Not a plotter, just a fretter and wheelspinner?

“I hardly do any preplanning, just fretting and wheel spinning

Geoff Dyer

Had to laugh when I read this writing quote by British novelist Geoff Dyer, and realized I really could relate.

I also do minimal planning before a story. Generally, I have a scene or a big-picture idea. I may even have a voice of one character.

Although this looser approach allows my imagination to ‘run loose’, and I often have settings or characters I hadn’t considered when I set out to write my story, the flip side is that I may also spend a little too much time running around like these little hamsters above.

‘Fretting and wheel spinning’ seems a pretty apt description some days. I may as well own up to it and picture myself in that little wheel when I don’t see myself getting anywhere.

3 Comments

  1. 2catspluskids on July 28, 2017 at 7:49 am

    I find too much planning takes the fun away!

  2. Swirl and Thread on July 28, 2017 at 10:07 am

    That hamster wheel is where I reside too Kimberly 🙂

  3. evelyneholingue on August 1, 2017 at 11:08 pm

    An amazing book that could enjoy is Story Genius by Lisa Cron. It demonstrates with examples and in a very conversational tone of voice that we should not be too much of a hamster when we write 🙂
    Love the book which I am currently using for a new novel.

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