Your writing process

[spankableBelle]

I love, love, love learning about the writing process of others... I always find inspiration.
I'm a pantser. Until about 1/2-2/3 of the way through a book, and then I'm a plotter. Of sorts.
That's not how it's always been with me. When I first started writing, I was a pantser all the way, beginning to end.

My process has changed over the years.
I get ideas and try them out.
I not some down and come back a while late and think WTAF was I thinking?
Sometimes characters come first, other times a simple line of dialog comes first.

I use Google docs for my rough drafts, print for revisions and edits, Word for the final story/book, Vellum for formatting. This doesn't change for me.

I used to be able to write stories long hand. That isn't how I work anymore, though I hope it'll come back. I enjoyed it, was able to drill deeper into it, but my brain doesn't have the patience right now.
My process includes daily writing sprints, especially on a deadline.

I can usually get to the 1/2 way point in a book quickly, but the middle is a slog and I'll start something new, and then some else, and yet another thing after that. I usually have 3-4 projects going at the same time. Different tones, different levels of heat, etc...
That is something that has worked for me since I began writing back in Jr. High and something that still works and remains constant.

This is a great thread.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

So I used to exclusively write quasi-autobiographical stuff and still do some stories in this vein (my On The Job event story, for example and another I have 25% done). For this, I basically just started writing, remembering what happened. My main creative choices were about splicing together different events, embellishing the more boring bits, or deciding what to leave out

Now that I’m writing more de novo stories, I find it’s different. Now I try to write notes on what the story is about, themes, things that I’d like to have happen etc. I then often write an introduction, to see if I’m actually interested in writing it. If I am, then I try to sketch out a structure. This might have things where I’m unclear what might happen - “maybe A thinks B and so does C, but how does that reconcile with D?”.

Then I start writing. I write on my phone, using the Office 365 version of Word. Maybe it would be different on a laptop. I tend to write a section, then save the whole document back to Lit and use the preview function to read the latest bit. I make changes to the Word document when I find errors, or ugly sentences, or continuity issues. Every few sections, I go back and read it all (again in Preview) from the beginning. Often noting things from later writing that I should have introduced (or foreshadowed) at the beginning. Or realizing that I need to insert a new section.

How does that compare to your process?

Em

Very similar.

As you know I don’t have the benefit of a large and varied sexual history so I go entirely off fictional scenarios devised and dreamed up as I go along.

I’ll try and do it largely as one Chapter at a time BUT, I will at the beginning start every chapter and come back to each one to add bits as I see fit. I use my phone to write the main body, edit here, then on the laptop to correct ugly errors or language.

Also if I’m stuck I find going for a walk with the dogs to be the perfect unblocker. Me, the open air, music in my ears and I usually come back with a solution, for example, in HOT AND FUZZY this is were I cam up with the Magic 8 Ball to replace the Japanese Peace Lily from the original film. But I don’t tend to make notes apart from those in my head, occasionally something will occur that’s so unusual I might make a note in the chapter already opened but that’s about it.

In some ways I’m a plotter as I have a general idea where I want to go, but I’m also a pantser as I let the characters guide me where they want to go rather than me telling them, this I feel leads to some nice surprises for me as well as the reader.

Each person has their own magic method.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Hi all,

Some interesting and different approaches, as well as some similarities.

As often happens on Saturdays, I woke up early and my boyfriend is still . So I’ve been writing in bed. An advantage of using a phone.

So an example of my process this morning. I’m fleshing out the story structure and have worked out the ending I am travelling towards. But I have a problem; actually two. I’ll try to explain without getting into spoilers. Sorry if that makes it a bit impenetrable (unlike me - sorry, I just can’t resist gratuitous innuendo ).

So my dual problem is this:

My FMC has to decide whether or not to do something pretty extreme to help the MMC, who is in trouble and not around.

1. How does she know that if she decides to do X it will help?
2. How does she know how to do X if the MMC (who is the only person who knows about X) is not around

So I cut my Gordian Knots by first shifting the location of an earlier scene to somewhere that helps and inserting a section where the MMC and FMC discuss something pertinent to the later decision. Second, I have an idea about 2, but.need to insert a new section at the end (and have added a sketch of this).

This is typical of my process for de novo stories.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

Thanks for sharing that, mine is quite similar so thats a bit reassuring.

I had given up porn and was trying to repair my neural pathways. The short version - watched too much porn, developed ED, gave up porn started writing, fixed ED.

