Friday, October 10, 2014

Lessons I have learnt from my current WIP

Every WIP (Work in Progress) teaches a writer lots of things. Things that the writer would not have learnt if they hadn’t worked on this particular story. My current WIP- Scavage, about street dogs was a troublesome kid. All through the first draft I had just one thought running through my mind: that I can’t write this story. I am so scared of dogs that when I see dog I run faster than an Olympic medallist. It was natural that I would take my own sweet time to finish the first draft.

Several times during the writing of this book my muse deserted me. During those days I caught up with my other writing and kept postponing the deadline for this story. And I deviated wildly from my original outline with the introduction of a few new characters who snatched the story from my hands and took it in a different direction.

One fine day I said enough is enough. I am the writer. I need to get the story written. And written fast. I sat down and rewrote the outline adding the new characters, warned my muse not to irritate me and wrote the remaining scenes. For reference there was always YouTube.

After the first draft, I moved on to the second draft. Finishing the second draft of this book has made me super happy. Now, I have distanced myself from the story for a few days, to let it stew in its own creative juices. I am working on my first YA book.

This book taught me several lessons. A writer has to be flexible as characters become headstrong halfway through the story and want the story to go in a different direction from the originally outlined one. Another lesson was that the muse is never obedient and that a writer should never depend on the muse and write inspite of an absentee muse. Last but not the least, only if the writer has written the first draft can he start playing magician with the story; adding plot twists, descriptions, character traits, suspense and humor.

What has your current WIP taught you? Did your characters develop a mind of their own halfway through the story?

15 comments:

  1. Awesome lessons. Mine is teaching me to rip apart the first chapter if it's not working right until it does. As soon as I get some time, I'm going to getting working on that first chapter again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I find it difficult to deviate from the outline, if I have one. If I prefer the characters to take over a story, I don't create an outline and let them control the story fully. Not sure if this is the best thing to do!

    Destination Infinity

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good lessons all! I'm glad you finished your second draft. Congratulations. Now it's probably at a point where you will really enjoy working on it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good lessons all! I'm glad you finished your second draft. Congratulations. Now it's probably at a point where you will really enjoy working on it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I find it very interesting to write about a dog when you're afraid of dogs. Did you make that fear part of the story?

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's how I feel about first drafts. I can't really do anything with the story until it is down on paper. Glad you got it finished and revised!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats Rachna....

    Happy to hear you have made it through the first two drafts... You are well on your way.

    I never outline and just go with the story. Most the the time i usually know where it's heading. But sometimes it does twist differently. But that's the fun of wiring!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Natalie, I will be ripping apart the first chapter later. I ripped apart and rewrote the first chapter of one of my manuscripts several times.

    Destination Infinity, characters taking over the story is quite a normal thing. A rough outline is a good thing, as it gives you the flexibility to do some pantsing too.

    Elizabeth, yes my story is at a point where I am enjoying fiddling around with the scenes and a few plot points.

    Wendy, my fear thankfully is not a part of the story. It would have been an hindrance more than an asset.

    Alex, I too feel a whole lot better after I get the first draft on paper. Its quite a relief to see so much story unfurling before me.

    Michael, I do a rough outline of the entire story. I have realized that I am deviating a lot from the outline as I start writing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maybe when I start writing more seriously, I will have to face these situations but presently, it is mostly a free fow of thoughts, Rachna:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. My characters always distract the story. yep, that's what rewrites are for - getting back on track with the original plot idea, even if it does add a few new twists and characters.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sometimes we need to knuckle down and write even if we aren't inspired. IF we waited for inspiration, we may never write!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Like you, I've had to take control and write despite where my brain wants to go!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. There's something to be learned every step of the way, isn't there? Thanks for sharing part of your journey with us! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my goodness, YES! My characters are terribly willful and some of the secondary characters really love to steal the spotlight. In recent years I've learned how to shove them back into line, and still keep the flow of the story. =)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sounds like some truly valuable lessons:) I think every writer feels like that halfway throguh a book, but having the fortitude to keep going is what makes us stronger:)

    ReplyDelete