WIP Challenge Check-in -- Day 13 (Monday)

[linaewen]

I'm really pleased at all the good responses to yesterday's discussion about reviews.  I'm happy to see that, for the most part, we are all committed to our writing no matter whether we get reviews or not.  That makes the reviews we do get all the more sweet, I'd say!

So, is today going well for everyone?  Let us know how your Monday has been going, is currently going, or is hopefully going!

What writing-related pursuit did you engage in today?

• Writing
• Editing
• Sent to beta
• Posted
• Procrastinating
• Planning/Researching
• Something else I will describe in comments

For those who got some writing in, what was your word count?

For discussion:

• What is your favorite way to write your story when you are in the process of creating?  Can you only write on the computer?  Do you write it out on paper first, then type it up in a document?  A combination of the two?
• How do you handle notes for your stories as ideas come to you?  Do you scribble notes on anything that comes to hand -- envelopes, napkins, church bulletins?  Do you wake up at night and have to get up to write down an idea so it's not lost forever?

Comments

[linaewen]

Nothing doing as far as writing goes in my neck of the woods. However, I'm chipping away at the boring stuff, and I will definitely plan on writing something before bedtime. I didn't manage it yesterday but I will today. Even if it's just 10 words or some planning. ;-)

I often start writing on paper, but my best writing flows when I'm sitting at my computer. It's neater and less scribbly and easier to jump around following my thoughts if I am on the computer. As for noting down ideas, I carry a wee notepad with me wherever I go, just in case, though any scrap of paper will do when an idea strikes. Some of my best writing has been written down on the church bulletin! :-D I just have to be careful not to throw it away until after I've transcribed it. I have lost some great ideas by not writing them down at night, but I still have trouble making myself write something down when I'm half asleep. Not long ago I did just that, and was amazed that it was actually legible the next morning!

[glitteryv]

Maybe those 10 words will turn into 100? *sends writer-ly vibes your way*

[linaewen]

Thanks for the vibes! I didn't actually write words that added to the story, but I reviewed what I had most recently written (for my Big Bang story), did some research that will help me expand the current scenario, and made some notes that should easily turn into at LEAST 100 words. ;-) So I'm content!

[glitteryv]

*gives thumbs up*

[anyssia]

Some of my best writing has been written down on the church bulletin
xDDD

Not long ago I did just that, and was amazed that it was actually legible the next morning!
I did worse the other day: I don't have a light switch next to my bed and didn't feel like getting up. I just grabbed the notebook and bed on my bedside table and wrote down the idea in the dark xD

Did you managed to get all the words you wanted?

[littlebutfierce]

No actual words of fic, but had a lot of thoughts about the plot that is currently vexing me for my biggest WIP. Have decided to scrap a lot of what I've written & stick in New Plot instead. I feel okay about this, though, since it seems to make a lot more sense than what I was fumbling towards!

I can only write on the computer, in part b/c of nerve damage (sort of RSI-ish stuff) & in part cuz I handwrite so slow, comparatively! I'll scribble notes occasionally if something comes to me while I'm in a meeting or on the bus or something though (now that I have a smartphone I've been starting to use Evernote to capture stuff; I'm really slow at typing on my phone, unfortunately! >_< ).

[glitteryv]

May New Plot help you get that story down!

[littlebutfierce]

Thank you! It's already going more smoothly--not that I'm out of the woods, but...

[anyssia]

Have decided to scrap a lot of what I've written & stick in New Plot instead.
GO GO GO! \O/ You can do it! ;D

Is a smartphone that useful for writers? I can't imagine using it to write a story like I would with my laptop. But I heard that people did it that way and thinking of that small screen and tiny keyboard, I went O.O

[littlebutfierce]

Thank you!

I've seen some people really hammer away on their phones! Not me, alas. But I do find it useful if I have an idea on the bus--to write down the idea (usually in as few words as possible, heh), not to start the fic!

