Well, it appears that ConCarolinas filled my entire field of view this week, so I wasn't able to get a lot of writing done.  I did just finish another podcast episode today, however.

At the con, though, I did a good deal of networking for the podcast and I went to a couple of writers' panels.

The first of the two I attended was called "From Outline to Epilogue" and had to do with the process of getting a book written.  The writers on the panel each went over the basics of how they get a book written and it looks as though the majority of the ones who attended don't use outlines, but try to just write stuff "by the seat of their pants."  I threw out a question about getting from plot point A to plot point B and the funny thing is that for the most part they seemed to agree that the best thing was to do a Raymond Chandler -- basically, whenever they get stuck, have something off the wall happen and then write around it from there.  I may need to try this.

I think that for me the problem has mostly been getting myself to actually sit and write.  Then when I get to that point, my brain likes to wander off.  And all I've usually got in my head at that point are a few vague scenes -- nothing concrete.  I'm thinking one possible technique might be to try to set up the plot a little bit more the way I do with RPGs, essentially throwing situations at my characters and seeing how they react.  Kind of like the Chandler method, I guess, only with a little more planning.  Hopefully, I'll be able to try that -- if I can get myself to put finger to keyboard (and about that -- funny how I'm doing it NOW, for this blog, right?).  The trick may just be going ahead and starting to do it without thinking about it.  Kind of like sneaking past myself to get it done.  The trouble is that I have a rather observant and paranoid guard in the "watchtower of the mind" and getting anything past him is a royal pain.  Maybe I should try getting him drunk.  That worked before...

Nah.  That way lies Hemingway.

The second of the two writing panels I went to was called "Creating Gods" and had to do with creating and putting deities into fiction.  It was pretty fascinating stuff, though they did tend to get stuck on the subject of offending people in real-world religions for quite a bit.  When they discussed what they do to create and insert deities into their work, for the most part it looked like they went with the idea that unless the religion they're working with has already been established before they start writing, they pretty much let it form when the need arises for one.

So, what this means, if I'm reading it right, is that more often than not, writers advise that the best method for getting a book done is to just make it up as you go.

Does that make sense?  I guess it does if you look at just diving in and writing whatever comes to mind as a way to keep the process going.  As a champion procrastinator I can appreciate the convenience of that approach.

The problem I personally encounter, though, is one of not knowing what to do to keep my brain from getting bored and switching to another channel once I've started the work.  I need to work out a technique for that -- preferably one that doesn't involve spending any money on drugs or therapy.

Or that leads Hemingwayward.  Because while my liver and I aren't quite on the best of terms, I'd still like to keep it around if I can.