I know what most people prefer: to write their story in order, chronologically, from beginning to end, then rinse and repeat.
And I've usually worked that way too. But lately, I've been getting too stuck. So I started researching tips about how to write out of order, who writes out of order, and what they have to say about it. And I realized that it really isn't that weird after all. A lot of people do it, and it can help inspire more stories.
There's a GREAT article by successful teen author Veronica Roth about the very subject: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/2011/11/writing-out-of-order.html
She's highly informative and funny, too. It was a blast to read her thoughts and it really helped me realize that it's okay to write out of order. For example, I have this really great scene from my book imagined in my head - but I haven't written it yet. Why? Because it's not right at the beginning of my story. But I think I should write that scene anyway, because getting it out will hep me either realize its magnificence or see some of its faults. And it can also help me figure out which events lead up to the scene, events that I am currently clueless about.
Veronica gives a lot of ideas on how to keep track - because yes, confusion is sometimes a worry when writing out of order. She uses hashtags to mark her place, or put a 'note' and come back to it later. It's better than using actual sticky notes all the time...
I think this method would be very useful, and I'd like to try it out. It's better than trying to write the first chapter over and over and deleting it like a broken record. Maybe this time, I'll make some actual progress. And it's about time, I'm already 30 days in. What?!!!?!?!??!
...I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!!
"The part always has a tendency to reunite with its whole in order to escape from its imperfection." - Leonardo da VinciBook Working Title: Knights of Kethyria
Day in Progress: 30
Words Achieved: 2,682Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvocadoPolymath--
