Taking Breaks

[OmnislashXX]

This is my first real attempt at completing a novel lenght story. I was afraid to take a break while the iron was hot, so to speak, as so many great scenes for the story came to mind. I literally had written the whole novel in my mind. I've thought about the erotic scenes so much though, I believe I am a bit worn down. Though I really don't wish to take a break, for fear I may lose some important scenes to memory, I don't think I can really get the feel of any erotiism unless I'm feeling that way myself.

 

[Kantarii]

Thank God I keep my iPhone handy. When I get an idea, I jot it down in my note pad and that way my memory can rest easier without having to recall all the details when I'm refreshed enough to write again.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Publish shorter chunks, maybe?

If it's all in your head, how much is actually written?

I'm the opposite, I rarely have anything sorted out in my head before I write, other than maybe a very simple idea. I'll start writing the beginning of a paragraph, sometimes, with no clue what is going to happen four sentences later. Some of my favourite plot twists have happened that way.

I guess my writing is probably more stream of consciousness than deliberate plot or theme. When I read it all back in a single sitting, that's when I say, "oh, is that what the story was about? I didn't know that when I wrote it."

 

[TxRad]

Over thinking sex scenes is one place a lot of writers screw it up. If it becomes stale in you mind, it will end up stale on paper, most of the time.

Keep a running notebook for stuff that you want to put in a story. Know what the story is about and where it is going, more or less as is your style. Write the story but don't worry about the sex scenes until you are ready to sprinkle them into the mix. They stay fresh that way.

*Your mileage may vary*

 

[sr71plt]

You're not going to write a novel in one setting without substantial breaks. If you think you have it all in your mind and don't want to lose it, that's the time to get notes down in an outline structure and then to pace the writing more deliberately after that.

 

[lovecraft68]

This is my first real attempt at completing a novel lenght story. I was afraid to take a break while the iron was hot, so to speak, as so many great scenes for the story came to mind. I literally had written the whole novel in my mind. I've thought about the erotic scenes so much though, I believe I am a bit worn down. Though I really don't wish to take a break, for fear I may lose some important scenes to memory, I don't think I can really get the feel of any erotiism unless I'm feeling that way myself.

In my opinion erotic scenes can always be gone back to. To me they're kind of plug and play.

So if you're not in the mood for sexy scenes, skip them. I think the story itself could be lost easier than the sex.

My two cents on it.

 

[OliviaM]

I've had some stories only in my head for years now. I know exactly what happens at every turn. I have made rough notes on some of them, which has really helped, as there are details I've come up with that I didn't recall.

Thank God I keep my iPhone handy. When I get an idea, I jot it down in my note pad and that way my memory can rest easier without having to recall all the details when I'm refreshed enough to write again.

This. I use my iphone to make tons of notes. Paper is good too. Just keep something handy to jot down ideas when they come to you.

In my opinion erotic scenes can always be gone back to. To me they're kind of plug and play.

So if you're not in the mood for sexy scenes, skip them. I think the story itself could be lost easier than the sex.

My two cents on it.

Isn't it Joss Whedon who says he likes to write "dessert first"? He writes whichever scene appeals to him at the time and doesn't bother with going in any kind of order.

 

[EverLux]

...I use my iphone to make tons of notes. Paper is good too. Just keep something handy to jot down ideas when they come to you.

I use OneNote for everything. It's on my phone and laptop, so it's always right there. I'm sure there are better apps for keeping track of ideas, but that one works really well for me.

If I come up with a line for later while I'm writing, I'll type it right there on the page so I don't lose it. More often than not, though, I lose it before I can even jot it down. Something amazing will pop into my head, but then I'll sip my water or blink or whatever, and it's gone. So frustrating!

Isn't it Joss Whedon who says he likes to write "dessert first"? He writes whichever scene appeals to him at the time and doesn't bother with going in any kind of order.

I was thinking of doing this with what I'm working on now, but I decided against it. No matter how much planning I do, as soon as I get into a scene, something changes. It's usually minor, but sometimes it's a big enough change that it affects the rest of the story. If that happens in the second scene and I've already written the last three, it could mean a lot of reworking. I'm way too lazy for all that.

That could be why I still have fewer than 1k words written.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Everyone does it their own way. The trick is to find a way, your way.

 

[lovecraft68]

I've had some stories only in my head for years now. I know exactly what happens at every turn. I have made rough notes on some of them, which has really helped, as there are details I've come up with that I didn't recall.



This. I use my iphone to make tons of notes. Paper is good too. Just keep something handy to jot down ideas when they come to you.



Isn't it Joss Whedon who says he likes to write "dessert first"? He writes whichever scene appeals to him at the time and doesn't bother with going in any kind of order.

I think Whedon did say that. He may not have followed his own advice as the show Heroes moved into its second season

I met him years ago when he had just gotten into comics. I'd be curious to meet him now with all the success he's had to see if he's changed or not.

When you go to a lot of the big comicons its amazing how egotistical and pompous some of these people get. Its still comics guys, calm down.

 

[oggbashan]

lovecraft's plug and play sex scenes don't work for me.

If I can put the sex scenes in later, they're not essential to the story and shouldn't be there at all. For me the sex has to be important and necessary.

If the story works without them, it could be a good story, even an erotic story with implied sex, but with them almost as asides it's not such a good story.

However the sex scene might be relevant to the plot but at this stage in the writing I'm not sure how to express it. It might assist the development but what sort of sex, where and when aren't clear. The characters just having sex might be enough to show how their relationship is changing.

But - whatever works for you.

 

[lovecraft68]

lovecraft's plug and play sex scenes don't work for me.

If I can put the sex scenes in later, they're not essential to the story and shouldn't be there at all. For me the sex has to be important and necessary.

If the story works without them, it could be a good story, even an erotic story with implied sex, but with them almost as asides it's not such a good story.

However the sex scene might be relevant to the plot but at this stage in the writing I'm not sure how to express it. It might assist the development but what sort of sex, where and when aren't clear. The characters just having sex might be enough to show how their relationship is changing.

But - whatever works for you.

Different techniques for different people.

I should add if there was a romantic scene that was feeding directly off the emotion of what leads up to it, it has to be done then to capture that, but otherwise I seem to be able to add sex at will.

Its the other stuff I'll lose. Dialogue for instance. If I don't complete a conversation in one sitting, I totally lose it.

 

[OmnislashXX]

Yeah, I've even acted out specific conversations in my head. Some of them are pretty long winded and intense. I think I'm good though, as some of them I've already written and they seem to come across fine.

Some of my erotic scenes though can take up whole chapters ( as is the one I'm currently writing) so it's not exactly plug and play. I also like to right things sequentially as it happens.

I've restricted myself sexually until I write most if not all of this out. I think it will give me incentive to finish.