Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Base Jumping

Writing carries a certain element of base-jumping, really. Fling yourself, fly, and only worry about the moment, the simple accuracy needed for a free fall, until your chute deploys and you have the time to focus on the finer details of your direction, speed, altitude and surroundings.
                                          ~~Claire Gregory, Books and Writers Forum

Claire Gregory has forever defined the act of writing a first draft for me with this quote. ; )

We can debate outlining vs. pantsing until our words run dry, but all of us have to commit to begin the process of telling a story, any story, if we intend to write. All of us have felt that utter sense of exhilaration when we write the first idea down and when the first scene forms.

So here's to flinging ourselves into the story, committing our ideas to paper. May we continue to let go and see where the jump takes us. ; )

How about you? What does committing to that first draft feel like?

I'm still recuperating from my foot surgery, but thought this was too good not to share and scheduled it ahead. ; )

12 comments:

  1. Yep, base jumping pretty well defines it. Claire has such an interesting way of defining things.

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    1. I love this quote of Claire's. It's perfect.

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  2. You're right, no matter how we go about it we have to take that jump. Here's to hoping we land in a great spot!

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    1. Amen! Sara, you said it. We all want a good landing spot. ;-)

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  3. That's a nice image--you really do just have to go for it! Glad to hear you're recovering well.

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    1. Thanks, Lara! I'm doing very well. The bruising is even starting to go. ;-)

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  5. I am just beginning to experience "base jumping" as you call it, Zan, and I am having a ball. Wrote for almost two hours this morning and could keep on if I didn't have piano lessons this afternoon. Tom has been after me to write for years; finally decided to step out on a limb. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated (or should my verb be "is"). :D

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    1. Exciting, Janet! What are you writing? (BTW, are is correct. ; ) Whatever genre you're working on, I have a great writing forum to suggest--CompuServe Books and Writers Forum. I love it! I've learned so much in the last 5 years I've been a member. Email me for more info and a link.

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    2. I thought "are" was right; subject closest to the verb when there is more than one subject? At least that is what I remember from all that home-schooling with the guys. I am writing a fiction novel. Will message you for the info..THANKS!

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  6. A first draft is so freeing! I love that free-falling sense of discovering characters and having them wander down new alleys of story.

    Hope the recovery is going well!

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