I read somewhere, a long time ago, about candy bar scenes. The author described these scenes as the big, exciting, character-altering scenes you can't wait to write. They hover out there, tempting you to write them early, to skip out of sequence and indulge. But those dangling candy bars are what get you through a manuscript. Looking forward to writing them motivates you to keep the story moving, to get the words on the page. It's all about motivation.
I use this in my writing. I know myself. If I were allowed to write the candy bar scenes first, I don't know that I'd be able to finish a novel. Having them out there, like dessert, gets me through my vegetables (no offense, veggies, I love you too).
Candy bar scenes for me are big. Something happens. Something big. The story changes because of my candy bars. My climax scene for Skinwalkers is a candy bar scene I've been envisioning for months. Now I'm starting to wonder if it's the wrong type of candy bar. Like maybe I'm trying to write a Twix and what I'm really craving is a Snickers. It just won't go down right. So I'll try out a few different flavors until I find just the right one. And then...mmmm, candy bar. I can't wait!
What about you? Do you use candy bar scenes to keep you motivated?
23 thoughts:
Yes. It's the only thing that keeps me going! Great post.
I'm with Kimberly... candy bar scenes are the only thing that keeps me going! Love this post!
What a great post! I actually just e-mailed it to some of my crit partners. I got stuck on a WIP, spinning my wheels, lost. Well, it's because I'd written all my candy bar scenes, and I was faced with a big plate of Brussels sprouts to pick through.
Nope! That would require too much forethought...hehe...But it sounds delightful! And now I want a candy bar.
That was a perfect explanation - i live off those canyd bars (probably why i'm chubby :-(
I think my ending should have been a kit kat instead of a twix, so i've got to go fix that
Sometimes candy bar scenes scare me. After anticipating and envisioning them for so long, I occasionally freeze up when the time comes to put them down on paper. Maybe thinking of them as Twixs or Three Musketeers will help me out with this problem. Thanks, Anissa!
I usually try to write from beginning to end, but if I have ideas for a later scene, especially one that will be important, I'll write what I know so far, at least in a notebook if I don't type it. I don't want to forget anything!
And sometimes if I'm stuck on an earlier scene, moving to the next big candy-bar scene is at least some forward motion, and sometimes helps me figure out what happened in that missing scene by working backward.
For me, the real candy bar is typing:
"The End" ;)
I can't answer this right now because all I can think about is eating a candy bar...
I've never thought about it like this but it's a fun way to describe those "juicy" scenes that we look forward to writing.
I actually began writing my current WIP by writing one such scene. It's not for the climax of my story, but an earlier emotional scene. I like having that scene written, because now I can write up to it. I feel like it gives me direction. Since it's not anywhere near the climax, though... maybe it's more like a Hershey's Kiss... :)
I write out of order (scenes out of order and also within the scene out of order). In a weird way it helps me to keep the characterization even.
Anyway, now I want a candy bar. I'm thinking Snickers but all I have is a Hershey bar. Waaaahhh!!!
I totally use the candy bar scenes to pull me through. If I didn't, I'd only write the candy bar scenes.
I had no idea, I think I'm going to grab a Reese's and ponder for a bit.
Mine are more like ten pound blocks of chocolate!!
Anissa I like this. Yes, they are like a teaser, you have to finish the healthy stuff before you can eat dessert. This post will now keep me from going ahead and writing them out.
I love those scenes! The ones you build up in your mind and play out a thousand times! Yep, I have them. They are a very rich and delicious dessert!
Thanks for putting more thoughts of chocolate in my head ;)
Not me. I indulge. Then, I stick it in a file and I can't wait until I get to the part where I can paste my candy bar scene in. So I'm motivated by them, but in a different way. Oftentimes, I have to write the scene to get it out of my head so I can continue with other stuff. I take inspiration as it strikes.
I wrote about this long ago at my blog. Maybe you read it there!
That's a good idea. I'm not sure I write all the candy bar scenes first, but I do tend to just write what comes to my head within the frame of my basic outline. and I put off the exposition sometimes. Probably because it's the hardest for me and I'm always a procrastinator.
I think that's exactly what I did wrong with my latest manuscript. The candy bar was too much temptation, so I jumped thousands of words forward so I could write it immediately, thinking that if I waited, the inspiration would fade. Now that I've eaten most of my candy, my motivation has all but died. My sugar rush is over. Le sigh!
In the future I'm definitely going to rethink my writing methods. Right now I'm eating a whole bunch of broccoli with no end in sight.
I'd never thought of "big" scenes this way, but yes, I do use them for motivation. Although, to be honest, sometimes they can also scare me, because I know they have to be done right.
candy bar scenes are the only thing that keeps me going! Love this post!
Work from home India
I definitely use these to motivate myself...but sometimes I need to skip ahead and cheat in order to fill in the blanks. And it's always difficult to get going again.
I write those scenes as soon as they come to me so I don't lose them. I leave off transition stuff at the beginning and end, though. I see them like stones I throw out there and then catch up to. It helps me stay true to the vision of the book. Otherwise, I may write somewhat organically, get to that part, and not be able to use the scene - which is fine, but it's then not the book I wanted to write.
But I know Phillip Margolis does it your way!
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