I recently asked for ideas for upcoming posts. My friend and fellow author, Sandra Wright, asked the following via Facebook: ‘I'm curious to know about your process. Do you write linear or other? My characters show me stuff all out of order and then it's up to me to stitch everything into some sort of sense ...’
It’s an interesting question. There are as many ways to write as there are books on how to do it. And there is definitely no right or wrong.
I know this because I’ve tried writing according to someone else’s rules and failed miserably. No matter how good the ideas sound in theory, for me, they simply didn’t work.
For the most part, I am a linear writer. The story often plays in my head like a movie. I get occasional ‘coming attractions’, scenes or portions of scenes that I know instantly come later. They are typically pivotal moments, such as a couple’s first kiss, so knowing how and when that happens points me in the right direction.
Otherwise, I fly by the seat of my pants, particularly on the first draft. I once had the privilege of hearing J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and John Irving speak at an event. As a writer, it was fascinating to learn how each approached their craft. Rowling and Irving are planners; King, like me, is a pantser. He likened writing to finding the end of a ball of yarn and following it to see where it goes.
That’s what it’s like for me. I get a couple of characters and an idea. I have a basic idea of where the story is going and I know, of course, how it will end; as a romance author, the happily-ever-after is a given.
Full disclosure, I don’t work from an outline or a plan. I have an idea of the steps needed to get from the meet-cute (or not-so-cute, depending on the couple), to the together-forever ending.
When I sit down to write, I reread the last few pages, formulate a plan, and start running. Over the years, I’ve learned not to plot too far ahead. My stories are character-driven and the characters often (usually) have a different plan. And yes, it’s usually better. They sometimes slow me down, making me throw obstacles in their way to add tension. Once in a while, they push me to speed things up. At this point, I’ve learned that they’re damned good at knowing the correct pacing for their stories.
I try not to edit as I go. It slows things down and gets in the way of the story. I fix glaring errors but leave the real editing for the second draft. That’s when I smooth out the transitions, add what needs to be added, and delete what doesn’t work. I used to hate editing. The very idea of cutting any of my hard-won sentences was like cutting off a limb. I’ve become better at it, though it will probably always be a painful process.
The writing process that works for me is to pay attention. Honestly, I’m always writing, or thinking about writing. Ideas come at the most inopportune moments – the shower, the car, the middle of a conversation, the moment just before I fall asleep. I’m not always prepared for it, so I’m sure I’ve lost some fabulous ideas along the way. But the ones that I need tend to stick around long enough for me to jot them down.
And when I sit down to write, I check in with the vast cast of characters in my head, find out what they want to do, and let them out to play.
It’s an interesting question. There are as many ways to write as there are books on how to do it. And there is definitely no right or wrong.
I know this because I’ve tried writing according to someone else’s rules and failed miserably. No matter how good the ideas sound in theory, for me, they simply didn’t work.
For the most part, I am a linear writer. The story often plays in my head like a movie. I get occasional ‘coming attractions’, scenes or portions of scenes that I know instantly come later. They are typically pivotal moments, such as a couple’s first kiss, so knowing how and when that happens points me in the right direction.
Otherwise, I fly by the seat of my pants, particularly on the first draft. I once had the privilege of hearing J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and John Irving speak at an event. As a writer, it was fascinating to learn how each approached their craft. Rowling and Irving are planners; King, like me, is a pantser. He likened writing to finding the end of a ball of yarn and following it to see where it goes.
That’s what it’s like for me. I get a couple of characters and an idea. I have a basic idea of where the story is going and I know, of course, how it will end; as a romance author, the happily-ever-after is a given.
Full disclosure, I don’t work from an outline or a plan. I have an idea of the steps needed to get from the meet-cute (or not-so-cute, depending on the couple), to the together-forever ending.
When I sit down to write, I reread the last few pages, formulate a plan, and start running. Over the years, I’ve learned not to plot too far ahead. My stories are character-driven and the characters often (usually) have a different plan. And yes, it’s usually better. They sometimes slow me down, making me throw obstacles in their way to add tension. Once in a while, they push me to speed things up. At this point, I’ve learned that they’re damned good at knowing the correct pacing for their stories.
I try not to edit as I go. It slows things down and gets in the way of the story. I fix glaring errors but leave the real editing for the second draft. That’s when I smooth out the transitions, add what needs to be added, and delete what doesn’t work. I used to hate editing. The very idea of cutting any of my hard-won sentences was like cutting off a limb. I’ve become better at it, though it will probably always be a painful process.
The writing process that works for me is to pay attention. Honestly, I’m always writing, or thinking about writing. Ideas come at the most inopportune moments – the shower, the car, the middle of a conversation, the moment just before I fall asleep. I’m not always prepared for it, so I’m sure I’ve lost some fabulous ideas along the way. But the ones that I need tend to stick around long enough for me to jot them down.
And when I sit down to write, I check in with the vast cast of characters in my head, find out what they want to do, and let them out to play.
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