tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post114304315465523786..comments2023-08-12T02:33:29.988-05:00Comments on 2 B Read: Why I love deadlines...Sylvia Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06489243230694413409noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143173888865648472006-03-23T23:18:00.000-05:002006-03-23T23:18:00.000-05:00Allison - that's a great quote. And very true. O...Allison - that's a great quote. And very true. One problem I developed from the day job was becoming an adrenaline junkie - no panic, no performance.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143173830017865732006-03-23T23:17:00.000-05:002006-03-23T23:17:00.000-05:00JoAnn, the thought of 5-8 books a year makes me hy...JoAnn, the thought of 5-8 books a year makes me hyperventilate! I am definitely in awe. And I must admit that my kitchen counter is actually my office. I'm sure one day I will set the house on fire by accidentally putting my work in progress too close to the burner.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143066494413591012006-03-22T17:28:00.000-05:002006-03-22T17:28:00.000-05:00I read someplace "Deadlines are the best inspirati...I read someplace "Deadlines are the best inspiration."<BR/><BR/>I tend to agree. At least now, today. And the rest of the year . . .Allison Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872860080644987843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143060933089161302006-03-22T15:55:00.000-05:002006-03-22T15:55:00.000-05:00Sharon -- LOL about your stair filing method. Mi...Sharon -- LOL about your stair filing method. Mine's pretty much my kitchen counter. If we didn't have company every so often, I'd flat run out of cooking space. <BR/><BR/>My problem with spreadsheets is I get to know my characters as I write, so I'd just do what I did my first year when people told me I needed to do character sheets, I'd fill in blank spaces with anything that came to mind JoAnn Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351137721112499077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143058961735404062006-03-22T15:22:00.000-05:002006-03-22T15:22:00.000-05:00JoAnn, I've be so amazed and impressed by the dead...JoAnn, I've be so amazed and impressed by the deadlines you meet. It's strange about the spreadsheet--I actually really enjoyed putting it together. It was fun to define my 'obvious' and 'hidden' motives for my suspects and gave a neat place for putting in reference notes. Normally I rebel against things like that (I file by making piles on the stairs in my house :-)), but it worked for me.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143058401610351232006-03-22T15:13:00.000-05:002006-03-22T15:13:00.000-05:00Nancy, your comment about scenes struck a chord. ...Nancy, your comment about scenes struck a chord. I also like to work single spaced, so then I just have to write 160 pages to have the book done. Playing mind-games with myself works.<BR/><BR/>And thanks Colleen, JoAnn, Nancy for your comments.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143058123803385752006-03-22T15:08:00.000-05:002006-03-22T15:08:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143057663092832812006-03-22T15:01:00.000-05:002006-03-22T15:01:00.000-05:00Colleen, this is what I'm discovering--that differ...Colleen, this is what I'm discovering--that different books might need different methods. I notice that I've pieced together a little from all the workshops I've been to, to try and find methods that suit me. Also, I too would be way too afraid to write down to the wire.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143056048602167592006-03-22T14:34:00.000-05:002006-03-22T14:34:00.000-05:00Deadlines are what also make those of us who'd sti...Deadlines are what also make those of us who'd still be polishing our first story send our books out into the world. :)JoAnn Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351137721112499077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143054367424183772006-03-22T14:06:00.000-05:002006-03-22T14:06:00.000-05:00I don't think in terms of writing a book. That's t...I don't think in terms of writing a book. That's too daunting. I think in terms of scenes. Scenes turn into chapters and chapters turn into a book. I always work from a synopsis which I write first and then break down into chapters. Of course, things can and often do change along the way, but at least a synopsis helps keep me mostly on course. I also work from index cards on which I jot down Nancy Morsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947358450252385401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143046219156116842006-03-22T11:50:00.000-05:002006-03-22T11:50:00.000-05:00Oh, what Colleen said!!! Especially that part abo...Oh, what Colleen said!!! Especially that part about anyone claiming to have the correct and only way. (This also goes for actual craft stuff, as well.)<BR/><BR/>My methods are continually changing over the years, and sometimes during the books. The last couple have been what Colleen described so well as white heat books, but that's been because of outside occurences, and I'm hoping it doesn't JoAnn Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351137721112499077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229339.post-1143044364228520662006-03-22T11:19:00.000-05:002006-03-22T11:19:00.000-05:00Interesting post, Sharon. I'm another one who bre...Interesting post, Sharon. I'm another one who breaks down the enormous, unthinkable task of completing a novel into bite-sized mini-goals. I know other writers who thrive on writing in a white heat down to the wire, but the idea paralyzes me, and I know I wouldn't do my best work under such conditions.<BR/><BR/>I do work from a synopsis, which I generally complete after writing about three Colleen Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18398127184158098008noreply@blogger.com