On Writing!

[zeitgeistic]

Finished my do-me-veela fic and came in at 12k which is AMAZING for me. The only thing that saved this from turning into 50k of me fucking around is the fact that it has absolutely zero plot.

Okay let's talk about fic/fiction writing strategyI've gotten 4 inquiries on my writing process for Azoth now, which is just mind-blowing to me since I never felt like

Comments

[tryslora]

TITLE. I've realized in the last year that if I don't have a title, I will flail around all day, because those few words give me some vague direction. And yeah, titles change--I angsted a ton about the title to "If I Followed You Home" because it spent most of its writing life as "Bright Lights, Big City, Cold Corpse" or something similar and then the working title just didn't fit at the end. But I need something to help give me a feel for what's going on.

Other things--definite great advice, especially that all scenes need to advance something. I read too much stuff that I backbutton out of because it's just noodling and there's nothing happen, so I get impatient. Keep the reader thoroughly involved!

[zeitgeistic]

Vague direction is a good way to put it. I find it's good for me because it's something that's always at the top of every document. If I start flailing around, unsure of what to write, I can look up at it and remember to rein things back in.

I also backbutton out of noodling fics. >.

[eidheann_writes]

Cold Grave ;)

[dysonrules]

AWESOME! I love reading other people's writing processes. Everyone seems to do it differently and yet, LOOK! AMAZING FIC, regardless of process! :D

1) Title - I never start with a title. If one magically occurs to be before or during writing I cuddle it like a cup of hot coffee. It's a rarity. :3 At times I can't come up with a freaking title at all and I break out the dictionary and flip to "P" - one scan of my fic list will show you how frequent this is. Instead of titles, I start with a vague idea - sometimes a single scene - and flesh it out from there.

2) I rarely know how it will end. Sometimes I actually start to panic after 30k and it doesn't seem to be ending because bwaaaah? This is also why I tend not to start posting until the damn thing is finished. Once in awhile the fic will demand an actual outline and then I have a better idea of how it will end.

3) I look for ways to make every character complex, flawed, and meaningful. <--- I love that idea. I should try it.

4) I research the most mundane shit. OMG YESSSS, hell

[sophie_french]

That's really enlightening too! It's great seeing how you write as well! Thanks for sharing as well! ♥

[zeitgeistic]

HELLO. I do as well so this is superrrrr that you're revealing your process. I'm so excited to be in the know muahahaha.

04. LOL yes, re: the tabs. I have entire folders in my Chrome bookmarks dedicated to specific things I was writing. I think the Wikipedia list is WELL OVER 100 for my original fiction. I also look up herbs and other materials that would make up potions ingredients, haha! I think I spent two hours coming up with the recipe for the Liver Repair elixir. Researching is the best part of fic writing, imo. I learn so much from it! Yay for you doing it, too. I can see it in your fics. *fist bump*

05. I ALSO add words when a scene isn't meaningful but I like it too much to cut it. That's how I end up with monster fics. >.>

06. I wish I knew more about my characters. Some I do, some I don't. I tend to get "Ah-ha!" moments about my characters as I write them, not before. Like, I may decide to give someone a sibling, and it makes me think of how their rivalry shaped the first character.

07. Same! SAME SAME SAME. I get SO

[dysonrules]

Researching is the best part of fic writing, imo. <--- THIS. :D

My obsession with knowing everything about my characters is one reason I love writing OCs. When Blaise's irritating boyfriend shows up to annoy Draco, I know why he's such an obnoxious prat. :3 And it's really fun to flesh out canon characters - I randomly made Cho Chang Minister for Magic in one fic and now I'm slightly obsessed with that idea.

My WIP is hopefully coming soon! *crosses fingers*

[kedavranox]

I'll make a longer comment when I'm not working, but I'm really fascinated at how different our processes are! Maybe this is why you write long fic, and I don't? Who knows.

Really interesting stuff.

[zeitgeistic]

I should also be working. >.>

[kedavranox]

Aww. Now I'm late and no one will be interested anyway. I will probably make my own post on this. :P

[zeitgeistic]

I look forward to seeing it. :)

[capitu]

I'm so excited about your DMV fic it's not even funny. I love that fest and I can't wait to read!

I'm always fascinated with the writing process, sometimes I want to mail random authors whose work I love and adore and ask them and have them talk and talk and talk about it. :D

I don't because I'm so awkward but hearing about it, it's like makes it so much real. As a reader I often believe stories just happen, they are waiting to be told, but of course I know it's not that simple, there's a huge effort behind. It's more than having the notion of a story, is finding the right way to say it, too.

Thank you for sharing. <3

[zeitgeistic]

Omg aww :D I'm excited you're excited.

You should definitely mail random authors and ask! I like hearing about what other authors do, too, so maybe if everyone just starts asking about things that stick out to them, fandom will become more collaborative, and we'll all improve from it.

<3<3<3

[eidheann_writes]

You've been with me how long and you still think they just happen? With all my whining at you?

hahahahahahahaha

[capitu]

You constantly surprise me! I think I have a story all figured out and then you do ~magic and yeah, it's just right. So I kinda do! Even with all the poking. :D

[sophie_french]

That's perfect, thank you! It answers all the questions I had, and it really helps, thanks a lot. You are incredibly talented, and I don't know how on earth you managed to do all this in three months?

Thank you so much for sharing with us! ♥

[zeitgeistic]

<3 Happy to help. I work well under pressure, so I guess that helped, haha!