wittering noun
wit·ter·ing ˈwitərə̇n, -riŋ
plural-s
chiefly Scottish
: a piece of information (as a sign, token, or hint)
Etymology
Middle English (Scots) wittering, witering, from gerund of witteren, witeren to clarify, inform, teach, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse vitra to manifest, reveal, vitr wise, vita to know“Wittering.”
— “Wittering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wittering.
lessons in free writing
Countless books suggest the best writing methods. But the truth is, you have to write and keep writing until you discover which method is right for you. If you’re like me, you’ll eventually find yourself leaning into what I call the hybrid method. When I started writing, I was a full-on “pantser.” I usually had a vague idea to go off of. Sometimes I would even write the end scene so I knew where I was going. This process and method is a lot of fun, almost like going on an adventure. You allow your muse to run freely and don’t worry about constraining yourself to a specific narrative. But therein lies the pitfall. Giving the muse completely free reign can lead to endless plot bunnies, unnecessary red herrings, and probably some other animal metaphor I’ve forgotten.
After realizing the issues I’d created for myself when “pantsing” books like Qeya and Silver Hollow, and a lot of conversations with my editors, I decided to lean more into “plotting.” Going forward, I attempted to outline as much of the story as possible. I created bullet points, wrote character profiles, the whole works. I loved this method because it was a quick way to view your book’s structure while allowing wiggle room for adjustments. Only I often found myself veering away from the path I laid out. I’d discover something new while in the middle of a first rough draft, and have to rewrite the rest of my outline to fit this.
Which is how I found myself writing somewhere in the middle of “plotting” and “pantsing.” I like to think of it as grabbing the best of both worlds. So how do I write these days?
Before diving into a story, I write out my ideas in a very loose outline. I’ll include notes like “so-and-so is secretly…” to remind myself of future reveals. Some of the outline may include dialogue and scene details as they come to me.
When I begin writing the first chapters, I also start a file/chart for each chapter, including a paragraph description of events, the character’s POV, and the number of pages. Sometimes, I’ll add notes here for me but not necessarily for the reader, digging into a character’s motivation or secrets they may not confess on the page. This has been my favorite method for helping me to view the book’s pacing and plot at a glance. I can make sure I’m offering the right story and character beats, and also rearrange chapters or split them in two if they drag too long.
Why, do you ask? It’s not necessarily required, but it is recommended that you keep your chapters averaging the same length. Some variation is okay. Ultimately you should “do you,” so long as your editor approves 😉 But this is more to help give your reader a better experience than for you.
Because we write for ourselves, this is true. But we write for others, not only ourselves. And readers keep us fed and afford us the freedom to create more lovely words. Don’t ever lose sight of that when you feel the temptation to run away into the sunset with your plot bunnies.
I’ve thought a lot about free writing while working on Scarred Beauty (more on this in Part 2!). It’s been a long time since I let myself write a “shitty first draft.” But it’s also been liberating and fun to see how my voice and style have changed since I started. A decade into my writing career, I have more restraint than I did with my first novels and better instincts. This helps keep me on track, but I’ve really pushed myself to let go a little more. Writing Scarred Beauty has become a truly epic adventure, and I’m excited to see what y’all think of the result! As I hinted before, I have a lot more thoughts on writing and Scarred I’m saving for my next post. But for now, I’d encourage my fellow writers to loosen those reins a bit more. If you’re like me, you may rediscover the reason you fell in love with writing in the first place.
bookish updates
- Want to be part of the Scarred Beauty book tour? Our first big event is once again hosted by Lola’s Blog Tours, and sign-ups are live at this link! Hope to see all of you there 😀
- The Borderlands Saga Book Trailer is going on tour with Book of Matches Media March 21st
- I was recently accepted to take part in a new collaboration with some amazing fellow fantasy authors! It’s a bit hush-hush for now, but definitely stay tuned for more news to come!
recent reads I’m crazy about…
I discovered both of these through the wonderful folks at Lone Star Lit, but have truly enjoyed diving into the worlds these authors have created! One is a super cozy Middle-Grade beach read, and the other is a brilliant historical drama I’m currently reading and can’t put down. Guess which is which? 😉
Jennifer Silverwood 
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