18||0|2384|0|yes
0|0|0|||1||A question about the writing process|Offsides||12:07:15|09/17/2013|I%27ve recently started writing for the first time in 15%2B years%2C and have a question about the writing process.  It%27s aimed primarily at Gryphon%2C but I would certainly appreciate input from anyone and everyone.%0D%0A%0D%0AI have a longer story in the works%2C and I%27ve hit a bit of a block.  I generally have written sequentially %28other than basic notes%29%2C but that obviously means that a block is a real problem.  I%27m curious as to how you handle writing larger pieces especially those you know are going to be multi-part ones.  Using TbS as an example%2C it%27s clear that you didn%27t initially expect it to be a 3-part piece %28or multi-part at all%29%2C so I%27m wondering how much actual writing work you%27ve done on pieces of part 3 vs. just making basic plot notes.%0D%0A%0D%0AExtending that further%2C it%27s clear that you have had large pieces of the Symphony plotted out for over a decade%2C and I%27m wondering how much of the was written in scene form out of order %28not asking for scene details%2C that would be rude%29 and how you dealt with integrating it later when those scenes were actually being integrated into the pieces they were intended for.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe reason I%27m asking %28I think%2C I%27m still learning how my mind handles the writing process %3A%29%29 is that I have future scenes going through my head%2C but I know from experience with what I%27ve already written that a number of them have changed so radically from my original concept to what I actually put on %22paper%22 when the time came that I don%27t know if writing them down before I got there would have been a good thing or a bad thing - the changes evolved organically%2C and I wonder if I would have tried to force the story to fit the original scene of I%27d already written it...%0D%0A%0D%0ASo I%27m just wondering how you deal with it%2C and if you have any advice on how to handle it for myself%3F  And yes%2C I know everyone%27s different%2C and I won%27t blame you for anything that doesn%27t work %28or does%21%29 if I try it.%0D%0A%0D%0AThanks%2C%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0AP.S. I%27ve already experienced some of the odd muse issues you%27ve mentioned%3A I had one story just show up fully formed one morning on the way to work and refuse to let me much of anything else until I got it all out%2C and I had another that paced around in the green room for a couple weeks before banging on the door and telling me enough was enough and to just get on with it... %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A    -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %23%26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A
1|1|0|||||RE%3A A question about the writing process|mdg1||12:13:54|09/17/2013|I also tend to write sequentially%2C although I often have at least a vague outline in my head %28someone advised me once never to have a physical outline%29%2C and occasionally I have an idea for a scene or bit of dialogue I know I want to use somewhere %28but see below%29.%0D%0A%0D%0ARegarding your specific points%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AThe only cure I know for writer%27s block is to switch to a different project.%0D%0AIf a scene doesn%27t fit%2C it doesn%27t fit.  I usually stick those in my mental SOS %28%22some other story%22%29 File.  %0D%0A
5|2|1|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Offsides||16:38:18|09/17/2013|I haven%27t bothered with a written outline for any of my smaller pieces %28including the multi-part one I%27m currently stuck on%29%2C but I have a massive piece that%27s still forming in my head that%27s just too big to not have some sort of organized notes.  But I see that outline as not being set in stone%2C at least until things are much better defined...%0D%0A%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A    -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %23%26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A
7|3|5|||||RE%3A A question about the writing process|mdg1||16:50:13|09/17/2013|I have whole worlds in my head... which is one reason why I keep forgetting what I had for lunch. %3A%29
2|1|0|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|BobSchroeck||13:46:52|09/17/2013|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Sep-17-13 AT 01:47 PM (EDT)]One rule I have for myself is%2C always know how the story ends.  %0D%0A%0D%0AYou may start with a cool %22what if%22 idea%2C but you need to take a moment and think %22how would I want to see a story using this idea finish%3F%22  In my case%2C I know the endings for all the projects I have %22active%22 -- right now%2C that%27s %5Bi%5DDrunkard%27s Walk VIII%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DXIII%5B%2Fi%5D -- and most of the others I have in development.  And %5Bi%5DDW2%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DDW5%5B%2Fi%5D both had their climactic scenes %28Doug vs. Quincy and the Day of Fun at the temple%2C respectively%29 laid out %28and even partially written%29 %5Bi%5Dyears%5B%2Fi%5D before I got anywhere near them.  %28As you should know%2C as you%27re one of my prereaders%2C Offsides%21%29%0D%0A%0D%0AThe point here is that if you know where you%27re going to end%2C it doesn%27t matter if you don%27t know anything else about the plot -- you have a fixed point of reference to work toward at all times.  Plus it gives you the ability to hang Chekhov%27s Guns on every wall you pass if you need to.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AMy race is pacifist and does not believe in war.  We kill only out of personal spite.
