Check In - Day 8

[enemytosleep]

Hello, writers! What have you been able to accomplish today toward your January goal?

— I wrote today!
— I planned and/or researched something.
— I sat down and did some editing.
— I sent things to my beta.
— I posted!
— I focused on something else today.

Writing question time: What kind of research do you do, if any, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a new story? If you’re not into research, please share some of your process on creating those details in your stories (are you a Stephen King Let It Spin type?).

Comments

[enemytosleep]

So far today I've drafted another scene for my final fandom_stocking gift. I'm already at 2,400+ and it's going to be a fucking behemoth. I decided to post it now since the collection is still unrevealed (I can edit in the finished version next week). It'll light a fire under my ass to get it finished! Or at least get the first chapter finished as I'm thinking this might be long enough to split into two. I'm going to push myself to get the whole thing done if I can.

I believe most of us here are fanfic writers, so there is typically a certain amount of history or lore already established by the canon that we’re writing from, but even still I am a little obsessive about researching things. From historically accurate prophylactics to imperial hierarchies to historical feudal villages … I have spent many hours on the web putting as much accurate flavor as I can in my writing. This always includes referencing the manga chapters or episodes of the series I’m writing about to make sure my canon details are accurate as I tend to write canon and canon-divergent fic. My partner laughs because they can always tell when I’m in research mode with 39 tabs open on the laptop and also searching on my phone.

[enemytosleep]

Okay, I edited 3 fics for someone else (little oneshots) and I jotted down more notes for my fandom_stocking piece. I definitely will have to split this into two parts, which is fine because it takes the pressure off to get the entire thing done by the 19th. As long as I get the first half up I'll be good (the second won't take much longer to get finished after that).

I received my chocolateboxcomm assignment as well. I will have to re-watch a bunch of episodes for that one, so I will hold off until I get the first half of the other piece finished. I'm hoping to send that to my beta this weekend, so I'll try drafting again later tonight once I'm home from work.

[enemytosleep]

I got another scene drafted on the fandom_stocking piece. It's moving along now, so I should have the first half to my beta by the weekend, and can then get to work on the second half (with less pressure because it can go up a few days late if need be). I might get a little more done tonight, but most likely I'll rest my brain for the night.

[autobotscoutriella]

Yesterday I impulse-scribbled a short one-shot during work downtime, and last night/today (it was 12am, that counts) I typed up and posted it! Today proper, I kept working on a chapter for the longer fic I'd like to be able to finish and post by February.

As for research, how much I do really depends on the type of fic. Usually I get an idea for a scene that spirals into something bigger (or not); when I do research depends how pivotal it is to the scene. For a one-off joke that hinged on a particular piece of information about motorcycles, I looked it up right away, because the joke wouldn't work if I got it wrong; most of the time, though, I'd write the scene and then see if anything sticks out as maybe needing research.

[enemytosleep]

Ooo sounds like a productive 24 hours! Here's hoping you can keep it rolling later today to get more drafted.

That sounds like a very sensible way to handle things, and one I am trying to better follow myself.

[lea_hazel]

Today I exploited a little late night Pilates class to brainstorm a ballerina A/U for one of my femslash ships.

[enemytosleep]

I first read that as "ballerina pilates" and was highly intrigued! I may be a little tired today haha. Yay for plotting and planning. \o/

[lea_hazel]

Oh, that does sound intriguing.

check in writethisfanfic

[voodoosgirl]

Hello. I tend to write everything on the weekend which has been exhausting and unproductive. I've joined GYWO and this group to try and focus on writing daily and being more disciplined. Last night I wrote 500 words for a chapter in my work in progress. Today I spend some time getting into my main character's head during breaks at work. I plan on settling in and writing another 500 words. I find the weekend writing takes me out of the character's world too long.

I do research before and while writing. I try to dive deep enough to get a good overview and then add the flavor of the location or information to the story. So hours of research may go into a line or two of the story. I bookmark pages, use travel sites, wiki pages, ask people questions. I bring in enough to hopefully keep the reader engaged and not bump them out of the story.

