I’m certain now that writing fragments is the best approach. I’ve written two fragments, I’m calling them chapters. They’re not finalised, but that’s what makes sense to call them.
I’m not good with long pieces. Penny’s Gifts was one of the hardest pieces to write, not because of the content, but because I had so many things I wanted to say, and knew too many ways to do it. Same with the recent Alt Right Mate; I felt I’d finished it after 2 days of re-writes, but after reading it back to BJ and getting some (excellent) constructive feedback, I had to agree that it was repetitive and lacking in my usual flow. That’s because it’s a fragmented fragment, made up of what, in my mind, are smaller fragments. It’s how I work best: In short bursts, unleash the thoughts in a way that makes sense to them, and just let them be.
I’m still going to try and re-write Alt Right Mate. It started at 500 words, doubled in size the next day with my revisions, now I need to get it back to 500 again! Or maybe I’ll leave it for another while. I’ve been trying to write that piece for years now.
And yes, I think it works, this approach, for the book. It’s the only way I know how to write, apparently, and I’m ok with that. But to be honest, it’s also how I read: in bite sized chunks, else I’m bored and move on. The last couple of books I read were gradually absorbed in 2 minute blasts on the loo, spanning over months. I love reading, but sitting down to do it just doesn’t come as naturally to me as it used to.
I don’t know if there’s a precedent for this approach among other literature. The book Granny sent me, “Take Me With You When You Go”, does something similar. But I’m cool with going in my own direction, my own fragmented style, especially considering the artistic license such a medium offers, as covered in the last post.
I don’t think it really matters that I’m not a big reader, and so, don’t have any particular influences. Like my personal identity, my writing style is made up in a way that makes sense to me, rather than how other people do it. I’m pretty happy with that. Whatever style or voice I have now, it’s just what’s occurred over 15 years of writing for myself. If I’ve improved over time, then that’s just me finding better ways of writing things I’d like to read, and likewise, finding ways of thinking about things that feel more engaging, novel, and challenging.
So I’m happy to report that I very much enjoy the things I’m writing lately. I read each piece out loud, — to check the flow and make edits according to how I speak the words, usually the day after writing it so I’m not bored by the mental repetition — and at the end of each of reading, I’m always left with a feeling of “what’s next?”.
It’s exactly what I want to read, and one of my biggest motivations now is that, quite simply, I want to read more of it!
Ok, that’s 2 posts done, I think I’ve hit my quota for 500 words today \o/
(..but words beget words, and I can feel more pushing through from inside me, churning their way to the surface, eager to get outside my head…)