parisSep 12, 2024

#writersCoffeeClub 12 Sep scene visualisation

“Where is his hand? Wait, did he cross the room yet? What is he wearing again?”

I do wish for a simple-to-use visual way to manage this sort of details; for now, I just reread as needed and/or take notes (which I then refer to incessantly). 😔

Show threadInverse ShadowSep 12, 2024
@paris Have you considered using her maps and character tokens?
Show threadparisSep 12, 2024
@Inverse_Shadow Like in D&D? …Y’know that’s a really interesting suggestion. That might work!!!
Show threadInverse ShadowSep 12, 2024
@paris Yes! I've done it a few times, and I wound up with 50 pages of notes for an upcoming scene... only to discover that I have to redo it. It turns out that I'm changing which characters I'm using. Not all of them, but enough. Enough to change character dynamics and some of the dialogue and such... Also, I kept track of intoxication levels, which adds another level of complexity... I blame my coworker for inadvertently altering my timeline! Lol!
Show threadparisSep 12, 2024
@Inverse_Shadow Aaaaah but hopefully it’s for the better? 🙏 And yes, that’s me, 100%! So many notes, except also I forgot oooone little detail and now it’s all derailed 🤪
Show threadInverse ShadowSep 12, 2024

@paris Well, this is more of a more of an issue with new characters showing up and such. I keep saying how this was supposed to be a small collection of short stories, but here we are. Five, freakin' books. Technically I could cut #3 into two... and that's if you ignore the monster that the last chapter is shaping up to be...

Honestly, I blame changes in character dynamics and the addition of an additional antagonist. But, yes, I'm thinking the over all narrative will benefit from the changes.

Show threadparisSep 12, 2024
@Inverse_Shadow I do feel like this is a perfect example of that whole idea that a writer sits down and plans a story, and then the story/characters/etc go off on their own, and the writer is left scrambling to keep up. A life of its own ahaha
Show threadInverse ShadowSep 12, 2024
@paris Very true! I tend to get very into the heads of my characters. Sometimes maybe too much, and I almost have to wonder if they have something bordering on free will at times.;) Honestly, sometimes when they talk to one another, I often feel like I'm a passive observer, like these aren't my words. That the dialogue is coming from an external source... this also makes me pathological afraid of ever taking anti psychotics! Lol!
Show threadparis
@Inverse_Shadow The observing is wonderful, when they stop being flat ideas on a page and become fully formed, fully capable of speaking for themselves, thank you very much! it’s such an exciting process!!
Sep 12, 2024 at 6:56pmWeb
Show threadInverse ShadowSep 12, 2024
@paris Speaking, taking actions, radically altering the plot. <.< Oh, and fall I love unexpectedly. Honestly, I can see how someone came up with the idea of "pada-physics!"
Show threadparisSep 12, 2024
@Inverse_Shadow A new one for me! And yes, it’s their life, how dare we have plans and ideas and structures for how it’ll go lmao
Show threadInverse ShadowSep 12, 2024
@paris Let's just hope that there isn't a narrative layer above ours, with writers trying to alter our destinies! Lol