![]() Rather, the key here is to plan how you’ll approach this way of writing so that you’ll benefit from the heightened level of productivity without feeling too overwhelmed. Writing first drafts out of sequence can work for plotters, pantsers, and everyone in between. ![]() And by that, I don’t necessarily mean outlines. With a little courage and a LOT of preparation. So, How Can You Write Out of Sequence Without Driving Yourself Crazy? So depending on how you approach “skipping around,” you might create more work for yourself come revision time. Writing out of sequence with reckless abandon, however, can make it an even bigger mess. Additional Work for the Next Draft: A completed first draft is always messy.Of course, this can also happen when writing straight through from start to finish, but it’s something to be mindful of when skipping around. A Lack of Continuity: When writing non-sequentially, you run the risk of dropping subplots or important details you included in previously drafted scenes, or adding ones that didn’t exist before.That’s not always something your brain can keep track of on its own. You might not recall which scenes you’ve already written, which ones you still have to finish, and which ones you’ve yet to start. “Forgotten” Scenes: Writing non-sequentially can make it tricky to remember the state of each section of the story.While writing out of sequence can give you a much-needed productivity boost, it also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of: Some Cautions About Writing Out of Sequence I write so much faster when I skip around than when I used to write straight through from beginning to, and I wouldn’t do it any other way now. It’s an intimidating method, especially if you’re a perfectionist. Rather, you’re giving your subconscious time to process and solve the problem causing that resistance while you to continue to move forward. By skipping to a section that puts up less resistance, you’re not ignoring the part that’s stalling your writing. And more often than not, this intensely inspired state can deepen your concentration and help the word count soar.Īnother benefit of writing non-sequentially is that it helps you work around – and even beat – writer’s block. That way, you allow yourself to stay “in the flow” so the writing goes smoothly, rather than forcing yourself to fight for every word. So if you’re struggling with Scene A but visualizing or “feeling” Scene B more strongly, you would skip to Scene B and return to Scene A later. ![]() As you work on a first draft of a story (or other piece of writing), you focus on the sections you’re most compelled to work on at that time. Writing out of sequence takes advantage of such moments. Why was writing that scene such a breeze? Were you visualizing it clearly, as if you were watching a movie? Had something in the real world made you so angry or impassioned that you needed to channel your emotions into that particular scene? Your being “in the flow” was likely a result of either scenario, or maybe a little of both. Think back on a scene in your current story where the words flowed out of you. The Purpose and Benefits of Writing Out of Sequence (*gasp*)īefore we cover how to write first drafts out of sequence, though, let’s discuss why it can be beneficial. Maybe it might rescue you during your next bout of writer’s block. So does writing coach and self-help author Hillary Rettig. Schwab uses it (she calls it “connecting the dots”). Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? But when approached in the right manner, non-sequential writing can be surprisingly productive and liberating. ![]() I even skip around when drafting my blog posts, including this one. Now I’m in the process of “filling in the blanks” between the story’s middle and the climax. Then I wrote the first chapter shortly afterward, followed by the climax scene a few weeks later. With my current manuscript, the first scene I wrote appears one-third of the way through the story. Yes, I write my first drafts out of sequence. When other writers ask me if I’m a plotter or a pantser, I usually tell them, “I’m a little of both, but I’m also skip around.” By “skipping around,” I mean that I work on whatever scene I’m picturing clearest, even if it’s at the end and I haven’t begun Chapter One yet.
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