4|2|2|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Offsides||16:36:05|09/17/2013|Yeah%2C I%27ve got some clue as to %5Bi%5Dyour%5B%2Fi%5D process%2C Bob %3AP%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd yes%2C the project I%27m stuck on does have a semi-defined ending which I%27m nowhere as near to given what I%27ve written as I thought I would be %28my original idea was probably about 8 chapters - given that I%27m stuck in chapter 7 and that%27s probably not even halfway there%2C more like 16-20 now %3A%29%29.  I%27ve redefined how I want to handle things towards the end a half dozen time now%2C and still am not satisfied%2C but I definitely have a general concept of both where I%27m going and how to get there.  It%27s details right now%2C and they just haven%27t been coming out right...%0D%0A%0D%0AI suspect I can probably sit down and write some of the future scenes%2C but the couple times I%27ve tried it%27s not gone very well.  What I haven%27t figured out is if that%27s because I%27m not comfortable writing non-linearly%2C or if I%27m subconsciously not liking what I%27m writing.  I suspect the former can be overcome eventually%2C but the latter is probably a good reason not to continue...%0D%0A%0D%0AMy other big project is still very much being defined and doesn%27t have a well defined ending yet%2C but I also feel like the whole idea is still forming in my head and not ready to really write.  I%27ve got a pile of notes I%27ve started putting into outline form %28more for chronological organization than anything else%29%2C but even though I%27ve had a bunch of scenes practically write themselves in my head already%2C I%27m just not ready to actually write anything for exactly that reason...%0D%0A%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A    -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %23%26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A
10|2|2|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|JeanneHedge||18:10:31|09/17/2013|%3EOne rule I have for myself is%2C always know how the story ends. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EYou may start with a cool %22what if%22 idea%2C but you need to take a %0D%0A%3Emoment and think %22how would I want to see a story using this idea %0D%0A%3Efinish%3F%22  In my case%2C I know the endings for all the projects I have %0D%0A%3E%22active%22 -- right now%2C that%27s %5Bi%5DDrunkard%27s Walk VIII%5B%2Fi%5D and %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DXIII%5B%2Fi%5D -- and most of the others I have in development.  And %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DDW2%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5DDW5%5B%2Fi%5D both had their climactic scenes %28Doug vs. %0D%0A%3EQuincy and the Day of Fun at the temple%2C respectively%29 laid out %28and %0D%0A%3Eeven partially written%29 %5Bi%5Dyears%5B%2Fi%5D before I got anywhere near them.  %0D%0A%3E%28As you should know%2C as you%27re one of my prereaders%2C Offsides%21%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThe point here is that if you know where you%27re going to end%2C it %0D%0A%3Edoesn%27t matter if you don%27t know anything else about the plot -- you %0D%0A%3Ehave a fixed point of reference to work toward at all times.  Plus it %0D%0A%3Egives you the ability to hang Chekhov%27s Guns on every wall you pass if %0D%0A%3Eyou need to. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E-- Bob %0D%0A%3E------------------- %0D%0A%3EMy race is pacifist and does not believe in war.  We kill only out of %0D%0A%3Epersonal spite. %0D%0A%0D%0AIn line with what Bob said%2C if you%27re stuck on chapter 7 and you know how it%27ll all end in chapter 20 %28or have a good idea of it%29%2C then go write chapter 20. %22Writing backwards%22 has worked for me. So has %22leapfrogging%22 - skip over what%27s got you stuck and write what comes next instead. Either one may shake something loose.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis all assumes you haven%27t put it away for a rest%2C with intent to come back a few days %28weeks%3F%29 later.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AJeanne%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22 width%3D%2280%25%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd align%3D%22center%22 width%3D%2210%25%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%2Fmisc%2Foldowl.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%5Bb%5DJeanne Hedge%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%5Blink%3Awww.jhedge.com%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bi%5D%5Bfont size%3D1%5D%22Never give up%2C never surrender%21%22%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D
