McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
writing habits of Dresdenarians
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: LizW65 on April 27, 2008, 01:50:37 PM ----Use a computer, old-fashioned typewriter, or pen and paper?
--- End quote ---
A laptop; I sit in front of a computer all day at work, so I want one I can lie in bed with while I write.
--- Quote ----Set aside a time every day to write?
-Force yourself to write something every day, even if it comes out stilted?
--- End quote ---
Nope. I have a full-time job, a family, a Civ addiction and a complicated life to maintain, and I do not think writing every day fits my pattern.
I write every week, on Friday evening 80% of the time. I usually get at least a couple of thousand words written every Friday. That, consistently, gets a novel's worth written every year, more or less. "Write every day" is mostly useful advice only for people who procrastinate from writing; I don't.
--- Quote ----Have an outline, or just start with an idea? If an outline, how detailed is it?
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Depends entirely on the story. I usually get some key scenes before anything else; I usually have some notion of how to get between them; when writing, I have notes file with everything I have thought of that needs to go in, and a plan file with what goes in each chapter, but the plan file is updated after the chapters get written.
--- Quote ----Have a room or area specifically for writing?
--- End quote ---
Having a study of my own helps, though it also gets used for sleeping in sometimes - master bedroom in my apartment is shared with someone who cannot sleep with it too hot and needs windows open a lot of the time, and I cannot sleep with it too noisy and need windows shut almost all the time, so the compromise is I sleep in my study when it's hot.
--- Quote ----Play Queen or Queensryche to shut out the world, or do you need complete silence?
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I play music to write, but not to revise.
--- Quote ----Start with plot, or with characters?
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Depends on the story; usually a bit of both.
--- Quote ----Edit and re-write as you go, or when come to the end?
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If I notice a drastic problem as I am going along, I will fix; if I need to check continuity, or put clues in chapter 4 for something I have just realised I want to do in chapter 16, I fix as I go. But mostly I finish, let it sit for a bit, give it another pass with corrections, and then send it to readers.
Oh, I also usually give whatever I wrote last week a quick through pass before starting to write this week.
--- Quote ----Struggle most with dialogue, exposition, action scenes, or bridge scenes?
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The scenes that give me most trouble don't break down by this kind of category.
--- Quote ----Talk about what you are writing to others?
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To a few specific others.
meg_evonne:
--- Quote from: LizW65 on April 27, 2008, 01:50:37 PM ---Inquiring minds want to know! Do you:
-Use a computer, old-fashioned typewriter, or pen and paper?
laptop
-Set aside a time every day to write?
yes but I have 24 hour or longer weekend marathons if I'm in the flow.
-Force yourself to write something every day, even if it comes out stilted?
yes, part of the definition, isn't it?
-Have an outline, or just start with an idea? If an outline, how detailed is it?
I bought a poster board this AM for my first plot arch that JB recommended with a zillion post it notes. Usually I have the outline in my head plus three to four minor story archs and several characters already fleshed out, an intro and conclusion before I start writing.
-Have a room or area specifically for writing? Nope--anywhere, anytime. Have laptop, will travel. Hotel rooms are great.
-Play Queen or Queensryche to shut out the world, or do you need complete silence?
No complete silence--celtic music, sci fi CD, even old tv DVDs. The zone can be stroked externally by any foder as long as I don't have to pay attention to it and it keeps me company.
-Start with plot, or with characters?
characters plus extensive backgrounds
-Edit and re-write as you go, or when come to the end?
re-read writing from the day before and edit---then proceed to writing as soon as I'm flowing well.
-Show your rough draft to others, or re-write first?
35 years--no one read any of my stuff. Family didn't value writing and those that do--aren't big sci fi fans.... That has changed greatly over the past year with online classes and a writer's group we set up. I'm heading to my first University of IA writing conference, live--in person with manuscript in hands. I figure I'll have to be drunk the first day---which will not be good--only kidding--kinda. http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/iswfest/html/welcome/index.html
-Struggle most with dialogue, exposition, action scenes, or bridge scenes?
villians, I've tended to like broad society issues as villians.
-Talk about what you are writing to others?
almost never, but i will talk about scenes or technique that I'm having trouble resolving to get ideas. My office manager is a writer with a Masters in English. No, I didn't hire her because of that--but it is a bonus...
It's a lot easier writing when you didn't think anyone will read it; a lot harder to think in terms of presenting to an agent or a house. *grumble, grumble* [/b]
--- End quote ---
Hoodooed:
-Use a computer, old-fashioned typewriter, or pen and paper?
* I use a desktop PC and MS Word. I am considering a change to an iMac and iWork. I back my work up on a portable flash drive weekly or when I hit a milestone.
-Set aside a time every day to write?
* When I am working on a project, yes.
-Force yourself to write something every day, even if it comes out stilted?
* No. It's little more than a road to burn out and tossed work.
-Have an outline, or just start with an idea? If an outline, how detailed is it?
* Preliminary work involves developing appropriate caricatures for the story with just enough detail to flesh easily while working and than preparing a chapter outline that includes a couple of fun events. The rest is filling in the details.
-Have a room or area specifically for writing?
* A home office / home theater combo.
-Play Queen or Queensryche to shut out the world, or do you need complete silence?
* Sometimes, I listen to the news in the background or a genre appropriate music CD. Sometimes, I don’t.
-Start with plot, or with characters?
* Neither. Both are formed when considering theme and genre.
-Edit and re-write as you go, or when come to the end?
* I write a page or chapter, then re-read and tool it up. I check it again next day when I start the next part to get back into the flow of the story.
-Show your rough draft to others, or re-write first?
* If my work is displayed, it is after completion.
-Struggle most with dialogue, exposition, action scenes, or bridge scenes?
* Confidence. Sometimes clarity of thought or focus when my emotional state is unsettled.
-Talk about what you are writing to others?
* No. My preferred genre of speculative fiction was a social death sentence and door to ridicule in my area growing up. Small towns and small minds… A reading Harry Potter makes you a Satanist kind of place.
Franzeska:
--- Quote from: LizW65 on April 28, 2008, 01:40:59 PM ---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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I often feel like that too. I generally work from very detailed outlines (down to the scene/sequel level), and any more discussion of the work with other people will make my writing stale.
SailorYue:
has this ever happened to anyone: once you get the story written, your mind forgets it? that happens to me, which is why i dont use paper and pen anymore. once i get the story done, IM done wit hthe story. i never want to dwell on it again
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