HAS YOUR LIFE GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN?
When you were a child, did you have plans for your life? Did you know what you wanted to be or do? How have those plans panned out? Have there been any surprises in your life?
I think about this every time I pass a professional milestone. The fact is, I never planned to be a writer. Writing wasn’t on my radar screen at all. I came from a family of male lawyers and didn’t plan to have a career, period. I had never met an author in the flesh – was even kicked out of Honors English in high school.
The trade paperback pub of Family Tree did it for me this week – made me think about the twists and turns life takes while we’re looking the other way.
But then, is it ever possible to plan out a life? Is it wise?
It’s like plotting a book. Early on, I learned that too much planning precludes spontaneity. If I had done that, I wouldn’t be a writer today.
Which do you think is best -- planning or spontaneity?
Comments
Barbara, one of our mutual fans alerted me to the fact that you and I are blogging on the same topic right now: plotting vs writing by the seat of our pants. How funny! I think you and I write similar types of stories, yet I'm definitely a planner. And yes, planning can get in the way of spontaneity--but I don't seem to be able to get very far without it. Do you outline at all? I'd love to be less of a "planner," but after all this time, not sure I can change.
Congratulations on your recent starred PW review, by the way!
Posted by: Diane Chamberlain | November 8, 2007 05:31 PM
Well sometimes it tends to be a case of "the best-laid plans of mice and men" ... sometimes no matter how well we plan fate/God/life adds a twist and our plans go awry. I like to plan to a certain degree. But I also like to be open to whatever comes my way. And I think spontaneity must be fun in the author's context ... one day your protagonist is on a certain path and the next she's on another. Makes it real!
Posted by: Melissa in NZ | November 12, 2007 03:32 PM