But often you'll need to write a scene before you know the book doesn't need it, even though you did.

I agree with this. Sometimes I've just jumped, sometimes I've needed to write it to know it for myself, then cut it down to a sentence or two.

And the other way: generally speaking, I write first drafts straight through from beginning to end, but if I'm having a really crap day, rather than give up in despair when I'm completely blank as to the next bit, I have been known to make a note [D goes to J's house and they have an argument] and then jump ahead to the next bit I can see how to write - him mooching miserably along the Embankment and picking up a girl. And go back and write the previous scene when I do know what it needs.

I do that sometimes.

It's SO interesting reading different people's ways of working at their writing. I've never had any training or taken any courses, so I write the way that seems right for me. I don't do rough drafts (although I do eventually edit the whole thing at the end). I need to get each chapter as perfect as possible as I'm writing it. Before I start I really 'visualize' everything that is about to take place in the chapter - actually imagine myself in the skin of each character as they're doing things, or speaking. Maybe I rarely get stuck because I 'live' through the chapter so much beforehand. Does anyone else do this, or am I weird?! I should mention that my first book (a memoir) was much harder to write than my current work - a full length novel for children (and maybe grown-ups!). I'm just loving writing this one, it's just great fun.

Franci
x

To NaomiM: Ah the Pratchett novels – those I know very well. In fact, the Thief of Time is one of my all time favourites. The journey I was stuck with was actually only a 45-minute journey in book-time but it opened up the next phase of the story. I’ve decided to cut it down a lot, only putting in a small paragraph for each thing that (at the moment) I think MUST to be there.

That brings me to something else that is a surprises – my first chapter is introduction, the story timeline starts properly at the beginning of chapter 2 – so I’ve had 5 chapters and only about 3 hours of book-time has elapsed. I guess I won’t know if that’s wrong until I’m nearer the end of the book.

I have only just started the Philip Pullman trilogy, so I haven’t yet reached the second book.

To KimW5UK: You’ve hit the nail on the head! If it’s boring to write, surely no one is going to want to read it. I think I am still in the mindset of “I must relate everything the characters do in my story” which is obviously rubbish. This inability to skip bits and not worry about it, I hope, is just my inexperience! Due to my work (and family) I often have natural breaks. So my writing ends up being piecemeal anyway.

Thinking time I DO understand. It’s usually when I’m having a shower in the morning and only half awake. My mind wanders through all sorts of ideas.

To Emma: Yes. I think it’s exactly this “cut scene” problem that I’m experiencing now. As I said earlier, so far chapters 2 to 6 have chronicled everything that has happened to my poor heroine because everything she is experiencing is completely new. It’s the change in chapter 7 of finally starting to have “cut scenes” that I’m having problems with. Hmmm. I never would have realised that without posting on this forum.

So I guess this also means I’m having to learn a new “style”, because I haven’t had a disruption in the story timeline yet.

To Franci: Are we related in some way?? You just described exactly how I’m writing this novel. I don’t do rough drafts, I like each chapter to be as perfect as possible, I pre-visualise what’s going to happen in the chapter.

Thanks again for all the replies