Watercolor paintings are created in transparent layers. Abstract shapes of color slap white paper then dry so that the artist can swig more vibrant versions of the same over and over again. There are actually techniques- like leaving the white of the paper rather than painting it white, and using dry brush to create detail.
I attack a story in the same way. I start out with a light layer. Although an idea comes to me fully formed I don’t know exactly what the characters are going to say and I don’t see everything in the room. Sometimes I write long hand and other times I just type then I reread it and decide that someone should wear a hat or there should be a magazine on the table that a character must pick up and I add those things as a second layer. I push farther ahead and then go back because that previous layer is now dry and ready for another.
Sometimes it seems as though these ideas were there all along even though I pulled them from the air and then worked and reworked them. I’m an artist -a painter, and I love feeling like these words I’ve layered together are like another art form. Instead of a visual language with text I’m making a written picture, if that makes any sense.
Because when I paint I’m thinking about a lot of things, things that have happened, things still in the dream stage, and then once the painting is finished I look at it and I remember not the choices I consciously made but the feelings generated by the piece. It’s like I’ve verbalized the visual.
With writing I actually take things that have happened and turn them into a dream state, and try to create a visual atmosphere using words.
I envy those of you who can write 5,000 words per day and crank out stories left and right. It doesn’t work that way for me. I have to do a whole lot of nothing first. I have to see a vision of the finished product, like a psychic I guess, and I have to live with the ideas in my head for a while until finally I’m ready to commit them to paper layer by layer.
I’ve started editing Cinderella Club (scary and exciting!). And on a bittersweet romantic note I wrote a short story for the Valentine’s Day contest on Literotica.com if you want to check it out. It’s called Ghost of a Chance.
8:56 pm on February 2nd, 2010 1
That’s perfect, Mia. I always love to hear that other writers have the same struggles I do. Some of my best writing is done when I’m mowing the lawn or riding my motorbike. That’s also when I compose some of my best basslines. It’s great to walk away from the page or the laptop and just let the blood pump ideas through your body. Great post.
6:11 pm on February 3rd, 2010 2
Thanks. I have a story on EroticaRepublic.com called Putting the Madge in Danna (mia_erotica) that came to me while I was rollerblading. And Ghost popped into my head right before I fell asleep on a Monday night.
2:56 am on February 5th, 2010 3
This is a very interesting post. I enjoy hearing/reading what other writers have to say about their own processes for writing. The first paragraph has good descriptions, though I’ve never thought of using the word “swig” in that context. It’s different.
I am not yet published but write on a regular basis at the moment. Even during nano I doubt I can get 5,000 words in one day. Some writers are just hard core like that. lol We often have our own process or methods and whatever works best for you is good enough. It seems to be working so far.
Good luck with the edit and V-day contest.
5:05 pm on February 5th, 2010 4
Thanks Dawn!
11:20 pm on February 14th, 2010 5
I won the Literotica contest. Still in shock but very, very happy.