When the neat scene downloads into your conscious mind, and you tell yourself that you don't need to write down the plot points and bits of dialogue because you will remember them, do not listen to yourself.
The thing is, the notebook and pen were *right there*. But I needed to go to the day job office for a meeting that afternoon and things weren't going particularly well and my mind was gerfizzle and I thought, yeah, I'll remember.
I know the physical layout of the scene and the info that needs to be imparted. But there were bits of dialogue that were really, really appropriate. Those phrases that turn the tide and alter the mood. One came back to me last night, but the lead in to the whole thing is wrong. I wrote a few pages, but it's wrong.
today in the car as I was waiting for Twin B (at his violin lesson) I started thinking about the opening scene for the next book, and sorting things through my head, and lining up stuff, and beginning to doze off . . . and I immediately thought of this post. So I found paper and pen, and wrote everything down.
I feel like the subject of one of those posters they sell at Despair, Inc. There's one entitled MISTAKES that shows a sinking ship with the caption: It Could Be That The Purpose Of Your Life Is Only To Serve As A Warning To Others.
Yesterday I managed about 1400 words on the scene in question. It occurs several chapters ahead of the part of the book I'd been working on, and I don't like to work out of sequence. But I thought I'd hammer away at it given that it was on my mind and all.
It's different than it might have been, although I'll never really know. I like parts of it. It makes its point, namely that Jani had been holding back information and now everyone is angry with her. We'll see how it stands up to edits.
I've had both the experience of writing the scene and feeling it wasn't as sharp as it would have been had I made the notes, and writing the scene and having it take off in a way that I couldn't have done three days before.
I've even written things that felt awful while I was writing them, that later looked unexpectedly good. and vice versa, of course
Oh my god, that is so true! I've had a couple of great scenes come to me just as I'm getting ready for bed and am dead tired, and I tell myself that this is so outstanding there's no way I'll forget it. But of course the morning comes and I remember HAVING a great idea but not what the hell it was! So now I keep notebooks hidden all through the house so I can make my mad scribbles whenever I need to.
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winterfish
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Date: 2006-01-18 08:59 am (UTC)this comment made me laugh, but in a crazy, crazed way
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Date: 2006-01-18 04:04 pm (UTC)The thing is, the notebook and pen were *right there*. But I needed to go to the day job office for a meeting that afternoon and things weren't going particularly well and my mind was gerfizzle and I thought, yeah, I'll remember.
I know the physical layout of the scene and the info that needs to be imparted. But there were bits of dialogue that were really, really appropriate. Those phrases that turn the tide and alter the mood. One came back to me last night, but the lead in to the whole thing is wrong. I wrote a few pages, but it's wrong.
Damn it.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 05:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 04:47 pm (UTC)Yesterday I managed about 1400 words on the scene in question. It occurs several chapters ahead of the part of the book I'd been working on, and I don't like to work out of sequence. But I thought I'd hammer away at it given that it was on my mind and all.
It's different than it might have been, although I'll never really know. I like parts of it. It makes its point, namely that Jani had been holding back information and now everyone is angry with her. We'll see how it stands up to edits.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-28 02:32 am (UTC)I've even written things that felt awful while I was writing them, that later looked unexpectedly good. and vice versa, of course
You just never know.
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Date: 2006-01-18 11:25 am (UTC)Mindy (who has taken to having a notebook with her always. And using it.)
Sorry for your lost scene...
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Date: 2006-01-18 04:06 pm (UTC)Like I said upstairs, the scene isn't lost, it just isn't...whole. Hopefully, if I stare at it long enough today...
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Date: 2006-01-18 01:58 pm (UTC)I feel your pain!
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Date: 2006-01-18 04:08 pm (UTC)I have the flippin' notebooks. I even have a micro cassette recorder.
There's nothing quite so depressing as sensing that hole in your mind where the idea used to be.
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Date: 2006-01-18 02:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 04:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 07:20 pm (UTC)And somehow, no matter how many times you think you've learned this lesson, still something will happen to make you skip it just this once.
I hate that hole. "I know I thought of something brilliant yesterday. What the hell was it?"
no subject
Date: 2006-01-18 07:24 pm (UTC)There is an actual physical gap, a sense of space not filled.
Chocolate does not fill it in--God knows I tried.