tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post916538109288191441..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Some problems can't be fixedLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-37979407805656375792012-07-24T10:05:12.750-04:002012-07-24T10:05:12.750-04:00I think guilt-free time away would help more than ...I think guilt-free time away would help more than anything. It's the pressure of "having to" fix it NOW that's keeping me from seeing a solution. Better that I keep up my writing habit with something new that is flowing than continuing to try to force this ms, I think.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-2397061965282705022012-07-24T10:02:58.557-04:002012-07-24T10:02:58.557-04:00This manuscript was totally pantsed--I think that&...This manuscript was totally pantsed--I think that's why I keep getting stuck. For the sake of my writing mojo, I think it's time to move on to something that flows better. <br /><br />So much of process is trial and error. I haven't found my "ideal" yet either.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-29854628903509681962012-07-20T18:27:57.189-04:002012-07-20T18:27:57.189-04:00I do try and work out a lot of those problems whil...I do try and work out a lot of those problems while outlining. So I'll switch things up then. But if part way through I realize something isn't working, I will abandon it. I have some of those and I hope to rework them when I find a solution. Sometimes I need time away.Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-17455110071301258322012-07-20T13:01:21.512-04:002012-07-20T13:01:21.512-04:00Foundational problems are often why I trunk a proj...Foundational problems are often why I trunk a project. I blame it on my "pantser" nature. If I spent more time analyzing my characters and what I wanted them to do, it might work out better. But when I plan too much I feel like my characters are cardboard and nothing in my book happens organically. I guess I'm still discovering that ideal writing process that will give me something fresh and structurally sound. :/A.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-90135324506103206202012-07-19T09:23:42.455-04:002012-07-19T09:23:42.455-04:00I've never been a slash and burn sort of perso...I've never been a slash and burn sort of person. I just keep creating new versions by date. I can always go on archaeological digs for anything I've written. The trunk idea is like Grandma's attic. It's sitting there to be discovered again at a later date. <br /><br />I think when your unfinished works are ready to be written, you will find the time. It's more a matter of passion sometimes.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-52059675477376824102012-07-19T09:20:38.903-04:002012-07-19T09:20:38.903-04:00As Stu said above, perhaps in time I'll figure...As Stu said above, perhaps in time I'll figure out how to "turn the story on its head" -- try a completely new angle-- and find it will work. The suspended animation metaphor is a good one. They're waiting for a cure to be invented! :-)Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-42108072798809310002012-07-19T09:18:41.843-04:002012-07-19T09:18:41.843-04:00I think you're right that each writer has a cl...I think you're right that each writer has a cluster of themes and ideas that drive what he or she writes. There might be material I use from the trunked project. Maybe someday I will, as you say, turn the idea on its head and it will work. For now, it's freeing to step away and do something completely different.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-33187301136774222822012-07-19T09:16:08.463-04:002012-07-19T09:16:08.463-04:00It's funny, but for the longest time I blamed ...It's funny, but for the longest time I blamed my day job rather than the more obvious problem that the story just wasn't working. When we're excited about something, we find the time, right?Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-57545193450747949832012-07-19T08:31:34.648-04:002012-07-19T08:31:34.648-04:00I don't think I actually get rid of them, I ju...I don't think I actually get rid of them, I just forget about them. I have 6 in my files right now that I haven't looked at in years. They're not finished, I want to finish them, I just can't seem to find the time. Which if I were disciplined enough, I could. (Let's add some more guilt on there, shall we.)Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-11007582369533267052012-07-18T18:43:14.016-04:002012-07-18T18:43:14.016-04:00I'm pretty willing to trunk projects. I have t...I'm pretty willing to trunk projects. I have tons of them, many only partly completed. But I often go back to them. Sometimes it just takes a while for me to be able to finish a certain story. So I think of them as "suspended indefinitely."Jennifer R. Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03408588432492354248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-63835019371981177342012-07-18T14:01:58.135-04:002012-07-18T14:01:58.135-04:00I've deleted hundreds of thousands of words of...I've deleted hundreds of thousands of words of things at various points, but I do find myself coming back to the same sort of ideas. I sometimes find though that having to go again from the start means that I have the freedom to completely turn a story on its head, play with new lead characters, and generally pretend that the version that didn't work never happened.stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16388674850920848503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-51388289652651742912012-07-18T13:54:04.130-04:002012-07-18T13:54:04.130-04:00It's always a tough decision to trunk a novel....It's always a tough decision to trunk a novel. But I think when you know...you know. It sounds like you know. :) I'm so happy you're free of it. That you have worlds unfurling and character names on your lips. Sounds amazing!Melissa Sarnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11215683401795724259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-35979511310222887232012-07-18T11:58:23.305-04:002012-07-18T11:58:23.305-04:00Yes, adding characters galore to jazz up a story i...Yes, adding characters galore to jazz up a story is a sign something at the core needs work. I hope you figure out what it is. <br /><br />As for the first book, as long as you don't feel it will get stale, hang onto it. Another break in book might pave the way for it to find a publishing home.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-24964890853609983622012-07-18T11:55:51.788-04:002012-07-18T11:55:51.788-04:00Aw, you're such a sweetie. I don't feel at...Aw, you're such a sweetie. I don't feel at all bad about trunking "Clearing." It took me a long time to give myself permission to kick that mess into its trunk. Breaking ties feels a whole lot like escaping a verbally abusive boyfriend.(BTW, this is my unfinished novel, not my finished one. I have big plans for it!)<br /><br />Freedom is a wonderful thing!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-13052652049113003842012-07-18T11:36:12.121-04:002012-07-18T11:36:12.121-04:00UGH! That must be so tough. I had a book that had ...UGH! That must be so tough. I had a book that had been revised so many times, it was like Frankenstein. It's a similar problem, but different.<br /><br />It's just so hard to shelve something you've worked on for so long. Any way to cannibalize? :D ((hugs)) <3LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-17891378849181030662012-07-18T11:04:57.405-04:002012-07-18T11:04:57.405-04:00I've trunked one that I really, really like, b...I've trunked one that I really, really like, but doesn't seem to be going anywhere with agents/publishers (and I'm not into the self-publishing thing at this point). But my other one has been my nemesis for about 2 years - the problem wasn't the characters themselves, it was my love for adding more and more and more characters! I tried an entirely new outlining, plotting, and characterization process and I think I've got it. But after trashing it 2/3 through twice, this is it. If it doesn't work, it wasn't meant to be.<br /><br />"Powering through it" is terrible advice in my mind. I'm glad you found the wisdom - and strength- to make this work for you. Good luck!<br />ericaerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.com