Stuck in a scene? Do what the pros do: use brackets. Write what the story beat is:
[Our hero gets out of the fight through clever means]
Then just keep writing what happens after. Maintaining momentum is key to getting the most words on the page. Meanwhile solutions often present themselves later.
[Our hero gets out of the fight through clever means]
Then just keep writing what happens after. Maintaining momentum is key to getting the most words on the page. Meanwhile solutions often present themselves later.
Comments
[hero gets into shenanigans]
epiloque: he wasn't such a good guy after all; but now everybody liked him.
the end
Sometimes I write the third act first.
Game changer
THANK YOU FOR THIS.
You 🌟
[include explanation here when you figure it out]
And more frequently:
[complete rest of sex scene]
The financially successful ones get words out on paper, even if the words aren't masterful origami assemblies of layered meaning.
[I write something that has a satisfying narrative flow driven by character development with an underpinning lesson I have learned in my personal life without preaching to the reader.]
[And a miracle happened here].
Man… that took it out of me.
(Plays with cat through clever means.)
.... Now what do I do?
I tend to put in 'pile of crap' and move on.
On editing, it is generally 95% crap and full re-write from scratch needed, but the essence was put down in version 1.
Rinse and repeat.
Also double check title at the end, sometimes the narrative has shifted!
Better to keep moving and come back and refine later.
Hard to remember but the rough draft is called that for a reason.
This keeps me from doom scrolling baby name websites when I should be writing.
There’s an idea, perhaps I could market it as an Ambien alternative.
Doesn't matter how sure I am that the draft is clean -- it's a part of the process!
Thank you! I may actually get a few pages down today then. 😅
100%
Only I use xxx as an easy ctrl+f
But I started my bud writing career at 22, and brackets are often used in that setting
Have you ever been writing and hit a dead end? If so, are there any suggestions you have? Basically the opposite of being stuck, you have a good concept but you’re struggling with how to really take it to the finish line.
I'm happy to see it's solid pro advice!
[Author gets back to work on her sitcom.]
It *is* a good idea. I used it writing code a lot.
[Our Democracy survives through clever means]
No need to thank me
I think I just wrote LotR!
I wouldn’t have thought to use a note placeholder, if you need to move on. I’ve started using outlines for each chapter, with as many small notes as possible.
[Solution occurs to him and everything is awesome thereafter]
wow writing is *marvelously* easier with this trick!
hahaha no this is really good advice, thanks for posting it
I find it's useful for writing game rules, too. [Insert results table.] Get the core ideas down and sweat fine details when you're ready for them. Any progress is better than getting hung up on one spot.