Dec
29
The Story Changes When You Say It Out Loud
Amy

I have been reworking my feature, THE HAAN BLADE, and keep getting stuck in the same spot. I know why; there is something amiss with the scene. A giant red arrow may as well be pointing at it, but what’s wrong? I’ve debated removing the character introduced there, moving this scene to a new spot, and writing in the same scene with a different person. Today I reached over a dozen or more solutions to the problem, giving me a new problem, which solution do I go with?!

Time to break out the sounding board! I gave my script consultant (Sae Sae Norris) a call and told her I needed to talk through my ideas. Graciously, she allowed me to ramble and hop from point to point; ha ha, glad she charges by the hour versus the minute. I talked about the flaws in the script and my range of ideas. She gave me input as well, which rocks; pitch me my own story and I can see if I need to change it. –For reasons of ego, it’s easier for me to shoot down my idea when you say it :) .

Before long I had my answer (huzzah), and when we hung up I was full steam ahead and ready to get back to the keyboard!

In my humble opinion, it is important to have somebody to discuss your stories with. Someone who is a writer as well is preferable but not, perhaps, vital. This is one of the reasons I love writers groups. It’s also helpful to be the bounce board for other writers; we can apply our advice to whatever project we’ve got on the fire.

Don’t have a writers group? Don’t have a script consultant? Reach out in your network of friends and, my guess is, you know other writers. You don’t need a formal group to brainstorm your story; just one other person. Those who know me realize I love to use index cards and white boards to write out key points; but sometimes it just helps to talk it through. It’s a time saving and validating process.

Do you share your ideas with other writers? Does it help? If not, what’s stopping you? Please leave a comment, so that others can benefit from your experience in this tricky area. Go ahead, brainstorm about brainstorming with me :) .

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  • Sure. :)
  • Sure. :)
  • I find that it's more validating and supportive for me to share my ideas and writing with others. But I am very, very picky about whom I get feedback from. Not to be a snob, but because the Writer-In-Me is very self-conscious and shy. If I ever get stuck, I've found that it's because I haven't properly set something up earlier in the story.

    I can and do usually work out my story problems on my own. But it's great to see how and if people respond to my ideas. If the initial reaction is enthusiasm, followed by enthusiastic questions (versus confused questions, open hostility, or worse -glazed silence), then I know I'm on to something. If two or more people have the same comment, whether I agree with it or not, then I know that THEY'RE on to something.

    Bottom line is, if you're writing a novel or a screenplay, then you're writing something that's meant to be shared with others. How and when you share it is up to you.

    PS -Amy, glad the brain jam was helpful! That will cost you nine million dollars. :)
  • *Gulp*

    Erm, do you take monopoly money? Mwuah!
  • I totally agree that it helps to talk it out sometimes. I do recommend fellow writers though, as I find that non-writers aren't too interested in my story at that particular point. Sometimes my spousal unit is ok listening to my ramblings, but most times not. Guess it doesn't help that spousal unit isn't real interested in fiction.

    If you don't have a writers groups, start one of your own, that's what I did. I find a small group works best and everyone gets to share more often. You build a good companionship, learn about different genres, and new critiquing styles. Everyone brings something different to the table.

    This goes well with my Read It Out Loud (RIOL) technique. I preach this often. You'd be amazed at what you hear with your ears versus with your inner voice. Not only do you catch typos, but often a flow problem or just a missing piece of the puzzle.

    Glad you figured out the problem. Now I'm off. Happy New Years.
  • Thanks, baby! I am a huge fan of reading outloud. I prefer to read to others, that would be the actor in me, but, reading out loud certainly helps you find awkward sentences etc. Happy new year!

    XoXo
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