The Freedom to Scribble

[scribblemyname]

I have always preferred to write chronologically. It suited my brain’s play-it-out approach but caused all manner of bogdown, since it did not suit my speed of creation and crossreferencing proclivities.

I scribble down snippets, all the time, bits of dialogue I want to remember, ideas for stories and what-have-you, but a lot of snippets I never got around to writing down.

Thus, it finally occurs to me to stop trying to change my habits and leverage them instead. I’m giving myself the freedom to scribble a book. Not write it, not plan it, just scribble it.

I’ve taken a bunch of scenes and ideas and started new files on my PDA for each individual scene. I write what I have, whether that’s a line of narrative or dialogue or just put this here.

You know what? I think it’s working.

Originally published at Liana Mir. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

Wow, I don't think I've ever once written an entire book chronologically. Those out-of-order pieces make very nice bridges! They give me something to aim toward.

A lot of times I end up not using the stuff I wrote out of order, but I almost always use the concept.

[scribblemyname]

I've tried the bridging technique, but it falls a little short for me. More specifically, I can't seem to make it work. But layers—ah! These are working out. Which is pretty similar. Sketch out a story, then start filling in tiny bit by tiny bit.

[xenokattz.livejournal.com]

YAY WRITING! Absolutely roll with whatever works for you. As long as you're writing, the writing will coalesce into stuff. Awesome, awesome stuff.

[scribblemyname]

Seeing as your stuff is totally awesome, I believe you. :hugs:

[xenokattz.livejournal.com]

Aww, shucks, thanks! I'm rarely able to write chronologically; I scribble a lot then cut & paste scenes around a rough outline. Creative process twinsies! *high five*

[pygmymuse.livejournal.com]

I think every story wants to be written a bit differently.

Sometimes chronologically works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes those later bits need to be down on paper.

Sometimes what you think is the beginning is actually the middle or even close to the end.

It's all dependent on the story.

Whatever way it wants to be told, the way the characters want it told, that's what's going to work, right?

[scribblemyname]

To an extent, but most of the time, I'm just fighting myself trying to write any other way than snippets. I've written some stories straight through with no difficulty and they were all very short (complete in one or two sessions) or the first (very short) novel I ever wrote. I think I'm fine if I can get it all out at once, but otherwise, I'm so far ahead of myself, I have to catch the highlights and fill the rest in as I can.