Stacy_R_Haynes's picture
Stacy_R_Haynes from North Charleston, SC is reading Coffee Break Screenwriter January 16, 2013 - 10:53am

Has anyone ever had this issue: You write, and you feel a need to establish mood, and scenes, but find that it really weighs down your story?  

What kinds of traps have you found in your own writing? Have you found ways to resolve them?  

dufrescm's picture
dufrescm from Wisconsin is reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep January 16, 2013 - 3:30pm

I've had this problem.  I usually either a) start something new and then come back to the first thing later (to see if I feel different about it after a break) or b) set aside what I've written and start over with a different character or POV or scene (to see if my original approach was just wrong for the story).  

One time, I just muscled through what I thought was a really weak first draft, forced myself to finish it despite my misgivings about the way it was playing out, and then went into "rewrite" mode the next day.  I haven't yet decided how I feel about that one, though.

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore January 16, 2013 - 3:56pm

Worst trap I can think of is not knowing the ending yet when you're already in the middle, then spend too much plot meandering trying to figure out how to get there. That's why I never do that without knowing the ending, but I think I'm in the minority.

(Much) mood isn't always necessary. I think it's best to first write the core of the scene: the interaction between the characters, then add seasoning to taste. I'll usually get all the dialogue down first, then the actions and body language between them, then the dialogue tags, and develop the scenery, descriptions, and thematic stuff last, which usually changes the dialogue a little.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts January 16, 2013 - 4:15pm

Sometimes I'll have to revise the order of my scenes on the fly just based on what information I need to tie the last scene up or to intro the next scene, etc. Sometimes I have to break up a really great scene and put some of it into a smaller, more expository scene so that doesn't suck. Or go back a replant a really important line here or there that makes everything else work.

I think it leads to a pretty good first draft, but I'll have to reevaluate the order once again after that. The revision is where I'd worry about mood or flow. Following the "where ever I need it, there it goes" formula I think does a lot of the hard work for me, sometimes I'll break out the index cards and track the tension, characters, themes etc. and shuffle them around, but barely ever make big changes. It did fail me though on a big project recently, I stopped writing and started reordering the couple chapters I had and started building and building to it before I decided to change the whole format of the story. So I had to abandon the whole start there and I'm back to 'preproduction' phase on the now monstrous project. That's just letting the editor side get to you when you should be in writer mode.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated January 16, 2013 - 9:23pm

What kinds of traps have you found in your own writing? Have you found ways to resolve them?

The interent, which I resloved by writing mostly by hand.

GaryP's picture
GaryP from Denver is reading a bit of this and that January 17, 2013 - 6:54am

My trap ties into what Gordon said. I never know where I'm going (or rarely know), so I get to the middle and any momentum vaporizes and I sniff around for the path until some other bright and shiny idea gets me started on a different story. 

alexgamen's picture
alexgamen from Argentina is reading 1Q84; The Way of Kings January 17, 2013 - 7:27am

mmm...I sometimes get a little bit too introspective or abstract, but I've learned to use dialogue to break up those scenes. I guess that's one pitfall I now try to avoid and usually end up fixing anyway during the 2nd or later drafts.

 

 

ReneeAPickup's picture
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ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig January 17, 2013 - 12:34pm

I don't worry about mood too much. I write a scene out and then, if it feels like it is missing something, or it is too abrupt, I'll work in the "mood". My worst trap is what Gordon mentioned-- getting to a point where I need to start rolling toward the ending and not knowing what the ending is. I usually just write through it, but that leaves a lot of crap to edit out later. I'm trying to get better about fixing the ending in my head before I get too far in.