3|1|0|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Gryphon||16:12:23|09/17/2013|%3EI have a longer story in the works%2C and I%27ve hit a bit of a block.  I %0D%0A%3Egenerally have written sequentially %28other than basic notes%29%2C but that %0D%0A%3Eobviously means that a block is a real problem.  I%27m curious as to how %0D%0A%3Eyou handle writing larger pieces especially those you know are going %0D%0A%3Eto be multi-part ones.%0D%0A%0D%0AI find that this has changed a lot for me over the past decade or so.  I%27m much more linear about actual scene construction now than I used to be.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EExtending that further%2C it%27s clear that you have had large pieces of %0D%0A%3Ethe Symphony plotted out for over a decade%2C and I%27m wondering how much %0D%0A%3Eof the was written in scene form out of order %28not asking for scene %0D%0A%3Edetails%2C that would be rude%29 and how you dealt with integrating it %0D%0A%3Elater when those scenes were actually being integrated into the pieces %0D%0A%3Ethey were intended for. %0D%0A%0D%0AAs implied above%2C this used to happen a lot more than it happens now%2C because%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThe reason I%27m asking is that I have future scenes going through my %0D%0A%3Ehead%2C but I know from experience with what I%27ve already written that a %0D%0A%3Enumber of them have changed so radically from my original concept to %0D%0A%3Ewhat I actually put on %22paper%22 when the time came that I don%27t know if %0D%0A%3Ewriting them down before I got there would have been a good thing or a %0D%0A%3Ebad thing - the changes evolved organically%2C and I wonder if I would %0D%0A%3Ehave tried to force the story to fit the original scene of I%27d already %0D%0A%3Ewritten it... %0D%0A%0D%0AThis happens a lot to me%2C too%2C and the way I handle it seems to have evolved somewhat over the last decade or so.  I get mental images for out-of-sequence%2C often even out-of-context scenes all the time%2C and I used to just write them out in full%2C no matter how wildly out of place%2C then find homes for them later on.  This can work%2C and I still do it sometimes%2C but more recently I%27ve noticed that what I tend to do instead is jot down framing notes and maybe bits of key dialogue %28my scenes often come to me as dialogue first%2C and then get framed in with action later%29%2C then keep them for later.  I make a %5Bi%5Dlot%5B%2Fi%5D more notes nowadays than I used to.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe thing is%2C though%2C this isn%27t by way of having been a conscious decision or a lesson learned.  It%27s a change in working habits I%27ve %5Bi%5Dnoticed%5B%2Fi%5D%2C not one I%27ve actually set out to %5Bi%5Dmake%5B%2Fi%5D.  Like I say%2C I still do write fully realized scenes I don%27t have an immediate use for sometimes.  Heck%2C I%27ve written scenes I knew I was %5Bi%5Dnever%5B%2Fi%5D going to use %5Bi%5Dwhen I wrote them%5B%2Fi%5D%2C but did it anyway because%2C well%2C sometimes I have to.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd that%27s the other thing about it.  Sometimes a scene like that will come along%2C be put in the queue%2C and when you do eventually get there%2C circumstances have changed such that it doesn%27t fit any more.  At that point%2C I find%2C there are only two viable courses%3A adapt the scene to fit its newer surroundings if possible%2C or - and this is always a hard call - toss it.  Bending the overall plot around a scene you%27ve been polishing and hand-feeding little fruits for months or years is occasionally very tempting%2C but in my experience it eventually leads to angst.  I%27ve done it a couple of times and am still grappling%2C occasionally with great difficulty%2C with the long-term consequences.  %28Phil%27s over there nodding sagely right now%2C I bet.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not saying jumping ahead and coming back to it can%27t work %28and I%27m not even addressing the problem of stuff coming along that would totally have worked better in something you%27ve %5Bi%5Dreleased%5B%2Fi%5D than what you actually went with%2A - that%27s a completely different ball of worms%29%2C just that there is a risk that you%27ll end up having wasted your time.  I%27m generally OK with that.  %28Heck%2C sometimes stuff I%27ve had to toss on the scrap heap has suddenly and unexpectedly become useful in some other context later on.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AMind you%2C all this is just me.  I%27ve never put much stock in these writers who talk about Their Processes like they%27re%2C say%2C bridge engineers.  If bridge engineers get The Process wrong%2C people die.  Words rearranged into different sequences%3A usually not the same level of serious business. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bsmall%5D%2A Example%3A Phil and I were just reflecting last night that Gryphon would totally have gone to Diqiu for his self-imposed sabbatical after Kei%27s disappearance in %5Bi%5DRequiem for a Lensman%5B%2Fi%5D%2C except that %5Bi%5DRequiem%5B%2Fi%5D was written in 2003 and%2C well%2C time doesn%27t work that way.  There%27s not much to be done about missed opportunities that are caused by the laws of physics. %3A%29%5B%2Fsmall%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
6|2|3|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Offsides||16:46:37|09/17/2013|Hmm...  So if I%27m reading you right%2C you primarily write your stories sequentially %28these days%29%2C except when you don%27t %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AActually%2C that makes me feel a little better%2C though I can%27t really explain why.%0D%0A%0D%0AThanks%2C I don%27t know if this will help me directly in any way%2C but I appreciate the answers.%0D%0A%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A    -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %23%26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A
