Make Words, Don't Label

I have OCD. Well, I've never had a medical professional tell me for certain, but I'm pretty sure the tendencies are there. I use exactly three pumps of soap to wash my hands. Every time. Three. And I count them. Same with swipes of deodorant (twelve), locking the door (two), and handwashing gets a thirty count. I plan. I make lists. I count. I follow routines.
So, naturally, the title, "Plotter," fits me.

At least it did in the beginning.

I'd been stuck trying over and over to write a full-length fiction novel and I couldn't make it happen. Then, in 2010, I had the amazing opportunity to meet one of my favorite authors. I had just learned the terms "Plotter" and "Pantser,"and I asked her which title she claimed. She got a terrible look on her face and said, "Plotter through and through. I lean toward OCD."

And I knew, right then and there, that I was one too.

Yippee! Hooray! I'd found my people.

I embraced my new philosophy and managed to make it through the first manuscript in six months after three years of unsuccessful attempts.
Yes!

But when it came time to write another manuscript, my pantsing critique partners said, "Just try it. You might like it."
And since I consider myself an open minded individual, I did.

*gasp* It worked. I made it through the second MS in under 90 days. Huh.

It was a fluke. Had to be. I COUNT things. I'm a PLOTTER.

Then, I sat down to plot the next project and ran into a wall. I spent three months (I counted) plotting a novel, but when it came time for me to begin, I was blank. I had invented a whole culture of people with a religion, their own language, and a written history. Seriously, I have two binders full of notes. But in the end, the story wouldn't come out.

Why? Because I had wrung the neck of my story, choking and choking it with details until it expired. However, I had to keep writing and forced myself to move on to something else.

Once again I took the advice of my critique partners and, with only a speck of concept in mind, I ran with it. Now, I'm almost 14,000 words in after less than a week and it's amazing. Will I plot in the future? Yes. Some stories have to be handled that way. Will I obsess over the minutia? More than likely, but I will try anything as long as I get it written.

The lesson here, for me at least, is to not put a label on yourself or your technique. Hell, don't even claim one camp or the other. Screw the debates, the theories, the tips, tricks, and utensils. Eat with your fingers. Allow your characters to move and breathe and live without your direction. Let boxes arrive at their doorsteps from unknown senders. Push them off of cliffs and into battles. Give them voices and flaws and annoying quirks like counting how many strokes of deodorant they use. *grin*
Plot it, pants it, do both. Just WRITE.

Follow your characters into the darkness and throw monsters at them.

Among those monsters, you might find a home.

Pay Up, Mothertrucker

First, let me say that I'm only 4000 words behind on my NaNoWriMo schedule. Woo! Not bad considering I only started YESTERDAY. But, the new project is fun--very dark and extra creeptacular. The Story Masters workshop was AH-mazing, insightful, and brain-exploding good fun.

Second, a lesson about paying for a tattoo.

WARNING:
RANT AHEAD
PROCEED WITH CAUTION

My tattoo work is expensive.

Not because I think I'm superior, it's expensive because I'm good at what I do. You aren't just paying for supplies, nitwit. You're also paying for 12+ years of experience, education regarding the prevention of disease transmission, the apprenticeship I bothered to undergo because I refused to be a scum of the earth scratcher, cleaniness, expertise, professionalism, and talent. Not to mention the time I spend on your piece (no matter how big or small) because I actually CARE about my work and the HEART I put into every single tattoo.

I work at a shop that has been in business for 20 years. We've lasted because we have respect for the tradition of tattooing, spend time with you and your design, and generally give a f**k about you and what you are putting on your body FOREVER.

I realize that there are many, MANY shops who would do your tattoo cheaper. Hell, they might even do a decent job.

But DO NOT disrespect me, my passion, my shop, or my integrity by trying to pull off some cheap, flea-market haggle over the price. It makes you look stupid.

And it makes me want to stab you in the face.

Do your g*ddamn research. Look at my work, talk to people I've tattooed, and keep in mind this simple rule that has been around western tattooing since...well, it's been around for a very long time--

CHEAP TATTOOS AREN'T GOOD AND GOOD TATTOOS AREN'T CHEAP.

And you always get what you pay for.