tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post2537701106124711211..comments2024-03-28T11:55:25.978-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: What AM I writing? Getting started... again, sighJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83270304914479117582014-07-23T08:02:48.745-04:002014-07-23T08:02:48.745-04:00Tammy - Take, take!
Michelle - I'm a huge Les...Tammy - Take, take!<br /><br />Michelle - I'm a huge Les Klinger fan and those books are terrific. I also have his annotated Dracula.<br /><br />Joan: Knowing that I HAVE written well and have fans (YAY!) gives me courage to push through those days when everything feels like dross.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38812677034464992402014-07-22T21:33:13.079-04:002014-07-22T21:33:13.079-04:00Hallie, I think that probably there are many daunt...Hallie, I think that probably there are many daunting moments in whatever each of us does, be it writing or something else. Nevertheless, it surprises me a bit to know that you struggle so much when the finished product is so . . . well, wonderful. <br />Does knowing there are so many people anxiously awaiting your next book help or does it make it even more difficult for you? <br />In any event, I’m glad you persevere through all the frustrating detours; I’m really looking forward to reading Vanessa’s story . . . .Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54246752222084572562014-07-22T20:12:26.878-04:002014-07-22T20:12:26.878-04:00I see you have the Annotated Sherlock Holmes! I d...I see you have the Annotated Sherlock Holmes! I don't have that but I've checked it out of the library. I'll have to buy it someday. I have all the Sherlock Holmes stories/novels in one book (no illustrations).Michelle F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12177153343842684190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71277919890570683142014-07-22T20:09:05.130-04:002014-07-22T20:09:05.130-04:00Hallie, I'm stealing your "reveal secrets...Hallie, I'm stealing your "reveal secrets" tip for the middle.... Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01033264133869966636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60549704201649983472014-07-22T17:30:25.320-04:002014-07-22T17:30:25.320-04:00Oh, Anonymous, what a good idea. The only glitch i...Oh, Anonymous, what a good idea. The only glitch is that sometimes... make that OFTEN characters reveal their back story by doing something that surprises me. I know, I'm typing, but still I get surprised and then I have to rework the character's past to make the thing they did make sense. (Oh, she HATES her sister who stole all or boyfriends... or Oh, he lost his wife in a climbing accident so he's agoraphobic... Or or orHallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71351657429507683072014-07-22T17:24:12.196-04:002014-07-22T17:24:12.196-04:00When I was a kid, I had to make up sentences consi...When I was a kid, I had to make up sentences consisting new vocabulary words.<br /><br />I start with ideas and then try to write a back story for each character. I try to think of three adjectives to describe each character.<br /><br />One of the things I try is what <br />Agatha Christie wrote for each character as "Cast of Characters" before the beginning of the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31135905133934524842014-07-22T16:34:00.131-04:002014-07-22T16:34:00.131-04:00Dontcha love Google?! My favorite timesink.Dontcha love Google?! My favorite timesink.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32177431629387324752014-07-22T15:52:43.821-04:002014-07-22T15:52:43.821-04:00Mary, the editor I wrote for at the WSJ used "...Mary, the editor I wrote for at the WSJ used "lede," but as they say in depositions, "Asked and answered." When in doubt, Google:<br /> <br />Definition of LEDE<br /><br />: the introductory section of a news story that is intended to entice the reader to read the full story<br /><br />Origin of LEDE<br /><br />alteration of 2lead<br />First Known Use: 1976Ellen Kozaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71784827172901875292014-07-22T15:49:14.536-04:002014-07-22T15:49:14.536-04:00Ellen, I will say it was "lead" in the e...Ellen, I will say it was "lead" in the early 90s when I was in college. I have a friend who is still in sports journalism (same age) and noticed she switched to "lede" several years ago, which makes me think it's really recent.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54840631546012899092014-07-22T15:47:30.798-04:002014-07-22T15:47:30.798-04:00I write essays in my head while I'm doing the ...I write essays in my head while I'm doing the dishes (or similar tasks). They, too, flow from the first sentence. <br /><br />When I was writing papers in college and grad school and got stuck, I learned to write my conclusion first, use it as a first paragraph, and then rewrite both the first and last paragraphs. But that doesn't work for novels. Or does it? <br /><br />Mary Sutton, you are obviously younger. I've seen that spelling, "lede," before, but it used to be "lead" back in the late fifties and early sixties. Wonder when it changed? <br />Ellen Kozaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47834557895562691012014-07-22T15:46:47.879-04:002014-07-22T15:46:47.879-04:00I agree, Tammy -
My tool for dealing with the SQU...I agree, Tammy - <br />My tool for dealing with the SQUISHY MIDDLE is to reveal secrets. (This probably sounds weird if you don't write these things.) Sometimes I shovel a few of secrets out of Act I and Act III (where so much is already happening) and stick them in Act II and you know what, it helps move things along. Sometimes.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87731297022568941642014-07-22T15:22:28.129-04:002014-07-22T15:22:28.129-04:00Back to the squishymiddle discussion. That's s...Back to the squishymiddle discussion. That's simply THE WORST part of the book for me. I'm great for the first 50-60K words, and then ... I stutter to a stop.<br /><br />My squishymiddle refrain: "at least I've still got the day job" (typically the only time I'm ever saying that!).<br /><br />It's reassuring to hear you all feeling the same way.<br /><br />Maybe you should do a post for all of us to contribute our self doubting words, and then we can blow them up in virtual space.Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01033264133869966636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60678810459678475682014-07-22T14:43:29.029-04:002014-07-22T14:43:29.029-04:00Ms. Allison, wish I could write in my head, too. I...Ms. Allison, wish I could write in my head, too. If I can, what I can't do is remember what I "wrote." <br /><br />Maybe one year I'll try Nanowrimo... because the part I love is editing - also known as beating the mess into shape. Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71523417956205948242014-07-22T13:46:29.101-04:002014-07-22T13:46:29.101-04:00I never wrote the lede first when I was a college ...I never wrote the lede first when I was a college journalist. I wrote the story first and went back to the lede. It always worked because the meat of the story usually inspired a good opening line.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56991110385740611052014-07-22T13:41:55.069-04:002014-07-22T13:41:55.069-04:00I'm just at the end of editing, which I think ...I'm just at the end of editing, which I think is torture. I love writing the first draft because I can make all the mistakes. I usually write during Nanowrimo b/c it motivates me to get through every night. Editing I find that I can usually cut the first chapter, and the first two paragraphs of each chapter to get to the meat. I take a running start at each scene. I envy Hank's ability to do the writing in her head (Lee Child also does this). My mind is too full of stuff and I have to write everything out and look at it. So this is helpful. Then I use my chapter map to navigate once I have it all down.Ms. Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09407400934904738300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2506081054137228372014-07-22T13:29:28.517-04:002014-07-22T13:29:28.517-04:00Whatever works, ladies. Whatever works is the way ...Whatever works, ladies. Whatever works is the way to do it. When I had to write papers back in college I always had trouble with the opening paragraph. So I wrote everything else and then wrote the opening paragraph. Worked for me.Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45985798297503668622014-07-22T13:08:27.136-04:002014-07-22T13:08:27.136-04:00Debs, I know your character's eyes won't s...Debs, I know your character's eyes won't snap, crackle, or pop open in the first line. Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86848350221166213752014-07-22T13:07:02.489-04:002014-07-22T13:07:02.489-04:00Krista, you are a kindred spirit! But notice we...Krista, you are a kindred spirit! But notice we're all women saying this... do male writers experience the same self doubt and laundry-crastinating? WHERE ARE THE MEN OF JUNGLE RED? Come, show yourselves and 'fess up!Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82049861977129249092014-07-22T12:23:16.390-04:002014-07-22T12:23:16.390-04:00I think it's incredibly brave and generous of ...I think it's incredibly brave and generous of the Jungle Reds to share the doubts and mental grappling you experience in beginning new books. It is, of course, indicative of who you all are and why people love you so. Hallie, your description of beginning was entertaining as well as informative. "Just hold your nose and write" is a hoot. Of course, the end result for you and the other Reds is always an amazing book. Now, we fans can appreciate them even more.Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67441237219889976642014-07-22T12:06:04.694-04:002014-07-22T12:06:04.694-04:00Hallie, I hope that doesn't mean you won't...Hallie, I hope that doesn't mean you won't read mine!!!!!!!!!!!! But at least his eyes don't pop open:-)<br /><br />Julia, don't we all have the squishy-middle-of-the-book thing? Mine usually goes something like, "Why did I EVER think this was a good idea for a novel??? Why did I ever think I could write about so-and-so?? It seemed like such a cool idea when I was writing the proposal...."Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88104692861229122772014-07-22T12:01:56.751-04:002014-07-22T12:01:56.751-04:00ROFL! Hallie, is this blog post about me? I do all...ROFL! Hallie, is this blog post about me? I do all the same things. I'm so easily distracted by the most unimportant trivia. Always looking up words, even though I know what they mean. I always have a huge OUT file, except I call it a CUT file. Seriously, you were writing about me, weren't you?Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11002970043709820868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81946098742613411922014-07-22T11:42:25.116-04:002014-07-22T11:42:25.116-04:00So interesting, Julia. I use the opening of In the...So interesting, Julia. I use the opening of In the Deep Midwinter to teach about great openings. "It was a helluva night to throw away a baby..." From memory. Did you start with that or did you revise TO it?Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60832914620621885782014-07-22T11:39:46.124-04:002014-07-22T11:39:46.124-04:00Wow - what a fascinating conversation in the comme...Wow - what a fascinating conversation in the comments section. Hallie, thank you for sharing your struggles with starting a new book. In the comments you wrote something that struck me: <br /><br />"I write lean and then expand"<br /><br />This, too, is how I write, and as I mentioned in yesterday's comments to Hank, I don't call it "lean" and "expanding" but "a sketch" "layering." Because of this method/technique (whatever it's called), I have learned to have confidence - which means that I keep reminding myself that anything I write can be dumped, revised, refined, moved around, etc. I used to feel that every word I put on a page was chiseled in stone. But now I'm comfortable knowing that each book is an evolution - and one of the most enjoyable parts of that evolution is discovering how it is going to change and grow as you are writing it. <br /><br />So so excited to read the new novel!!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15354719566758459929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91727329430952764962014-07-22T11:39:29.892-04:002014-07-22T11:39:29.892-04:00"As for me." Not Em. Is it possible to d..."As for me." Not Em. Is it possible to develop dyslexia in midlife?Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6027749203502682112014-07-22T11:38:24.380-04:002014-07-22T11:38:24.380-04:00Hallie, I'm going to adopt your mantra as my ...Hallie, I'm going to adopt your mantra as my own. "Hold your nose and write." Right now I'm at the squishy part where the whole book looks hopeless and I'm sure I'll never be able to beat it into shape and I'll have to go back to being a lawyer. I need to remind myself to hold my nose and write.<br /><br />As for em, getting started is horribly difficult, and I often write and rewrite the beginning chapters of a book three or four times. Not to polish them, but completely rewrite them, trying to grab hold of the proper beginning of the story. Ugh.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.com