Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Snapshots Only

I'm working on a new novel.  I find myself in a strange position.  Each passage I've managed to write has been in the form of a snapshot.  As if I have to lift the camera and capture it quickly before the image disappears.

In other words, I'm only able to write moments.  Not scenes. 

If I didn't know better, if the very thought of writing poetry didn't cause me to break out into hives, I'd think I was writing a verse novel.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.  It's just...well...

Someone please.  Help. Me.

8 comments:

  1. I think it's a sign you need to write a novel in verse!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I LOVE verse novels. But if they give you hives then maybe that's not the way to go. BUT if that is the way it's coming to you, roll with it. I'd just start putting each snapshot in your document and then they might all start connecting together. Snap shots are usually how I get a scene to begin with. I'm a very visual person.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Are your snapshots fitting together to form a larger picture or scene? If so, go from there. Pick out a snapshot that you could build on and then really think about it. What would the characters do beyond this snippet of time? I think what you've come up with would be a great writing exercise when it comes to fleshing out a scene. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Does sending love and a caution not to judge yourself and an insistence to just keep going, without labels, help?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maybe you're seeing these snapshots because you need to quickly get them all down, and can flesh it out later?

    ReplyDelete
  6. My advice is just to keep writing. Write whatever comes to you. You can piece it all together and try to make sense out of it later ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. If it doesn't scare you, you're doing it wrong!

    You don't need to put a label on it yet. Just write.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I totally write like this. I'll get tons of snapshots and then they miraculously work themselves into a full bodies novel :)

    ReplyDelete