100 things, writing, prompt writing

[jana_denardo]

{Take the 100 Things challenge!}

I love writing to prompts. Most of my friends will tell you give me a prompt, some situation, some theme and I can probably turn out something that fits the prompt and manages to move my story along. I’ve belonged to several prompt communities over the years, including origfic_bingo and several of the platform challenges I’ve taken.

I’ve written a lot of these stand alone scenes using them. The sad truth is, not every scene can be used in the final product, but that’s a big part of writing. In our edits, we remove nearly as much as we add. I would love to use everything I write but we all know not every word is a gem. Sometimes, even a few gems have to be cast aside since the story takes a bounce you weren’t expecting. (I’m a panters not an outliner but that is a post for another day).

The downside to the prompt writing, especially when you’re writing for a handful of prompts and not just the theme of an open call, is that you can often tell that it was written for prompts. There are no smooth transition. The story is herky-jerky, like rusted gears.

I’m staring that in the face right now. Even though I ‘finished’ the Scarred Soldier story, Kept Tears (unless I can find a less sucky title. Gah, I hate titling things but that, too, is a story for another day). As I was editing through it, it was blatantly obvious to me that it didn’t flow. Ugh, just ugh. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the story and frankly think it’s one of the better things I’ve written in a while but I definitely need to work out those transitions.

Also for my own poor memory’s sake let me list out a few things to add in.

1. scene with Corrine
2. scene with the doctor
3. scene with mom
4. scene with kyle being evil

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

You will be adding as much as you subtract with those scenes.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

oh yes so then I'll be halfway to novel and whine.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

No, you'll whine?

Seriously?

You?

*cough*HyenaLaughs*cough*

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

hush you

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

You'd have to drive six hours to make me.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

i'm done with work in a few days

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Bring it, girlfriend.

Vietnamese restaurants, greek restaurants with free appetizers, that place in Kentucky with the winery...

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

that is tempting. i now have 2 weeks worth of meetings AFTER the school year is done (well meetings and doctor's appts)

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

*teeeempts* even though I know you won't come.

Aiee to all the meetings.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

no, not this year

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Ah, well.