Wangst and weemo

[feuervogel]

I read a lot of writers' blogs. Or LJs, whatever. And I've started to feel like I'm inadequate and inept as a writer, because I wasn't an English major. I'm not Trained in things like Narrative Technique, Structure, and Symbolism, and I'm not well-read enough in classics, folklore, or myths to make use of Allusions.

I'm an impostor.

All I've got is some characters, a story idea, and 20-odd years of reading spec fic (and some Real Books™). No technique, no ideas for creative symbolism or structure or literary allusions.

I'm never gonna sell anything.

Comments

[feuervogel]

I'm trying an outline this time, since I've never used one before, and I've wound up getting mired in plots that make no sense and require rewriting heavily.

Of course, it's also possible that I'm bored of it, because I know where it's going and how it ends. I've already procrastinated over an hour with the file open on my desk.

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

LOL. I do that all the time.

Here is something quite evil: www.etherpad.com. Invite people to come and watch you write live. THEN you end up ramping up your output.

Your outline is very detailed - much more so than mine (can't post it online as for something VERY specific and don't want it availble). I tend to keep it to a line per chapter i.e. "Edgar goes to the brothel to talk to Archie and they fight because Archie wants to directly challenge Tarrant". From that I get about 1.6-2k.

I know what you mean about being bored. Hence I write the one line things. Hope that is of some help.!

[feuervogel]

That sounds terrifying 0_0

I don't think that outline exactly maps to chapters - it's like, this is what's going to happen with enough backstory for me to work it out without having to go back and fix gaping plot holes, only small ones. (And since then, I've decided I need to include a POV from the resistance on Centauri 7, but I'm stuck on them at the moment and moving on.)