How do we write?

[springs]

Following on from VB's crossroads thread, some interesting views on how we write emerging.

Me, I start with mostly dialogue, and a few key scenes. There will be no discriptors in there, or very little, it might as well all happen in a vacuum. The reason for this is that my dialogue tends to stay through all the rewrites, and I seem to think through it, so it's the less likely to get wiped out. Second time through I build up a bit of description, start to say where we are, what we're thinking.
The deeper pov scenes are often written as little standalones, and switch around the mscript before they settle down somewhere.
Only then do I go back to the beginning and shape it some more. Then the editing and polishing - last time, it was my first novel, so I've gone through it maybe a dozen times, I'm hoping for half a dozen this time.

[HMart]

I build the entire skeleton of the piece, and then go to town on it. I read and edit after every single chapter, without fail. Afterward, I see if it'll hold as I test the structural integrity.

I view the process as pouring sand into the same spot, over and over (edit every chapter on completetion). The sand continues to spread across the area you're pouring until it begins to rise from its center (re-write, read and edit consecutive chapters). Then, it takes shape as a mound, while still losing some of its granules to the side (Finished product with needed, overall edit). After a while, the hill forms and I can simply sweep up the sand around the creation (leave it be for a month and begin the process again with a stronger foundation).

This works for the way that I design chapter breaks. So far, so good

[allmywires]

Nice metaphor HMart!

I just write everything. I used to get so stuck in a rut with editing my WIPs before they're finished I'm trying a new tactic with this one - writing a scene, leaving it, moving on. Never look back! I generally have most of what I want down when I finish a chapter. It's only refinement when I edit.

[Venusian Broon]

That's interesting Springs that you are dialogue focused at the start. I can really emphasise with that as I always find writing dialogue much easier. (not saying it's any better writing-wise, but it just seems to come more easily.)

It too seems to last much longer in edits, partly I believe because when I write dialogue I am very deliberately micro-editing every sentence as I write it down. i.e. always asking the question 'Well, would a person, in this situation really say that?' and unless you are writing about someone make a speech, it always seems natural for me to be brief (and of course particulary if the characters are in a hurry, say being chased )

[Bowler1]

I imagine and develop whole secnes before I start to write. When writing I let ideas develop as I go along and try and freeflow if its happening. Usually I get close to what I want first time but in doing so, I have to edit hard afterwards as I'm not always concentrating on the technical writing when doing my first drafts.

So I have my creative phase and then later, edit phase. The two don't cross over so well with me.

[crystal haven]

I don't think I could write different scenes from different parts of the book - I always write the start of the story and keep going, in that order. I used to think this was because I wrote in 1st person, but after writing in 3rd person, I realise it is just how I write. I don't plot things easily either, the story develops as I go along.

[thaddeus6th]

I used to do a minimal spot of world-building and plot-writing and then write the entire text from start to finish (and then redraft it).

Now I do much more world-building and plot-writing, but still write from page 1 to The End. I'm awful at continuity (although getting better) and I find it just suits me better that way. I've also changed my writing style a bit, letting clumsy lines stay for a first draft and concentrating on moving the story along. After all, if I'm going to redraft it four times it makes more sense to just highlight the bad lines when redrafting instead of spending 30 minutes trying to change them.

[TheTomG]

I just write, he says, unhelpfully.

I will find a scene will come to my mind, usually when I am nowhere near the keyboard. Maybe it's a single sentence, maybe it's an event, maybe something a character thinks, maybe a conversation.

And I write it.

I usually have no idea where that goes in the book. I usually have no idea of the overarching plot at this stage either. Basically, the characters are becoming people, and they are living their lives, and I am getting snapshots into those lives, from here, there and everywhere in their time line.

Out of this emerges the plot, as their personality takes form. As they start to meet each other, their reactions and behaviors are determined, as they have become someone, and I now know who they are.

I'm still waiting for the overarching plot to come about in the one I have just started, though a hint has begun to form from a conversation one of my characters has just had. They said something, I thought it was an interesting idea, and I thought hmm that could be just what is going to drive this particular story.

I usually have no idea of any ending when I begin, and usually no idea of what is happening to these people. It kind of emerges from getting to know them.

Thank goodness for software that lets me work in this scruffy manner!

[Dozmonic]

I don't like aimless writing, so I like to plan first. But I can't plan too much, because I don't know what tone I'll write with or who my characters really are. This means I come up with my idea, plot out the story milestones and start writing. My characters then evolve and the story changes to the degree than planning it was pointless. However, it has now become too wandering that it needs structure once more and needs planning.

Generally I don't revise much as I go along any more. A first draft is meant to be an incomplete skeleton because I can rewrite much easier than I can write. It's an extension of watching a movie and going "that's rubbish, it should have had this bit here and this bit here..."

Only once the story is complete does patching up the delivery even come into it.

[Lilmizflashythang]

For my novels, I outline first. For my short stories, I brood, then whip them out. I have the best editor in the world.

[Mouse]

For short stories/writing challenges, I'll sit in front of a blank page then just start writing. There's usually nothing in my head when I start besides a vague sort of feeling. Then I make it up as I go along. I do minimal editing.

For novels, it's pretty similar, expect I will have a vague idea of where I'm going once I've started.

I like to get things right first time - so spelling, grammar etc. is usually (I hope) spot on as soon as it goes on the page. I don't really do hefty edits. I fiddle though. I'm a fiddler.

[TheTomG]

On the roof?

[Mouse]

Yeah baby.

[David Evil Overlord]

Like Springs, my first drafts seem to be all dialogue, with maybe a few stage directions (smile, cry, punch Character B in nose). Then I go back over that basic skeleton and and put some meat on those bones (colourful metaphors and poetical descriptions and stuff).

And then my characters tell me I'm doing it all wrong...

[Montero]

Broadly speaking I write from beginning to end, full text. (Can't imagine writing just dialogue - that intrigues me )
I review the previous day's work at the start of the following day - so basic edit, notes added etc.
I write sections in their own file. Every so often, usually at a "natural break point in the story" I will review the sections (which may be smaller than chapter sized or larger) and join them onto the first draft manuscript.
When the first draft is written I will review the whole thing (usually after 4 to 6 week break). Then I ask for reader comments. Then onto second draft. (Again tend to paste finished sections into new second draft file, keeping the first draft file, first draft with readers comments and second draft all as separate documents.)

But within that
1. I will ask OH to read first draft sections if I am really unsure how well they are going.
2. I will brainstorm using spreadsheets or other documents. For example, I had a scene with a negotiation in it. I knew where it started, what had to be achieved by the end and who was taking part. But the ins and outs of the steps in the negotiation were something I sorted out largely in a spreadsheet. Wrote ideas of what could be in there in the first column, developed them more along each row, then picked out the ones I liked and lined them up. Then wrote the scene. I could assign things that needed doing to the best character for the job - as in who is most likely to pick up on what and so on.

And yup, every so often things just emerge as I write a scene.

I also keep several files to record - names and character description as a new character is added, ditto place, ditto how to get from A to B - always write it down so I don't have a place name change half way through etc.

I do have to control ideas - as in decide whether what I've just thought of
a) Belongs in this book
b) Belongs in a later book that is a sequel.
c) Needs to go in a different series.

I keep a collection of ideas files in folders on the computer and loosely group like ideas. Every so often, haul them out and see if there is enough in there for a book to gel out of it.