13|3|6|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Gryphon||20:39:49|09/17/2013|%3EHmm...  So if I%27m reading you right%2C you primarily write your stories %0D%0A%3Esequentially %28these days%29%2C except when you don%27t %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C sorry%2C boss.  In Soviet Russia%2C process has %5Bi%5Dyou.%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
8|2|3|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|BobSchroeck||16:58:08|09/17/2013|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Sep-17-13 AT 04:59 PM (EDT)]%3Ecircumstances have changed such that it doesn%27t fit any more.  At that %0D%0A%3Epoint%2C I find%2C there are only two viable courses%3A adapt the scene to %0D%0A%3Efit its newer surroundings if possible%2C or - and this is always a hard %0D%0A%3Ecall - toss it.  %0D%0A%0D%0ALet me suggest at this point some other advice from my guide%3A  keep a discards file%2C or directory%2C or whatever%2C and put that tossed passage there.  You never know when you might find the right place to use that scene%2C even if it means changing the characters and setting.  If you delete it outright%2C you lose that product of creativity%2C and may never recreate it again. %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%28Heck%2C sometimes stuff I%27ve had to toss on the scrap heap has suddenly%0D%0A%3E and unexpectedly become useful in some other context later on.%29%0D%0A%0D%0ALike I was just sayin%27... %3Cgrin%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AMy race is pacifist and does not believe in war.  We kill only out of personal spite.
11|2|3|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Mercutio||19:22:16|09/17/2013|%3E adapt the scene to %0D%0A%3Efit its newer surroundings if possible%2C or - and this is always a hard %0D%0A%3Ecall - toss it.  Bending the overall plot around a scene you%27ve been %0D%0A%3Epolishing and hand-feeding little fruits for months or years is %0D%0A%3Eoccasionally very tempting%2C but in my experience it eventually leads %0D%0A%3Eto angst.%0D%0A%0D%0AA million times this. I%27ve read so so so many doorstoppers where it was very clear that the writer was incredibly in love with every one of his scenes and plot points%2C and didn%27t have an editor willing to say %22no%2C dial back.%22%0D%0A%0D%0ANever be so in love with an idea or a finished piece of writing that you aren%27t willing to slit its throat and watch it bleed to death on the cutting room floor so that the rest of the work can grow healthy and strong instead of being choked back by useless growth.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Merc%0D%0AKeep Rat%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bsmall%5D%22Those flickering lights and unintelligible noises we reported on earlier were coming from the Pink Floyd Multimedia Laser Spectacular. I contacted Carlos about this%2C and he said that the situation is even worse than he imagined.%22%5B%2Fsmall%5D
12|3|11|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Nova Floresca||20:14:28|09/17/2013|Rather a colorful way of putting it%2C but entirely true. I have a scene sitting in my journal which is the absolute definition of the character it showcases%2C and an awesome%2C snarky bit of dialogue. But it will never make it into the story%2C because it just does not fit.%0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe if there was a way to do a %22deleted scenes%22 special edition for text . . .%0D%0A%0D%0A%22It is a pink slip%2C hence why it is pink.%22
15|3|11|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Peter Eng||03:28:29|09/18/2013|%3E%0D%0A%3ENever be so in love with an idea or a finished piece of writing that %0D%0A%3Eyou aren%27t willing to slit its throat and watch it bleed to death on %0D%0A%3Ethe cutting room floor so that the rest of the work can grow healthy %0D%0A%3Eand strong instead of being choked back by useless growth. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E-Merc %0D%0A%3EKeep Rat %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AIncidentally%2C this is a long and colorful way of saying what many an editor has said to a writer%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Kill your darlings.%22%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AInsert humorous comment here.
18|4|15|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|BobSchroeck||08:43:12|09/18/2013|%3EIncidentally%2C this is a long and colorful way of saying what many an %0D%0A%3Eeditor has said to a writer%3A %0D%0A%3E%22Kill your darlings.%22 %0D%0A%0D%0AKill your darlings%2C kill your darlings%2C even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler%27s heart%2C kill your darlings.  -- Stephen King%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd then there%27s %5Blink%3Awww.sfwa.org%2F2009%2F06%2Fmurder-your-darlings%2F%7Cthis%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AMy race is pacifist and does not believe in war.  We kill only out of personal spite.