My process at the start was like yours, I remembered good experiences and wrote a sort of "legend" about the experience. So half true, with the good bits embellished and the awkward parts removed.

This evolved to focus include the sensual and emotional sides of it, so instead of just describing the visual nature of the act I would describe how it felt (in every sense).

When I realised why some partners were so good, I really looked at how they approached sex and started to know the difference between "doing it because they like it" and "doing it because we like it".

I'm still evolving, because now I need to make someone understand "why we liked it" well enough to enjoy it themselves.

Legend is a great term for quasi-autobiographical. Also very Smiley’s People .

Em

 

[SimonDoom]

I know it will be hard to believe, but I still save to floppy disk.

My God, Keith. Do you also have dial up Internet?

 

[Seadog777]

I use a pencil and piece of paper.
At the top I put the title.
Then I put the main storyline.
Then I put how I want it to end.
Then I write my sub-plots or moments that I want to incorporate into the story.

After that, everything is just kinda off the cuff to make it all come together.

 

[SimonDoom]

Hi all,

Some interesting and different approaches, as well as some similarities.

As often happens on Saturdays, I woke up early and my boyfriend is still . So I’ve been writing in bed. An advantage of using a phone.

So an example of my process this morning. I’m fleshing out the story structure and have worked out the ending I am travelling towards. But I have a problem; actually two. I’ll try to explain without getting into spoilers. Sorry if that makes it a bit impenetrable (unlike me - sorry, I just can’t resist gratuitous innuendo ).

So my dual problem is this:

My FMC has to decide whether or not to do something pretty extreme to help the MMC, who is in trouble and not around.

1. How does she know that if she decides to do X it will help?
2. How does she know how to do X if the MMC (who is the only person who knows about X) is not around

So I cut my Gordian Knots by first shifting the location of an earlier scene to somewhere that helps and inserting a section where the MMC and FMC discuss something pertinent to the later decision. Second, I have an idea about 2, but.need to insert a new section at the end (and have added a sketch of this).

This is typical of my process for de novo stories.

Em

Perhaps she finds documentary evidence of his trouble and the solution, perhaps by seeing his emails or his computer search history.

If he's in trouble then I imagine there is at least one other person involved with whom he is in trouble. Perhaps she has some contact with that person, or sees that person's communications.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Perhaps she finds documentary evidence of his trouble and the solution, perhaps by seeing his emails or his computer search history.

I have it worked out, hun. As a character says in the same story: “ I’m blonde, not a total imbecile”

If he's in trouble then I imagine there is at least one other person involved with whom he is in trouble. Perhaps she has some contact with that person, or sees that person's communications.

As above .

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

My God, Keith. Do you also have dial up Internet?

Maybe he also has an IBM Selectric typewriter. Or a 1949 Royal manual, like my mom used in college. (I did use it myself in junior high school.) Or maybe he does it like Dickens and Melville did it, with a quill pen and paper.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I read an article recentiy saying that WhiteOut is still a big seller. It must be Keith.

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

I use a pencil and piece of paper.
At the top I put the title.
Then I put the main storyline.
Then I put how I want it to end.
Then I write my sub-plots or moments that I want to incorporate into the story.

After that, everything is just kinda off the cuff to make it all come together.

Oh, here we go - pencil and paper! You must convert to a digital format at some point, correct?

 

[Seadog777]

Maybe he also has an IBM Selectric typewriter. Or a 1949 Royal manual, like my mom used in college. (I did use it myself in junior high school.) Or maybe he does it like Dickens and Melville did it, with a quill pen and paper.

I'd love to find an old typewriter that still works.
I've found a few in old antique stores, but they were broken.

 

[Seadog777]

Oh, here we go - pencil and paper! You must convert to a digital format at some point, correct?

I type everything on my laptop.

The piece of college ruled notebook paper sits besides me.
It's a reminder of what I want the story to be.

By the way..... #OldSchoolIsTheBestSchool

 

[gunhilltrain]

I read an article recentiy saying that WhiteOut is still a big seller. It must be Keith.

Em

Robert Caro still uses a typewriter, but he's 87 years old. He does have some trouble finding someone to fix it or getting replacement parts.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'd love to find an old typewriter that still works.
I've found a few in old antique stores, but they were broken.

There is a much longer article about Caro in The New Yorker, but it's now behind a paywall for me. (I've run out of free articles!) He has about ten of those machines. I think some people donate them to him.

http://mytypewriter.com/authors/list/Caro.html

Maybe that company would sell you one? Or eBay?

