How I Fell Back in Love with My Work-In-Progress after a Long Break
If you’re like me, you’ve been working on your current work-in-progress (WIP) for a while now. Since the idea for my novel started around age twelve, I’ve been going back to it for a long time. Now, almost twelve years later, I’ve stayed committed to the idea, the characters, the long-term goal of getting this story into the light of day. My writing skills are much better now. I’ve found my voice, know more about my lore than I ever did before, and have a solid idea of what story beats are—something twelve-year-old me didn’t.
Though my love and passion for the story is still there, that doesn’t mean I haven’t had my rough patches with it. There have been lackluster days and times that I stare at the end of a chapter, not knowing what I just wrote. Especially after taking a hiatus from it last year to work on short stories (see my blog, “Why Should You Write Short Stories?”), I knew it would take some time to “court” my novel and really feel like I’m not only in the swing of it again, but that swing is wrecking any writing barriers in my path.
Getting back into it was a challenge, but only that. A challenge is not an impossibility. Instead of jumping right into my novel and potentially drowning where I left off, only to get frustrated, I used January to prepare for my reentry so I could survive the storm of writing it again. Here are the five ways that helped me fall back in love with my book and begin writing again.
1. Read a Book on Writing
I talked about this book in my last post, but I’ll say it again: Wired for Story by Lisa Cron changed my writing life. It dissects how the human brain reacts to story, and identifies what is needed on a psychological level to hook the reader and get them invested in your book. Cron’s note “Story wins, every time” is one every writer can benefit from—from those who write purple prose to those that get straight to the point. Can superfluous prose help keep a reader engaged? Sure. I’m one of them. I love pretty, lyrical sentences, but Cron is right. Without an engaging story from the very first page, some would even say the first line, fancy prose might dissuade more than aid.
While reading Cron’s book, I was invigorated. I felt challenged and was looking at my book from all different angles, thinking of ways I could better approach my story to address psychological needs every reader has and how a writer needs to deliver them. From the elements that make an engaging first line to performing a character study that isn’t 110+ questions long, all the way to busting the myth of the show-don’t-tell adage and what it actually means, all I could think about was how I would apply this knowledge to my book. And I wanted to do it right then and there, but I made myself finish the book . . . like a good little reader should.
Reading a book on writing craft didn’t just give me encouragement and enthusiasm for my story again. It gave me solid skills and information to refer back to as I wrote. That 200-page book has become the writing guide I can lean on when I’m struggling with a scene or a character feels flat. Think of writing books as a survival manual. Wired for Story is mine as of late, and I encourage you to find one that you can use as you navigate your novel. If you like what I’ve said about Cron’s work, pick up her book. Some other very popular books are On Writing by Stephen King and the Save the Cat series. There’s a multitude of works out there. I’m sure there’s one that will provide the perfect guidance to break down the barriers keeping you from fully engaging with your story.
2. Methodical, Reflective Walks
These can also be thought as “brainstorming” walks. You can do them alone, letting your mind wander into spaces unknown that you don’t always get when sitting at a laptop (because we all know the pressure of having to produce words and fill up the page can give us tunnel vision). Being outdoors where there are no screens or feeling of limitations can help you see some paths less traveled that might actually work better for your character than you originally thought. Fresh air, just like everyone says, works wonders.
In January, I took a lot of walks with my husband, mostly for health reasons. On those walks, I would talk with my husband about what I had learned from Wired for Story and how I would apply it to my WIP. In doing so, I started seeing potential plot holes, character arcs that needed fixing, or trials that weren’t challenging my characters in ways that is needed. I’d be able to say my ideas out loud (as I hate working in a vacuum) and get his reaction. He’s not a major reader, but he plays a lot of video games, and always loves a good story-based game. He told me he appreciated going through this information with me because he, as a gamer, always appreciates good plot and lore building. He’d also call me out when something logically didn’t make sense and made one of my characters seem less intelligent than they actually were, and while in the moment I’d get frustrated, it was for the better once I sat back at my desk.
I highly recommend sharing your thoughts on your WIP with your spouse/partner, should you feel comfortable. If you have a friend who you feel more comfortable with, then ask them to go on walks or do something where you can pick their brain. I still recommend something where you are moving, as doing something physical can help your mind wander. If you don’t like physical movement, still get outside. Maybe a picnic? In all, finding ways to reflect on your book either by yourself or with someone else in a non-writing-related space gives you the opportunity to gush over your characters without the pressure of the page. Talking with someone on how you’ll build them up to ruin them to build them up again better (oops . . .) and gauging their reactions will save you hours of rewriting when a beta reader points out, very nicely, why something doesn’t work. Finding ways to not work in a vacuum early on as a writer is key because it’s not just you who’s going to be reading your writing in the end.
