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I've always admired writing for the same reason I like programming - having such wide limits on what can be created. However, I envy book writers because I feel

by jeromec 17y ago

I've always admired writing for the same reason I like programming - having such wide limits on what can be created. However, I envy book writers because I feel they are even less constrained.

electromagnetic 17y ago
As a writer I've always admired programmers, and with my brother being a programmer I recognized the same processes going on. I worked as a reviewer for a couple of years, and I have to tell you that the day job is very constrained, especially when politics get involved in it, which is why I quit and have been focusing on novel writing. What works well for me is sort of a prototyping. I start with the key notes (basically 1/2 lines of integral plot) for Act 1 (or the 1st 1/4) is the introduction of everything, and usually ends with the revelation of the problem you're exploring. Act 2 (or the middle half) is where the character tries to solve the problem, and in the middle of this section should reach rock bottom, he then has a revelation or some such and then starts building up for the final confrontation. Act 3 (or the 4th 1/4) has the climax and is usually followed by a 'denouement' which is where everything goes back to normal. However, the denouement isn't as integral as the rest, in fact many novels/plays/movies leave this out and it can frequently be a twist in horror movies (for me the only thing that made Quarantine a passable movie is because it had no denouement - everyone died) and tragedies. The next step is usually turning those acts into chapter summaries; these are 1 liners that explain what the chapter is advancing in the plot (this can literally be as simple as finding a key to a locked door), what I'm currently working on has chapter summaries of single words as it's enough to remind me of the plot). Once you have the goal of every chapter you can begin work. Honestly as a writer I would say you're completely fucking nuts for even wanting to try. However, I'd recommend anyone give it a go as it's very self-fulfilling. I dumped over 40,000 words onto the sidelines last week when I found myself wandering as it had taken me over 3 months to get that far and I was missing the aim (the story is sound however, so it's not been abandoned), what I replaced it with I'm at 10,000 words, full plot outline and about 5,000 words of notes. However the 40,000 words I dumped had itself supplanted a 30,000 word work that had swallowed a gargantuan 9 months and died because it was written in the complete wrong narrative. The effort to rewrite defeats the purpose, so it's now getting major plot revisions and will be written in 1st not 3rd. Despite all this, you don't feel the stress from dumping months of work essentially into a trash can because you can actually see how your writing changed from start until trash.

by jeromec 17y ago

I've always admired writing for the same reason I like programming - having such wide limits on what can be created. However, I envy book writers because I feel they are even less constrained.

electromagnetic 17y ago

As a writer I've always admired programmers, and with my brother being a programmer I recognized the same processes going on. I worked as a reviewer for a couple of years, and I have to tell you that the day job is very constrained, especially when politics get involved in it, which is why I quit and have been focusing on novel writing. What works well for me is sort of a prototyping. I start with the key notes (basically 1/2 lines of integral plot) for Act 1 (or the 1st 1/4) is the introduction of everything, and usually ends with the revelation of the problem you're exploring. Act 2 (or the middle half) is where the character tries to solve the problem, and in the middle of this section should reach rock bottom, he then has a revelation or some such and then starts building up for the final confrontation. Act 3 (or the 4th 1/4) has the climax and is usually followed by a 'denouement' which is where everything goes back to normal. However, the denouement isn't as integral as the rest, in fact many novels/plays/movies leave this out and it can frequently be a twist in horror movies (for me the only thing that made Quarantine a passable movie is because it had no denouement - everyone died) and tragedies. The next step is usually turning those acts into chapter summaries; these are 1 liners that explain what the chapter is advancing in the plot (this can literally be as simple as finding a key to a locked door), what I'm currently working on has chapter summaries of single words as it's enough to remind me of the plot). Once you have the goal of every chapter you can begin work. Honestly as a writer I would say you're completely fucking nuts for even wanting to try. However, I'd recommend anyone give it a go as it's very self-fulfilling. I dumped over 40,000 words onto the sidelines last week when I found myself wandering as it had taken me over 3 months to get that far and I was missing the aim (the story is sound however, so it's not been abandoned), what I replaced it with I'm at 10,000 words, full plot outline and about 5,000 words of notes. However the 40,000 words I dumped had itself supplanted a 30,000 word work that had swallowed a gargantuan 9 months and died because it was written in the complete wrong narrative. The effort to rewrite defeats the purpose, so it's now getting major plot revisions and will be written in 1st not 3rd. Despite all this, you don't feel the stress from dumping months of work essentially into a trash can because you can actually see how your writing changed from start until trash.