tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post3823054265084286540..comments2024-01-02T09:51:59.928-05:00Comments on WRITING IN A NUTSHELL: A Blank PageWritingNuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16326756274887055685noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-39357967919259608902011-11-01T17:15:11.049-04:002011-11-01T17:15:11.049-04:00I basically rewrote a manuscript over the summer. ...I basically rewrote a manuscript over the summer. I had to do it, because what I already had needed too many changes. I rewrote most of the scenes and chapters. So, I understand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-21253037695503492262011-10-28T17:35:20.399-04:002011-10-28T17:35:20.399-04:00Oh, this sounds familiar. My rewrites for my WIP i...Oh, this sounds familiar. My rewrites for my WIP involved an entire rewrite of the beginning. I remember that flashing cursor below the words, "Chapter One" well. In fact, I saw them several times, as I tried to start it in various different ways, and finally found one I was happy with.<br /><br />I like the possibility of the blank page, but I still get nagged at the back of my mind - am I ruining my work? I hope I'm making it better.C D Meetenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18185285028025647307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-91672448095108493072011-10-27T09:21:21.269-04:002011-10-27T09:21:21.269-04:00I see a blank page as a doorway into an adventure!...I see a blank page as a doorway into an adventure!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11964645947084077758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-51275293921220502512011-10-25T23:02:49.913-04:002011-10-25T23:02:49.913-04:00I have a book shelved at the moment that I will ne...I have a book shelved at the moment that I will need to go chapter by chapter and redo the entire thing. I'm not looking forward to it, but some of the comments are very inspiring and positive. <br /><br />I enjoy unwrapping a story and seeing how it unfolds.Miranda Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17880449368013410349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-81292036212830180932011-10-25T16:42:10.155-04:002011-10-25T16:42:10.155-04:00That's why I outline now. I used to just wing ...That's why I outline now. I used to just wing it but that meant lots of rewrites later on. By outlining first I can see the big picture before I write it and make quick adjustments if it's not working.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-81096358345620113862011-10-24T22:39:57.507-04:002011-10-24T22:39:57.507-04:00I've never scratched an entire chapter. I'...I've never scratched an entire chapter. I've rewritten it, adding content, but never started it over again. <br /><br />Have you let any other writers critique it yet? That helps a great deal. Fresh eyes, a different perspective, but one who knows your genre.Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-10628626362963491842011-10-24T21:16:03.281-04:002011-10-24T21:16:03.281-04:00I love a blank page. It's the editing I find d...I love a blank page. It's the editing I find daunting! Probably because I never feel like I'm completely finished.<br /><br />You recently visited my blog and followed. Thanks! I followed you right back here. :)Lisa Ricard Clarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05048410207952052295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-68647181289128031082011-10-24T19:52:34.485-04:002011-10-24T19:52:34.485-04:00I remember rewriting the WIP I had a month ago and...I remember rewriting the WIP I had a month ago and feeling like I'd done it over, and over, and over. It gets so tiring. Just when you think its perfect, too!Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-76364645339930646882011-10-24T19:36:50.297-04:002011-10-24T19:36:50.297-04:00I love the phrase "hope in disguise"!
