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[megwrites]

The "Question/Answer" meme that's going around the pro-authors on my f-list is yielding some interesting things. Particularly this, which made me say, "Yes, THANK YOU, ilona_andrews."

I am not a fan of the "Let's Pretend the Fictional Character Is Autonomous and In Control" school of writing. I think it leads to sloppy, masturbatory work.

The characters don't get out of control. They're just electrochemical signals in your brain. What gets out of control is you. What happens is that you find something about your own story that hits a mental happy spot.

And in case you're not clear? That's not fun for me to watch or read. Because what tickles your pickle does bugger all for mine. Which is why you keep a conscious rein on things. You ask yourself if anyone else would actually give a damn about what you're writing.

Like, ilona_andrews is careful to say (and she says it far better than I could), it's not always bad to get carried away on a feeling.

There are times when something hitting a mental happy spot is a good thing, a sign that you've stumbled onto something that will be interesting, innovative, original.

Still, the brain is a nigh sexy organ, and it's got a lot of happy spots. It can be hard to tell which are just your own, quirky subconscious pecadilloes and which aren't. Which is why you can't navigate a story by feeling alone. You can't grope blindly at it like a teenager in the back of a Chevy and go wherever feels good.

Your eyes must be wide open, and you must be willing to be critical, even callous about your own feelings. Even when it means not just killing your darlings, but gutting them and burning them at the stake.

Comments

[scififanatic.livejournal.com]

I recently had to learn everything you just said in the hardest way possible, which is why I'm back at square one to rewrite an outline and use it as a guideline and not a map that I carelessly toss out the window of that Chevy while on some reckless joyride. *Sigh* At least I didn't crash! :)

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

I think every writer learns that less one way or the other in their career/journey.

I learned it when I wrote a story for NaNoWriMo, came back to it a few months later, and realized that even *I* didn't really understand what was going on, and certainly didn't like it at all.


At least I didn't crash! :)

And by crash, you mean, turn in Laurell K. Hamilton? Ooh, I'm sorry, did I say that out loud? ;)

I don't figure you for the type to ever crash, honestly. I think you have way too good a head on your shoulders (at least from what I've seen) for that.