[anyssia]

usually in as few words as possible
xD
Yeah, I guess we have more easily a smartphone in our pocket than a notebook. Too bad I don't use a phone enough to warrant buying a smartphone. My own phone is really just the basics: phone and text messages ;p no fancy features ^^

[midnightgds]

Today I did some planning and research for a X-Men story I have running through my head. Took some notes and wrote up a few idea's and stuff like that. I read a few writing magazines and read some articles on the web.

When I begin to write a story I start out by writing it down.I try not to edit as I go, but alot of time my inner editor slips in and begins to edit as I go. After the editing is done I type it out onto the computer. When I do write on the computer it does take me a bit longer due to random distractions,{e-mail, web surfing, chat's},paper and pen seem to be easier for me, less distractions.

When preparing for a story and when I take notes for a story I write everything out in my writing journal, which is a 3 subject compositing notebook. I have colored tabs with the pages content on it. My journal is home to writing articles and story idea's. I also write down dreams that have a story like feel. I have written stories based off of my dreams many times.

[glitteryv]

Man, that inner editor can be such a meanie! Especially when you're trying to get that first draft done.

[midnightgds]

I usually try to distract them with a time limit, but my IE is a brat and doesn't care. I do click ignore on the IE, that works alot. :)

[anyssia]

paper and pen seem to be easier for me, less distractions.
ow, my hand O.O

I'm impressed, really. Doing everything on paper and only using the computer to transcribe the fic, I'm definitively impressed. Must take you a long time/lots of paper to write a story, no?

Words flow easier for me with paper and pen

[midnightgds]

Once the first draft is done I give my hand a break for a few days. If the story in my head is easy to write, then it will take me a few hours to write it all out.I write the first draft in black, the first set of editing is done in blue and the last editing is done in red. I do the first round of editing the day after the story is written and the second round a few days later. If i want to add something to the story, then I write a number down and on a seperate sheet of paper I write down the scene that I want to add to it. It works out well for me.
When I do write on the computer I tend to get distracted by e-mail and Im's or I would get even more distracted by the web doing research. I try to get the research done a few days before i begin the story. :)

Re: Words flow easier for me with paper and pen

[linaewen]

That's a good method for using paper to write things out. I tend to have the problem of writing furiously on paper and it goes all over, round and round in circles and upside down on the page as the ideas come. Using numbers and separate sheets of paper is definitely more organized! I used to be much better at using notebooks, paper and pen in an organized fashion, but I think the computer with it's ability to cut, paste and leave room for more ideas in a document has spoiled me. ;-)

[msmcknittington]

Today I heard back from both my first readers -- and thank you both so much for doing that for me! -- which has been very encouraging and helpful. I've been doing some light editing and re-reading to get back in the flow of the story. Mostly cutting out lines that are not nearly as clever as I thought they were when I wrote them! There were lots of those. They slow the story down and are bad. I'm hoping to write a scene later this evening.

I don't have to get up to write ideas down in the middle of the night -- I keep paper and pen by the bed because I write a little every night before going to sleep. :) But I also don't write down the middle of the night ideas, because they make no sense whatsoever in the morning. There's a scene in Baby Mama where Tina Fey's character and Greg Kinnear's character are talking about midnight inspiration, and Tina's says something about the notes always reading stuff like "everybody's a ballerina!" and something about toilets, and that's pretty much how mine go. Cryptic and unintelligible.

My inspiration also tends to strike me in little scenes, like catching a bit of a movie as you flip through the channels. So my notes tend to be a few lines or paragraphs of dialogue or description or action, written longhand, which I then type up and finish the scene on the computer. At some point in the process, I need to stop writing and start plotting, which I do either by outline on paper or by using Scrivener.

[glitteryv]

First Readers are so awesome! Their feedback always peps me up too. :)

[msmcknittington]

There's nothing like knowing someone wants you to finish to make you actually work on something!

