One of the things I’ve picked up in Yoga is that even advanced practioners need to get back to the basics sometimes. As I work on my next project, while still querying on Eastlight, I’m looking at writing as a craft in a whole new light.
The new project (working title Ghost Town), is in the early stages and this gives me the chance to be better organized from the start. I’m back at the start of the development cycle, and I’m fortunate that I’m bringing more experience to my game.
What does that mean exactly? I’m breaking my work into tighter scenes. I’m rambling less when I write. I’m writing stronger sentences out the gate and hopefully with more clarity. I’ve also learned (and this is a big one for me) that not every idea which springs to mind needs to go into every chapter or book. Sometimes, my first idea for a scene isn’t the best, so I take the time to refocus setting before writing.
I’m at the start of the project, but I’m looking at my writing with a lot more confidence and a lot more skill than what I brought to Eastlight and Neophyte. I’m hoping the eventual payoff will be the need for less rewrite this time. I know rewrites are a natural part of the project lifecycle, but I’d like to shorten the number to get projects out to market faster.
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We’d all love to learn how to get to market faster. 🙂 Saw your post on Casey’s blog and thought I’d drop in. You sound like you’re well on your way.
Thanks, Victoria. I appreciate you popping by! I saw you listed Tigana among your favorite books. It’s one of mine too. It had such a strong premise.
Yes, I noticed you listed Wizard of Earthsea. It’s one of my favorites and I like to write on similar topics to LeGuin and Kay.
or, if you end up doing as much rewriting, it’s because you are working on more advanced elements than you were with your first book!
I’ve also recently started my second book and I’m realizing the same things you are mentioning here. I feel like I’m more organized and more focused, but I think it’s letting me write a better book rather than the same book faster. So, I bet I still end up spending just as much time on it and feeling just as lost at times. 🙂
I think the trick is knowing when to stop and move on to the next project. I love Eastlight, and I’m damn proud of it; but it’s time to get something new done.
Thanks for posting, Davin. I started following Literary Lab today. I’ll see if I have anything for the Genre Wars content.