Finding the 'off' switch

[Lhinneill]

I'm hard at work on the outline for my current fantasy story, and I've been wondering how I'll force myself to just write the first draft. Every other project I've started (and never finished), I've always been unable to shut off the internal editor, so I spend more time going back and rewriting what I've done than I do moving the plot forward. I know that writing in a notebook helps curb the need to edit, but my hand usually gives out before I use up all my inspiration for the day. Writing on my computer, however, usually isn't much better. If the 'Editor' doesn't bother me, then it's some other shiny distraction.

So, how do you guys tune out that annoying internal editor?
Do you usually write out your first draft with pen and paper, or do you prefer a keyboard and a computer? I'm not looking for any set formula, I'm just curious to see how everyone else does their writing.

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by Lhinneill

So, how do you guys tune out that annoying internal editor?

When you find out, let me know...

I'm a bit like you, I find it hard to push forward with plot, getting tied down with spot-editing. And then my enthusiasm wanes, or the old voice in my head kicks in, saying, 'This is rubbish, you really want to waste a year writing this?' And for me, the shiny things are new stories popping up, that I'll just jot down a few notes for, and a few more, and, oh, what the hell, that wasn't working anyway. And as a result, the number of stories I've finished you can count on one hand, and the longest of those is only a twenty-thousand worder. Damn attention span.

EDIT: Oh, and I write on my laptop, although I am cosidering dusting off my old typewriter to cut out that editing itch.

[HoopyFrood]

Ah, I have the same problem...sometimes I can go for months, just editing every so often and not really progressing with my story at all.

So I've gone back to the paper and pen route. Another reason for this is that I find that the prose flows much better when I write by hand; when I'm on the laptop, the sentences seem to come out in fits and bursts and I seem to be deleting more than I'm writing but every sentence just won't go right. I've also tried pushing myself to write almost every day lately, because if I don't keep pushing myself, I'm likely to fall back into 'some editing, not much writing' mode.

[j. d. worthington]

It's been a while since I've written fiction beyond vignettes, but:

For fiction, I used to use the typewriter, then the computer keyboard. My problem wasn't in going back in to edit... it was in getting any sleep once I started; I'd usually go until I practically keeled over. The problem with that is burn-out, after a while (and my tales kept getting longer, as they required more room for what they had to say). Occasionally, I'd do some editing along the way; usually when I was having a bit of trouble getting started that day, I'd go back and reread the prior section and see what needed alterations, etc. -- and this also worked to "prime the engine", as it were, and get me going. But editing never particularly interfered with me getting the original writing done.

Non-fiction -- analyses, etc. -- I tend to do pen-and-paper, as it requires frequent stops to look up further information, citations, etc., and allows me to "see how it looks on paper", if you will, so that I can edit a fair amount as I go along -- largely to improve the flow of the text, enhance those sections which do have more sparkle, etc. It's a slower process because I'm largely editing as I go along, but I've so many ideas on where I want to go with this further down the line, that I've always got that siren-song calling me forward -- in this case, avoiding being wrecked on the rocks, as it were.

While I don't suggest mapping everything out, I do think it helps to have something from further on in your story that you're itching to get to as a goal... and when you reach that point, have something further ahead, and then something further, etc. Not that these should be more important than what you're working on currently, but as a goal/reward, something to keep you excited about the actual storytelling as you move along. Therefore, at least a generally worked-out plotline with some very vivid moments already in mind is a good thing to have when writing a story, I think; it both helps to keep you moving forward, and gives you a better feel for how everything up to those points plays into their development not only incidentally, but in emotional resonance and inner meaning, so that in turn helps you to develop the earlier sections at a higher level as you go along, in order to capture all those nuanced relationships you already have in mind (at least to some degree) with the later scenes.

[C Of K]

I have the same problem, and haven't finished anything in eight years. I've been working on the same thing for eight years. I've had free time this past year, and developed more story and concepts than the previous seven years combined.

But, I am still far from done. this is going to be the first volume of a series btw.

I do have an idea that might help.

I wrote a prologue 5000 words long. The characters were good, and I liked the setting. After finishing the prologue, I decided to make it larger, and spread it through the story. The outcome will be similar in the end, but there are now more characters, a more in depth setting, and more story.

