[Before the climax? Is that a term? Will have to look that one up 
]
I am about to write the climactic scene. This is the first scene I pictured in my mind way before I started writing this book. It actually feels a bit intimidating because I have thought about it so much. Maybe too much. As I’m sure many writers learn, it seems like nothing comes out in black and white quite the same way that it began as a thought in my mind. Sometimes it is better than expected, sometimes it is not quite what I wanted to write, so I have to work on that part more, and sometimes, many times, actually, the words just flow and what comes out is completely unexpected. So, as I prepare to write the Big Scene, I am almost anxious to see what will be the result.
I have discovered that sometimes the best way for me to skip over the anxiety of what to write and the “perfect” words to use, is to try timed writing. I was happy to see it suggested in this guest post on Writer Unboxed. I firmly agree with Rebecca Hargreaves’ comparison of writing to breathing. Sometimes we just have to take a breath and rush onto the writing process until we find our flow and the right words come to us. Timed writing lets me cram in a writing session when I know I have to do something else in an hour, and it has also helped me figure out my average output. I have no excuses if I know I can get over a thousand words out in an hour. Plus, I have serious issues with my nagging Inner Editor, who hates bad spelling, and my Terrible Typist who always types tehy and teh. (Seriously, what is up with taht?!) If I stop and go back to fix every mistake I see, I will never finish this thing.
I like Write or Die as an online tool (especially on Kamikaze mode!), or word sprints with a writing buddy. Most of the time I just use the clock, choose a set time or word-count goal and then start writing, without stopping to think too much about it. Of course, there is usually something I need to fix or take out later, but most of the time I have found that I end up with a pleasant surprise So here I go, off to Write or Die the scene that will change my MCs entire life. Yay!
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September 26, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Digital Dame
Ewww boy, I know just how you feel. That one crucial scene that popped into your head and triggered the entire story… and when you try to write it, the words come out banal, hollow, completely lacking the punch you need them to have. What I finally figured out for myself is to write one key phrase or sentence, the most emotionally charged one, just get it out of my head onto paper and build from there. Most of the time I feel like I’m trying to paint the scene and discover I only have two colors to work with. Bleah. What I see in my head almost never matches what finally ends up on the page.
I like the timed writing idea, I’ll have to try setting a timer for an hour. Maybe the constant ticking will keep me focused and less apt to wander off onto the interwebs
September 27, 2010 at 8:20 pm
janflora
Exactly! “banal and hollow” are good words to describe it. I wish we had some sort of mind translator device
I can only hope that most of my doubt is that annoying Inner Critic.
I am slogging through it, and it’s not *too bad* but I sort of can’t wait to get back in and revise already
If you try Write or Die you’ll see how hard it is to wander off. It will actually erase words if you stop too long! craziness