Priming the Process

I’m happy to say I wrote some this week in my current WIP, The Syndicate, Book 3 of the Waldman Investigations. I’ve had flashes on the movie screen in my head, but I’ve not gotten to the flow that I’ve enjoyed while writing my previous books. A while ago, life interrupted my writing and publishing habit. I was almost halfway through book 3 in the Tanner Trilogy. I set it aside, and a few years passed before I returned to the story. I spent time reading and editing the first 40K words. I felt that my voice had changed, and I didn’t know if the rest of the book would work out. I’m relieved that it did.

But I don’t have 40K words, or even 10K words, of this manuscript to work through and find the flow, even if they story diverts in a different direction. I’ve been hopeful that a little writing each day will prime the process. What I’ve written so far, other than the opening scene, has very little action. If I’m bored, I know readers will be, too.

I don’t want to set the precedence that if what I’m writing isn’t easy, I jump to another project. That would lead to lots of unfinished manuscripts! Even when the words flow, writing is hard. All the moving parts (characters, motivation, setting, plot events, dialogue, etc.) are tough to juggle. I currently have two projects that are tens of thousands of words into the stories. I haven’t visited them in a while. Partial manuscripts can’t be published. If there’s no publishing, there’s nothing for the readers.

Considering all this, I realize that doing the same thing I’ve always done (pick up a pen and the words flow effortlessly) and expecting a different result this time (when the flow is more like a drip because I’ve been away) means that I need to choose a different route, or change the way I’ve been priming the process. I decided to make notes.

“Notes” sounds better to me than “outline”. I’ve never been a plotter. My road has always been as a linear discovery writer. But when things aren’t working, the smart choice is to choose another way. I’ll review the workbook I have for this series (The Wise Writer’s Workbook published by a friend of mine, Anna Questerly) and make notes on the three cases that need to be solved. I have ideas on a few dangerous situations. Perhaps this will return me to my process.