I...I love the phrase "hope in disguise"!<br /><br />I'm like Anne--I was once told in a 20 pp. critique that my story started in chapter 2. That was some of the best advice I've ever been given. Believe me, the first blank page of that rewrite turned out to be a battery-recharger as excitement for the project was renewed...Kenda Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972218446945404475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-26354347848536300992011-10-24T19:21:31.195-04:002011-10-24T19:21:31.195-04:00Hi, I'm doing Nanowrimo this year again - to s...Hi, I'm doing Nanowrimo this year again - to stop me doing exactly what you describe. At least by Christmas I'll have another finished book to edit!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957545161716269528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-57247633336089147892011-10-24T16:33:16.180-04:002011-10-24T16:33:16.180-04:00Someone once said to me, "Your story begins a...Someone once said to me, "Your story begins at Chapter Three."<br /><br />I didn't believe them and tried to rework the beginning again and again over and over, to the result of banging my head and crying in my keyboard. They meant that nine times out of ten, the first chapter (and sometimes the second) are basically backstory for the writer, not written for the reader. And I think that's true. Well, at least in my books.<br /><br />yes, blank canvases are good, but sometimes what you really need is a long time away. I never believed that "fresh eyes" made a difference, but they really really do. Take a month or more and then go back to it. You might be surprised what it will take to make it work.<br /><br />Use the blank page to begin the next book.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-90630438517147856682011-10-24T16:04:16.654-04:002011-10-24T16:04:16.654-04:00I love the "canvas of possibility!"I love the "canvas of possibility!"Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-44735685780755026292011-10-24T15:52:26.907-04:002011-10-24T15:52:26.907-04:00I'm with Spooky Whisk above..the blank page is...I'm with Spooky Whisk above..the blank page is the writers' blank check, something to go wild with.Dr. Mohamedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13673867214475179890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-40065374782221373932011-10-24T15:29:40.428-04:002011-10-24T15:29:40.428-04:00I've rewritten a few small scenes but never sc...I've rewritten a few small scenes but never scrapped a whole chapter. You can do it though!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-85401263323126467552011-10-24T15:27:16.490-04:002011-10-24T15:27:16.490-04:00I have cut out scenes, and added new ones too. I ...I have cut out scenes, and added new ones too. I like adding the new ones, probably because I know the story so well by that point that the writing just flows.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-59565254185853988742011-10-24T14:13:59.146-04:002011-10-24T14:13:59.146-04:00Are you kidding? Blank pages are exciting, wide op...Are you kidding? Blank pages are exciting, wide open and fun. My gosh, have a fun go of it. It is after all, fiction. <br /><br />Play, play, play.The Happy Whiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13438469476168485775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-33974069414212219462011-10-24T14:02:12.045-04:002011-10-24T14:02:12.045-04:00I have so been there. Sometimes it's a lot eas...I have so been there. Sometimes it's a lot easier than trying to make something already written conform.<br /><br />But still, definitely scary.Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-25661487836495224122011-10-24T13:50:30.065-04:002011-10-24T13:50:30.065-04:00I find pages that aren't working as bad as tha...I find pages that aren't working as bad as that blank page. What works for me is never dumping anything but saving it in another document - often that piece just fit better somewhere else in the story. Kind of a combination of writing fresh and matching that up with the old.Ryshia Kenniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10950150149473063859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-59811652883412142132011-10-24T13:47:28.614-04:002011-10-24T13:47:28.614-04:00All the time! I always resist and think, surely n...All the time! I always resist and think, surely no one else will notice this glaring problem that I see. But deep down inside I know better. So the blank page it is.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08668487489667818687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-35237810207127877342011-10-24T13:35:00.132-04:002011-10-24T13:35:00.132-04:00Not yet, but I suspect it's close!Not yet, but I suspect it's close!Sarah Tokeleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13273148070092101085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-79831265996116776552011-10-24T13:27:10.026-04:002011-10-24T13:27:10.026-04:00The blank page can seem a bit scary. I've neve...The blank page can seem a bit scary. I've never scraped a whole chapter, but I've done some serious rewrites which made me very nervous.Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-31675976331379355102011-10-24T13:03:28.367-04:002011-10-24T13:03:28.367-04:00You are right. A blank page can be refreshing thou...You are right. A blank page can be refreshing though a bit intimidating. Good luck :)vanyelmoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07976788895311992176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-44050622060048631052011-10-24T13:01:32.744-04:002011-10-24T13:01:32.744-04:00I haven't tried that technique yet, but I unde...I haven't tried that technique yet, but I understand the benefits. I actually LOVE the blank page. I love starting stories. It's the midpoints where I get a little "haunted", as you say. :o) Thanks for another great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08397400242153470523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3883235275007051023.post-84908206021253375002011-10-24T12:44:44.596-04:002011-10-24T12:44:44.596-04:00It's true: the blank page can be scary and, at...It's true: the blank page can be scary and, at the same time, full of promise. <br /><br />You ask good questions. What helps me when things are super muddy is to truly step away from my manuscript and focus on a new one. It's amazing how different things can look after a couple months away. <br /><br />Good luck! :)Dawn Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05667675689038435581noreply@blogger.com