. Now I can sort by any of those criteria with just a click (which is a lot easier than reorganizing a mess of cards!)
I have started allotting some time every day to BIC - but not two hours. With other things going on in my life right now (planning a wedding for one) that's not feasible, but I did write first drafts of two scenes the other night, so I'm making progress. Since I earn my living at something other than writing, I don't mind taking my time.
Anyway, thank you for this thread! I'll try to catch up!
And I am amazed to see that this thread is still alive 4 years after it started!
RHQ aka Kelly aka RedHeadedQuilter