[anyssia]

Oh yeah, definitively. Especially when you write a chaptered fic and find the same person again and again every time you publish a new chapter! ^^ It's really humbling and exciting at the same time \O/

[msmcknittington]

Humbling is right! Accumulating a "fan club" can be scary -- they are people with expectations of your work. Oh no. But on the other hand, they're excited for what you write, which is pretty cool and really encouraging.

[anyssia]

And when I publish a new chapter, I spend hours staring a my inbox, waiting for them to read it and tell what they think of it \O/
^__^
Lucky us!

[midnightgds]

Congrats!

[glitteryv]

Wrote my words and then some. In addition to the usual 1,400, I also ended up writing 1,500 words for a H/C bingo fill.

What is your favorite way to write your story when you are in the process of creating? Can you only write on the computer? Do you write it out on paper first, then type it up in a document? A combination of the two?
How do you handle notes for your stories as ideas come to you? Do you scribble notes on anything that comes to hand -- envelopes, napkins, church bulletins? Do you wake up at night and have to get up to write down an idea so it's not lost forever?

I always use my computer to do any actual writing(it's neater), but I tend to scribble pieces of dialog, outlines of scenes, etc. on a zillion pieces of paper or on the notebook I've got. I've yet to wake up in order to write down whatever I've thought of (though maybe I should try to do so since I rarely remember stuff the following morning.)

[msmcknittington]

Go, you! 2900 words! That's pretty impressive.

[glitteryv]

Hee, thanks! It's rare that I write so much in one sitting so, I just roll with it when it happens.

[anyssia]

2'900 words in one day? wow, I'm impressed, way to go! ^^

I've yet to wake up in order to write down whatever I've thought of
I tend to get idea just after going to bed, when I'm trying to fall asleep. Then I'll get up to write them, because otherwise I won't remember the next morning and be really disappointed, and afterward I can't fall asleep anymore xD
So, maybe, writing at night isn't such a good idea ;p

I tend to scribble pieces of dialog, outlines of scenes, etc. on a zillion pieces of paper or on the notebook I've got
Did that at a time and ended up losing half the post-its or being unable to get everything back in order.
How do you keep track of your post-its/ideas?

[lexicalcrow]

Mostly revision, adding in things that needed to be rewritten or clarified. My genderqueer character actually comes across as genderqueer now. Woo. XD Still got more to do though. I got through to page 32 last night out of 73, so yes. :P There are relationships with secondary characters that need to come out more, so I've been adding scenes for that.

I don't really have a favourite way to write a story. It depends on when I get the idea. Sometimes I write emails to myself, or I scribble in my notebooks that I type up later. If I'm already on my computer at home, I just open a new document and start writing.

I use the Jarte word processor, which has tabbed documents, so I can easily have my main story and a notes file (and even a deleted scenes file if needed) all open and accessible at the same time. But I do sometimes scribble notes on paper. If I get an idea just as I'm going to bed, I prefer writing it down on some paper rather than run to my computer. Less disruptive and I can get back to it the next day.

I have plenty of emails with pages of notes I've written down as I've been working out plot progressions. It's interesting to see the change in things as I've gone back, done some proper writing, and things have changed again.

[linaewen]

I use the Jarte word processor, which has tabbed documents, so I can easily have my main story and a notes file (and even a deleted scenes file if needed) all open and accessible at the same time.

Thanks for the mention of Jarte -- I hadn't heard of it before, but the idea of tabbed documents really appeals to me, so I checked it out. Nice! I think it will be just what I need for easier navigating between all the different notes I usually have when working on a WIP. Thanks!

[lexicalcrow]

No problem! It's such an awesome program, and because you can have custom backgrounds, you can change it to suit whatever WIP your working on for inspiration. :P That's always quite fun. And yeah, it pretty much does everything I wished Wordpad did, and possibly a few things more. Enjoy! :D

[anyssia]

My genderqueer character actually comes across as genderqueer now.
\O/ ^^ it's taking form!

