If you follow me on Facebook, you probably saw a post a few weeks ago about how I was doing a lot of thinking and being all existentially contemplative. I was thinking about a lot of different things, but among those things was this: I may not be a traditional plotter, but I do plan out a lot in my head.
I've realized over the past few months that I can't just sit down and write. Well, I can't sit down and write a whole story. I have to let the first part of the story spill out of me in one big blast, but then I have to wait. I wrote the first chapter of "Frenchie" (my current WIP) about three months ago. Maybe more. And since then, I built my plot wall to keep track of where I'm going, but I haven't done much more with it. Except think.
Here's the thing - the thinking is a big part of it for me. I had this Big Important Letter to write, and I kept putting it off and putting it off. I drafted it in my head several dozen times, but I didn't put it down on paper. Finally, at the last possible minute, I sat down at the computer, and it just poured out of me. One draft, a few brief tweaks, and I was really happy with the result, as were the others who had to approve the Big Important Letter before it could be sent.
As much as I would like to be writing "Frenchie" right now, I've realized that I'm still in my equivalent of a plotting phase. I've wondered a few times if I should write down any of my plotting, but it doesn't feel like it will help. I'm pretty sure I just need to let it happen.
But it's almost ready... I can feel the story bubbling inside me. Is that weird? Maybe. But that's just the way I work.
