| 11.21 :: A new method to my usual madness |
| Written by KG MacGregor |
| Saturday, 21 November 2009 19:09 |
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In interviews or on panels, I'm often asked to describe my writing process. To date, I've probably never given the same answer twice, since I seem to approach every book differently. Sometimes I outline meticulously; other times I sit and hammer out each scene as it comes to me. The common thread is that I tend to write each manuscript in story order from Chapter 1 to the end, usually even finishing one scene before starting the next. I've never thought of it as a compulsive technique -- more like "nose to the grindstone." Another habit was to work in long blocks of time, usually clearing whole days so I could stay on task for 16 hours at a time. Last year this time, I was writing Sea Legs during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) at a clip of about 3,000 words a day. That was insane, but I really loved the challenge. It took me two more months after November to get the kinks worked out of that manuscript, and all the while Photographs of Claudia was banging around in my head demanding attention. I was about 10,000 words into PofC when my wheels came off, thanks to a persistent backache that started in February . It was all I could do to concentrate, and it took me about 2 months longer than usual to finish the manuscipt. My back didn't appreciate those forced hours, and it finally said "No more!" Now I'm limited to about two hours a day at my desk. Enter my newest toy -- the Sony digital voice recorder and Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software. I know a number of writers who routinely work this way, and they swear by it. I have to admit I'm finding it absolutely fascinating. I can walk through the park talking into my hand like a secret agent. I'm sure I'll still spend hours at the keyboard moving things around and sharpening my random thoughts, but I love how the recorder lets me capture all those fleeting bits of description and dialogue that used to come at random moments. Now I don't have to spend hours trying to re-create them. This is going to be an adventure! The February Bella Y-Tour is taking shape. Hope you'll make plans to join us in sunny South Florida. Comments
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