Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Young and the Restless

My characters are getting restless. Whenever I finish a draft or revision, I never want to see it again. For about a day and a half. Little by little, the characters start stirring and trying on different scenes just to keep me interested. We're between drafts right now, and they are getting itchy to move. I was getting ready this morning and the TV in my head ran a great scene between two of my main characters as part of a possible revision scenario. Hopefully sometime soon I'll let the show run and find out what the changes are going to be.

I've said this before, but I write from a show that plays in my head. I imagine a scene and then push "Play" and see what happens - what the characters say and how the story unfolds. It's like I don't really have anything to do with it - I'm just the dictation secretary. I thought everyone did this until I was having dinner with a few other writers and I mentioned the "head movie" and they looked at me weird and scooted over just a little bit. I got over it. As long as the movie keeps playing, we're all just fine in here.

On this date: In 1937, the Hindenburg disaster.

2 comments:

Disco Mermaids said...

I didn't "scoot over." I ducked and took cover! Kidding! Ha! No, I'm totally starting to relate to your "process." Lately, I'm finding that I'm sitting down to write a scene without any idea as to how it's going to unfold. I just say to myself, "...and...go!" and wait for something to come out. And it's always a surprise. Sometimes good, sometimes not, but I just trust that the characters on the page will say and do exactly what they need.
Did you just scoot over?

:-)
Robin

CJ Omololu said...

That would be my arm around you! Welcome to my world.

I do think Jay just scooted a bit though...