Friday, August 22, 2014

I AM NOT A PLOTTER (An Update on THE TROUBLE WITH FLIRTING)

The Trouble with Flirting is supposed to be ready for publication next week. Next Wednesday, in fact -- that's what my calendar tells me. The thing is ... it's not ready. EEEEEK! I hate doing this. I hate making plans and setting deadlines and then CHANGING them. I like to be able to say I'll do something by a specific date, and then actually do it.

So here's what's happened: I love this story. I have sooooo loved writing it. BUT, for some reason, out of all the books I've written so far, this one has been the hardest to get all the scenes in the right order for. I keep changing things around, thinking, Wait, this scene should happen and THEN that scene. Oh no. Actually it should go there. And WAIT, that scene shouldn't have happened yet. Why? Why has it been so hard this time? And then I remembered something. Out of all the books I've written so far, this was the one I had the MOST planning for when I started writing it.

Wait a minute. That doesn't make sense, does it? Actually ... it does.

Writing this book has led me to a conclusion I have always known but have finally accepted: I AM NOT A PLOTTER.

I have tried. Boy, have I tried. I thought it would make my writing life so much easier to have a whole novel planned out before writing it. But I've never been able to do that. I've NEVER been able to plot out every single scene and THEN write the book. With The Trouble with Flirting, I came close. I planned almost every scene before starting to write. And I thought that was a GOOD thing for me. I was excited about all my planning! I have now come to realise something: I NEED the freedom to be able to "pants" my way through a story! I AM A PANTSER! The only things I need to know at the beginning are the major points of the story. Other than that, the story figures itself out AS I'M WRITING IT!

So. I'm not going to be too worried about plotting every scene in the future. Stick to the main points. That's it. The rest will come :-)

Aaaaaanyway, that leads me to the next point of this post, which is when will The Trouble with Flirting be published? Fortunately, I'm not too far behind schedule. So I've decided on Tuesday 9 September. Get ready! It's almost here!




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9 comments:

Cherie Reich said...

You have to write the best way you write, and that's okay.

I'm glad the date wasn't moved too much. I can't wait to read the book!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

At least you know for certain! Write the way that is best for you. As for me, I am the over-planner. But that's what works for me.

Murees Dupè said...

I'm kind of between a plotter and pantser myself. I am cheering for you. Best wishes for the release.

Sue @ Crushingcinders said...

:) I'm sure it will be worth the wait! Can't wait to start reading.

Cortney Pearson said...

I've had to make some last-minute changes to PHOBIC too and ended up pulling it for a short while! I think no matter what we do there's always something *more*--it's so hard to know! Deadlines are so nerve-wracking. Sounds like you've got it figured out, though. Exciting for you, good luck!! :D

Krista McLaughlin said...

I'm not a plotter either and when I try, I can get very confused.

I'm sure it will be worth waiting for, Rachel! :)

Cathy Keaton said...

I'm a plotter so much so, I need to know the intricate details of every scene before I write them. But, you have to write the way that fits best for you. There's no right or wrong way to approach writing fiction. ;)

Unknown said...

Hey. I tried to comment on this last week, but I think my internet must have been acting up, lol. It's goof that you've figured out what works for you :) I've become a planner, but that said I allow myself a lot of flexibility. Hope you're having a good week.

Unknown said...

Rachel,

"The Trouble With Flying" is highlighted today on eBookDaily.com:

http://ebookdaily.com/free-kindle-ebooks/2014-09-05/B00L8A3BMK