So. Writing process.

[agilebrit]

The lovely and effulgent fikgirl and paulasj had a couple of posts today that got me thinking about the process of writing and how some people are very very strict about The Right Way To Do It.

And yeah, I have a Right Way To Do It too. I'm incredibly strict about it. If you don't do it like this, you're Doing It Wrong.

And my Right Way To Do It goes like this: WRITE THE WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU.

Outline or don't, have a daily goal or don't, novels, short stories, RPs, collaborative, it's all good. And your process might even change from project to project.

For example, I'm a linear short story writer who doesn't outline and never thought I'd write a novel. I banged out a 97K word monster (trust me, that's monstrous for me) last year and am working on the sequel to the thing. And this one is not coming together in any sort of linear fashion, I'm getting scenes all out of order and having to decide where they go piecemeal--but that's what's working for this project.

There's nothing wrong with Word Vomit. This is why we call it a "first draft." If the words are pouring out of your fingers and onto the screen, this is a Blessing and a Good Thing, and you should run with it. Worry about making them not suck later. That's why we edit.

I guess what I'm saying is, don't get stuck on process. Just write, and let the process take care of itself. Because it will.

Comments

[foxcutter.livejournal.com]

In the end Process is whatever you do that works. Doesn't matter what it is, as long as it works. Your right, it's different for each story, and in fact I think authors should experiment with different ways of doing it to find how they all work.

Sometimes I think there is way to much emphases on the first draft then is healthy. Really all it is there for is to get all the ideas out into some that resembles a story. The second draft is for getting everything into shape.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, for someone like me, the first draft is the outline, as I think I've said before. I figure, I can outline, or I can spend that time actually writing, and the actual writing bit is more productive than noodling around with an outline that I'll abandon as soon as a better idea comes along anyway.

[paulasj.livejournal.com]

Been busy so I wasn't able to respond until now. But, yeah! WRITE THE WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU! And mostly "word vomit" works for me. Like you, I'm pretty much a linear writer. I only remember one story where I wrote a middle scene first, then built the story from around that point.