Comments | writeandgripe: Writing Process Epiphany

ninjamonkey73 in writeandgripe

Writing Process Epiphany

Oct 19, 2013 09:59

For a couple of years now, I've struggled with my writing process, agonizing over every word choice and making slow progress in my original work. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what had changed. I used to fit writing in anywhere and generate pages and pages of content in stolen moments in a busy schedule. So what had changed? Had I lost ( Read more... )

original fic, discussion, writing

Comments 12

scifishipper October 19 2013, 14:05:09 UTC

THAT IS FANTASTIC!! I love it!!! Bravo to you and I can feel how happy and energized you are. So wonderful. (I AM GRINNING!)

I have written via computer for so long that I can't really think without my fingers on a keyboard. I dislike writing on paper but will scribble notes when I need to. For a long time, I couldn't edit online and had to use hardcopy, but now, I'm doing my editing online in most cases.

So happy your muse is back and it was a simple fix. (((HUGS)))

*spins you around*

ninjamonkey73 October 19 2013, 14:11:39 UTC

Thanks! I'm still a little dumbfounded that I only needed to give myself permission to write a rough draft again. So simple!

lanalucy October 19 2013, 14:06:00 UTC

I've only been writing about a year, and I've never written on paper, except back in dinosaur days when I was in school. I do keep a notebook handy in my purse for when I'm out and about and an idea strikes me.

My stories almost always start with a beginning, or an end, or both. Then I write whatever comes to me, and match things up, or rearrange them, as the case may be. I am definitely not a chronological writer. Probably drives my beta crazy, since I use Google Docs and she reads pretty much in real time. lol

Also, kudos for figuring this out!

ninjamonkey73 October 19 2013, 14:16:49 UTC

Thanks!

I've always been far too linear to work out of order; all the way back to school papers, if I didn't have the introduction paragraph, I had a blank page. :)

I work only digital these days. Even my notes are a GDoc file (I edit it on my phone when inspiration hits away from the PC).

I also have folks reading in real time, which I think was one of the reasons I was trying for perfection too hard. And it's actually led to some fun conversations about what works better after edits and what changes I maybe didn't need to make.

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ninjamonkey73 October 19 2013, 14:28:16 UTC

For me, at least, paper was the thing that freed up my brain. I hope you find it helps!

sira01 October 19 2013, 17:28:53 UTC

I wrote three long fanfics on paper. One 60k, one 110k and one 250k.
While I prefer writing on my computer as I love to erase and try again, I was more productive when writing by hand. I still don't know why. Maybe because I was forced to focus? To really pay attention to the words I was using? No idea...

But yay for making progress! :D

ninjamonkey73 October 21 2013, 10:32:12 UTC

Thanks!

Yeah, I think for me, it's not that I'm forced to focus, but the opposite. Writing on paper has always been an outpouring of story without thinking too much about word choice or sentence structure.

250K in longhand? Yikes! :)

kdbleu October 19 2013, 18:59:01 UTC

We chatted about this, but isn't it the biggest weight off your writing? It's so strange the pressure of the 'printed' computer screen page.

My process has changed over time. I used to be a start to finish writer, but I had a very bad habit of idealizing future scenes to the point that couldn't write them, couldn't even get to them so focusing on everything I thought I needed to write in between. So a few projects ago, I let myself jump ahead, write the big romantic scene. I discovered a couple of things. The written scene was a great motivator to the write all the in between stuff, but also I didn't need half as much of the in between stuff I thought I did.

I also edit as I go. I don't write with an especially strong outline. It's not that I don't know where I'm going it's that I often don't know what I scenes I need along the way. (Yes, this is confusing. And no, I don't know how it works either. My brain is a messy, looping place.)

ninjamonkey73 October 21 2013, 10:33:49 UTC

I also edit as I go. I don't write with an especially strong outline. It's not that I don't know where I'm going it's that I often don't know what I scenes I need along the way. (Yes, this is confusing. And no, I don't know how it works either. My brain is a messy, looping place.)

THIS. I've been editing as I go, and my outline is a couple of ideas per chapter, but the how continues to be a pleasant surprise. :)