Prewriting for Unorganized Peeps

One of my many oh-so-tidy bookshelves

I could never be a librarian. I love books, I dare say I'm obsessed with them, but as far as adhering to a classification system that makes my books easy to find... not happening. I know some of you are looking at the picture of one of my book shelves and your eye is beginning to twitch. Nothing is in alphabetical order, though series are grouped together. There is no strict single genre represented here. Some of the books aren't even on the shelf but set on top of others (part of that is simply that I'm once again running out of space and need more bookcases). A librarian would be scowling at me if not throwing things at me for this.

My mom nick-named me Messy Nessy for a reason.

To me, this shelf makes perfect sense. This is a collection of books that all contribute to a vibe/theme in their own way. Of course, I'm aware that only makes complete sense to me. This is the best way to explain my prewriting practices. It's a collection of thoughts, images, and 'what if?' ideas all placed on a shelf together for me to weave into a story.

I've taken a good chunk of creative writing classes and there is a definite preference for outlines and prewriting that clearly show where the story is going. I'm sure knowing exactly the path your taking as you write can be comforting, I'm not knocking that, but I prefer to explore a new area without a strict route and destination planned on the map. I get bored knowing everything that is coming and that comes through in the writing, if I don't abandon the project altogether.

So, here's a breakdown of my 'pantser' method for all you messy writers.

1) Random inspiration/information gathering - This is everyday bits I find interesting that I'm always gathering. They may not correlate to any particular project I'm working on. I save images that catch my fancy and odd bits of information that strike me as a seed of a story. These are saved in random computer files, scribbled in catch all notebooks, and even saved as notes in my phone. I just took pics last week of several artworks I saw in a museum that may end up in a story in some form (a few portraits were screaming to become characters). Some of this may end up being useful, some may not. At this point, it's all just bits I find fascinating.

2) Finding a picture in the static - At some point, enough of these bits will gather and ones that mesh well together will sort of stick together and float to the surface. This often happens to me as I'm writing something else, like my brain is getting breaks from the WIP by setting up the next project. The feel of this song matches well with the journey idea I have for this character idea which would all jive well with these interesting historical facts that result in a loose world sketch. Ta-da - a story concept is born!

3) Fine tuning the idea - Now I have a rough concept, so I go into a more specific span of researching. This isn't my loose random gathering, now I know the vibe of what I'm searching for and dig through my own notes, online, talk to people, ect. for information that will help fill out the idea. This is typically when I create a folder and notebook dedicated just for this story idea. I now have a space just for the ideas that pertain to this story.

4) Assembling pieces - At some point, I will start to put all these bits together into more of a story. Not everything in my research will make it into the story, but the key elements will stand out by this point. Characters will be decided on, the world will be clear in my head, and the beginning and general direction of the story will come into focus. This is not an outline. Honestly, most of these elements will still need more definition, but this is as organized as I get before writing.

5) Butt in chair - Now, I start writing. Here's where the magic happens. My plan for the story is always somewhat open and flexible as characters come alive as I write, the journey of the plot will unfold, and the world will evolve along the way. Sometimes what happens ends up surprising me (I love when that happens). I usually end up doing a little sort of planning as I go along, like I'm thinking about what will happen in the next chapter or two, as I write. This first draft is where I find the story, so I can revise it into a polished work later.

That's pretty much how I roll. Of course, a lot of this is happening on one project while overlapping with another. I may be doing revisions on one work while assembling pieces on another story. Though I only write one at a time, as I would lose focus otherwise.

I hope this help anyone worried their prewriting process isn't as straightforward as the structured 'plotter' approach. You can still write wonderful stories, you just need to find the way that works best for you personally.

 Now, I'm off to consider these crazy bookcases. I should probably try to at least find a home for the books sitting on top of other books.

Not It

I had blood drawn last week for a medical test. The week before, I had an abnormal test result and this followup test was to verify a possible diagnosis. This may sound weird, but I was actually excited about this test. I've been looking for an answer to my symptoms for years now. After so many possibilities that ended up being dead ends, the abnormal results were a source of hope in a way. The more I looked into it, the more confidant I felt that this was my problem. Even better, it could be cured.

This had to be it. I was sure I found it. This was it.

And the second test came back... normal.

Overwhelming disappointment.

This could still be a possible diagnosis - or not. A frustrating result that raised more questions than answers. I won't lie, it walloped me good. I just wanted to be done with this and be on my way to a cure now. However, it appears I have more work to do before this is resolved. I have to shake off my disappointment, or turn it into determination, and keep searching.

So, why bring this up in a writing blog? As unhappy as I am with the turn of events, this is exactly the kind of turmoil readers need from their fiction. No one empathizes with a perfect character who does everything right. Likewise, no one connects to a character's journey that is easy and convenient. Perhaps my personal struggles with a mystery health issue aren't relatable for everyone, but that disappointment, that crash of being so certain you have figured it out only to have the world twist everything another way, is something everyone has felt on one level or another. Maybe you were sure a romantic partner felt the same as you, only to discover they were seeing other people behind you back. A feeling of pride that you were the obvious choice for a promotion, only to be passed over.

It's that crushing feeling of the rug being pulled out from underneath a character that often draws readers to that character. Taking a look at good fiction, these disappointment events will plague the characters over and over again, forcing them to change throughout the story. Some rise to the challenge, others may become bitter or vengeful (antagonists often are reacting to their own disappointing events within a story, only in a negative manner). As far as obstacles for the characters go, these emotional points stand out as the moments that a character's strength and morals are measured by.

Personally, I try to turn everything that knocks me over into a lesson of some sort. I still don't have a diagnosis, but this is an opportunity to take this emotion and apply it to my characters. I know how this feels; now I can apply that feeling to my characters. This is why I find a regular journaling habit so beneficial for a writer. I can save all these sensations and thoughts from my own personal experiences and draw upon them at any point in the future.

Today's 'not it' can be tomorrow's 'ah-ha' moment.

Going Deeper

It's the witching hour again. Joy of joys, I can't sleep. So, I shuffle out of bed and decide to at least make an attempt at something productive. Blogging. Why not? Authors should have a blog and yet I haven't been able to do so with much success. The audience is out there, I'm just not approaching this in a way that resonates with them or, honestly, me. Lying in bed, eyes unable to close, it dawned on me why I've neglected working on a blog.

I made it a chore.

I've been so concerned with making some big professional blog packed with the sort of academic information that would verify how writerly I am, that it felt like writing a bunch of essays. Probably read that way as well. So, screw that. It's no fun for anyone.

I'm switching gears. No strict story structure explanations or character sheets here; there's tons of sites out there that discuss those topics beautifully.

This will be a blog about my thoughts on story creation and where I find inspiration. This will get messy as I'm not organized or methodical. But I'm hopeful that maybe sharing maybe I might help out someone else whose writing process is similar. Or at least be entertaining in my oddness.

Without further ado, an introduction:

I'm Van Essler. I'm a writer and this is a view into my story building head.