“Just Do It”
Nike had the right idea.
Of course I’ve been thinking. I’m always thinking. By now my brain should hurt, but it doesn’t.
So, I was pondering about craft, about publishing, about a million others things when it comes to writing. But the one defining factor when I open up that document is what words I put down. Craft becomes white noise. Will this sell becomes white noise. Anything that isn’t story becomes white noise. When I’m in that zone nothing but the world I’m in exist. I’m only thinking on a surface level “that’s a infodump”.
Some people may disagree, but that’s the way it should be. Only the story should be present when you are writing. I’ve been writing close to five years and I have to say all else, everything that becomes white noise, comes later. Don’t get me wrong it’s important, it’s necessary if you want your novel to be something more than words on a page.
This part of the process, throwing everything out the door and what has sunk it’s claws under your skin–structure, pace, voice, dialogue, infodump, character arc, GMC–will be present in the first draft. Even if it is just a sentence.
That’s the magic of trusting yourself, of trusting the story that will be written the way it’s supposed to be. For me, it’s accepting that See Megan Run will be my emotional book. I closed the door on what I thought I should write and wrote the story the way it came to me. Yes, I opened the door after the first draft and fixed what needed to be fixed. What I couldn’t fix, but tried to fix is the type of story it had to be. I let the story be. Now it may not be my first novel. *not by a long shot* But it’s exactly what it is.
On my list of what a true writer is, I have to notate this. “Letting the story be exactly what it’s supposed to be”. I have many more. Probably a lot of what’s on that list contradicts each other. But it all comes down to one thing: The story comes first.
What’s on your list?
Here is even further proof that we share a brain. I totally agree with everything you said. Craft and structure and all that is important but if you’re so worried about those things while trying to construct a first draft you’ll have a heck of a time trying to get it done. I write the store that’s in my heart and then I go back and give it a nice polished shine. I believe that the story does indeed come first.
I’d have to say on my list is “Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall.” I think that sums up my first draft. And heck, most times I can make a pretty good meal out of it! Har.
Hey, Lauren!
Yes, the story has to come first for me too. It took a while to accept that’s just how I write.
I also do the Spaghetti on the wall. Heck, that’s every scene I write.
And, seriously, woman I want to eat one of your meals. When are you going to be done with your story. I volunteer to Beta. If you need one.