Planning Ahead…
I actually did that. I actually planned ahead. While I’m waiting to hear my editor’s take on the new proposal I’ve sent her, I cobbled together some synopses. Now, I hate to write synopses…at least…I thought I did. But I survived all this, and quite nicely!
In fact, having ideas down, concrete like that, feels really good. Usually, I reach the end of a book with very little clue of what I’m going to do next and I just sort of hope that another idea is going to drop out of the sky. But that’s not what I did this time.
I have four books mapped out for this contract. The ideas might change. I might change my mind, my editor might end up not liking them, etc, but the ideas are there and there’s a little bit of nice security in that! There’s also some nice security in knowing it isn’t all set in stone. That’s the pantser in me, afraid TOO much planning might make it hard for me to allow the story to develop as it needs to while I’m working on it.
But it’s a really great feeling to know ideas are in there and I can pull them out. They need more developing for certain, but so much of it is there, and it gives me a very nice feeling. It’s out of the box for me, but I think it’s good to think in new ways. It helps us grow. 🙂 And I know I can always use some growing, as a writer and a person.
New Year, new things, how is it going for all of you so far?
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The solid planning that isn’t written in stone is just the best!
I’m new enough to writing that everything is a growth experience! But that’s part of what I love about writing, and reading, too: it’s always new. Every romance is essentially the same. Boy meets girl. They fight, they fall in love. Rainbows and happiness. But if it’s done well, it’s still a thrill to read and to write.
Julia, I feel the same! Still new, always learning. I have yet to actually feel like an adult, even though I’ll be a whole quarter century this year. Makes me wonder if I’ll always feel new too. Not a bad thing, really. 🙂
May the STILL NEW feeling be with you forever, Maisey!!
Happy new Year. m
Maisey, I know! Planning ahead is a glorious feeling, isn’t it? And the pantster/planner combo is also exactly how you described it => a great feeling of security combined with a the wonderful freedom of knowing you can just go with the gut if you get to a point and the plan doesn’t feel right.
Viva la combo!
Aimee Carson
PS And I agree with Margie . . . may you always feel new!
Thanks, Margie! 🙂 It’s not a bad feeling, really!
Aimee, I wish you the same! And yes, I think that’s what kept me from plotting for a long time, was fear it would override my gut instincts. But the further I get on this journey, the less I worry about things screwing up my voice. I guess in that way I don’t feel super new anymore. I know that my voice is what it is, and it would take more than a method change to beat it out of me. For better or for worse!
Yeah, yay for plans. I like the security but like you, I’m a pantser so the combo is awesome. I have three new stories I’d like to write this year. No, make that four. Be interesting to see if I do it. 🙂
Jackie, I have no doubt you will. You write like the wind! 😉
Do you have to have your books planned out when you get your contract or did you just do that for yourself?