Algorithms
I know, I know. An odd title to a writer’s blog. But I have a point. I promise.
According to Wikipedia, “an algorithm is an effective method for solving a problem using a finite sequence of instructions. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and many other fields.”
I’m going to take a leap of faith and include writing into ‘other fields.’
But I never really had a formula beyond boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy does stupid stuff and gets girl to like him. They fall in love, yadda yadda…
Furthering my frustration, I seem to edit as I go which slows me down. I make the excuse that it helps me move forward because I want to fix things now to be more smooth in the long run. How’s that workin’ for ya…Not at all.
When there is disorder in life, make order. I’ve made a plan. Just write. Write as if there were no tomorrow. Get out of your own way. (A side note, my 4th grader is having to write fictional narratives for class. I gave him this same advice. I’m a genius, I tell ya.)
There exists more to the formula than writing alone. There is editing. Besides editing as I wrote, I did a slip-shod job of it. By only re-reading or having a critique partner give me a few pointers. Man, was I blind! I am in the process of an editing workshop and what I am learning is so simple, so basic, but I wasn’t practicing it. Most of it is refresher english basics. But years and years of bad habits are hard to break.
The reason I liken writing to a formula and call the plan an Algorithm (which looks spelled wrong, but it isn’t, honest.) is because in my day-time, paying job I use algorithms. If a then b. If c then d or e. It literally is a science. A specific recipe to use given a scenario. So why can’t it apply to writing?
Emphasis on apply. Because it works, but only if you use it.
What’s your algorithm?
Leigh, this is freakin’ genius of you!!! I swez it. I, too, use algorithms at work. (Also in the medical field). The machines I use to ventilate my patients use algorithms to ensure constant and demand flow are met when a patient initiates a breath. And therein lies a great title for a workshop: Breathing Life into your Prose: Writers’ Algorithms. – all right so it’s not as eye catching as Sexing Up Your Prose or Stripping 101 : Getting Those Adverbs Out of your Story, but it is intriguing.
While I can see the rub most people would have with this: “Isn’t that making your writing formlaic?” I say, “Not really.” Because a formula means using it, the same thing happens every time. XY always equals AB. In an algorithm XY only equals AB if C and D are constant. Sometimes C and D are variables which change the outcome completely, taking the writer onto another level of the track.
I think this can spin out very far and wide. Yes, I see it so clearly Leigh.
Oh, Kat, I would totally take that workshop!
First of all, I love the word algorithm. I always have. I’ll type it again just because I don’t get enough chances to use it — algorithm.
I’m a programmatic person by nature. I used to think writing was something different and ethereal, but then my sis got an MFA in creative writing and she told me she was a better writer after studying craft than she was before. Hmm…fancy that! It was an illuminating moment. This is not something you are gifted with — this is something anyone can do if they put the time in.
My process algorithm is: 1. Fast draft. 2. Create human readable version during which themes emerge. 3. Send out rough to extremely understanding readers. 4. Take feedback and edit again, fixing holes. 5. More readers 6. Revise again to emphasize themes 7. Polishing and line edits where writing is fixed.
It helps to know that the writing is going to suck until about the 3rd or 4th passthrough, but that’s okay.
My ultimate motto for writing is “whatever works.” So if an algorithm works for you, GO FOR IT.
Algorithms… I love that. Personally, I’m finding there is a definite algorithm for successfully written stories- I’m working on defining and refining it. But basically, it’s a methodology to ensure continued success, prevent writers block and in essence cut out as much rewriting as possible (revision is one thing… but whoah is me if I have to rewrite).
It’s something like this so far:
1. Walk through Snowflake Method and develop GMC and character sketches with plot (2-4 months, while working on other projects))
2. Write (1-3 months)
3. Let work sit and “steep” (1 month or two weeks if I’m impatient)
4. Edit and revise
5. Go through checklist to ensure I do every step to have the best manuscript
6. Send for crit
7 Edit and revise (rewrite if necessary)
8. Round of crits again
9 Submit
It sounds long and drawn out but I’m doing lots of other things during many of these processes so things keep moving along. As for the storyline itself… I’m always trying to break the formula.
April
You rock April. That snowflake method intimidated me…but I am sure it is gonna work. And good luck on the thing you just did that I don’t know if I am supposed to say!
Thanks Leigh for the support!!! I’ll let you know how that thing goes.
As for the Snowflake Method…. honestly, I’m a bit intimidated by that to do list also. You should now see the color coded spreadsheets I’m creating for my stories with a tab for each character and the plot. VERY INTIMIDATING. It looks like Sooooooo much to do just to get my story ready.
BBBBUUUUUTTTT… with all that background work done BEFORE I write, the actual writing is effortless. It just flies off my fingertips. It’s like I settled on everything before hand and my brain had time to pull it all together and come up with something better than I would have imagined on the fly.
It makes the actual writing exhilirating and after you’ve gone through the whole thing once and realized that while there are a lot of steps, each step itself is only a small one, it makes things easier and more manageable.
I like convoluted also… I feel special when no one else but me gets it. :>
April