Indecision Is The Enemy
There’s nothing that ruins my creative momentum more than indecision.
“Should I place this scene before that one?”
“Should I have this character appear earlier or later in the story?”
“Should I use a metaphor or a simile?”
These are the kinds of questions that make up the work of a storyteller. They are healthy questions to ask for the sake of the story, until they become a point of indecision or paralysis. It is at this point they become a burden.
One of my favorite tools for dealing with this is the instant decision. Even if you are not sure you are making the correct choice, at least you are making one. It can always be changed later. A buddy of the instant decision is the appendage “…for now.” This allows you to make the decision and move on without feeling any anxiety about the choice you’ve made, because you know you can always change it at a later date.
“I’m going to put the scene in the diner before the fight with the protagonist’s boss at work… for now.”
Certain pieces have to fall into place before the structure of the story can congeal, even if those pieces may be slightly jumbled in the order of things.
Make a few decisions today, because indecision is the enemy.
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September 18th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
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September 18th, 2006 at 7:52 am
I use this all the time. If i didn’t just put things in … for now. i don’t think I’d ever get any productive writing done. Good advice Eric.
September 18th, 2006 at 9:27 am
It’s basically why I do about 40 rewrites before I get to a good working draft. Not fun.
September 18th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
That IS my enemy! I’m so wrapped up in having to make everything perfect the first time, I get paralyzed. That is why I am working with First Draft. It allows me to do a little at a time, go back and add and make it better. I don’t have to worry about it being perfect because the whole system is based on making the ideas better and better.
Not doing Nanowrimo this year because I really want to continue working on (and finishing!) my current WIP.
Also, I tend to write copious notes on things to add throughout the writing. But I end up losing them. I think organization is key too.
September 18th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Oh, this is sooooo me, although I doubt I ever asked myself “Should I use a metaphor or a simile?” :)
Great advice too!
September 19th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
I’m wracked with indecision right now. I’m glad others share the pain. :)
September 21st, 2006 at 11:53 am
All my indecision came before I even started a writing a word. I couldn’t decided how I should start…
Now I don’t even stop to think…I just write…making mental notes where I know I’ll want to change something or where I question some decision I made…
Then once I get to the revision phase some of that indecision will come back…as it’ll be time to make decisions :)
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:42 pm
I like this. I’m going to try it on my stinking pain-in-the-buttumocks scene. Right NOW. ;)
September 25th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
ksblog had a timely post on the same topic.