Hi Jami! Thanks for this as always. I wonder - How do you think about plotting deadlines for yourself? You mentioned in a previous newsletter that it felt like you were writing 4 books to get to this one - I also feel that way, and find myself writing around the edges to get to know the world and characters more in ways that I don't think I'll actually use. I'd be curious to hear how you think about reigning some of that in to nudge towards what feels like a real draft/final. How do you indulge those curiosities (and trust the process that you may need more info before making some decisions) - AND balance having a deadline?
OK I have been thinking about this - sorry it took me a minute. These are many questions at once! I do think at this point it has become a little instinctual for me, knowing how far I need to lean into experimentation to get me to the main thrust of the story and get to know these characters. I tend to use writing around the edges when I feel like I'm stuck, or sort of circling something, rather than as a default state.
I think the word count/page count goals, and knowing when I want to reach deadlines is helpful to me, to sort of keep my more experimental impulses in line. I need to be able to look back at the end of the week and see that at last some progress has been made. My deadlines are super real because it's how I make a living, how I get paid. I can look out at the whole year's calendar and think, this has to be done here, and this has to be done there, in order to be finished by this date, so that I can deliver a book and get an actual check. So at some point I just need to stop playing and make some real decisions.
Who even knows if you're making the right decisions? A book can be written in so many ways. But I basically have to trust myself, my instincts, my experience at this point, that I'm headed in the right direction. And I know that the end goal is just to finish the first draft and I can fix it from there if I need to. But the endless circling, experiment, playing will get me nowhere after a while - at some point I just make choices and move forward.
I appreciate this newsletter and your sharing how you’re working your way around and through the planning, the process, and the writing. (Love the laundromat aside too!) Thank you!
As always, thanks for this. My main character has friends, a couple of whom have been clamoring for attention. Looking forward to your event tonight w/Patricia Lockwood!
Hi Jami! Thanks for this as always. I wonder - How do you think about plotting deadlines for yourself? You mentioned in a previous newsletter that it felt like you were writing 4 books to get to this one - I also feel that way, and find myself writing around the edges to get to know the world and characters more in ways that I don't think I'll actually use. I'd be curious to hear how you think about reigning some of that in to nudge towards what feels like a real draft/final. How do you indulge those curiosities (and trust the process that you may need more info before making some decisions) - AND balance having a deadline?
OK I have been thinking about this - sorry it took me a minute. These are many questions at once! I do think at this point it has become a little instinctual for me, knowing how far I need to lean into experimentation to get me to the main thrust of the story and get to know these characters. I tend to use writing around the edges when I feel like I'm stuck, or sort of circling something, rather than as a default state.
I think the word count/page count goals, and knowing when I want to reach deadlines is helpful to me, to sort of keep my more experimental impulses in line. I need to be able to look back at the end of the week and see that at last some progress has been made. My deadlines are super real because it's how I make a living, how I get paid. I can look out at the whole year's calendar and think, this has to be done here, and this has to be done there, in order to be finished by this date, so that I can deliver a book and get an actual check. So at some point I just need to stop playing and make some real decisions.
Who even knows if you're making the right decisions? A book can be written in so many ways. But I basically have to trust myself, my instincts, my experience at this point, that I'm headed in the right direction. And I know that the end goal is just to finish the first draft and I can fix it from there if I need to. But the endless circling, experiment, playing will get me nowhere after a while - at some point I just make choices and move forward.
Thank you! Such a generous reply.
I appreciate this newsletter and your sharing how you’re working your way around and through the planning, the process, and the writing. (Love the laundromat aside too!) Thank you!
As always, thanks for this. My main character has friends, a couple of whom have been clamoring for attention. Looking forward to your event tonight w/Patricia Lockwood!