REN KOPPEL TORRES
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1/8/2018 3 Comments

of margin(al) importance

Even though I type way faster than I write, I still like to use pen and paper when I'm just aiming to get a rough first draft of scenes done. I can't explain it, but for some reason it helps me think things through a little more, and I'll end up coming up with new ideas--typically ideas for scenes other than the one I’m working on.

I used to have a second notebook on standby just for these notes, but then I worked out a much easier, more obvious solution. If you leave the left page of your notebook blank, that leaves you the much-needed space for writer-ly processes, such as: planning out scenes, making diagrams and sketches to help you visualize the setting, drawing irrelevant doodles, and, most importantly, sibling-proofing you journal so that you don’t turn around and come back to a “potato” smack-dab in the middle of your climax (see slideshow for more detail on the danger of creative little sisters).

For someone like me, who tends to go through the scene in my head faster than I can write it down, having a blank left page works wonders. When I start jotting down halves of sentences, or skipping entire paragraphs to get the idea down, I'll want to separate this garbled text from the rest of my slightly-more-complete writing. Most times, (though I chose to show the pages that were less dense), the left side ends up just as full as the right.

So there's my tip for your journaling/novel-writing notebooks. My house is full of them; just ask my family. And if I come to visit you in a faraway land, chances are, you'll need to prepare an extra guest room just for my small arsenal of notebooks. 

Cheers!
​Lorena K.
3 Comments
Clara Hernandez
1/13/2018 08:05:38 am

Keep doing you lorenita love it!

Reply
Miki
1/23/2018 07:06:07 am

Nice job!
Love reading your blog because it has so much helpful advice!

Reply
Alina R.
4/29/2018 12:21:19 pm

Wow. I know I'm late to comment on this (it was posted on Jan, and now it's April) but this is a brilliant idea! This would help me soooo much! Sweet:) Thanks for posting!

Reply



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    About me

    Ren Koppel Torres has adored fantasy books since the dawn of time and started The Shadow in Her Pocket at nine years old. Ren was born in New York City in a Jewish-Mexican-American family and now lives in Austin, Texas. Ren is passionate about advocating for child literacy and is donating a portion of the proceeds from book sales to Bookspring, a nonprofit in Central Texas. Ren is also a freelance writer, a visual artist, a guitarist in a rock band, a succulent aficionado, and a high school student.

Thanks for supporting me in my writing! Keep in touch!


lorenawesome123@gmail.com
@Ren_Koppel