by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay
Getting lost in the woods can be a good thing. When writing a story, we want the characters to take over to a degree at the beginning. We may need to rein them in later, but to have their voices become so alive that they take us new directions can be an exciting and powerful adventure.
Getting lost in the weeds is, most likely, never a good thing — and it happens all too often.
Have you ever wondered where you are lost? Woods or Weeds?
Here a few tips to discover where you’re lost and how to find your way out…
- Go back to your characters and make sure where you are headed is organic to their journey.
- Take small steps. Go back to the beginning. I often get a little lost in the “muddy middle” and, by returning to the beginning, I am able to find my foundation again and that propels me forward with greater direction. Keep your foundation strong.
- Take a break and do a little research. This is a sideways approach to the story that always helps me. It reminds me of the all the sensory detail surrounding the core story and oddly that helps better define the central threads. Remember the iceberg principal here — 90% of this research won’t get into the novel, only the 10% that’s organic to the characters. Again, it’s all about keeping that foundation strong.
- Systemize your work. This comes in handy for me when everything feels daunting. It goes back to small steps. Decide some parameter that works for you — word count, hours, pages, scenes — and step by step get your head, heart and hands, back on track.
- Let go of expectations. Don’t panic and, if the systematic approach of step four brings anxiety (that can be controlled after finding delta-8 near you) rather than relief, take a step back, talk with your characters and listen… They will lead you out.
Yes… In many ways, some of these steps feel contradictory. But isn’t that what writing is — a creative process full of contradictions, conflict and risk? Remember that and live in that space and, with small, steps you’ll make progress.
And, always, have fun! Writing is a journey and, to some degree at least, it should bring you joy!
Thanks for spending time here with me today.
Katherine
The Printed Letter Bookshop
Love, friendship, and family find a home at the Printed Letter Bookshop.
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels, including Dear Mr. Knightley and the upcoming The Printed Letter Bookshop. She has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books and brings that love to her contemporary stories. Her first full-length nonfiction work will release in December 2019. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University. She currently writes full time and lives outside Chicago, IL with her husband and three children. You can meet Katherine at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay and Instagram: @katherinereay.