I got asked today by a teacher friend if I could speak to her class about my writing process. This came up after I said that I can't write chronologically anymore. I frequently skip around the story I'm writing as inspiration strikes. Sometimes, I'll go from the beginning to the end, then to the early middle, back to near the end, and then fill in the gaps.
This is not what's taught in schools.
I can't do outlines. I can't go chapter by chapter. That's how I get stuck and lose interest. The idea of submitting any of the in progress stuff as taught in English classes (outlines, early chapters, first sentences of paragrapghs).... terrifying.
What does work for me? Listening to music in a comfortable space. Having a pen and paper. Writing a scene in broadstrokes: core dialogue, a screenplay of the motion (sometimes in full detail, sometimes vague), maybe a doodle of character placements in true stick figure glory. Then, eventually, typing it up, tabbing things in vague order, sometimes with a header of -insert transition scene here- to catch future me's attention.
If I type the raw scene I get distracted by the words, or trying to find the perfect expression. It doesn't flow. There was a time where that worked, but the rational-thinking pounded into my brain by school and work now tells me to edit; not play. I can still play with words with a pen in my hand, I can doodle in a margin as I think of whether a character will laugh or cry.
It works for me. It might not work for you. There isn't only one way to be creative, so do what works.
Just remember, you can judge me and be rude to me, but remember that I didn't respond to you in any manner. Remember that your hate was not stronger than my happiness. Brush it off, be different. I like me enough for you, don't worry about it sugar! 😘👑🙂😋💫💚💜💛 LOVE YOURSELF FIRST!!