9|1|0|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Nova Floresca||18:01:52|09/17/2013|I myself write entirely sequentially%2C and over the past year%2C I%27ve run into the same problem you%27re experiencing Offsides%2C and what I ended up going with was setting up a textfile journal. When I hit a block%2C I basically just ignore it and keep writing%2C but in the journal. Eventually%2C either inspiration or desperation will strike and I will break the block%2C and then I can import the rest of the story from the journal to the proper draft%2C polishing and shaping to fit as needed.%0D%0A%0D%0AI know this is true for me%2C and I suspect it%27s rather common%2C but I think the most important thing is to keep writing in one form or another%2C rather than letting the wind out of the creativity sails. Even if it%27s just taking some random thing I%27ve run across during the day and writing one of my characters%27 opinions of it%2C anything to keep a hand in%2C because I find if I go one day without writing%2C I%27m going to go two days without writing. And if I go two days without writing%2C I%27m going to go a week without writing.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22There is no transitive property %0D%0Aof flavor.%22
14|1|0|||||RE%3A A question about the writing process|DocMui||20:40:51|09/17/2013|In the last few years%2C my writing process has gone all over the place.  There are times when I jot down a great idea or a scene at work%2C but the pain is actually trying to fit that into the greater context of the story.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhile writing my earlier stories I would write scene after scene%2C jumping around like kids hopped up on sugar on a field of hopscotch squares.  I%27d write a couple of really great scenes--some in the beginning%2C some in the middle and a definitive ending.  Then I%27d put what I jokingly called %22literary duct tape%22 to give them some continuity and coherency.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat changed somewhat when I started doing National Novel Writing Month.  In the context of having a deadline%2C I had to force myself to pay more attention to continuity and flow.  I no longer had the luxury of jumping around from one cool scene to the next%2C then patching it up afterward.  The clock%27s ticking and you get your 1667 words a day in.  %0D%0A%0D%0AI should point out that I do at least have a vague outline of where I%27m headed with the story.  I usually have a pretty good idea of what to do%2C but the characters often surprise me with what they will and won%27t do.  That%27s not really a minus%2C though.  If the characters are well-fleshed out%2C it%27ll be like they%27re talking to you.  Of course%2C if they start saying that you should do something bad%2C then that%27s never a good sign.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C that%27s my 2 cents.%0D%0A%0D%0A--Doc
16|1|0|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Peter Eng||03:43:03|09/18/2013|%3E%0D%0A%3EI have a longer story in the works%2C and I%27ve hit a bit of a block.  I %0D%0A%3Egenerally have written sequentially %28other than basic notes%29%2C but that %0D%0A%3Eobviously means that a block is a real problem.  I%27m curious as to how %0D%0A%3Eyou handle writing larger pieces especially those you know are going %0D%0A%3Eto be multi-part ones.  Using TbS as an example%2C it%27s clear that you %0D%0A%3Edidn%27t initially expect it to be a 3-part piece %28or multi-part at %0D%0A%3Eall%29%2C so I%27m wondering how much actual writing work you%27ve done on %0D%0A%3Epieces of part 3 vs. just making basic plot notes. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C I%27ve never written larger pieces.  However%2C I do hang around writers who have%2C so I%27ll throw out some options.%0D%0A%0D%0ADo you know where you%27re going after the block%3F  For some writers%2C the answer is to write %22This part is where Arisu and Kai argue and break up%22 and come back to it later.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor other writers%2C the answer is to walk away for a bit.  Watch television%2C or make dinner%2C or read a favorite book.  They may not look like they%27re working%2C but somehow the story organizes itself while they%27re looking away.%0D%0A%0D%0AOther writers switch projects.  Some will switch activities as well%2C going from writing to proofreading.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe only thing I%27m certain of is that there is no right answer for everybody%3B only an answer that works for you.%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AI avoid ideas.  %22No%2C really%2C why don%27t you bother that guy over there with the guitar%3F  He%27s good with songs.%22  It%27s the persistent buggers%2C the ones that consider a proper hello to be walking up to a guy and shaking his throat%2C who manage to make me write something.
17|2|16|||1||RE%3A A question about the writing process|Offsides||07:45:18|09/18/2013|%3EDo you know where you%27re going after the block%3F  For some writers%2C the %0D%0A%3Eanswer is to write %22This part is where Arisu and Kai argue and break %0D%0A%3Eup%22 and come back to it later. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s the one thing I haven%27t tried%2C and it might just work in this case.  I%27ll have to see where things go.%0D%0A%0D%0AThank you to everyone for your insight%21%0D%0A%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A    -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %23%26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A