The twiwrite zone
I’ve heard about them. I’ve read about them. Those writers who just write and see what happens. They go where their characters take them, they don’t know how a scene will end until it’s written. The characters drive the bus and the writer goes along for the ride.
I’m kind of loosey goosey when it comes to outlining and planning a story, but I do have it all laid out in my head and on paper. At the top of a page I jot short-hand one-word or one-line notes about the scenes to come. When I stop for the day, I jot another note about what I envision to be next. Even when I change my mind, it started somewhere. It is deliberate. And just how I’ve blogged about always thinking about the story or how a character would behave or what he or she would say. I’m obsessed, more or less.
And as of today, I’m also – possessed. And a firm believer.
Today my main character made her own decision. I had nothing to do with it.
I shook my head. I looked at the monitor. It happened slowly at first and then, it — she — took over. I closed my eyes and typed. Obviously I can touch-type, and although some quotation marks are a little off, the rest was fine. I opened my eyes to a slightly new direction based on a brand new motivation for the character. It adds something to the character’s backstory as well, but since I’m writing “as if” I’ve made all previous adjustments, it’s fine to just continue. Silly of me to think she wouldn’t know her own mind – or her own background.
It wasn’t me deciding what she would do, I was literally typing unaware of what the next word would be. If I wasn’t as exhausted as a hypnosis patient afterward, I’d have loved to just go on and on. I’m thinking it was like a religious experience would be, if I’d ever had one of those. I stared at the monitor, mightily pleased with the result — but more so with the process. I’m not sure I control it, but I hope it wasn’t an isolated incident, because I’m dying to know what happens next.
Has this happened to you? If it has, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, I hope it does. It was way.beyond.amazing.
Should I be committed or should I just shut up, close my eyes and keep typing?
Keep typing! And see where it takes you. Love it when that happens. Let us know where you end up!
Hi Amy,
It will happen more often and when it does, writing feels effortless. It’s as if you are simply the translator who tells the character’s story.
I was just getting ready to pack it in for the night and I took a last look at your blog. I simply had to comment. You have been to the ‘Repository’ haven’t you?
I’m not a writer, but this sounds really amazing! I’ve had one or two moments in Yoga that were somewhat transcendent…that’s not the right word, but I can’t think of the right word right now. But I’m thinking it might be similar, though in an entirely different way.
If that makes any sense whatsoever.
Your book came today…thank you!
Do do do do, do do do do…welcome to the zone. I know a few writers who always write like this, with the characters basically giving dictation. Hope you get to do more of this. It IS fun, isn’t it?
Hi Amy, I finally made it over here from Spy’s blog.
I’ve experienced what you’re talking about to a degree, but I’ve never heard it described so well. Equating it to a religious experience is so true – or something out of body in my case. You look back and what you wrote and just wonder where the heck it came from.