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11/18/2004 Entry: "The post-it notes are eating my dust"

The post-it notes are eating my dust

I started writing down sentences yesterday on my laptop. First I cut out almost half of what I had previously written, then I started weaving the world of the hot pink and aqua post-it notes into the electric goop of the computer.

The one thing I'm learning about writing is the difference between being focused and being clear. I've been focused for years, I've had my determination mark chalked on my forehead and have been writing a novel, writting a novel, writing a novel about a gigantic pink cat, yeah a gigantic pink cat who travels around the world on her motorcycle, yeah traveling and meeting interesting folks, no robots, no ice cream cones...and so on.

Then I gave the first sixty pages to an editor she sent the pages back and to tell you the truth I didn't open the envelope for two months. I was scared. But I'm also open to the truth that I have no idea what I'm doing, I'm new to this author stuff but I know BikiniKat inside and out. What she suggested in her notes was clarity. You have many wonderful whimsical ideas, but for the novel you constanly need to ask "does it work in the whole?"

She suggested I write the novel out in the clearest terms possible and then use that as an outline. Since I'm a visual person I've done it in post-it notes and now I understand the power of clarity. It's so easy now to cut paragraphs out and make decisions. I can see in my words that focused girl writing, writing, writing her novel obsessively, wandering and meandering, and now the clear girl can jump in and show BikiniKat how to travel North, South, East, West and San Fransassy without losing anyone.

Because I like YOU.

Replies: 2 Meows

I've never read Bird by Bird, but I heard it's really good and helps you finish what you started and not freak out about it. Rock ON!

Posted by Flower Frankenstein @ 11/19/2004 09:53 AM PST

...and isn't it easier to fill a post-it note (or a page) than to tell yourself "ok, i'm gona sit down and write a NOVEL now?" 300 post-its = 1 novel.

have you ever read bird by bird ? i need to go read it again. must pay bills. must pay bills. m...ust pay bills.

Posted by michael @ 11/18/2004 12:46 PM PST