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writing habits of Dresdenarians

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LizW65:
Inquiring minds want to know!  Do you:
-Use a computer, old-fashioned typewriter, or pen and paper?
-Set aside a time every day to write?
-Force yourself to write something every day, even if it comes out stilted?
-Have an outline, or just start with an idea?  If an outline, how detailed is it?
-Have a room or area specifically for writing?
-Play Queen or Queensryche to shut out the world, or do you need complete silence?
-Start with plot, or with characters?
-Edit and re-write as you go, or when come to the end?
-Show your rough draft to others, or re-write first?
-Struggle most with dialogue, exposition, action scenes, or bridge scenes?
-Talk about what you are writing to others?

purenightshade:
1. Depends. If at home, the computer is used. If elsewhere, pen and paper are used.
2. I try to set aside time every day to write at least something.
3. I do force at least a couple paragraphs to a page out. If I get more, that's great.
4. Part outline, part general idea. I know where I'm going but I'm also letting the characters flow as they will. They have some set things that I'm guiding them towards but mostly they roam free. I do have some things that are completely outlined, though.
5. I have an entire corner of the basement that is mine. I write there as it contains both my computer and my binder of hand written stuff.
6. I play very loud music while I write as sometimes the music inspires things.
7. Sometimes I start with characters and sometimes I start with plots. I write a lot...
8. I constantly edit and re-write and 'tweak'.
9. I show my rough drafts to a few people.
10. It really depends on what I'm writing, but in general I find battle scenes the hardest to write.
11. Constantly. My big complaint right now (ha!) is that a novel that has gone from 99, 267 words has exploded up to over 105,000 over the course of one rewrite. And that's with deleting large sections of text. Tells you how much I've been adding in to fill the gaps...

SailorYue:
ive never written anything original really, so ill list how i do fanfics

1 i use a computer. when i use pen and papaer, thats where they'll stay. unpublished cuz im thru with the story.
2 i usually write when the urge gets me. sometimes its just when i have time, but i have to WANT to write, otherwise im like that avatar i see "i didnt get any writing done, but i won 7 /245 games of solitaire" ;P
3 see above: if i try to force myself, the writing will suck and ill have to go back and fix it.
4 usually i plan it in my head, then write as it cmes, but my most recent idea is a song fic, and i outlined it, each part to each verse. so i dont forget.... i dont want to screw this one up.
5 i cant have any distractions, so i write away from tv and mst music.
6 i dont have my own writing space,
7 the story hits me first. i could be doing something else, and then an idea starts to grow and blossom.
8 i usually edit as i go. sometms i do it at the nd, so its a toss up.
9 only occasionally i use betas.
10 i would guess fight scenes and action scenes. tho ive never written more than a one-shot peice. (i DO have 2 novelete fics.... tho i forgot how hard they wre to write, i wrote them over 6 years ago)
11 sometimes to my online pals, especially if theyre in the same fandom.... i dont have anyone to talk to about my song fic, cuz only the people hear know the fandom ;)

Suilan:
-Use a computer, old-fashioned typewriter, or pen and paper?

Computer, but I need at one point I need a hard copy to find review and revise what I've written. Also, I keep notes on paper (because ideas usually come when the computer is off.)

-Set aside a time every day to write?

Yes -- unless I am giving myself a day off.

-Force yourself to write something every day, even if it comes out stilted?

Nope. If my muse is on French leave, I can't write complete sentences. But I try to get some ideas down for the next scene.

-Have an outline, or just start with an idea?  If an outline, how detailed is it?

I don't have an outline.

-Have a room or area specifically for writing?

More of an alcove.

-Play Queen or Queensryche to shut out the world, or do you need complete silence?

Depends on my mood. Music helps when I am having trouble sitting still but want to get up every five minutes for some trivial thing or other.

-Start with plot, or with characters?

For my current novel-in-progress, it was characters. For my next (if there is a next) I have an idea for the overall plot, but the next step would be to develop the characters and then just start writing and see where they take me.

-Edit and re-write as you go, or when come to the end?

Both. I revise after each scene, chapter, part, and each finished draft. So far I haven't seen the end. The end will be when I stop revising.

-Show your rough draft to others, or re-write first?

I showed my first draft to my sister and a good friend and received valuable comments. Later, I workshopped the first 250 or so pages at OWW.

-Struggle most with dialogue, exposition, action scenes, or bridge scenes?

Exposition (who doesn't?) and action scenes. Right now I have a problem with the late middle. There's not enough action because the antagonist is "indisposed" and can't move against the hero just yet. So I have to find a way to include a battle between his minions and the good guys to keep the story moving.

-Talk about what you are writing to others?

All the time, but only to family, close friends, and my reviewing partner.

LizW65:
Do you:
-Use a computer, old-fashioned typewriter, or pen and paper?
Laptop computer, but I take longhand notes.
-Set aside a time every day to write?
I try to get in 2-3 hours every day, unless I have specific plans that prevent me from doing so.
-Force yourself to write something every day, even if it comes out stilted?
Sometimes the muse just doesn't show up, and I try to get the ideas written any old way.  I can always go back and fix it later.
-Have an outline, or just start with an idea?  If an outline, how detailed is it?
I have a detailed outline of every chapter.  I don't quite French scene everything, but I come close.
-Have a room or area specifically for writing?
My bed, with an adjustable laptop table.
-Play Queen or Queensryche to shut out the world, or do you need complete silence?
I need total silence (earplugs help) but certain songs have provided inspiration.
-Start with plot, or with characters?
Usually I start with the characters, or a very general idea.
-Edit and re-write as you go, or when come to the end?
I edit and re-write constantly - more than I ought to, really, as it slows down the whole process.  I tend to get bogged down by minor details when I ought just to get on with it.
-Show your rough draft to others, or re-write first?
I never show anything to anyone unless I feel it is finished to my satisfaction.  That goes for any creative project, not just writing.
-Struggle most with dialogue, exposition, action scenes, or bridge scenes?Dialogue and bridge scenes.
-Talk about what you are writing to others?
Hardly at all, except in the most general terms.  It sounds silly, but I guess I'm afraid I'll "jinx" the project if I talk about it to anyone.

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