Let me start by saying: I am not blaming Scrivener.
Not too long ago, I uploaded my half written WIP into Scrivener. I divided it into chapters. I was immediately excited about my new toy. I now have an almost completed story board, and I’m very happy to report: I know where this book is going. I have a plan. A vision. I know what I want to say.
For me, this is how I get my “final” first draft.
As a writer, however, what tends to slip me up is tunnel vision. I know I’m not alone on this. Call it perfectionist syndrome. Call it fear. Often, just when I should be exploring and discovering, I catch myself editing…working on voice….creating DARLINGS.
That’s what happened this week.
(Perhaps I should stop giving that “great beginnings” lecture!!!!)
Anyway, at first, I wondered if Scrivener was facilitating my problem.
By dividing the chapters up, Scrivener seems to play into my tunnel vision/fear of failure/Chapter One obsession. (That said, after all this work, I think my first chapter is pretty close to awesome!!!!) But I also realize I spent a good deal of time this week moving backwards, when I wanted to be writing forward.
Today, I write this determined to write forward. (That’s my “lean in.”) I recognize: the problem is mine. But I would also like to hear from other Scrivener users who may share my issue: do you draft in word? Then upload? Is this just a matter of discipline? (probably)
(If you tend to focus on perfecting before drafting, you may–like me–need to get out a writing jar!!!!)
Talk to me!!!!
I’m confused: don’t you write in chapters in Word, too? Or is it that in Scrivener they appear more separate? I feel freer and more “first drafty” in Scrivener than Word, then I export for later drafts. I feel comfortable moving forward in a first draft, but where I go back and back is revision. Feels like I’m always rewriting the whole thing–gah!
Good news about your wip. Keep going!
It’s the separateness.
It’s a good thing and a bad thing. The good part: I can really see my beginnings and endings and make them sharp.
The bad part is the tunnel vision thing. I start revising, when I should be drafting. It bogs me down.