They also included lots of things like "And then this happens." "He explains this stuff to her and she makes a decision." You know, instead of actually writing out what was explained (I know what happened...but my invisible readers won't). And I knew the next thing I had to write...though...I felt like getting there was going to be a problem. As in I didn't know what to write or how to write it.
Basically....it was my worst fear of pantsing realized. I'm lost in my story and I can't find my way out.
Until I decided that some of my characters needed new names.
Actually four of them.
All very important and central to the story.
Thus began an epic two hours on baby naming websites until I had found four new names that I liked, that sounded like the characters, and that also sounded good together.
And the next thing I knew, I busted out three thousand words.
So apparently my characters were all just a little annoyed that I'd given them the wrong names and were refusing to cooperate or be themselves until I named them right.
I've never renamed characters in the middle of a story like this before. I'm a pretty firm believer that your name is your name and I can't do anything about it.
Except I can (duh). And now the writing is flowing and not-lackluster (yay) and all their personalities are back and they are saying things instead of summarizing them.
This pantsing thing is like a constant adventure. I wonder what will happen next (to me and in the story).
36,000 words in!
That's funny! I've found the same to be true for me. Other oddball things that can unlock a stuck story include what font I'm typing in and what keyboard I'm using. Also, taking a shower makes all the steamy prose come out of me. I have no idea why. But whatever works!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'm so picky about the keyboard. When I got my new laptop I didn't care about features, only what the keyboard felt like because I needed it to be comfortable for my hands. Sometimes I use other laptops and I just can't. They feel too foreign. Showers are definitely good for unlocking plot issues. So are long drives. Because I'm pantsing this, I'm really relying on my characters to take me forward, so I think when they weren't named right, they literally couldn't go further.
DeleteYou go!! I've done this too. I just changed the name of one of my characters and it seemed to open lots of doors.
ReplyDeleteYeah! I can't believe this was all it took to make everything work and move along.
DeleteSo I'm not the only one who can spend at least 2 hours on the baby naming sites for characters' names. I've done the name change too. :)
ReplyDeleteHa! Two hours was a sped up process for me. I can spend days there. Definitely not alone on this.
DeleteFrankie, please be more sensitive about blogging so close to closing time. We appreciate your consideration.
ReplyDeleteROFL! I nearly spit out my drink when I read that. FOR SERIOUS! Why is the management sooooo mean there?
DeleteI totally get you, Frankie. I have a sister WIP (10,000 words right now) and originally the sisters were named Scottie and Austen after F. Scott and Jane Austen as their mom was a huge book nerd. I never got further than the first word in October. Then...in January, I realized the reason I wasn't getting anywhere was the names were wrong! They are now Lila and Violet and are sitting happily (or well, its a YA issue thing, so "unhappily") in their WIP pages. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd keep it up, Frankie! :)
AAAH! When I was looking at baby names I came across Austen and I thought that was SO cute for a girl and actually considered it for a bit... Actually the more I think about it the more I like it. Maybe I'll save it for someone else. Cute new names though (even if they're suffering). Good luck on yours!
DeleteI hope you didn't give them crazy movie star baby names like Moon Unit, Pilot Inspektor, Audio Science, or Apple!
ReplyDeleteDammit! Audio Science Pilot Inspektor is the name of my main character! *shakes fist* I thought I was the first!
DeleteWhatever makes those words move, I say! I also agree on the keyboards. Certain keyboards/computers/notebooks seem to pull more story out of me. I guess being comfortable really helps with the creativity flow!
ReplyDeleteI was at my sister's helping her with labeling addresses for her wedding invites and she wanted me to take over and I got on her laptop and was like NO! I cannot. I'll do this on mine but me and your keyboard are not simpatico.
DeleteWhen I get stuck, I'll stop writing on the keyboard and start writing by hand. It never fails - a pen will always unblock me. I swear it's like magic!
ReplyDeleteOh that's so smart! I usually hand write my brainstorms. But I should try that in the future. Also, I usually have a thing with the movie Becoming Jane. I watch it and always seem to be unstuck by the end.
DeleteWhoa! 3,000 words is totally awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with Nicole--I love writing by hand. I wrote almost my entire second book that way without much stuckage.
P.S.-Don't use stuckage in Scrabble.
Thanks, Stephanie. WOW--I can't imagine all that writing by hand--impressive!
DeleteAnd LOL--I won't:)