I'm going to treat every new scene as though it were a short story, with a cliffhanger, and then just expand on it until everything comes together in a climactic finale.

[Piyi]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

For fiction, I used to use the typewriter, then the computer keyboard. My problem wasn't in going back in to edit... it was in getting any sleep once I started; I'd usually go until I practically keeled over. The problem with that is burn-out, after a while (and my tales kept getting longer, as they required more room for what they had to say). Occasionally, I'd do some editing along the way; usually when I was having a bit of trouble getting started that day, I'd go back and reread the prior section and see what needed alterations, etc. -- and this also worked to "prime the engine", as it were, and get me going. But editing never particularly interfered with me getting the original writing done.

While I don't suggest mapping everything out, I do think it helps to have something from further on in your story that you're itching to get to as a goal... and when you reach that point, have something further ahead, and then something further, etc. Not that these should be more important than what you're working on currently, but as a goal/reward, something to keep you excited about the actual storytelling as you move along. Therefore, at least a generally worked-out plotline with some very vivid moments already in mind is a good thing to have when writing a story, I think; it both helps to keep you moving forward, and gives you a better feel for how everything up to those points plays into their development not only incidentally, but in emotional resonance and inner meaning, so that in turn helps you to develop the earlier sections at a higher level as you go along, in order to capture all those nuanced relationships you already have in mind (at least to some degree) with the later scenes.

This sounds a lot like what I do. Sometimes, if an idea comes to me away from my computer, I'll write it down on a notebook and then use that to write off of at the keyboard. But I'll usually write at the keyboard. And the same problem for me was stopping at night because I'd keep having all these ideas, but then I'd have to wake up at 7 or 8am.

When I first started out my novel, I just wrote out all these scenes that were loosely connected--kind of along a story line, but not necessarily. Sometimes scenes came to me that sounded pretty good, so I just wrote it out whether or not it had much to do with what I had previously written. So then once I had written quite a lot, I started at the beginning and had these goals throughout the book that I'd have to write up to (kind of like connect-the-dots but with words instead of a line). If some of the scenes I had written didn't fit, I'd cut and paste it in an "edits" document.

I'll also use a chapter or so that I had previously written as a way of warming up and getting into my novel before I'd write that day. I'll use that as an opportunity to edit that part of the story. Sometimes, before I go to bed I'll reread part of what I had written and use that as an editing opportunity as well. But I don't get dragged into editing mode that much. I will wait until I'm done with the novel (I hope!).

Years ago, I used to have these ideas floating around, and I'd write maybe a page or two (I think 20 pages was the most I've ever written--I don't even know how many words it was; back then I wasn't counting). Now, with this novel, it seems like I just can't stop coming up with ideas for it. I hope it lasts because I just love writing it!!

[fire_elf20]

I guess its because I grew up using the computer and due to schooling am around them everyday but I find that I write better on my laptop. I do use pencil paper to draw out maps ect.. to help me reference things as for killing my internal editor... if I find myself editing to much before I deem the time ripe I go do something else until I know I can write again without editing everything.

[Dexter]

I write much faster with pen and paper, but it takes much longer to edit that way. Since I can't stop editing, I prefer to type away on my PC. Back before I had a PC I tried typing on a typewriter, but I never got too far that way. Editing was just too involved for me on my typewriter. Hehe.

[vintagefury]

I have a strange symbiosis with my self-editor. I will edit sentences as I go, as in, I'll complete a thought, then go back and fix it, then carry on. I'll typically write with pen and paper then copy it to my computer, and as I'm typing, I'll be editing, so there's another layer of edit. Then, I'll give it one more look-over and edit there. Then I'll close the damn file and not open it.

I found that by putting chapters in their own files, I don't feel the need to go back and edit so much. I just edit in the moment a few times, then leave it alone. Writing, I know I'll have to edit, and in editing, I know I'll have to produce more to edit. Just tell yourself you can't edit if you don't have material, and there is such a thing as over-editing

[dustinzgirl]

Originally Posted by Lhinneill

So, how do you guys tune out that annoying internal editor?
Do you usually write out your first draft with pen and paper, or do you prefer a keyboard and a computer?