Re: check in writethisfanfic

[enemytosleep]

500 a day is a pretty reasonable number. Do you use any other tricks for getting into certain characters heads? I like to use music, anything from the series OST to a contemporary song that I associate with the character or the story somehow. I find that playing that song right before I set to typing really helps me keep the same feeling as the previous session.

I am a research fiend myself. I know sometimes the amount of time I spend researching might not amount to much in the way or wordage, but for the reader who recognizes the links to real world information ... that's gold. I have to be conscious of the balance between researching and using the fiction aspect of fanfic to make things up.

Re: check in writethisfanfic

[voodoosgirl]

I'm trying to be more disciplined without making it become a "task." The 500 words a day seems comfortable. It's hard since I write when I get home from work so it's generally at the end of a long day. I have a playlist for my characters but find it helps when I'm getting in the mood to write but not while actually writing. I need it very quiet. I often read what I've written already as a way to get back into the story. I have a collection of art images that are inspirations as well. I save them according to chapters.

I love the research part and often leave author notes at the end of a chapter giving the readers some background information about locations or canon characters that I have borrowed from the comics since my fandom has both movies and comics. Readers seem to enjoy the weaving in of both worlds.

Re: check in writethisfanfic

[enemytosleep]

Oh yes, I can't write with music or anything in the background. I just like to use it as a warm up to longer pieces that take several sessions to write. I love the art idea and may use that as well!

Oh I love those kinds of author notes. ♥

Btw I love the art in your icon. I can't stop looking at it.

Re: check in writethisfanfic

[voodoosgirl]

The art! Yes! I need to be sure I've credited it in my profile. Thank you for the artist. They are Takingmeds-art and are on DeviantArt and Tumblr. They have kindly given me permission to use it. An amazing artist that has been gracious. I did commission a piece for a story as well.

I use an app called Note Board-Sticky Note App that is a Chrome extension. It's a virtual corkboard that you can stick notes and pictures on. It's free. I pin the pictures I use for inspiration. I don't post them publically since I can't reach the artists often so it's just a personal use. I find the images are very helpful.

The Author notes are fun! Not too wordy but I like to be sure the readers know what's real if I reference it versus a fictional thing.

[lady_katana4544]

Did some writing and then did a trip to the gym to try brainstorming some ideas for one of my lingering WIPs.

If it's canons and source material that I don't know, then I spend a good few minutes (or more) doing research on it and try to find enough materials to read or watch in order to get a feel of the characterization of those characters. If its canons that I know pretty decently well, then its fly by the seat of your pants and just start writing things without reconsulting the source material unless something new has been added to it.

[enemytosleep]

I love that you brainstorm at the gym. ♥

I love re-watching an episode or two before a new piece to make sure I have the character voices fresh in mind. Good stuff!

[frogfarm]

Last night made decent progress on the Xena short, so today I was going to keep working on that. Instead I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of acquiring a new reader, and in the course of chatting with them was hit with a bunny for another entry in my ad hoc Jessica Jones series. Sometimes when I type in an idea, that's all there is and I have to wait until some later point to start adding to it, but this time it was the Energizer Bunny that just kept going and going. Now it's time to refill my drink and see if I can't do more actual work on the other story before bed.

The amount of research I do is extremely variable, ranging from none at all to encyclopedic. Every time I've done any significant amount of research, I've been writing the story at the same time.

[enemytosleep]

Yay for fic that writes itself!

[linaewen]

Since posting a chapter of my WIP a couple of days ago, I have been mostly just tweaking my notes for the next chapter and doing some editing of other things. I did write today, but I'll share about that later!

I love, love, love doing research, so I pretty much research all the time. I try to do the majority of it ahead of time (I'm also an outline freak, so all my research goes into the outline and notes so I'm ready to go when it's time to write!) -- but there is always something that crops up unexpectedly that needs checking or more information. Sometimes a new idea comes up in the midst of the writing, and I need to check it out to be sure it works before including it, so off I go into research.

[enemytosleep]

Outline Freaks Unite! It's sad that I used to struggle so much in my school years to research and write papers for grading, but for things like this it's so fun and comes together easily. Well, school days are behind me anyway, so now it's all sunshine and fun research and outlines and notes!!!!!