Wow, I'm impressed: if I did like you, e-mails and scenes and whatnot, I'd lose myself in about five minutes xD I know myself: if I begin to write a sentence here and a page there, I won't be able to re-read it/understand it afterward ^^;;

[lexicalcrow]

Yes! :D I've had to be inventive as I'm writing during the 50s and 60s and the vocab was a lot different. I can't just use the words I'd use now and have to find other ways of saying things. I think it comes across as authentic enough? But yes. Progress! :D

I think it works for me because I get obsessive about pulling all those disparate notes together into one place so I can see them all at once. If you don't organise your notes and such, you'll lose track of everything and forget wtf that three paragraph opening was supposed to be about. :P

[xpaperplanex]

I managed to get a bunch of writing done on a WIP that I haven't worked on in ages. Not the big WIP that everyone and their dog wants updated, but the weird little crackfic that one or two people want updated. Ah well, I'll take what I can get.

I mostly write directly on the computer, though I have notebooks for when I'm places without a computer or electricity. I hate writing by hand first, though because I have really bad arthritis in my left hand/arm and use the time I take thinking of what to write next to give my arm a break from typing. That doesn't work so well when it's already written down. Also my handwriting is atrocious and it's hard to decipher xP

I don't keep a lot of notes for ideas. They stick in my head pretty well as long as I'm awake when I get them. For when I'm not awake, I have a notebook by my bed. I do keep an outline for longer fics as a separate document so I have an idea of where I'm going. And often I'll keep another doc of random ideas or things I'd like a character to say at some point. I keep each story in a separate folder and try to keep everything related to it in there.

[anyssia]

Not the big WIP that everyone and their dog wants updated, but the weird little crackfic that one or two people want updated. Ah well, I'll take what I can get.
Ooooh, I think I know which one that is! Waaaant ^^ *makes grabby hands*

Also my handwriting is atrocious and it's hard to decipher xP
Oh Gaia, I hear you! *frowns at her notebook* Sometimes I even manage to read the words, but the sentence doesn't make any sense xD

And often I'll keep another doc of random ideas or things I'd like a character to say at some point.
I found that PageFour is a great software to keep track of random ideas. It's fast and easy to use, and I usually just create a new page for whatever plot bunny bit me this time. But for longer stories, I use a notebook too. (and folders are the stuff of gods. I don't even want to imagine the mess it would be without them ;D )

[xpaperplanex]

Heh heh... could still be a little while before there's a new chapter, but I'm working on it!

Yeah, I've had that happen a few times. The words are legible, but what on earth was I trying to say???

I looked up PageFour and it looks amazing, but it's for Windows only :( But that smart edit feature looks so cool! It's hard to tell when you've used the same phrase 5 times in the last two paragraphs unless you know what to look for. *wants*

[anyssia]

^^ Really, I don't even think I use every features of PageFour. I'm a bit weird with editors, in fact.

I use PageFour to keep track of plot bunnies, Q10 editor to write the first draft and Word to put the chapter in form. I used Scrivener during last November, but even if I like it very much, I don't really feel like paying to write a fanfic, so... ^^;; I used yWriter too, once, but I don't need it to be that complicated, so I went back to the classic Q10 (which is a full page editor, so that nothing distracts me, and Word to put it right afterward (and for the spellchecker ;p))

[msmcknittington]

Thank you for the mention of PageFour! It looks a lot like everything I loved about Scrivener, which I liked a lot during NaNoWriMo, but couldn't justify spending $40 on for the full version.

[bay_alexison]

Yay, got slightly over 1,000 words for one of my ficss! The beginning could use a brush up, but I'll worry about that later. I'm quite excited for this fic and I think I might finish the rough draft of it by the end of this week if I really focus hard enough.