Michael J. Riser's picture
Michael J. Riser from CA, TX, Japan, back to CA is reading The Tyrant - Michael Cisco, The Devil Takes You Home - Gabino Iglesias January 17, 2013 - 2:24pm

My trap is repetition. I get stuck on certain themes and then lay them on too thick to the point where they become boring or lose their power, usually at the expense of other themes that I'd planted seeds for but then neglected to tend once they sprouted. Balance can be tough.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts January 17, 2013 - 2:37pm

I'm pretty sure now that the thematic imagery worth keeping is the shit that happens on accident, because those time it always works out well. When you go in twisting a situation or an image in every different direction eventually you get to the point where you're just putting it in to tie everything together, or to look a little smarter than the story actually is. I think I'm going to try just keeping those happy accidents and cutting the verbose bullshit on one story someday, if my ego will let me.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon January 17, 2013 - 7:23pm

Oh yeah, my trap is definitely endings. I have too many stories that end with the main character staring out the window because I can't think of anything else. You know, like when you were little and got sent to sit on your bed and "think about what you did." LOL.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like January 17, 2013 - 7:37pm

[When "working" on a so-called "novel," my "thoughts" go something like this:]

I've got about 7000 words and there is no end in sight. I guess that makes this a potential "novel." The "writing" is okay. I like the "ideas" and "characters." There are a bunch of things I could do with them: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z. I could use any of those "plots"—but why would I? Why "force it?" What is the "natural progress" of this "story?" Nothing, now that I've started thinking about it; nothing but a twenty-six point junction. All I have to do is pick one, and if I don't like it, try something else. But I don't play the lottery. I might work in a part where the "main" character considers the parallels between "life" and "the lottery." But I am not Sartre, nor Hamsun; I can't write a book where a guy just wanders around thinking. Of course I can; people do it all the time. I mean, it wouldn't be a "bestseller;" probably no movie "rights;" but it could be a good book. Nobody reads Nausea anymore. They won't know what hit them. I'll bust this out.

I'll bust it out later. Right now I'll settle for a poem or short story.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated January 17, 2013 - 11:53pm

When in doubt hurt the M.C. Burn down his home, kill his family, take his job, end his relationship, betray him, and kick his dog till it is obvious what he does. Of if you took everything and he'd lay down and die you have a tragedy. 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like January 17, 2013 - 11:56pm

Or have the MC kick someone's dog. (In order to save a cat.)

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated January 18, 2013 - 2:12am

If you know you want the protagonist to be the villain you wouldn't be confused about what to do next.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts January 18, 2013 - 2:45am

I've got about 7000 words and there is no end in sight. I guess that makes this a potential "novel." The "writing" is okay. I like the "ideas" and "characters." There are a bunch of things I could do with them: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z. I could use any of those "plots"—but why would I? Why "force it?" What is the "natural progress" of this "story?" Nothing, now that I've started thinking about it; nothing but a twenty-six point junction. All I have to do is pick one, and if I don't like it, try something else. But I don't play the lottery. I might work in a part where the "main" character considers the parallels between "life" and "the lottery." But I am not Sartre, nor Hamsun; I can't write a book where a guy just wanders around thinking. Of course I can; people do it all the time. I mean, it wouldn't be a "bestseller;" probably no movie "rights;" but it could be a good book. Nobody reads Nausea anymore. They won't know what hit them. I'll bust this out.

 

I play the lottery sometimes. I get consumed by it. I spend loads of money I'd otherwise really really need on tickets, and I'm crushed every time. I remember all the previous winning numbers, think about all the important numbers and dates in my life and try to apply some mystical algorithm to number selection, then I get a couple random picks just to play on both sides of luck. I buy my tickets the day after so I have the full three days to dream ridiculous dreams about what I'd do with all that money.

And yeah, I think the thought-driven novel has a strong reason to exist. The long, drawn out form of a novel is basically meditation anyway.

Stacy_R_Haynes's picture
Stacy_R_Haynes from North Charleston, SC is reading Coffee Break Screenwriter January 18, 2013 - 9:43am

Thanks everyone for their responses. I'm still trying to keep writing, and then making cuts after the first draft.  Seems real rough to edit sometimes, but it must be done.  

Found myself starting a story with an ordinary day type of scene, but I didn't know if that was the right road to go, or I was simply meandering. Sometimes I put a lot of "infodump" at the start. I must break my habits, or as a friend said to me, "start with some action."  

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore January 18, 2013 - 10:23am

In medias res, yes. It can be an effective way to grab the reader.

Stacy_R_Haynes's picture
Stacy_R_Haynes from North Charleston, SC is reading Coffee Break Screenwriter January 18, 2013 - 10:38am

This opens possibilies. Now to go plot away.