Right before school wrapped up for the summer, I volunteered in my daughter’s 4th grade classroom. The children had all written stories and were sharing them with each other.
The writing that children in this age group (age 10) produce is really amazing. It’s lively, the voice is usually very natural, and there are sparks of vibrant creativity even in the tamest story.
One thing that most of the young writers hadn’t mastered, though, was narrative focus.
They’d go off on tangents that I would try to keep up with, expecting that the tangents were going to lead to an important point in the story…but, well, they didn’t.
It’s easy to say that lack of narrative focus is limited to child writers, but it’s something I frequently run into as a writer.
That’s because I’m making my plots up as I go along. And, as I go, I get these threads of ideas that I think might fit in somewhere—and I just dump them into the first draft and keep going.
I even put a note in the margin of the manuscript with Track Changes—Fix this later. I know I’m going off-subject, but there might be an idea there to explore…and I leave it in for the draft.
In editing, though, I have three choices for the tangent:
Cut it (too rambling, doesn’t move the plot forward, doesn’t add insight to a character). It could go into an extras file for another story or another book in the series.
Connect it to the rest of the scene or tie it into the theme, conflict, or other element of the story. Add transitions, if needed.
Move the tangent to another section of the manuscript where it makes more sense or ties into a different scene.
For me, the first draft is about sticking all that stuff in there, even though I know as I’m writing it that I’m going to have to figure out what to do with it later. I won’t stray too far, and I usually will put a marker to myself in the margin to highlight my ramblings.
I wrote a book from a full outline for an editor recently—and I didn’t go off my outline at all. Consequently, I found I needed to add a lot of words to make my target word count. I think my tangents do ultimately get put to good use in my books—and when I’m not making them, I have to brainstorm more in the second draft.
If you outline, does it prevent you from rambling? If you don’t work from an outline and take detours from your main point, is it easy for you to fix later?
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If I don’t outline then the editing process is a nightmare for me because I go off in so many directions. I like to write a logline, or one sentence pitch before starting as well. That really helps me keep focus even if I steer away from the outline.
Elizabeth – …and what a great tour it was! You know so much about so many aspects of writing! I am archiving your tour stop posts and using them. Trust me.
About staying focused? Oddly enough, that’s not my main writing challenge. I think my academic writing background has influenced me here. When you write an academic paper, it’s all about focus. So when I write drafts, It’s not about focusing. It’s about remembering to “flesh out” my story, add depths and backstory and so on. It’s adding that all-important “so what else<” factor.
My brain only works with structure. Focusing is a challenge for me since ideas fly in and out of my brain like flies to a watermelon. I definitely need outlining!
Now I would like watermelon…without the flies.
I gave a workshop yesterday on my “non-plotting” method for writing. I tend to tack possible ideas, questions, etc., on my “idea” board, and use them when they fit. Of course, I have a lot of leftovers at the end of the book, but rearranging things helps me make sure the plot keeps moving, and I don’t dangle threads.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I don’t outline in the strictest sense. I do write to plot points and allow myself to explore side ideas. I’m still figuring out my process though.
I agree with what Wendy said, “I love being surprised, but not dragged down a rabbit trail.”
I don’t outline. So, if I go back and find a tangent, I have to decide how much I love what is written.
If I adore it and think it’s particularly great, then I take it out and hold on in hopes that it will fit somewhere else later. If it doesn’t, I might put in in a short story or something. Then I don’t feel so bad about cutting it.
If I don’t adore it, out it goes.
I’ve usually begun with way too many tangents. My next manuscript will be outlined somewhat. I imagine I will have a few tangents, but not nearly as many. Ask me again later :)
If I outline scenes for each chapter it does wonders to help me stay on course. Although I always leave a little breathing room for surprises.
I love being surprised, but not dragged down a rabbit trail.
~ Wendy
LOL No, outlining doesn’t prevent the rambling. My books gradually got shorter as I learned to trim the scenes that didn’t really contribute to the story.
I don’t outline. Sometimes the detours turn into meandering paths to nowhere that I have to go back and fix. More often than not, though, I find the tangents leading me where I needed to be anyway. =o)
BTW, I finally bought a copy of Delicious and Suspicious. I loved it so much I sent it off to my mother to read. Now I need Finger Lickin’ Dead. =o)
I don’t outline. I’m doing it the way you describe here, Elizabeth and I’m sure there will be lots of things that will be deleted and others that will need to be expanded on.