I used to write by hand, but when I first got a computer I tend typed my stories because it's neater and I can be able to correct the mistakes faster. I still write down ideas and outlines in a notebook, but I would then make a neater version of the outline in a Word document.

[anyssia]

1'000 words is \O/ well done! ^^ (says the girl who didn't write one word xD )

It's funny how most people use more or less the same method: outline in notebook and story in word processor. But yeah, when you got a multi chapter stories, writing it down isn't easy and I don't know for you, but it would take me ages! I write so much faster on a keyboard ;p

[lacygrey]

Monday was a non event ficwise (and musicwise) unfortuately. Another gratuitous bank holiday with associated family interferance. Shall stop moping now.

For writing, I'll use the computer or a notebook. I find paper more comfortable, if more time consuming.

[anyssia]

with associated family interferance
argh >_< that's hell on the writing time, that.

Shall stop moping now.
Here, have a cookie ^^


I find paper more comfortable, if more time consuming.
Time consuming yeah. And I lost a notebook once, I almost cried. Did you ever have a problem with a notebook?
(the useful thing with a computer, is that I have backup of my backup xD)

[lacygrey]

Thank you for your words of encouragement and cookie. I love my family, but I don't think they'd understand about fanfic ^_~

Notebooks are great from the point of view of handiness. What's inconvinient is the typing up, which adds time.

No, Ive never lost one - I don't know what I'd do!!

[anyssia]

Nope, didn't write one word, I cooked ;p

I only write on computer; it would take me way too much time copying all my story and I wouldn't have the patience. Plus, my hand would hurt after so much text xD

I have a notebook to keep my ideas in, and when I don't have it with me, I grab whatever I can. I copy it in the notebook when I get home (when I worked at a McDonald's, I used my thirty min breaks to outline my whole chaptered FFVII story on napkins \O/ You wouldn't believe how many napkins I had stuck in my notebook till I could copy them :D )

Do you wake up at night and have to get up to write down an idea so it's not lost forever?
Hum, actually, yes ^^;; I keep a notebook and pen on my bed table just for that ;p

[xpaperplanex]

Mmm... cooking is good too.

It does take way too much time to copy things from a notebook onto the computer. I already wrote it once! I don't want to do it again!

I giggled at your McDonald's napkins story. Did you number them to keep them in order?

[anyssia]

oh yes, I put number on every pages, recto/verso, because I tended to had paragraphs here and there, so those had stars and numbers to, to know where to add them. My friends/coworkers where always staring at me and they kept asking what I was writing and why I wrote it and such, and I would blush and mumble, because they weren't 'in the know' about me and slash and games and animes/mangas ;D
I filled dozens of napkins there, I have never been able to look at a McDonald's napkin again without thinking about Guide, my FFVII fanfic ^^

[pkc_creative]

I'm a bit behind (stupidly busy RL) but anyway.

I've been in a bit of funk with my writing but I've have managed to do some recently. Wrote a couple of drabbles for a challenge, need to post the second entry. Also got a 1000ish words fic done that came right outta nowhere and had to be written, haven't posted it yet though. Got some more work done on a WIP which I started to get out of the slump and it is gonna be huge and one of my biggest ever fics when it's done, added another 600+ words to it.
Need to do some research on softball and on '65 Stingray (whatever that is) for the WIP which I'll hopefully be able to start sometime this afternoon. It's my day off. Still contemplating when to get a beta for the WIP. My options are now at 11 (very rough) chapters in or later on say at around the 20-30 chapter mark. I'll know when it needs extra eyes, going to be typing some more of it later on.


I don't really have a favourite method of writing but I do prefer the computer because I'm dyslexic and my handwriting is atrocious :) but I carry a notebook and pen with me for any ideas, random scenes, pieces of dialogue etc...
Usually just use my notebook. I'm not a good sleeper so I'm usually awake at night but I tend to avoid my 3am ideas because some of them have been really ridiculous.