One of the reasons why drafting ‘Z’ is so straightforward is because the narrative is worked out in detail, step-by-step right through to the end. Essentially I’m writing to a ‘to do’ list.
Doesn’t sound very edifying, does it?
When working on it yesterday, one of the key side effects of being in such a position struck home; and that relates to spontaneity.
Normally when writing against a much ‘looser’ structure, there is room for flexibility in the draft i.e. I can introduce new characters or scenes, have existing characters do or say something I hadn’t planned. Tangents are permitted. There is a certain dynamism in the creative process.
With ‘Z’ the potential for such deviations is considerably reduced; I have to write about the next episode on the list as outlined then move on. I can improvise to some extent, but the score I’m working to is a much more detailed one. (I quite like the metaphor…)
I suppose it’s swings-and-roundabouts; a trade-off between certainty and flexibility. But if ‘Z’ is easier to write because of the mapping out, is there also a danger that I’ll get bored doing so because there’s too little ‘dynamism’? We’ll see.
I’m expecting a very ‘light’ day today with domestic things intruding – but it won’t be a ‘nothing day’. There’s never a nothing day…
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Ian Gouge - Writer 