I don't have an inner editor. What I have is an inner super-anti ego. It hates me and loves me at the same time, much like an abusive relatioship, and that's kinda sad. 'course, I'm nuts, so go figure.

Keyboard and computer. I can't even read my own handwriting anymore. I don't think that, aside from notes to the kids (which I can now put on the TV thanks to the XBOX, LOL) or to the school, that I have handwritten anything in the last half decade. I will however, scribble out one liners, crazy paragraphs, and midnight inspirations as well as some really crappy art in my notebook, but since I can't read anything I write at 3 am anyways.....

I don't start with an outline, I just write. Most of what I write that is shown on here is an unedited first draft. I lack serious discipline to edit, so I use the smarts of the chronos members to be my critics for me. I know, thats kinda lazy and cheap, but dang you guys are so good!

[lin robinson]

Not a problem for me. I HATE editing, cutting and rewrite and prefer to soar blissfully through beams of creative sunshine and towering clouds of my own genius.

My main tool for initial "grab" has become the tiny, hand-held digital recorder I bought for like $20 on eBay. God, what a great tool. If it only had a foot pedal pause switch.

I am beginning to wish it was a little bigger and looked like a cell phone so I wouldn't get so many odd looks jabbering into it in restaurants or beachfront bars. Though maybe it wouldn't be so good for them to think I'm on a phone when I'm saying something like "OK, so he kills her then gets the hell out, leaving the body and calls Reinholdt to come over and clean up."

I tend to get a real buzz of stuff coming in--word for word, if you know what I mean--when I'm in rhythmic motion. So you can see me kicking my bicycle to the curb, jumping off and fumbling out my always-present gizmo and babling into it there by the road.

I wish it was waterproof because I really get buzzed while swimming. Twice this week I swam out a quarter mile and got outside the reef...then suddenly got a big flood of way cool fodder for the story. So I churn back, trying to keep it all straight until I can get back to my bike, get my unit, and grab a table in the bar with a drink and dump it into the chip.

I long ago figured out I can't go back to a typewriter. Now I'm thinking I can't really work without my digity doo. When I reflect that shakespeare wrote all his work by scratching it out with a feather dipped in ink it fills me with shame and the certainty that I am a pampered puss. But I live with it.

Inner editors, like most editors I've come upon, can go eat my shorts, is my basic orientation.

[littlemissattitude]

Originally Posted by Lhinneill

So, how do you guys tune out that annoying internal editor?
Do you usually write out your first draft with pen and paper, or do you prefer a keyboard and a computer? I'm not looking for any set formula, I'm just curious to see how everyone else does their writing.

Ideally, I'd just wait until I'm tired...I don't have an internal censor then. At a certain point, she just puts her feet up on the desk and informs me that I'm on my own. Which can lead to some interesting adventures.

However, I don't do my best writing when I'm tired (despite all those all-night writing sessions when I had papers due at university), so that's not really the best strategy. So, I just ignore the internal censor as best I can and try to get a decent amout of writing done before I go back and try to edit.

I've gone from writing on paper for first drafts to composing at the keyboard. I type faster than I can write with a pen or pencil, so trying compose on paper just turns into an exercise in frustration. But even that helps me to keep the internal censor at bay, because while I can edit at the keyboard, it is much easier for me to print out a hard copy and edit there and then enter the corrections.

But I write much more non-fiction than fiction, so for those of you who write primarily fiction, YMMV.

[The Pelagic Argosy]

I think I have a healthy relationship with my internal editor. She's like a boss that I actually get along with. Everyone likes to grumble about their boss occasionally. But I can tell when she steps out of the office for a few hours -- everything goes straight to hell. While I do a lot of backing up and rereading, spot editing, and "that doesn't sound right," my internal editor will actually keep an eye on the clock too. "You've been on that bit too long. Let it go."

I never count words, although it is satisfying to reach the end of a page. I could probably stand to set more goals for myself, but I don't think a daily word count is for me. I'll stop tinkering with one chapter at the end of a week and move on to the next one. And maybe when I get twenty five pages written, I'll print them off and roll around in them naked.

It is a bit discouraging when I think about how much work I have left to go, and that prods me on. But for me it's more discouraging if I'm not reasonably happy with what I've written in the first place. I have to be able to face it the next day.