3. Writing an Outline and Wishes Sheet
You can handle this in a variety of ways. For me, since I’ve been working on my book so long and have five books in my mind lined up, I want to make sure that the threads that must be led in certain ways or else can create plot holes are mapped out. Currently, I have a running document with the five books and their temporary titles for each. I’m color coordinating each thread to see what book the plotline/lore-line starts, and how it unfolds throughout the series. If you are writing a series and are more in love with the idea of writing the second, third, fourth, etc. book than the first one, this might be good for you. Knowing what you want to reveal in the next books will make it more fun to plant those seeds in your current novel. You’ll actually be wanting to do it, and maybe even smile into your mug a bit (a mug smile, or “smug” look on your face) as you do.
You can also write out your wants and wishes for the book/series. What are scenes that you absolutely want to have in there. Maybe it’s your meet-cute scene for your MC and their love interest. It could be the war room scene, where all the major political powers come together. Or perhaps it’s a life-threatening scene for your MC that leads to lots of character and plot development. Whatever scenes you know you want to have, write them down. Once you do, think of how the characters get from one scene you love to the next one you love. This is a bit like an obstacle course. There are going to be stations where you’re thinking, “Heck yes! I got this. Everyone stand back and watch me do my thing,” and others that’ll make you groan because you really, really don’t want to do them. Just remember that when you power through those scenes that you don’t want to write to get to the ones you really do, you’ll be closer to a completed novel than you were before.
4. Reading a Comparable Title
I’m cognizant of my book being influenced by ideas and writing I loved around the time I conceived of my idea. One of the books that I may use as a comp title for my work is Graceling by Kristin Cashore. There are so many differences between her book and mine, but one element they share is the theme of man vs. nature and traveling through nature. When I “rediscovered” the influence and found the book at a local book store, I grabbed it and read it from cover to cover again. No skimming, no skipping. It had been too long since I read it to warrant that (I also don’t skim books ever, but that’s a personal reading style I have). Seeing that the traveling aspect in her book and how she utilized it was not only inspiring, but comforting. I have a lot of friends who hate traveling novels, but I think that’s because novels with a lot of traveling aspects run the risk of not being engaging. Graceling is engaging in a way that’s not just all action. The prose is well crafted, and there’s a lot of character development that happens on those long, traveling roads, which is something I do in my novel as well.
If you’re writing a historical romance, read a historical romance. A memoir? Read a memoir. Maybe you see elements of your book that are in a favorite movie. Go watch that movie. When you do, take time to really absorb what it was about that work that captivated you enough to plug those in your own story, and what twists you applied to make the ideas fresh and your absolute own. Really, these works should only serve as inspiration. The execution of such elements should be your own creative prowess and mind at work. See what about your work can resonate with fans of that novel/work, but also think about the new angles that you are offering—what makes your novel different. As the author, you have three responsibilities: (1) draw on the familiar aspects of your genre so your book is more discoverable; (2) once people discover and start your book, make it unique enough to stand apart from the other books on the shelves; and (3) make your story engaging so that reader buys your book and gets to the end.
5. Create a Mood Board
I have had Pinterest for years. Years. It was my first social media ever, well before Instagram and Facebook (which I am no longer on, ever). I’d see lots of people making them, but honestly, up until late, I’d scoff at the idea. Why would I put pictures on a board instead of doing actual writing? was my thought process. I knew the mood of my book well enough, so what was the point?
Really, it comes down to having fun with your novel and the experience of putting two mediums together. I love prose. I love stories. But artwork can elevate it and help you see your book as a tangible reality. Having pictures to refer back to, especially for specific scenes, can remind you of the specific mood your prose and characters need to capture. If you can physically see it, certain scenes or items or gestures that make you smile or cry or go “hell yes!”, it’ll be more fun to write it. The content may be only 80 percent accurate to how you actually picture it, but it’ll get the ball rolling.
Though I’m in the middle of a good, new, first draft, but I’m still in love with my story even when it frustrates me, and I have these five methods to thank. They set me up for the long haul because it takes work, a lot of work, and commitment to see a novel through to the end. They’ve reinforced my convictions that there is a market for my book; my ideas are coming together when I see them both in print and in pictures; and that I can always turn to a good friend, self-mediation, or a writing book when I’m stuck. I hope that some, or at least one, of the methods will help you jump back into your WIP with the same amount of love that helped you think of it in the first place.
Write on,
Sterling MZ
Kommentarer