How do you write?

[amhran_comhrac]

It's no secret that many, maybe even most of us here are writers.  In the interest of sharing "best practices," as they say in the cube farm, I thought it would be interesting to discuss our own processes.  Maybe someone can pick up a trick or two that way.  Some of us co-write, some use betas, one person (and my virtual hat is off to you for your bravery, miri1984 ), has even taken to livestreaming as she writes.
So, I suspect there's a great deal of variety. 

Share! How do you write?

Comments

[miri1984]

Oooh, thanks for sharing these! I'm always fascinated by how other people write, considering...

Truly, circumstances dictate how I write. One of the reasons I wanted to try the livestream idea was because I am usually very distracted during the writing process and I wanted to pump out some more Blood Wound (it's getting vaguely close to being complete, and it would be nice to get there soon). It DID help - I didn't get as distracted as usual (although I had a good chat with Tankgirly on the livestream chat function at the same time!)

However, when I'm not livestreaming my writing style differs according to circumstance. I write on and off during the day - a sentence here, a sentence there, while I'm looking after the kids. My soundtrack is whatever kids program will keep them quiet for a few minutes (I know, I'm a terrible parent) or my daughter singing or my son crying.

As a case in point, I started writing this post at 7:45am and it's now 8:28. It DOES lead to some inconsistencies in my chapters, so I have to read through them pretty carefully and check for repeated words or phrases (I once wrote the same action scene three times in the same chapter, forgetting I'd already written it).

I tend to write linearly - but it's not set in stone. If a scene from a later part occurs to me I will write it and keep it for later.

When I DO have time to write non-stop I'm like Amhran - I have heaps of browser windows open and I'm usually chatting in google chat or reading Mark Watches or emailing my husband and annoying him and his email group of uber geeks with stupid questions about the space shuttle or lego. I've discovered recently that intense Formspringing interferes with my writing process, though, so I only do that in writing down-time, unless I'm roleplaying Anders or Saoirse or Carver in which case I can do that AND write parts of Shameboner. Aedan does NOT like sharing his headspace, however, especially if Faolan's around :D.

For Shades of Grey I had a strict chapter outline, but for Blood Wound I don't, because I'm following the Awakenings storyline and that's enough structure for me. Same with the Shameboners - it's easier to write when the structure is already there.

Aaaaand that's about it. HERE have a gif of my son, because I just made it (while I was writing this post) so I should share it :D


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[amhran_comhrac]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The cute, it burns!
It seems your destiny is to have children with those great big "give me everything I want because I'm adorable" eyes.

There are worse fates to have. ;)

[miri1984]

*shakes fist* Damn you cute genes!!!

(and thanks - you do develop a resistance to it eventually. Takes a while though :D)