Short story exercise on not plotting (p.170-173, 2010 ed.)

[willsdarklady]

Has anyone else had luck with the exercise provided on organic writing (anti-plotting, I suppose)? Personally, I was able to begin but eventually got stuck because I didn't feel a personal investment in the situation. While the Dick and Jane set-up was interesting, especially with the presentation of Jane as the psycho ex, it felt too... external (?) for me to continue with something of any substance. The further in I got, the more I was plotting in order to continue, which is exactly what was to be avoided.

How might I get beyond such a situation, should I (more accurately, when I) encounter it again? Is this a time when I should simply bail on the premise and go to something else in order to continue the act of writing? OR, should I persevere and find some way to get over the hump to finish the story?

I appreciate any recommendations anyone might have. Thanks so much!

*I'm really enjoying On Writing, by the way. It's quite transformative, which, by itself, is very exciting! Great book!

jb

[Timmy]

S.K. says in one of his books (not sure if it was On Writing or not) that he has written a couple hundred pages of manuscript only to bail on the idea... I think writing that amount of material is a big investment and would hate to see anybody cast it aside, but if King has gotten into this situation, I think it could happen to anybody.

Should YOU cast it aside? I think that is a question only you can answer. Maybe set it aside temporarily and get to work on something else... Because, I think you are right when you say, "continue the act of writing..." It's amazing how fast that skill can atrophy.

Also, I have found readers invaluable. I have a handful that I show my stuff to and they give all kinds of feedback and insight that I never would have thought of before. That might be something to consider...

Best of luck.

[omm poppa mow mow]

I dunno....I've got boxes of stuff that should by all that is holy, cast aside, burned....burn baby burn! But my guess is that if Sai King did it...someone like Ms Mod ought to (or as his wife did) retrieve it.

[fushingfeef]

I guess it depends on what situations make you have your peak creativity. I personally don't like to plan too much, for me it becomes too much like work if it's overplanned, I like the fun of flying by the seat of my pants when I write, performing without a net, so to speak. But other people's creativity might not work that way.

There is a really interesting book called "Art and Fear" that's worth a read. One of the book's key premises is that what's important is that you produce your best art (writing, whatever) when you're feeling free and unpressured. Now for some people, an outline is a lot of pressure, for other people the outline takes the pressure off of them.

In one experiment, an art teacher divided the class into two groups: one group was told to make as many pieces of pottery as they could, without worrying about quality too much. The other group was told to make one piece of pottery that was to be their masterwork, one perfect piece. Guess what? Overwhelmingly, the group that made lots of pottery produced higher-quality art than the group that was trying to make one perfect piece. Yes, the group that made a high volume also made lots of shoddy art, but they also made some really great art. Whereas the group that was trying to make one perfect piece had put so much pressure on themselves, they had stifled all of their creativity.

So, in writing I'd say the most important thing is to keep doing whatever it is that keeps you writing. If one technique stifles your writing, then it's not for you.

[willsdarklady]

thanks so much for the replies, everyone. honestly, i don't really have any carved-in-stone methodology, nor do i have a set routine. teaching secondary English makes my schedule a little manic, and thus i can't always sit down at 8PM each night and write for two hours (or some other such example). and, for the sake of full disclosure (to a world full of strangers, but whatever...), the way my mind works, sometimes i can't process linear thought. essentially, i can either put two words together or i literally can't. so i may have the greatest of desires to write, but my brain won't function in a way that allows me to fulfill that desire. all in all, i write when i can, and i do my best to get to it when both the thought and the function are there. i'll take what i can get.

*if anybody else has words on processing issues and being a writer, i'd love to hear them... thanks!

jb

[GNTLGNT]

Yep, free form writing is the only thing I know...

[RMDonaldson]

I just finished the exercise myself and really got into it. I went straight through the first draft just finding my way with the characters. Then I did as SK suggests and put the piece down for a couple of weeks. When I picked it up and did a second draft I was able to think in terms of theme and find the holes. I showed it to some friends and then did an end polish. As an exercise, it was very useful to find a process that works that well for me.

When I feel stuck but really want to continue with a story then I try some back story writing with the characters. It helps me get to know them better. Eventually they help me see what they'd do next.

Best wishes,
RMD

[ECJ75]

I did this exercise last night and was surprised with the results. While it is still clunky, I have a lot to work with to have something worth developing. It is a fantastic exercise and one that takes you out of your comfort zone to challenge you to do more than what you may be used to.

Thank you, Mister King. You helped broaden my horizons!

[dsurrett]

I think there's a difference in thinking out a scene or two in advance and plotting. When I did the exercise in On Writing I had a good time with it even though it wasn't anything great. I've probably mentioned this previously, I'm not sure in which thread, but for me writing is like a cross-country trip. I know generally where I want to go, but don't know which roads I need to take to get there. I like to think about the next scene or two I'll write for a day or two depending on my schedule, then get it written, then think about the next scene or two. In my cross-country analogy on an east coast to west coast journey, it's like checking roadmaps for the next day's, or hour's, drive, but not knowing what comes after that, except that I'll keep heading west. I might end up in California, or it might be in Oregon or Washington. Maybe that's a little too philosophical.
Do what works for you and have fun with it.

[JuanJones]

I'm loving the book, too, and am at the exercise you mention. I can't get into the situation either, so I'm going to try to come up with one of my own. Once I have one, I'm going to see if I can come up with a twist for it so I can complete the assignment.