July 25, 2005

• Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks

  
  

  An idea for a story had been ruminating in my brain for a few days.  After I thought I had mentally laid the foundation, I attempted to begin writing.  It just wasn’t flowing.  I knew what I wanted to say, but couldn’t figure out how to begin.

  
  

  Robert Louis Stevenson used to refer to the drive to write as “The Demon.”  Usually, that is how I prefer to write.  I’ll come up with a thought, idea, or come across a poetic form that I want to try and let the imagination possess me.  If “the demon” does not show his face, I’ll lay down my pen and notebook and revisit it another time.

  
  

  In this instance though, I felt I wanted to capture some of what I wanted to say even though I wasn’t sure how it would ultimately piece together.  One word of advice that I remembered from a writer’s conference I attended earlier this July was to create an outline.  I had heard those words before, but usually scoffed at them.  I wanted to let my words and emotions flow.  This time I tried something new.

  
  

  I outlined certain personality traits I wanted to infuse my characters with.  Then I mapped out the major points of conflict and the emotional focus of the story.  Now perhaps “the demon” will take over and lead my characters, Ellie and Bobby, down a different path.  I do not know which road these two will take, but at least I have surveyed the land.

  
  

  Until later,

  
  

  Janette

  • 5:47 pm
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