This is the paragraph I'm taking on my vision quest:
"He rode through the desert on a broken mule with an electric scooter strapped to his back. He was going to that place he knew existed, where ranchlands stretched lush. First, to cross cracked land where bones jutted."
Love it! That's probably the most fun I have while writing: taking a string of seemingly unrelated thoughts and forcing them together to build a semi-coherent plot. It's a challenge, but incredibly satisfying if I manage to pull it off.
I like the idea of setting limitations on my writing. If I don't set boundaries, the story runs wild and can't be controlled. It essentially turns into a rant, much of which ends up getting cut.
I try to be economical and not waste my or the reader's time. 80% of the writing is done in my head, before I ever type a word. I do this 1) to tell the story in the most efficient/effective way possible, and 2) so when I do sit down to write, it pours out of me (almost) effortlessly.
Setting strict word counts works for me as well. It would be a fun experiment to write the same story several times over at various lengths. I may end up trying that. 🤔
Just found a snippet this very day that responds to that:
"I got used to beginning sentences in my head, and if they were promising I kept adding to them until the sentence came to a natural end. It was at that point I wrote it down. That’s the way I do things even now, in the most unlikely places, at the most unlikely times – in other words I am continually at work. I write everything down at the end. I don’t correct in the normal way because I’ve done all that in my head."
László Krasznahorkai
(Hungarian author of several interesting novels, also co-screenwriter with indie film giant Bela Tarr)
This is also my experience, which is why I find it odd to hear of people talking about fourth and fifth drafts. My first draft is already like the second or third (head work and rough notes being the early versions) and the first also gets a thorough going over for style. (That said I found I was tweaking this particular one even after posting, so...)
Thanks Bradley, I guess one aspect of having constrained word limits is to try and improve on that economy of style. Normally I go long so that compact form encourages terseness.
Very juicy stuff. Can I get it through a straw?
This is the paragraph I'm taking on my vision quest:
"He rode through the desert on a broken mule with an electric scooter strapped to his back. He was going to that place he knew existed, where ranchlands stretched lush. First, to cross cracked land where bones jutted."
Know you love yourself some desert trekking with no real end in sight. Thought the electric scooter would be just the cherry-on-top touch…
"We coughed up dust and imagined the light."
So many great lines here! It was difficult to pick my favorite, but I think this is it. 🙌
Thanks WP3! What do you think of the randomized prompt and chain-em-together methodology as an exercise?
More than anything it's to learn the discipline of keeping to a very strict word count, as BV said it tends to promote economy of style.
Love it! That's probably the most fun I have while writing: taking a string of seemingly unrelated thoughts and forcing them together to build a semi-coherent plot. It's a challenge, but incredibly satisfying if I manage to pull it off.
I like the idea of setting limitations on my writing. If I don't set boundaries, the story runs wild and can't be controlled. It essentially turns into a rant, much of which ends up getting cut.
I try to be economical and not waste my or the reader's time. 80% of the writing is done in my head, before I ever type a word. I do this 1) to tell the story in the most efficient/effective way possible, and 2) so when I do sit down to write, it pours out of me (almost) effortlessly.
Setting strict word counts works for me as well. It would be a fun experiment to write the same story several times over at various lengths. I may end up trying that. 🤔
Just found a snippet this very day that responds to that:
"I got used to beginning sentences in my head, and if they were promising I kept adding to them until the sentence came to a natural end. It was at that point I wrote it down. That’s the way I do things even now, in the most unlikely places, at the most unlikely times – in other words I am continually at work. I write everything down at the end. I don’t correct in the normal way because I’ve done all that in my head."
László Krasznahorkai
(Hungarian author of several interesting novels, also co-screenwriter with indie film giant Bela Tarr)
This is also my experience, which is why I find it odd to hear of people talking about fourth and fifth drafts. My first draft is already like the second or third (head work and rough notes being the early versions) and the first also gets a thorough going over for style. (That said I found I was tweaking this particular one even after posting, so...)
^ This, exactly. My first drafts are pretty polished.
Honestly feel like you’re on another level a lot of times. Devastating. ❤️
Thanks so much Sean, it's gratifying that you feel that way
Thanks Bradley, I guess one aspect of having constrained word limits is to try and improve on that economy of style. Normally I go long so that compact form encourages terseness.