Karen
I’m not much of an outliner but I find halfway through, I either have to stop and do a synopsis or at least make notes about what is going to happen next. I just do better at the outset if I start writing and see what unfolds.
Heather–Now, that’s a brainy solution! Short outlines. I do like that. Then you’re getting your brainstorming in at the same time (for the brief outline of the scene, paragraph, etc.)
Margot–You were trained to be concise and focused! I was too, I guess…from Ye Olde Journalism days. But I quickly left the focus behind when I got into fiction.
Wend–Good way of putting it! Yes, a short tangent is fun, a long tangent is sort of like what I heard at the elementary school. :)
Diane–Ha! Well, glad to hear that’s not the way out of the rambling. :) I’m not a fan of outlining!
Teresa–I’d like some non-fly watermelon, too! :) And I have mixed opinions on outlining. I’d rather *not* do it, but I do see some advantages (now that I’ve written both ways.)
B.E. Sanderson–That’s kind of what I’ve found, too…those tangents are raw ideas that might not happen at the best point in the story, but end up adding a lot to it.
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. :) And I hope you’ll enjoy “Finger Lickin’ Dead,” too.
Terry–I like rearranging, too. Helps keep that pace going.
Stephanie–So a sort of half and half approach for you? Sounds like it works out well!
I do outline, but I don´t worry about things like point of view, consistency of voice, or anything much in my first draft. And my drafts nearly always end up being too short so I have to add all the rambling later :)
I eliminate the rabbit trails through my revision, but instead of just deleting them, I cut and paste the omitted text into a document named, “leftovers.” That way, if I find a place where the information can be easily inserted, or if my word count drops too low, I don’t have to start from scratch.
Figure out what to do with it later – sounds like my style.
Raelyn–I think I’m still figuring mine out, too! :)
wosushi–I always wince when I cut what I think is a really clever bit of dialogue. :) But you know, if it’s not moving my plot forward…sigh. I have a whole file full of stuff I’d love to use.
Carol–I like a *touch* of an outline…just a wisp of an idea to go on each day.
Marji–I do that, too. I’m like you…I keep an eye on my word count.
Alex–Mine too!
Karen–That’s exactly what happens with me in the second draft– I have stuff to cut and stuff to elaborate on.
Dorte–Somehow, it’s harder for me to ramble, after the fact. :) But I managed it!
I do tend to write an outline for my lengthier works (screenplays especially), but I’m like you: I do add threads of ideas throughout that might be put to good use later, and if during the editing process it turns out they just won’t fit, I create a separate file for the notes in case I can use them in other works. My future works tend to stem from the aspects of certain pieces that didn’t fit into my present WIP. I find it helps me to have something new to work on immediately after completing my current WIP.
“For me, the first draft is about sticking all that stuff in there, even though I know as I’m writing it that I’m going to have to figure out what to do with it later.” Yeah, its exactly like that for me :)
I’m a pantster, which just means I don’t plot out ever scene in detail. I have an indea of who my characters are, and what the goal is, and how to get to “the end”. I only plot things like genre specifics (mage classes, contemporary job descriptions, mechanical gadgets), setting (geography, era, costumes, culture), name origins, titles; stuff like that.
Every tangent, however could serve the purpose of character building, plot building, or even pure entertainment of myself when I’m at a loss where to go next, or am unmotivated to write. Who knows where the side track will lead.
Like you Elizabeth, I usually know that I’m on a tangent and will have to deal with it later, but I hate to stiffle free flow creativity. Just because a scene is written out of sequence doen’t make it less viable if it is integrated in its proper place.
The more revisions I make, the more focused I become. For me, I’d rather cut than add. I’m a firm believer in TMI; at least when I’m writing the first/second draft :)
………dhole
I have to say it’s so good to see other pansters out there. I’ve tried to get really organized and follow the the strict outlines like the experts insist on, but it stunts my writing. I do much better if I can start with an idea and write a few chapters, letting the plot unfold in my head. I know the end game, but the stuff in between is trial and error. That seems to be a cardinal sin among many, but it works for me. If I have to spend a little extra time editing, then so be it. I’d rather do that than sacrifice my writing.
I’ll eventually make a rough outline and synopsis as I learn about my characters. I keep ideas on index cards (I need to get a board) and then will move around if needed.
Anyway, I think that lack of focus can make for great writing. Glad to see I’m not the only one!