Comments on: Working in Stages–A Guest Blog from Karen Wiesner

By: karenwiesner

karenwiesner — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:34:48 +0000

philo241043, I’m thrilled you’ve figured out how to move forward without losing momentum. You can do it. Good luck : )

Karen Wiesner

By: karenwiesner

karenwiesner — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:33:51 +0000

I don’t think you’re alone in believing you have to finish the project start to finish. Most writers are told this. Part of “butt in the chair” and you’re glued there philosophy that’s really shooting yourself…well, in the butt. ; )

Karen Wiesner

By: karenwiesner

karenwiesner — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:32:21 +0000

Thanks, Stephanie. Exactly! You know what works best for you, but the basic advice is critical. Take breaks and you’ll be so much fresher when you come back to the project. : )

Karen Wiesner

By: philo241043

philo241043 — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:20:01 +0000

That is the best advice I have ever read! I always had those two problems, being so close to the writing and having trouble deciding which idea to develop. Now I know what to do; thanks a million

By: Stephanie Shackelford

Stephanie Shackelford — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:12:47 +0000

Karen,

Thank you for writing with us this past month. I’ve enjoyed and gotten something from each one of your posts.

Like today. I just realized why I had so much trouble this year with one of my projects. I didn’t take breaks! I kept insisting to myself I needed to “finish” this project. But I kept changing things in the story! Then I’d have to take major time to incorporate it.

That was me, the creative, let’s have fun me, trying to take a break and play with a new story. The myopic, misguided me trying to be responsible and finish the book, kept getting sabotaged by myself. Sheesh! I need to learn some cooperation.

Thanks for the insights! Come back to visit us anytime!

By: Stephanie Shackelford

Stephanie Shackelford — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:05:10 +0000

Karen, you always have such good insight. Even for us seat-of-the-pants writers who don’t plan out the story before writing it. I agree wholeheartedly with your advice to take a break. I think I’d change the order of the steps, though. LOL

For me, writing the book comes after the brainstorming. Or at least enough of the book to discover the story. Then I transition into outlining. From there, it’s time for a break. (This I’m learning after trying to manhandle one of my projects into shape this past year.) After the break, it’s time to review the outline, add or change whatever needs adding or changing, then write the rest of the story. Take a break. Then continue as you’ve suggested.

Thanks for the post!