Barnstorming on an Invisible Segway - Onwards, Teb. Also, it's like a Martian talking to a Fungo, but I'm still not sure which is who. [entries|archive|friends|userinfo]
Marissa Lingen

[ website | My Website ]
[ userinfo | livejournal userinfo ]
[ archive | journal archive ]

Onwards, Teb. Also, it's like a Martian talking to a Fungo, but I'm still not sure which is who. [Nov. 12th, 2009|09:50 pm]
Previous Entry Add to Memories Share Next Entry
[Tags|, , ]

I should know by now that "I am up to my elbows in dishwater" is not a good reason to fail to write something down. There was an insight into The True Tale of Carter Hall, and now it's gone. Fee. Come back, little insight! Join your friends!

The other insight, which is not gone, can be summed up in an index card reading, "Earlier Wild Hunt snowmobile deaths." So there's that at least.

The impulse to restructure the entire book is such a seductive one. I should remember that next time it hits. It nearly allows a reset to the beginning of the process, when all things seem possible, and also it means that the wibbling I'm doing is productive, creative wibbling, except when it totally isn't. This happened with What We Did to Save the Kingdom, too: "Maybe I need a second POV character!" No, you don't. "Maybe I need extensive flashback structure so that each chapter comes with a bit of the protag's past!" No. No, you don't. Write the book. Don't think, meat, just pitch. And stop breathing out the wrong eyelid. I mean William Blake.

I have no idea how people who don't have Bull Durham and Galaxy Quest in their brain write books, truly I don't. It's not that I don't believe there's a way, because of course there's a way. I did it myself, when I was 11 and again when I was 14. It's just that I don't remember how it goes any more. What gets you through revisions when you get to the middle of the book and spontaneously rant, "This scene was badly written," and then you don't think of Sigourney Weaver and grin? I'm not sure. I'm just glad to have it to hug to myself and move on.
LinkReply

Comments:
[User Picture]From: [info]columbina
2009-11-13 04:04 am (UTC)

(Link)

I'm sure it means there's something peculiar about me that the idea of a Wild Hunt snowmobile death is a powerful inducement to read a yarn containing same. I'm sure there are people who would run screaming from the very concept of a Wild Hunt snowmobile death.

Remember, candlesticks are always nice, and the rose goes in the front, big guy.
[User Picture]From: [info]mrissa
2009-11-13 04:05 am (UTC)

(Link)

I am seriously thinking of getting candlesticks for a friend who is getting married in December, if I can find really nice ones.

Because we are dealing with a lot of shit here, is the thing.
[User Picture]From: [info]columbina
2009-11-13 04:07 am (UTC)

(Link)

Indeed so.
[User Picture]From: [info]skzbrust
2009-11-13 05:24 am (UTC)

(Link)

Anything that goes that far ought to have a damn stewerdess on it, y'know?

I love your posts.
[User Picture]From: [info]mrissa
2009-11-13 03:52 pm (UTC)

(Link)

I believe that qualifies as, "When you speak of me, speak well," so thanks.
[User Picture]From: [info]rmnilsson
2009-11-13 03:27 pm (UTC)

(Link)

You know, for all the differences between being a usability analyst and being a fiction writer, I'm struck at this moment by the similarity at certain points in the process. Reaching the point where there is no more research to read, no more consultation. Time to stop thinking and write.
[User Picture]From: [info]mrissa
2009-11-13 03:56 pm (UTC)

(Link)

It's the latest in the string of, "Writing fiction is like playing hockey is like playing the guitar is like...." Now with more usability analysis!