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Writing Process? What Writing Process? - #MFRWauthor


Back again. Thanks for continuing to join me on this year long blog hop. So this week is about our writing process.

Now for all those authors who are planners, I'm sure they will have some really informational posts this week. Words like outline and plotting will be thrown around. There might be mention of calendars and schedules. Notebooks, memo pads, all the things that help you organize which will aide you in your journey.

This will not be one of those posts.

My writing process goes something like this.

Image source: http://phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1733

Or this


That's right folks, I'm a pantser. I hated outlining in school and still hate them today. I don't have any concrete idea of what is going to happen in my book. I know what I want to happen, but depending on how much of an asshole my characters want to be, those things may or may not happen.

My process goes something like this:

  • Idea pops into my head.
  • A 'movie' plays out in my head of possibilities about that idea. 
  • That leads to the first few chapters maybe being written out because I have a crap memory and I need to get it down so I don't forget. If not chapters, then just the idea itself. 
  • After that I wait. I wait for the characters to tell me what's next. Sometimes it's easy going and they have lots to say. Other times, like the rut I'm in, it's like pulling teeth, getting blood from a stone, or any other saying that would talk about a difficult task.

Really that's it. I don't have a 'process' since things are always changing. My characters are completely in control of the story because it's theirs. I have to let them tell me how things should unfold. I don't always agree, but that's how it happens. If I try to force things to go 'my way' well it makes things harder and usually feels forced. The way Fiendish ended is a prime example of that. I wanted things to go a different way, but as the story unfolded I had to accept what I wanted to happen wouldn't make sense.

I'm also an edit as I go person. I can't just do the traditional first draft thing of getting the story out. I do a scene and then I have to make sure all the holes are plugged, or as plugged as they can be, because let's face it, we can't catch them all. I tried once to just write and worry about editing later, but I failed. So I no longer fight it and just accept it as part of my process.

There's also a lot of whining, cussing, and maybe a meltdown or two along the way. Plus some consuming of wine. I'm lucky to have people that will listen to me then give me a virtual slap to the face to tell me to pull myself together and get me back on track.

Now I've only completed one book, but boy did I give a huge sigh of relief when it was done. Capped off by a spa day thanks to a gift certificate The Hubs had given me nearly a year earlier. I've already told him I needed another spa day when Not Broken is finally finished and that publish button has been hit.

That's it for my process. What's yours?

**normally I have a link to the other blogs on the hop, but this week we don't have one. Will update later when it becomes available.**

Thanks for stopping by
~Meka

Comments

  1. Replies
    1. Really? People that can plot and know what's going to happen with little down time with writer's block amaze me.

      thanks for stopping by

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Yes. Gives me something extra to look forward to.

      thanks for stopping by

      Delete
  3. Right there with you, Meka! I know the beginning and what I think will be the end, but the rest is a mystery until my characters have their say (and my ending may change, too). Just load up on the wine... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad I'm not the only one at the mercy of their characters. Mine are currently holding me hostage. Have been for about two weeks. Hopefully this ending won't change but I'll keep plenty of wine on hand just in case.

      thanks for stopping by

      Delete
  4. I am a total plotter but I also edit as I go. Just cause I have an outline, which does change, each chapter still has to be crafted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think plotting is key to helping fight writer's block but still I can't find it in me to do it. :( The outline I'm sure helps you know what each chapter will cover and that's half the battle.

      thanks for stopping by

      Delete
  5. I hated outlining in school. My research or writing projects were always done early. I'd write it, then make the formal I...A...iv..ab. outline afterwards. Any organization I did (if some was needed behond what was in my head) was shuffling my notes around on the floor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one way to do it, write first then do the outline after. Most times for me the outline was due before the paper so I never worked backwards like that.

      thanks for stopping by

      Delete
  6. I don't outline as such, but I'm much better off if I figure out at least the major turning points. They serve as guide posts along the way to keep me on track so I don't sprain my wrist stumbling into rabbit holes. The whole idea of turning points has led me to research the kind of turning points other people have found to be important, and that in turn has led me into doing more and more plotting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That makes sense. I have ideas of things I want to cover and then have to figure out how to get there without veering too far off course. Rabbit holes are bad. This week's topic has been a real eye opener at how differently we each go about things.

      thanks for stopping by

      Delete

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