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writethisfanficHullo, y'all. I'm annotated_em and I'll be fielding the check-in posts this week!
For today's discussion, I'm going to draw a bit on my day job. Some writing and composition scholars are really into the idea of the writing process (it usually gets outlined as prewrite-write-rewrite). A writer, they suggest, begins to write by planning what they're going to write about, then writes, and finishes up by revising the composition. Other composition scholars argue from what we call a post-process position, which basically boils down to "It's not that simple" and "Writing is a recursive process." In lay terms, these scholars argue that a writer moves back and forth between these stages of writing--planning, writing a little, planning some more, making an edit or two, writing some more, rewriting as they come up with a new idea or insight, and so forth.
What does your writing process look like? Do you have a linear writing process, one that starts with brainstorming and outlining and proceeds through the writing and editing stages in an orderly fashion? Do you find yourself moving back and forth between the different stages of writing? Do you have your own special stages of writing? (Me, I have the intermediate angst stage that goes somewhere in the middle of the writing stage; it involves developing a sudden hatred for the project and wailing to whomever will listen that it is horrible and terrible and no one will ever read it, why did I think this was a good idea?) The next best thing to writing is writing about one's writing, so tell us all about your process in the comments!
annotated_em and I'll be fielding the check-in posts this week!Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10
How did it go today?
View Answers
Extremely well!
1 (10.0%)
Pretty good, I guess.
3 (30.0%)
Eh.
3 (30.0%)
Could have gone better.
2 (20.0%)
I don't wanna talk about it.
1 (10.0%)
What did you do today?
View Answers
Planned/outlined
3 (30.0%)
Researched
2 (20.0%)
"Researched"
2 (20.0%)
Wrote
5 (50.0%)
Revised
1 (10.0%)
Posted
1 (10.0%)
Rested (upon my laurels or otherwise)
1 (10.0%)
Did something else
1 (10.0%)
For today's discussion, I'm going to draw a bit on my day job. Some writing and composition scholars are really into the idea of the writing process (it usually gets outlined as prewrite-write-rewrite). A writer, they suggest, begins to write by planning what they're going to write about, then writes, and finishes up by revising the composition. Other composition scholars argue from what we call a post-process position, which basically boils down to "It's not that simple" and "Writing is a recursive process." In lay terms, these scholars argue that a writer moves back and forth between these stages of writing--planning, writing a little, planning some more, making an edit or two, writing some more, rewriting as they come up with a new idea or insight, and so forth.
What does your writing process look like? Do you have a linear writing process, one that starts with brainstorming and outlining and proceeds through the writing and editing stages in an orderly fashion? Do you find yourself moving back and forth between the different stages of writing? Do you have your own special stages of writing? (Me, I have the intermediate angst stage that goes somewhere in the middle of the writing stage; it involves developing a sudden hatred for the project and wailing to whomever will listen that it is horrible and terrible and no one will ever read it, why did I think this was a good idea?) The next best thing to writing is writing about one's writing, so tell us all about your process in the comments!
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no subject
Date: Monday, October 1st, 2012 16:40 (UTC)For my process it's more of a stop-and-start? Most of the time I begin with a stop, which means I brainstorm and plot and Do Actual Research and Think About The Story A Lot before I sit down and start writing. I stop every couple of lines or paragraphs to check the direction of the story. Or revise. Or change my mind about the plot. Or rearrange words. Then I begin writing again. The angst stage always comes at the 2/3rds mark. ALWAYS. It's where I know exactly what I want to happen and I want the fic to end but the words I tack on the fic just wouldn't stick. (Um, in this I mostly want to shake the characters until their feelings fall out.)
Other times I just start banging out the words without much plotting, because sometimes certain sequence of sentences and words sound pretty to me or whatever. Then after coming off that high I glare down at what I've done and try to see if it has any point and try to figure out if I could coax a proper fic out of it.
It's not a reliable process given that I stop so much (and this has resulted in so many unfinished things). But I've never really gotten into writing with, like, a proper outline. Tried it but writing felt like work for me rather than something I enjoy doing.
no subject
Date: Monday, October 1st, 2012 17:05 (UTC)My writing process is not really very linear; I think I do a lot of jumping back and forth. I do start with the brainstorming and outlining, but I frequently go back to that if things develop differently than planned. I also edit as I go, in addition to the final edit, so I'm reviewing a lot before moving forward. The beginning of a story/chapter is always the hardest for me, so there is extra starting and stopping at that point; once I figure out how to get started, it often flows a bit more smoothly from there. My writing is often done in chunks, however, so even when inspiration is flowing, there will be paragraphs with empty places in the middle where I don't quite have the words yet for what I want to say, but I know the gist of what is going to happen -- that means I have to go back and "fill in the blank," which definitely adds to the back and forth nature of my writing.
no subject
Date: Monday, October 1st, 2012 18:17 (UTC)My writing process is... Questionable? For short works, I just tend to sit and write without much thought until I feel I finished. These are usually the results of prompts or random ideas I get (or a mix!). If I get stuck midway through, I go back to reread and edit what I've written already, which usually helps me figure out to write next. For longer projects, like big bangs, I try to piece together some idea I can build off of and then just start writing. For me, just diving headfirst into the writing process is what works best for me. I find it easier to put together a story like that, literally making it up as I go. It's not a great process, I'll admit as I usually push myself to write in a short amount of time which takes away from the time I have to edit. So what I usually end of having is an extra step, I'll call it the 'Forever Post-Production Edit'. After my story has been posted, no matter how much time has past, I'll likely pick it up at random, catch errors and edit accordingly. Repeat as required. ^^;
no subject
Date: Monday, October 1st, 2012 19:07 (UTC)no subject
Date: Monday, October 1st, 2012 20:59 (UTC)-come up with idea, usually through sudden insight or brainstorming that leads to sudden insight
-mull over idea, this involves jogging or walking many times while thinking
-come to end of ability to mull over, either story is complete in my head, or else I have a few major concepts
-must actually write, being in writing process to further develop story, complete story concepts
-go to research various things while writing
-try to find lumps of time to work on writing
-sometimes stall out, need to find time for long runs/walks by myself to start process again (very often, I am in a place or location where I have the 'writing energy enthusiasm' and cannot write, like about 9 am at work, and I am expected to work and must not write)
-work out snarls in plot, pov, descriptions, etc.
-let the story sit, then edit
-send to beta
-edit, edit, edit
-eventually post
A lot of stories just lose luster, or interest for me. I also find I get to 'tell' a story once. So, I can't tell it in synopsis, I have to hold it in my head until I have laptop in front of me.
I write absolutely linearly. I have almost never jumped around, or written out of order. I wish I could do that, because often the reason I want to write a story is a scene that comes many words after I set something up, and I have to do all those other bits to get to the part that pushes my buttons and makes me happy.
no subject
Date: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 04:01 (UTC)My writing process is pretty much all over with my longer works. I'll think up of a plot and some scenes, outline, write, change outline, research if needed, write on the spot, edit, send to beta, edit according to beta's comments, etc. Or a close variation. XD
no subject
Date: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 10:17 (UTC)I usually have a basic outline, then I start working on the story, outline the next few parts - but sometimes ideas for later come up and then I write them down. Occasionally I write soemthing that will happen later.