I never wanted to be a dentist...

...but coming up with the words are like pulling teeth! Usually I can plot the first few chapters of a book with no problems. It's when I get to about 20k that I hit the invisible brick wall. However, there are a few things that are different this time around, in my approach and planning.

This had been my M.O. for the past few years.
Step 1) Think of a cool plot.
Step 2) Develop the major points of the plot.
Step 3) Think of characters that would work with the plot.
Step 4) Detailed plotting of the first few chapters at least.
Step 5) Write write write.
Step 6) Run out of fuel in the middle of the desert.
Step 7) Try, try, try again.
Step 8) Give up and start on a new, shiny idea...

You probably noticed several flaws with this approach. Me too, me too. I was fed up of starting books and not finishing them. So I decided to try a new way of things. Here it is.
Step 1) Think of a situation (not a plot).
Step 2) Think about the type of characters that would fit well in that situation, look at some archetypes for ideas.
Step 3) Develop the plot a bit, a basic idea.
Step 4) Think about the opening to the book and the character's reaction to the inciding incident.
Step 5) Begin writing until I run out of steam/ideas.
Step 6) Think about how the characters would react to their current situation at that point in the book for ideas on how to proceed.

As you may have noticed, my big change is trying to write in a more character-driven fashion. This isn't easy, I'm really struggling with thinking in terms of characters more than plot. I haven't had this much difficulty in writing the opening pages of a book before. I'm trying to be more purposeful and thoughtful in my character's reactions and actions. That has helped think of a few scene ideas, but I'm really running on empty with ideas.

I'm considering going through a couple of books I've read multiple times and listing out some scenes. Just a single sentence for each scene describing the action, movement of plot and characterization. Trying to retrain my brain to think in terms of characters over plot will be good in the long-term, but there sure are some growing pangs!

Kamikaze mode is where it's at

Have you ever heard of "Write Or Die?" This is an amazing tool! Michelle Rowen posted it today and I gave it a try. There are two versions: the free, Web one, and the $10 desktop one. I tried the free version out. You select a word count goal and a time limit, then select how harsh you want the software to be at bugging you to stay on track.

It worked so well for me! I set it to kamikaze mode and if I paused for more than a second or two, the screen began to flash red until I started typing again. How cool is that? It helped to keep me going. I may have to try a longer time limit tomorrow, maybe to see if I can hit my word count goal for NaNoWriMo in a half an hour.

I am already several days behind, I need something to help me catch up!

NaNoWriMo...and so it begins

Ahhhh so this is what it feels like to blog again. I used to blog quite frequently at my old blog, under my old name - Lisa Pulliam. I've been using Lisa Leoni for about six months, but I just haven't blogged yet. I blog twice a month with my local writing chapter, the Mid-Willamette Valley RWA. And today I blogged about NaNoWriMo.

I've done NaNo a few times. The good news - I know what to expect. But the bad news? Also, I know what to expect. It's very clear to me what I've gotten myself into. Don't worry, I know it's voluntary. There's no imaginary gun being held against my temple to force me to write, but if it helps, I may imagine there is one. Maybe that gun, instead of shooting bullets, plays "It's a Small World" over and over and over again. That's some motivation to write!

I have technically been a romance writer for a few years, but have yet to fully finish a book. And by fully finish, I mean a solid first draft - start to finish- developed characters and everything. I've started several books, gotten around 50k on a couple of them, but then I lose interest. The well dries up. I have realized that I over-plot and I don't develop my characters (in my own mind) well enough, early on in the process.

My goal is to finish the dang book! I feel good about my idea and that I'm the right person to write this book. So now, I need to write it and actually edit it. Here goes nothing!