Hey everyone,
One of my favorite parts of writing a book is giving it shape. Of all the different ways to tell a story, which one am I going to pick?
I’ve always enjoyed playing with structure, and one of the early decisions I make with any project is how to build it in a way that best represents the story but is also interesting to read (and write).
I’ve been doing that with a new book, and it’s been so fun. But now it’s time to write the first chapter, and I’m resisting. The moment I put the words down, I’m committed to the structure, I’m committing to the way in which I’m telling this story.
Before you begin, there are an infinite number of ways to write the book, so many roads the characters can go down. With each scene you write, you limit the number of choices, and if you’ve done your job well, by the time you get to the end, you’re only left with a couple of key ways in which to have a satisfying ending.
I think of it as steps. For an 80,000-word book with, let’s say, 2,000-word scenes, I only have 40 steps from beginning to end. Each step can only continue along the same direction; it can’t change course entirely. Which is why that first step, that first chapter, becomes the foundation.
It’s also why I’m procrastinating.
I’m now simultaneously working on four books, which is insane. Thankfully, each book is in a different stage of the creation process. This makes it easier. I’m revising a novel, in the first draft of a nonfiction book, editing the Freelance Writer’s Guideseries, and updating a book proposal.
It’s how I like to work, so I won’t complain, but I usually like to have two or three major projects on my plate, not four. And with these newsletters, and the programs I’m running with tons of coaching calls, I know I better cut down before I start dropping balls. Given my luck, they’ll fall all at once, straight on to my head.
I’m reminding myself that there are two ways to see this: Either I can list out all that I have to do and convince myself how overwhelming it is. Or I can look at all these brilliant projects on my list, every one of which I’m excited about working on, and be grateful for how I get to spend my days.
I’ll alternate between both, let’s be honest.
In the meantime, I have a chapter to write and a structure that’s asking for a commitment ceremony. If I haven’t done it by tomorrow, I give you permission to email me and yell at me.
See you then!
Cheers,
Natasha