TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS!

My association with writing has oscillated from writing the stories of others, published in magazines and other similar publications, to structured and clearly defined academic papers and books. Then there is always the question of “what shall I write about?”. It is fascinating though how and where ideas present themselves.

Following years of academic writing, it took me some time to free myself from the academic yoke and finding my own rhythm of writing in a narrative style. It is very difficult to know what that rhythm might look like when it hasn’t seen the light of day for many years. However, as an academic research was in my blood and I turned to the research of writing to help me break free.

I came across a very interesting book on the process of writing, entitled Take Off your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker. She addresses a number of the conundrums I faced, namely do I plot and structure the book or just allow it to emerge naturally. She defines these two approaches as plotting or pantsers, hence the reference to taking off your pants.

She puts forward a compelling argument for having a structure and outline for your book versus flying by the seat of your pants. As I mention above, the constraints and structure of writing may in fact facilitate and enhance the creative process of writing. This was a particular challenge when grappling with is the best approach to tell the story of Eugene and Pieter in my book, Goodnight Doll. Who was to be the fly on the wall?

Was it to be told through the eyes of the main characters, namely Eugene and Pieter or a third person observing their journey unfolding? If so, who could this third person be and what would make them suitably qualified to do so? Where do I start? At the beginning, end or middle? And then what might be the beginning, end or middle? When they were children, after they had met, when they were first told Eugene had terminal cancer? Finally, I decided that it was my tribute and therefore I would be writing it from my personal point of view.

The difference with Goodnight Doll was that I did not have to persuade the eventual readers of my book of a particular belief or stance; instead, the purpose was one of sharing and as the reader could make of it what they will, co-creating the story with me.

In conclusion, I have discovered that my personal approach is to fly by the seat of my pants because it also reflects my personality. I am always willing to be distracted by the possibility of discovering new knowledge and adventures.

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