So, I wrote this post last week where I mentioned Stephanie Perkins and her book, Lola and The Boy Next Door, and how she day dreams to help her really dig into her story.
When I decide to daydream and not write, here's what happens -
I forced myself to not write on my WIP. It had been through one reader, and I wanted to let it sit before doing another once over to prepare it for my second reader.
The thing is that I thought if I day dreamed about it long enough that something amazing would come to me, some brand new depth. Something that would make it the best book EVER.
What I actually got was a lot of really fun scenes that didn't move the plot forward at ALL
And then every time I came up with a cool scene, and then did my editing thing and thought about what I would learn in that scene, or why it was necessary, I realized I had that same info somewhere else, in a better format.
So.
I have to daydream BEFORE I write. The problem is the moment I have a daydream, I have something TO write, so really. I'm just writing . . .
I'm curious.
Do you daydream about your people, and does it help or do you just find yourself like me - frantic for a piece of paper or your keyboard?
22 comments:
I do daydream about them sometimes. But like you it's either early in the process and I have to have some way of writing it down, or it's pointless because, while it may be a good scene, it's just not part of the story.
Once I get to editing it's much more fun to daydream about how much everyone will love it. :)
I think about my characters when I am trying to fall asleep. Then, when I have a really good thought or idea I have to get out of bed and jot it down in a journal I keep specifically for this purpose.
That is not a great way to fall asleep, grrrrrherherhehe.
I daydream all the time, living in my own worlds. Like Tinkerbell, I do a lot of thinking when I'm trying to fall asleep, except I don't get up to jot anything down because I know it will make it harder for me to fall to sleep! I go over ideas again and again to make sure they work until finally I get a chance to write.
I daydream a lot and I think it is good for the creative process.
My spouse, the Education Tipster has gotten good story ideas from her daydreaming.
I daydream all the time about my characters. Some scenes become 'must haves' but most just help me better understand my characters and help with character development.
Yes, I do daydream - or 'nightdream', really, since I usually do it while trying to get to sleep - about my people. Sometimes it gives me inspiration for a scene, plot twist, whatever, that was needed. Other times it's just me replaying already-written scenes in my head.
My day dreaming is more like brainstorming -- trying to find a way to solve a particular problem. The best bits come out of the blue though. You know, like when you're making the bed and all of a sudden you know JUST what so and so has to say .
My ideas come to me while I write. Occasionally, I'll have inspiration pop in my mind just out of the blue. It is funny but sort of annoying cuz I'll be thinking about my book while I'm trying to go to bed. I end up thinking about it and formulating a scene for hours. But hey if I'm dreaming it while I'm awake that AOK with me. haha
I'm a total daydreamer. I love getting to my computer after something hits me. So far, I think I've been relatively lucky with stuff that still moves the plot forward, but we shall see :)
I daydream sometimes, but I think I'm more like you: going straight for the keyboard.
I write out loud when I day dream. Seriously, people think I'm talking to myself... which I am I guess, but if I say it out loud, I have an easier time remembering it when I sit down at the computer :)
I totally laughed when you said you I realized you had that same info somewhere else, in a better format. It sounded very familiar.
I daydream all the time, but unfortunately I usually forget what I daydream about.
Crap just percolates in my brain, then spills onto the page. :)
I do daydream a lot. Just not about my characters, ha! I'm like you, if I have an idea, I have to sit and write it. Or at least write notes or something. I can't just keep it going in my head, it has to get down on paper RIGHT AWAY. :)
I do day dream a lot about my characters and the story. Usually when I'm at the day job...
My bosses have reluctantly grown accustomed to me having to stop whatever task I'm doing to go and write a scene (or at least notes for one).
I'm very much like you in this respect. It is difficult for me to "not write" when I have something bouncing around in my head. But I am trying something very huge which is a collaboration with Lucy and involves major advanced plotting and characterization and we likely won't start writing the thing until APRIL. But it will allow us to finish off other projects and let it percolate and I am wondering if this will be a big win. Fingers crossed.
My day dreaming is usually early on. Otherwise I'd probably go crazy with all of these things I'd want to add that really don't do anything for my story.
I have to daydream before I write too. If I do it while I'm writing, it gets all crazy. ;)
Thanks for the visit Jolene. :)
Wow, I just caught up on your blog. That list of accomplishments for 2011 is something else. You are so prolific!
Gah! How am I two days behind?!?!?!!? Just smack me!
I have to have a visual...so, I guess that is kind of day dreaming... I like to see things in my head before it translates to paper... ;)
hahaha, if I daydream, I totally fall asleep. I think I am just one exhausted gal.
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