 

[EmilyMiller]

Legend is a great term for quasi-autobiographical. Also very Smiley’s People .

Em

Instead of:

“The Sandman is making a legend for a girl.”

We have:

“The Emily is making a legend for a plot.”

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

I wish I could do that. I really do.

Ironic thing is in my personal life, I'm a planner. I like scheduling things out and following it. I leave early in case there is traffic or I have to find parking. I set 2 alarms in case one doesn't wake me up. I plan and then usually have a back up plan.

But for some reason, I can't do that when I write. And that so opposite my "IRL" personality.

We've had so many threads about the writing process, and nobody has fully explained it. For one thing, it's different for each individual. Also, much of it happens intuitively, below the level of consciousness. Based on your submission list, you seem to be doing quite well, although it's quality over quantity for sure. If that works for you, then don't worry about it; just do what's best for for you.

 

[gunhilltrain]

So how does that work when your main character is, well, yourself?

Em (not a narcissist, honest)

We're all a bit narcissistic, or we wouldn't be here. That's not a a bad thing, however. Even if I have a character who is loosely based on myself (age, geography, setting) it's never really me. (They're more assertive than I ever was at those ages, for one thing.) Also, most of what happens (with a few exceptions) is fictional, although I wish a lot of did really happen!

 

[EmilyMiller]

We're all a bit narcissistic, or we wouldn't be here. That's not a a bad thing, however. Even if I have a character who is loosely based on myself (age, geography, setting) it's never really me. (They're more assertive than I ever was at those ages, for one thing.) Also, most of what happens (with a few exceptions) is fictional, although I wish a lot of did really happen!

My fictionalized self never queefs, nor does she ever get a Charley Horse during sex, no matter what position she is put in. She hasn’t once dissolved in laughter mid-coitus. She does however often ejaculate at the least provocation and seems to cum simultaneously with her partner an awful lot of the time.

It’s porn at the end of the day .

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

My fictionalized self never queefs, nor does she ever get a Charley Horse during sex, no matter what position she is put in. She hasn’t once dissolved in laughter mid-coitus. She does however often ejaculate at the least provocation and seems to cum simultaneously with her partner an awful lot of the time.

It’s porn at the end of the day .

Em

That's your definition of porn, anyway. I often have things go wrong, although with damage to people's egos, not physical consequences. Most likely to happen in a series, where the beginning may be good, but the passage of a few months can wear out most young relationships.

 

[EmilyMiller]

That's your definition of porn, anyway. I often have things go wrong, although with damage to people's egos, not physical consequences. Most likely to happen in a series, where the beginning may be good, but the passage of a few months can wear out most young relationships.

I’ve done some more realistic stories, for example featuring ED. But if it’s a sex romp, it’s a sex romp.

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

I’ve done some more realistic stories, for example featuring ED. But if it’s a sex romp, it’s a sex romp.

Em

I'm trying to remember what I've written, because I have stories on three different sites over five years. I may have written pure sex romps, perhaps. But you have to realize that at age 67, it's not that sex is "boring" (to write about, anyway), but it sure has lost it's novelty. In fact for everything, except writing and reading - including politics, pop culture, etc. - I feel like I've seen it all before. I know, boomer/geezer grumpiness.

P.S.: I know I sound depressing, but it's actually kind of liberating. You realize that it's all temporary and in the long run (unless you are Madam Curie, perhaps) none of it is going to matter. That includes what happens on Lit, although I'm still glad to be here.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm trying to remember what I've written, because I have stories on three different sites over five years. I may have written pure sex romps, perhaps. But you have to realize that at age 67, it's not that sex is "boring" (to write about, anyway), but it sure has lost it's novelty. In fact for everything, except writing and reading - including politics, pop culture, etc. - I feel like I've seen it all before. I know, boomer/geezer grumpiness.

So we are not in the same place. That’s cool. It means variety in writing styles and preoccupations.

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

So we are not in the same place. That’s cool. It means variety in writing styles and preoccupations.

Em

We cross-posted. I just added a post-script that you must have missed. I've got to be quick to get ahead of you.

 

[SimonDoom]

Robert Caro still uses a typewriter, but he's 87 years old. He does have some trouble finding someone to fix it or getting replacement parts.

I hope he finishes the Johnson series. It's a monumental work of history and it would be a shame if he didn't finish it.