Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The 'Sweet Kiss Goodbye'

I’ve heard this piece of advice before but haven’t realized how efficient it is or how much I tend to use it in my own writing :

The Sweet Kiss Goodbye

Think of it like this-  You’re husband/wife/S.O. is leaving to go to work and you give’em a quick peck before you see them off- signaling you’ll miss them (a little) but you’ve got stuff to do- your own day ahead of you and frankly- they aren’t the first thing on your mind.

Now, what if you were to send them off with a fall-of-your-chair passionate mouth melter that left them wondering (first and foremost-)  ‘What the hell’s gotten into her?’ and later thinking ‘I can’t WAIT till I get home tonight!’

That is what you want to do to you manuscript every time you log out of word.  Um, and no, I’m  not talking about making out with your computer screen, you bunch of sickos.

I’m talking about taking a break right before a big scene- something you’ve been looking forward to and working towards. 

Not only does this give you the time to daydream about how you want to execute it but it will also have you chomping at the bit (the second time I’ve ever used this expression. I swear.) to get back to your writing.

It can be an important scene between characters or a major plot twist- anything that has had your creative juices flowing for awhile.  Don’t leave you’re manuscript before having already set the scene.  Scene setting (for me) is the worst- because I have to brainstorm on how to effectively get my MC where they need to be for the juicy stuff without breaking pace or including boring info and it’s HARD and will have me avoiding my computer as though it has bad breath and a five o’clock shadow.
 
I use the momentum given by writing one captivating scene to push me through the setting for the next and then stop riiight as things are getting interesting. 

How about you?  Do you tend to use the ‘Sweet Kiss Goodbye’ in order to keep the love alive?

29 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

Same concept as ending your chapters on cliff hangers! Great idea, Kaite!

Stina said...

What? You mean that's not how you say goodbye to your hubby everyday? Girl, how can you not? Oh, that's right. The kids who go "Ewwwww" everytime you give your hubby a passionate kiss and they happen to be in the room at the same time (because it's guaranteed no matter what they're doing, they look up at the wrong moment).

I've never thought of doing this before (the break, not the kissing). I guess I'm using just excited to get to the GOOD PART. :D

Great suggestion!

Unknown said...

This is a great post!!! I couldn't help but giggle reading Stina's comment and everything I was going to say went out the window!!!

Anne Gallagher said...

Depending on where I am in the story...usually I don't even kiss them good-bye, I just kind of mumble, "see you later."

When it comes to a big scene, I have to write it all the way through. (Thanks Jim Morrison -- Straight on through to the other side.)

If I don't, I forget what I wanted to say. I lose my momentum. I change things around and then screw everything up.

Unless I'm stuck. Which happens. And then I obsess over it for days and then have sex with it as soon as I see it again. (Can I mix my analogies?)

Sarah said...

Great, great post. It's so crucial to keep the reader turning the pages, and how you structure the story and the breaks can make all the difference. I'd never considered it with the actual writing process, but it makes a lot of sense and I think sometimes I do this automatically.

Angela said...

I'm working on this, really I am. It's just that I like to wrap things up. Each chapter ending needs to feel like it makes some specific point, a statement, a semi ending.

Ah, in music terms, a half cadence as opposed to a full cadence. But doing that while setting the next scene is tricky. It's an art form that I'm still learning.

Nicole L Rivera said...

Love this! I've heard to stop mid-sentence and pick up the next day. I usually stop in the middle of the scene so that the next day I will get started by finishing the scene. It is a nice kick-start to the days writing. Def going to try your approach though :)

Slamdunk said...

Fun topic Katie--I think if you and Stina had a BS session on this topic you would have a hillarious series.

Old Kitty said...

That and plenty of tongue too! :-) Take care
x

Colene Murphy said...

That is awesome advice! I never thought about it, but it really is a good idea. Thanks gal! Also a good idea to confuse the hell outa the hubs one day...;)

Nicole Zoltack said...

Never thought of doing this before, but it makes sense. I just may have to try it! :)

Matthew MacNish said...

Hmm, this is really great advice! I wish I had more time for writing to do stuff like this. As it is I have to write whenever I can.

Bethany Elizabeth said...

I have a couple times, but it's hard when you just want to write that scene! :) Still, good advice!

Bethany Elizabeth said...

I have a couple times, but it's hard when you just want to write that scene! :) Still, good advice!

Angela Ackerman said...

I love this idea! Excellent way to get sucked right back in when you pick up again. :)

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Nicole McLaughlin said...

This is excellent...for my wip, and my husband!! ;)

Laura S. said...

I've seen this technique described in many ways, but not like this. The "sweet kiss good-bye" is most definitely the best description! Awesome post.

Grammy said...

Hi, Since i have never written anything really important (like a book for publication) like you other writers have, I never really thought much about it, but I can see that is a great idea! I tend to just let the words flow from my brain via my fingers and let the word fall where they may. Very thought provoking! Thanks. Ruby

Kate Avery Ellison said...

This is good advice! :-)

Theresa Milstein said...

My husband would like this post.

I do this sometimes because I want to reflect on how I want the scene to unfold. But other times, I'm caught up in writing so I keep going.

TerryLynnJohnson said...

whoa! now that is some great advice! The kissing, and the writing! Thanks.

Janet Johnson said...

I'd never thought of it like that. Great analogy! And great idea. I need to try this. :)

Anonymous said...

I've never thought about it like that before! I tend to write in chapters, ending on a cliffhanger. That way, I'll be anxious to get back. Next time, I'm going to picture this!!

Caitlin Vincent said...

Hi, Katie :) I really liked this post. I'm not married so I can't exactly relate to the kissing part, but I totally understand the parallel to writing.

I was given an award yesterday that I am supposed to pass on to new blogging budies. Since we've recently started following each other, I'd like to give it you you. Stop by my blog to pick it up :)

LTM said...

never heard this before, but I like it! I try to do it to a certain extent at the end of chapters, but I hadn't thought about it at the end of writing sessions.

I might never stop writing if I do! LOL!!! :D <3

Hart Johnson said...

So I'm supposed to kiss my NOTEBOOK then? teehee... my writing time is SET, so I sort of write as ong as I have time... but it is definitely easiest to get going again if I write the beginning of the next scene... start the foreplay, if you will...

Misha Gerrick said...

Actually, I prefer to finish entire scenes, because I notice immediately where I broke off a scene's flow.

Misha Gerrick said...

Actually, I prefer to finish entire scenes, because I notice immediately where I broke off a scene's flow.

Christopher said...

Ummm sure. Sorry, can't really focus right now, need to find a makeout partner.

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