I get the question about my writing process a lot. How do I take the ideas in my mind and make them a book? So, I thought for this week, I’d lay it out for all to see how one author does it.
1. Some write a plan, but I don’t. Well, at first anyway. I start the first chapter with just an idea. Example, for The Willow, I knew it was going to be about a girl who finds herself brought into the Otherworld. The first chapter is always the hardest for me, but once I get the first scene established, the story starts to present itself.
2. From there, I write a chapter as it flows. I never know what the next chapter will be about until I’m done the previous one. Usually, it’s halfway through when I know what needs to happen in the next to continue the story.
3. Normally when I write a chapter, I only do actions and speech at first, because that is definitely the easiest part for me.
4. Once I have the guts of a chapter done I go back and fill in descriptions and thoughts. When I have the speech completed, it is easier for me to imagine what is happening as the conversation is going on and filling in all the little details.
5. After I am done that, I go back and read through the chapter to clean it up making sure it reads how I intended it to.
6. Then, I move onto the next chapter.
7. After I am halfway done the book, I start from the beginning and re-read the entire story, to tie it together, clear up any loose ends and to add in parts that are crucial to the story line that are missing.
8. It is normally at this point, when I start to plan. By this time, the story is peaking and the danger begins to surround the characters. I usually have an outline and plan 3-4 chapters at time. This is when I know what needs to happen in the story for it to come to an end.
9. When it’s all said and done, I re-read it once focusing just on the story line to be sure it’s solid and nothing is missing. Then, I re-read it once more to clear up grammar issues.
10. Then, it’s off to submissions.
And that is how I write. Every author has their own style that works for them, but the idea is to find out what works best for you and just dig in.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The writing process...
The journey as a writer all began when I was a teen and wrote poetry, which still to this day I pull out to have a good laugh. Later on, I tried a couple of times to put a book together with no such luck. Couldn’t ever get past the first few chapters. But once I was exposed to the paranormal world, ideas came quickly.
At first, it was a way to keep my brain alive since being a stay at home mom can be a little let’s say―numbing. It was an escape from screaming kids, dirty diapers and plain old mom duty. It started as a hobby, but as the stories progressed it became a passion. Now, I indulge at nap time, especially the juicy bits! Every mom needs a good thrill!
So here in Kitchener, Ontario, I am a thirty one year old wife, mom, house cleaner, cook, teacher, play-doh extraordinaire, swing pusher, toddler chaser after – who loves the outdoors, curling up with the latest flick, and if I’m not plugging away at a new novel, I’ve got my nose buried deep in a good book. So there it is―my life!
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11 comments:
I wish I could plot. I think it would help me. But I find that once I plot, I lose interest in the book. Each chapter has to come to me as its own entity or I lose total motivation to keep writing. Thanks for sharing!!
I can't plot till I get half way through - it just never works out if I try.
I plot out a few chapters at a time. Sometimes I'll have a general outline of how I want the whole book to look. For me, I've found winging it makes me lose my way in a book. This way, it saves on the rewrites LOL :-)
I'm the anti-pantser. LOL
1. I create character ARCs.
2. Plot escalating story conflicts.
3. meld story arc/conflicts with characters.
4. then I plot the whole story by doing a couple sentences saying what each chapter will be about. Who's feeling what and why.
I have to do this because I write my book all day long in 10 min. intervals between my busy schedule. I don't have time to re-read chapters and stuff to know where I am and what needs to be done. It also cuts back on any re-writes and why my plots can be so complicated yet still make sense. Once I'm done writing, it gets a beta or two, then one more re-read by me.
I once tried to plot an entire book but soon found my characters grew defiant and wanted to go off in other directions. Now I generally also go one chapter at a time. Thanks, Stacy!
Annie & Sandi - Yes, the only downfall, is the re-writes. They are usually pretty extensive. :)
Allie - I'm glad I am not the only one :)
I get an idea that usually comes with character names, lol. I write my synopsis, then I grab hold of my pants and let fly! Allie, my characters get very defiant too! Maybe Stacey can help us W(h)IP them into shape.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing! I tend to write the first couple chapters on the fly then try to plot out only a couple chapters at a time. Learned the hard way that my characters often don't like what I have planned for them and insist on their own ways. Probably better in the end, or at least truer to their personalities!
J Hali - Now that's a great idea!
Kristabel - that is exactly what happens to me. No matter what I plan it never works out, so I eventually gave up trying :)
I'm basically a pantster. If I try plotting, my characters get annoyed and do something totally outrageous. However, if I get stuck, I find making a list What Has To Happen Next can be helpful.
Christian France
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