Comments on: Getting Past the Blank Page

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 06:47:16 +0000

In reply to JL Nich Author SFF. JL, you're right! That's a terrific suggestion, backed up with good examples. Hmmm, I haven't seen "Jupiter Ascending," but know I can think of a few more where the novel's "heads and tails" make it work. Have you used that approach in your work? Thanks for sharing!

By: JL Nich Author SFF

JL Nich Author SFF — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 03:58:55 +0000

I've read quite a few books that start with a scene and end with the same scene only with the newly adapted character change. For example, Char A wakes up to the sound of the alarm and knocks it off the nightstand as they struggle to get out of tangled bedding...but at the last chapter Char A wakes up and shuts off the alarm and rolls over to their a)new love of their life b) goes back to sleep because they no longer work for that so-and-so c) shut it off properly, get up, and greet the new dawn with open arms without a struggle because they have finally found their groove. I like this approach. You can write the END perfectly, then go back to the beginning and do the complete utter horrible opposite. Examples of movies that come to mind are: Tolkens "Lord of the Rings" saga....start in the hobbit shire, end in the shire The Wachowskis "Jupiter Ascending" - start with the drudgery of family cleaning business, end with family cleaning business Bayona's "The Impossible" starts on the plane ride into Thailand, ends with the plane ride OUT of Thailand. Disneys "Mulan" "Frozen", "Lion King" etc etc etc....starts in the small village where she grows up, or in Arendelle, or at Pride Rock and ends in the small village where she returns a hero, Arendelle, or at Pride Rock. Always a great plan to write the ending first if you are stuck.

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 18:27:46 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. You're welcome, Laura. I still want to know if it's easier to start with a series character that you know and -- presumably -- like, or if a clean slate is smoother. Oh, well. There's always more to learn about our craft.

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 15:27:27 +0000

In reply to jamesr403. Thank you, James!

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 06:31:04 +0000

Yes! Denise, i know just what you mean. The writing, especially when it flows and it feels like you're just channeling your muse, is great. But the revisions are more deliberate, like, "This is really well-written, but it just doesn't move the story forward," that part of our craft is difficult. I seem to remember a WITS essay that talked about what to do with material that you cut, but I don't remember who wrote it. Anybody remember that one? Thanks for the spot on comment.

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 05:15:59 +0000

I have a friend who used the note card method for a screenplay and she won the Nicholl Fellowship, so obviously it can work. As for the blank page, that's not my problem. I can sit down and write. It's revisions, ones I'm not sure I believe in, which get me. And, I know I'm supposed to trust, but the rationale for the revisions seems to be warring with my author's voice. denise

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 23:01:25 +0000

In reply to Eldred Bird. Thanks, Eldred. The essay he refers to contains a number of excellent "What if . . . " prompts.

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 22:58:51 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Oh, I like it a lot! Talk --> text --> Scrivener. For those of you who are not familiar with Scrivener, it's a word-processing and outlining program for authors. For more information, use the WITS search engine. The Search box is on the right of this page. You will find several articles. Worth a look!

By: Eldred Bird

Eldred Bird — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 22:45:27 +0000

In reply to jamesr403.

Yup, throw really BIG rocks!

My other favorite trick for getting started is to play the "What If" games. Here's a link to my post about it here on WITS:
https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/10/tips-to-up-your-what-if-game/

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 22:27:04 +0000

In reply to jamesr403. I absolutely do, or I just transfer it into Scrivener and get cracking in there. :-)