Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Instinct Vs. Logic

As I sit by my computer staring at my latest WIP, I wonder to myself where this book is going. When I read a novel, I love it when I couldn’t predict what will happen on the next page, but as a writer, I should at least have an inkling as to where the story is headed. Right? Well, not in this case. When I started writing “Midnight Lover” I knew what will happen romantically in the book. I had a general idea of the subplots and conflicts . . . but wait, nothing (and I mean nothing) is going according to plan. I planned for it to be a fast paced action romance, instead it’s a slow moving romantic suspense. I planned on the hero being introduced early in the story, but now I’m 12,000 words in and only now we learn the hero’s name. More than that, I broke one of writing’s rules with the very first scene. A part of me is screaming rewrite, rewrite, rewrite; this will never get published. Yet, another part of me is saying to leave it as it is, it’s perfect this way. So which part do I listen to; the logic (rewrite, NOW!) or the instinct (keep the way it is)? It took me a while to decide, but I think I’ll follow my instincts (if I ever find the time to write at all). What if it’s the wrong decision, though?




Question for you: When faced with a decision of instinct vs logic, which do you choose? Does it usually work out for the better in the end?

8 comments:

  1. This is what i think write the book in your heart. Give it a while to stew and reread it the answers will be clearer then.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think it's too early to decide. Finish the book and let it sit for a while.

    For what it's worth, I tend to trust my instincts. I've rewritten a couple of things only to discover later that it was better the way I originally intended it. But I didn't know that until the book was done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great advice ladies, thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Keep in mind that you'll revise it multiple times so don't stress about the small stuff. See where your plot takes you. Get to "The End" and then think about revising. Deleting is always easier when you've got the bones down.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Lia,

    I go with instinct, but it's got to be believable. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, btw, love your blog colours and layout.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a tough one! I wouldn't worry about it too much at this stage. You will likely redraft more than once, anyway - plenty of time to get it all right.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great advice above. I agree - write the story in your heart, get to The End, and then the fun begins with redrafting - you'll probably change the whole thing a hell of a lot during that process.

    ReplyDelete