Comments on: The Problem With Planning http://willwriteforcake.com/method/the-problem-with-planning/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:43:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mr Uku http://willwriteforcake.com/method/the-problem-with-planning/#comment-96 Mr Uku Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:15:54 +0000 http://willwriteforcake.com/cakeblog/?p=227#comment-96 HI Gary, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I agree, it is horses for courses. I think what I was trying to get across is that writers (by which I mean, me) need permission to do things their own way. Many of the How To books insist you do things the way they tell you too which is a horrible way to learn if that's not how you would normally work. I think just getting on with it will give you a taste of how the story could develop. And remember, there's no reason you can't stop in the middle of that first draft and begin your planning at that point. Sometimes it takes that long to work out where a plot twits or a character will take your story. That's what I love about writing. I can do it my way, make up rules as I go, break them if I fell like it and it's always right. HI Gary, thanks for stopping by.
Yes, I agree, it is horses for courses. I think what I was trying to get across is that writers (by which I mean, me) need permission to do things their own way. Many of the How To books insist you do things the way they tell you too which is a horrible way to learn if that’s not how you would normally work. I think just getting on with it will give you a taste of how the story could develop. And remember, there’s no reason you can’t stop in the middle of that first draft and begin your planning at that point. Sometimes it takes that long to work out where a plot twits or a character will take your story.
That’s what I love about writing. I can do it my way, make up rules as I go, break them if I fell like it and it’s always right.

]]> By: Gary William Murning http://willwriteforcake.com/method/the-problem-with-planning/#comment-95 Gary William Murning Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:02:08 +0000 http://willwriteforcake.com/cakeblog/?p=227#comment-95 Very much think it's a horses for courses situation. My debut novel was very much written in this way – and the dozens I wrote that didn't get published! I think it can certainly be really useful for writers new to the discipline. It avoids the inevitable tendency to do everything except actually get on with it. Now, however, I find myself planning meticulously. My initial outline has enough detail to almost be classed as a first draft, but it isn't. I know my characters well in advance, carry them around with me for months before actually writing anything down, but when it comes to actually getting on with it I now like to have a very precise idea of where I'm going, so I can concentrate on the language etc. Having said that, however, it's VITALLY important using this technique to ALWAYS leave room for the occasional riff! And if something better occurs whilst writing the writer should be prepared to say "to hell with the outline". Very much think it’s a horses for courses situation. My debut novel was very much written in this way – and the dozens I wrote that didn’t get published! I think it can certainly be really useful for writers new to the discipline. It avoids the inevitable tendency to do everything except actually get on with it.

Now, however, I find myself planning meticulously. My initial outline has enough detail to almost be classed as a first draft, but it isn’t. I know my characters well in advance, carry them around with me for months before actually writing anything down, but when it comes to actually getting on with it I now like to have a very precise idea of where I’m going, so I can concentrate on the language etc.

Having said that, however, it’s VITALLY important using this technique to ALWAYS leave room for the occasional riff! And if something better occurs whilst writing the writer should be prepared to say “to hell with the outline”.

]]> By: Mr Uku http://willwriteforcake.com/method/the-problem-with-planning/#comment-94 Mr Uku Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:45:31 +0000 http://willwriteforcake.com/cakeblog/?p=227#comment-94 Hah! Too late. Patent Pending :) Hah! Too late.
Patent Pending :)

]]> By: wildelycreative http://willwriteforcake.com/method/the-problem-with-planning/#comment-93 wildelycreative Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:38:38 +0000 http://willwriteforcake.com/cakeblog/?p=227#comment-93 I take full credit for stopping your planning process and telling you to "just write the damn story already". Your welcome. .-= wildelycreative´s last blog ..<a href="http://wildelycreative.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/how-to-make-primitive-kilns/" rel="nofollow">How to make primitive kilns</a> =-. I take full credit for stopping your planning process and telling you to “just write the damn story already”.
Your welcome.
.-= wildelycreative´s last blog ..How to make primitive kilns =-.

]]> By: Margaret http://willwriteforcake.com/method/the-problem-with-planning/#comment-92 Margaret Tue, 11 May 2010 19:27:57 +0000 http://willwriteforcake.com/cakeblog/?p=227#comment-92 I follow links people post on Twitter. By the time I actually read the window, I've usually lost who sent me, but it's a great way to end up at places I'd never have found on my own. One minor clarification to my comment, though. When I say "I've already written that," I don't mean the story (as some complain of that issue with outlines) but that I believe I've already included that specific detail or aspect when I haven't actually put it in the text at all. And yes, it's very easy to feel like all the writing techniques are commandments as opposed to suggestions. I did a radical rework of my writing style some years back because of a "You can't" critique that ultimately worked out for me, but it could just as easily have killed my forward motion. I follow links people post on Twitter. By the time I actually read the window, I’ve usually lost who sent me, but it’s a great way to end up at places I’d never have found on my own.

One minor clarification to my comment, though. When I say “I’ve already written that,” I don’t mean the story (as some complain of that issue with outlines) but that I believe I’ve already included that specific detail or aspect when I haven’t actually put it in the text at all.

And yes, it’s very easy to feel like all the writing techniques are commandments as opposed to suggestions. I did a radical rework of my writing style some years back because of a “You can’t” critique that ultimately worked out for me, but it could just as easily have killed my forward motion.

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