How to Free Your Writing Flow
Let go of linear writing to find a better way through your manuscript
Writing a story can often feel like climbing behind the wheel of a car and taking off down a long country road at night.
There’s a world out there, beyond the reach of your headlights.
You know what’s going on in that unseen world could affect your drive, perhaps dramatically: The deer springing from the darkness a few feet from your front bumper or the flooded river some miles ahead will make this trip more memorable than you might have been expecting.
But you can only see the road. Only a little of the road at a time, for that matter. So keep your hands on the wheel and look straight ahead.
Except you’re not driving a car. This road has no rules. It’s total anarchy out here and you can fly.
The organization trap
A little organization goes a long way in writing. I’ve spent (ahem, wasted) too much time digging for notes I misplaced, searching hard drives for scenes I’m fairly sure I wrote, and trying to figure out what I was doing when I left off.
However, there’s a fine line between setting out a bit of structure to keep yourself focused and blinkering yourself right into a wall.
