We’re predicted to freeze tonight – exactly 32 F for the low. Time to bring in my container plants and bedding down the perennials for the winter.
That’s okay, as we’re a week into October now.
(No – I have no idea how that happened. One of my editors is planning to report the theft of September to the proper authorities.)
I’ve been thinking about imagination and creating stories lately. Totally part of my Neil Gaiman kick, I’m sure. It’s also because I found out that Marcella, Laura and I will be presenting a writers panel at the RT Booklovers Convention in April called I Was Born This Way! We all have really different styles of plotting, pre or no, and now we’ll have to find coherent ways to discuss it. I, of course, represent the mister pole, where I plot virtually nothing ahead of time. Not because I don’t think that sounds like a great idea, but because I just can’t.
Yesterday I wrote the scene where my Middle Princess arrived in the foreign country. All through the book so far, people have told wild tales about the place and the people. Tons of misinformation. In many ways the book has turned out to have the theme of things not being what they seem. So, she’s been anticipating – kind of dreading, kind of excited – arriving in this near-mythical place which will become her home. Believe me, I’m giving nothing away here. We know from the beginning that her fate will go in this direction, no matter how she fights it. She’s all interested to see what it’s really like.
And so was I.
Cuz, um, I had absolutely no idea.
This seems to be how my imagination works. I can think about the place, come up with hints and ideas, but until I write my heroine and I’m riding in her head, seeing the place, I just can’t seem to know much about it. While this creates uncertainty, it also makes writing really fun. But the place turned out to be… well, that part would be spoilery.
Suffice to say I was surprised.
Damn, now I want to tell you all about it.
😀
That’s exactly how I write — I just follow where my characters go, and find out what happens along with them. Not saying I don’t go back and tweak later, but for drafting I like to be surprised.
Oh yes, I’ve got my running list of things to go back and tweak, for sure! How did I not know the horse was white to begin with??
Can’t wait for the panel at RT!
And I’m envious of the Middle Princess surprises. Will you be sharing soooooon?
The panel will be so super fun! Sharing MP sooooon! (IF I figure out how it ends. Neither of us are sure.)
Yep, that’s about what I do. Sometimes I do have a general idea where I’m headed and I try to make some plans for what happens along the way, but for the most part, I sit down and see where the writing takes me. I may take some wrong paths along the way, and I definitely have to clean up the trail a lot, but it’s always an interesting journey. =o)
Misters for the win, BE!