I’m writing a verse novel. It’s not going well.
Actually, I take that back. It might be going well. But it’s not going quickly.
The way I usually work is to begin with the end in mind. I write a short page about what will happen in the novel. Then I spend a couple of months working on a detailed outline, one that includes every scene that will appear in the book. That way, when I sit down to work on my first draft, all I have to do is refer to the outline to see what to write each day. For me, the outline eases the burden, and cuts down on my terror about facing a blank page.
When I went back to school to pursue a Master’s degree in writing for children and young adults (at Vermont College of Fine Arts, thanks for asking), I decided that I wasn’t paying all of this money in order to simply do the things I already knew how to do. So, for my first project, I chose something way out of my comfort zone. I chose a form I was unfamiliar with. I didn’t do an outline. I wanted to hear what the characters had to say, and work with the form before I became bogged down in the plot. So I started writing poems. I discovered that my characters had a lot to say. And there were more of them than I anticipated.
I also discovered that it’s very difficult to make those characters focus and take meaningful action. Talk about blah de blah. I could make them talk for pages. After several months, I’m feeling a little desperate. My work doesn’t reflect the number of hours I have spent staring out the window, wracking my brain to figure out what’s going to happen. (Anything?) But there is good news: I’ve written a few (few!) poems that I think are good. And I’m excited by these characters–they’re different. They’re fresh to me. So I’m still resisting the outline urge.
My uncle tells me that you often have to go through many ideas in order to get to that one good idea. I’m learning to be patient. This may not be the most efficient way to work, but I’m not convinced that efficiency and poetry would make good partners. We’ll see….
8 Comments
Thanks for the post, Lisa. It comes at a perfect time – I’m also struggling with things happening “quickly.” I’m dreaming, thinking, scribbling and all that good stuff, but I’m such an output-oriented person that my anxiety is getting out of control. The time I’ve invested vs. what I have to show for it is horrendously disproportionate.
To hear you’re finding treasures in your characters and new/experimental process is reassuring and I’m so happy that you’re keeping a positive outlook striving to be patient through all that uncertainty. Like the wedding dress mantra, I’m going to gank some of your patience as well. : )
LoriGoe, I’m so glad I’m not alone! It’s difficult–especially since we have to count pages for our VCFA program. But I just have to trust–and believe! xo!
Yes! I keep thinking of those totes the second semester students got for us with those very insightful words – ahhhhh, now it all makes sense.
I didn’t get one! What did it say???
No?! It had stamped across the front of it: “Trust the Process”
Can I just say u r a huge inspiration many busy authors like u have not many time in thEir days to update their blogs I always end up waiting for like 2 months for another update
Even though all authors r busy u still have time to communicate with ur fans thnx so much
It’s my pleasure, Candace! Thank YOU!
You are so much braver than I am. I gave up on my picture books for the time being, because I just couldn’t get them to work. I couldn’t generate the ideas “quick” enough for my packets.
Can’t wait to hear you do a reading in January.