Straining for the melody

Rosalee commented on the previous post about a discussion on story and plot at Sherwood Smith's website. One commenter there, jediboadicea, said something I found very true:

"The writers with whom I tend to connect most strongly, either as a reader or as someone with whom to talk about the writing process itself, are those whose writing process includes an acknowledgment (or perhaps I should say defeated resignation? heh) of the fact that the story often decides for itself. Sometimes you have a hard time explaining why this or that event happened other than to say... well, it had to happen. The story demanded it.

"I often say that myself, and at that point it becomes a matter of - well, if it has to happen, how am I going to make it happen?" 

Because the creative process is so mysterious, inspiration so sudden and uncontrollable, it's easy to fool ourselves into believing it's completely out of our hands. Story happens. We're just the medium through which it flows. In one way, I want to say, "that's hooey. You're the writer. Write it." But at the same time, I know there's something else going on here. Story seems to exist outside ourselves. It's a combination of work and inspiration. For the spiritually minded, it might be a metaphor about the balance of personal effort plus divine grace.

What jediboadicea is saying here is dead on for me. Story is ethereal in a way--it's something there but only visible if I don't look at it straight on. It's a remembered dream. "This has to happen for the story," I realize. But then, the follow-up question must always be, "So, how do I make it happen?" Story reveals itself to you, then as a writer you sweat and work to make it tangible. What I mean to say is, we can't wait for the miracle. We listen for the story, then make it happen.

Comments

[Maribeth]

This was a really interesting post. I understand what you mean, and I've experience it. :)

[Anidori-Isilee]

Ditto what Maribeth said. Reading about the writing process and writing is always so fascinating because there are so many different styles. And then try explaining to a non-writer about writing...

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

I firmly believe that a writing process doesn't exist. But I DO believe that a story process does. Writing? It is inefficient, different, and varying every time you attempt it. It is the constant struggle, the area that you don't exactly know where to go with it. Story? It is natural. It has unexpected elements and surprises, but it has a process of development and progression. Without one or the other, neither can exist.

[Christen]

Absolutely. Writing is like a battle between yourself and an idea, wrangling and twisting for control until that delicate balance is achieved. A story is a living thing for me. I depend on it to speak to me and it depends on me to have a little faith in the revelation process. And if I write utter garbage, it's sure to let me know. :D

There are so many ways to say the same thing, but I love what jediboadicea said and how you expanded on it. Thanks, thanks, THANKS for sharing it! :D

[Katie-wa]

Now to apply that gorgeous piece of information to myself and the stubborn manuscript... xP

[Kelsey]

Gah...I'm starting to feel like I do when my mom tries to explain math to me. Waaay over my head. Or maybe I just need sleep.

Story, I think, is harder to try to explain, for me. Plot's simple enough: it's the compiling of events, arranging the storyline to form rising and falling action, selecting a beginning, a middle, and an end. Stories go on outside of the book; character's lives just don't stop where the text ends. Merely, there are many bits that get left out.

Hopefully my jumbled rambling makes some sort of sense.

[Somnite]

I feel better now. I throw out writing and planning processes and just write whatever scene comes next without thinking of how this gets me to what I originally hope it would be. Everytime I write, I feel somewhat out of control and lost (Anilee can attest to that) but I can't plan a story to be what I want it to be, because that would be wrong.

[Laina]

"Writing is like a battle between yourself and an idea..."

Christen, I don't know that I necessarily agree with what you said in that statement. Certainly, that's what it feels like sometimes (most of the time), but is that what writing truly is?

For me, writing is a harmony. The story is the melody. Our job as writers is to twist in and out of the story, highlighting the best parts, creating dissonance and then resolving it. The story is a stream and we're running to catch up with it with a pen and paper in hand. Sometimes we don't know how it will end, but at some time or another it is revieled. I know sometimes I try to fight the story. I wrestle with it, trying to make things work. Usually, I don't win.

I mean no disrespect to any posts... that's just what writing is to me: trying to work in harmony with the beautiful melody of a summer stream.

[Gooberbean]

That post gives great advice. I can relate with part of it, too. It makes me motivated to do just what you mention, listening to the story and adding things that has to happen. I'm not an official writer, but every once in a while I write little books for myself, though I never polish them up, like you're saying. Now I really want to write a story, and instead of throwing it out the window when I read it again, I'll try to listen and find what needs changing.
Great post! It really gives me insight! Thanks!

[Calliope1of9]

Makes sense to me!

[Rosalee LuAnn]

*reading happily down her LJ friends list*

*sees her own name*

*chokes*

Mom, look! I'm on Shannon Hale's blog! That means I'm famous!

:D You, like, actually read my comment and followed the link! :D

I have nothing on topic to say, just... :D

[Liesolotte]

Yet another wonderful post. Wonderful because it addresses spot-on, the way I feel about writing, and about my writing self. It has also led me to the revelation that maybe I am merely a writing person, not necessarily a writer. These beautiful ideas come to me, and I help them take form- most often as characters, but sometimes as more general stories- but I still struggle enormously with the writing part. When it comes down to it, I'm just not willing to sweat.

[Ellenboro]

Oh! I understand! I don't write much anymore (lack of free time) but I understand. It's cool because since it's just happening, you don't have to rack your brains in front of the monitor trying to decide what will happen next. That has got to be the worst place to think about that. It's annoying and kind of makes you feel that pressure of "I need to write something! If I don't what's the whole point?!" Anywhere else is all right, though. That's just my opinion, though.

[Calliope1of9]

I just finished reading Rapunzel's Revenge this morning and I absolutely adored it! You three did a fantastic job!

[Enna-girl's girl]

fascinating, brain-boggling stuff. It's like a tongue-twister...for my mind. Forgive me, but it's boiling hot right now.
But still, very interesting! I hope the next story you hear and listen to will be soon, cos I've read all your books twenty times each (heehee)