tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post8263383498868293309..comments2024-03-22T03:27:19.859-04:00Comments on Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors: First Drafts by Tamara HoganAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12914920560584429315noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-34244139817242709072012-01-23T16:15:02.060-05:002012-01-23T16:15:02.060-05:00@Grace, I like how Chuck Wendig puts it: Your firs...@Grace, I like how Chuck Wendig puts it: Your first draft should look like a war zone. I think I'm so conscious of the days passing by on the calendar, that I don't give myself enough story incubation time - one of the downsides of writing on deadline.Tamara Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07248676173138017003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-76715946343187367942012-01-23T08:12:48.839-05:002012-01-23T08:12:48.839-05:00What a great tip! I guess I do that in my own way....What a great tip! I guess I do that in my own way. I write out a chapter by chapter "map" with one sentence for each scene. Just the scene's purpose, nothing else. It keeps me on track and I can add or delete ideas as I see fit.Hot Ash Romance Novelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633691302884163101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-60365260719371383472012-01-23T07:48:45.964-05:002012-01-23T07:48:45.964-05:00I like how Stephen King puts it. The first draft i...I like how Stephen King puts it. The first draft is for me, I'm telling myself a Once Upon A Time and nobody gets to hear it or see it as I'm writing it down. Once that's done, and the MS has had a few months to incubate, it's time to open the office door so to speak, and allow the inner critic, editor, CP and OCD to participate in the process.<br /><br />Though even in the rough draft stage, I'm like you Tamara. I can't stare it down, I have to go change a litter box (no symbolism there) or make a pot of tea frequently in the middle of a writing session.Grace Burroweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01631291702461834307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-1870588337009442092012-01-22T17:44:33.619-05:002012-01-22T17:44:33.619-05:00@Shana, I'm a BICHOK writer, just trying to ge...@Shana, I'm a BICHOK writer, just trying to get done what I can get done in the two or so hours a day I have available to write. Maybe it's time to push myself a little harder during the time I'm in the chair...Tamara Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07248676173138017003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-60995487368700989222012-01-22T14:55:06.020-05:002012-01-22T14:55:06.020-05:00I'm one of those people who can't stand to...I'm one of those people who can't stand to have anything left on the to-do list at the end of the day. So I put "write 4 pages" on it, I'll do it. I may hate it, but it gets done.Shanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06267793335415078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-19863605966697820392012-01-22T14:17:35.409-05:002012-01-22T14:17:35.409-05:00@Amanda, I'm just coming out of a drought, too...@Amanda, I'm just coming out of a drought, too. I put in my butt-in-chair time every day, but what I produced in each session was merde. SO frustrating!Tamara Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07248676173138017003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-63393169679971984012012-01-22T13:19:38.400-05:002012-01-22T13:19:38.400-05:00This post strikes home! Is there secret footage s...This post strikes home! Is there secret footage somewhere of me banging my head against the computer keyboard just to get my word count up? First drafts can be wretched at times. I just got through a huge writing drought where I had nothing, and I mean NOTHING, to say. What helped for me was backing away from the keyboard and plotting on a big whiteboard, then laying it out with pen and paper. This past week (stuck home with snow and ice) has been great and I got a TON of writing done. I guess the trick is to keep trying!Amanda Foresterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01985238568270688021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-34743492285804716512012-01-22T10:57:16.267-05:002012-01-22T10:57:16.267-05:00@Carolyn - I swear, looking at a blank white page ...@Carolyn - I swear, looking at a blank white page feels like looking into the maw of an avalanche sometimes. I'm kind of old-skool when it comes to pen and paper. Something about the tactile nature of writing cursive works for me. I don't get as freaked out about wordcount.Tamara Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07248676173138017003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-31054746237234334412012-01-22T10:50:19.541-05:002012-01-22T10:50:19.541-05:00@Sara - I think part and parcel of this writing gi...@Sara - I think part and parcel of this writing gig is that it can be such a solitary endeavor. I think we're all convinced at ome time or another that "I'm the only one who feels this way." Until you learn it's not true! ;-)Tamara Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07248676173138017003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-40102489339915739082012-01-22T07:29:19.196-05:002012-01-22T07:29:19.196-05:00Tamara, I think you are paddling a boat full of au...Tamara, I think you are paddling a boat full of authors. Writing that first draft is the place where our inner and outer demons have a keg of dynamite and try to sink us. No examples necessary. We all know who and what those demons are.<br />Once it's written, we feel like we've kicked Writers Enemy Number One, Two and Three in the butt and our attitude changes.<br />Love your exercises. I still use a pen and paper, too when the WE called Blank Screen intimidates me.Carolyn Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14704111268464382004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802601138878132017.post-90000458458059720862012-01-22T06:29:08.312-05:002012-01-22T06:29:08.312-05:00Love this post! I'm going to try that trick wi...Love this post! I'm going to try that trick with the Dragon software. I agree with you about the blank page--it's intimidating. Thanks for writing this post. It makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one who feelis this way.Sara Humphreyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10225281337599318528noreply@blogger.com