Bear with me for the cake analogy…
I’m a planner. I like to know where we’re going, when we’ll get there, and what snacks we’re bringing.
But in my current work-in-progress, I’ve been intentionally holding myself back. Why? Because when I set out with my last WIP in 2021, I planned too hard and I broke myself. I hated it and I hated myself and I hated writing. I didn’t return to the page for almost two years.
I’m not sharing this because I am anti-planning. (See my first sentence.) I’m sharing it for context as to why I’ve avoided planning thus far on this project.
I want the process to be fun. I want it to be playful. I want to love it, or at least be able to tolerate it. I want to be able to keep doing it. And maybe I’m a little bit afraid of scaring my creativity away again.
I’ve done a lot of brainstorming and freewriting about character development and backstory. I’ve also written about 6K words of scenes that I’m pretty sure will need to exist.
But this morning I realized I don’t have a next scene to write, and I felt a strong urge to look at the big picture and map out the key plot points that my characters are probably going to need to move through.
The key here is that I felt the urge to plan. I didn’t have the thought that I should. I was ready to do it.
I really believe that for every writer and for every project, there is a different way to begin work on a project. Often this is narrowed down into the binary of being a “pantser” vs. a “plotter”.
I don’t see it like that. I think that as long as we recognize that eventually we need to build a structure out of our ideas, one that will make it accessible to readers, it doesn’t matter how we begin.
Laura Sapala talks about challenges some writers have with the process in her book The INFJ Writer. I like this analogy a lot from one of her interviewees:
The problem with [writing into the story rather than planning] is that every time I go to revise, I feel like the self that wrote the thing tried to make cake in the kitchen on the floor and forgot to use a bowl. There is no structure, no container, just mess. I have to sit on the floor and sort out what is egg, what is cat litter, what is dust bunny, what might be part of a different cake, what belongs, what doesn’t.
This image makes me chuckle because yes, of course! That’s exactly what it’s like. But here’s my wonder:
What if, instead of planning being a thing we forgot to do - or that it’s a problem that we haven’t - it’s a conscious decision we make when we’re ready? If what we want to do is mix our ingredients directly on the counter, knowing that eventually we are going to have to find a bowl to put them in?
It’s just something to think about. And along these lines…
here’s this week’s Pep Talk! 💗
How did you start your most recent project? Click the speech bubble and let me know!
In other news...
📖 What I'm reading: The Mothers, by Brit Bennett (our May Book Club book!)
📺 What I'm watching: The Traitors (Peacock), Hacks (Max), The Tourist (Netflix)
🎧 What I'm listening to: Beyond All Repair (podcast)
What do you recommend reading, watching or listening to? Leave a comment and let me know!
This week it’s been really hard to get up early to write, and I’ve been very grumpy about it. (Here’s my weekly report.) I’m not a morning person, and I knew it would be a challenge when I started. But it’s also the only time I have, so I need to make it work. That’s why I’m so grateful for the small but mighty group that joins me throughout the week. You can join us too! Click here to learn more.
Last week at the bookstore I helped a nice customer order a history book with The End of the World as its title. I then told him that “the end of the world should come by the end of next week, and we’ll give you a call when it’s here.” And no, I didn’t realize what I was saying. We had a good laugh over that one!
In less than a month, my oldest will have graduated from high school. I just need to keep saying it so that it sinks in. Thanks for listening.
Around Writing Town:
There is something really special about being able to get away from the everyday to focus on writing. Maybe a writing retreat doesn’t feel doable — but it can be. To that end, my friend Amy Goldmacher created a planner to help you plan your ideal solo or group retreat around your own needs, preferences, budget, and desired outcomes. It’s called Your 5-Step DIY Writing Retreat Planner. Let me know if you give it a try!
Remember, your process is your own. Do what feels right, and look for guidance when you’re ready. You’ve got this.
Warmly, Stephanie
P.S. I'll be here when you're ready.
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