Into the Jungle
August 31, 1999
6:18 a.m.
I worked on the plot of the novella this morning, and somehow managed to get it to behave in a few places. The story is stemming from a piece I started back in February or March, titled "Searching for Ghandi." Back then, I was being dribbled a story in small pieces through whatever subconscious process writers fall into--the "muse," I guess. Yesterday, I reread part of what I wrote then, decided to dump well over half of it (realizing that the part I'm keeping will need extensive editing). Today, I've worked out about, say, 60% of the rest of the story. This is the problem I have with the stories that just come of themselves--they're great when they come all in one day, or over a couple sittings. But when they just trickle in, and especially if they are long pieces, like "Ghandi" will be, then I can't get my hands around them. And when I can't get my hands around them, well ... then they don't get finished. Waiting for the muse is the surest way for me to get absolutely nowhere. So, this morning I'm like a big game hunter, stalking through the thicket of plot, building backstory, and determining motivations of the characters at most of the leverage points. Drawing flowcharts. Asking myself a lot of "Why" questions, and sorting through the answers for ones that make sense. It's actually a lot like designing a system, only the "rules" for a valid design are based on human nature rather than on technical interfaces and equations. Now, before those of you with the creative/"let it fly" bent get all huffy around having too tight of controls applied to your artistic endeavors, let me say that this works for me. I don't see having the structure of the story laid out for me as a constraint in any way whatsoever because when I sit down to implement it--to put the thing into language, knowing generally where the story is going actually gives me the freedom to throw myself completely into the characters. It lets me write them as I go. It takes my fear of the story away, and puts me in command. Yes, I, like probably everyone else, can sometimes be afraid of a story. The blank page can be a source of great intimidation. And if one of my characters decides to stray from the outline, the plot work I've done gives me a basis to judge whether their direction will enhance the story or not. I've been known to throw away plotwork, just as often as I throw away words. So, don't get your britches all caught up in the cold "design/interface" language I'm using. It ain't like that.   Have a good day.  Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
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"All the fear has left me now. I'm not frightened anymore." Sara McLachlan |
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