Long ago, before the eclipse (so we’re talking early April), I had a phone call scheduled to talk about writing with my old friend Lauren. Lauren had been telling me about her writing grid. The writing grid, she said, was how she was going to plan her next novel.
Oh how I love this post! I, too, have been "off grid" for years -- finding my way slowly (ever so slowly) into my second book. Have recently made some new maps. Trying to think a little before I write instead of jumping in the car and pedal-to-the metal-ing off into the unknown. Over this last year, I've found that it helps me to take stock at the end of my working time. I write WHAT WORKED and TO-DO. What worked might be a great sandwich or a discovery of a narrative thread or solid imagery system. To-Do is a little jumping off spot for the next day: a line of dialog, an theme, a place to dig, or a reminder to drink less coffee. Every time I get stuck, I ask myself "What am I trying to say." And then before jumping right back in, I think about the answer.
Oh how I love this post! I, too, have been "off grid" for years -- finding my way slowly (ever so slowly) into my second book. Have recently made some new maps. Trying to think a little before I write instead of jumping in the car and pedal-to-the metal-ing off into the unknown. Over this last year, I've found that it helps me to take stock at the end of my working time. I write WHAT WORKED and TO-DO. What worked might be a great sandwich or a discovery of a narrative thread or solid imagery system. To-Do is a little jumping off spot for the next day: a line of dialog, an theme, a place to dig, or a reminder to drink less coffee. Every time I get stuck, I ask myself "What am I trying to say." And then before jumping right back in, I think about the answer.
That’s brilliant! I’m going to have to try taking stock at the end of my work time, thanks for the idea!