This week’s question from the Marketing for Romance Writers blog challenge: Plotter or Pantser, and Why? Join the discussion here: https://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/
Some writers’ first drafts are fat, some are thin. Mine are obese. I happily blather on and on, creating scenes that amuse and charm me. Alas, not many readers want to read 400 pages of clever banter.
Even though I do extensive character sketches before beginning, these frothy scenes are part of my process of getting to know my characters.
As a semi-pantser, I don’t fully know what the book’s about until the first draft is complete. Subsequent drafts are for tightening theme, pacing, and pruning extraneous subplots and characters.
By the time I reached the halfway point of Runaway Love Story, the narrative was overflowing like a jacuzzi filled with bubble bath. Using Lisa Cron’s Scene Card technique from Story Genius (great for pantsers who want to learn plotting), I’d sketched out more scenes that I could possibly use. To contain the froth, I used the highlighting feature of Microsoft Word. Coloring is fun! And these bright swaths of color helped me focus the narrative.
I thank Tessa Dare for inspiring this process. As I read When a Scot Ties the Knot, I was struck by how well she portrays the actual falling-in-love process. Not just the steamy scenes—lots of writers do that well—but the gradual opening and unfurling of two hearts, building a believable, un-sappy emotional connection.
For RLS, I searched out every bit of dialogue or narrative that showed my protags falling in love. I highlighted those in pink. Their growing sexual attraction I highlighted in red, of course. The protag’s growing love is hampered by her professional ambitions, highlighted in turquoise. Another factor that both brings them together and keeps them apart is their struggle with family members’ dementia, his mom, her great-aunt. Those bits get highlighted in yellow.
Here’s where the froth-slaying begins. Everything that wasn’t highlighted needed a damned good reason for being there. It helped, making the finished story much tighter and cohesive.
How about you, my fellow writers of fat first drafts? How do you battle the froth?
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Love-Story-Book-Nirvana-ebook/dp/B07QBHS1ZQ/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/runaway-love-story-sadira-stone/1131145865
Interesting post. My first drafts are usually thin, but I like the idea of color coding. I imagine it gives you a better flow. Thanks!
I love the title of this post and would love to know more about this coloring in word… we need a chat lol.
I have done both the fat and Thin and am wanting to try something different on the next story. This rewriting so much has really driven me up the wall. LOL
Have you heard of Margie Lawson? She teaches a color-coding method of editing that I find very helpful. Since I was just looking for the various elements of a good love scene, I adapted her method. As I recall, she highlights dialogue in one color, narrative in another, description of things you can see in another, visceral reactions in another, and so on.
I tend to write lean stories and end up adding detail during revision. My editor helps immensely when she points out places where I think there’s sufficient explanation and she reminds me that my readers aren’t mind readers.
Sounds like a writer I know. His standard response: “It’s implied. It’s understood.” Not by me, buddy. He helps me see where I’m being wordy.
Sounds like a really cool way to work. I’m not nearly that organized with my writing, but I am… slow. I KNOW it’s best to “just get the words down,” but I can’t stop myself from continually editing as I go. (sigh) Maybe this old dog SHOULD learn some new tricks… 🙂
I’m looking forward to your new book! Matter of fact, I think I’ll go pre-order it right NOW!
Have a super weekend.
Well, dang, I really AM getting old… I didn’t have to pre-order, because I already DID! HA!
Thank you! If I don’t write down tasks and note the date completed, I’ll never remember whether I actually did it or just intended to do it. Thank God for Post-its.
I like your color coding idea. Thanks for the idea.
I’m usually the opposite. There have been times when I’ve needed to cut scenes, but usually I end up adding scenes.
I used to write thick drafts then tear it to pieces in revisions which is what I got tired of doing, so I try to write “not too thick” these days. That said, I still have to cut a lot of scenes and add. Like with your editor mine lets me know when to expand or toss. I love the color coding, but I think it would drive me crazy. Congrats on the new book. I love the cover.