How would you describe your writing process?
More sporadic than I would like. Needing to wait until late at night when everything else has calmed down, unwound, and then my brain wakes up. Which is frustrating when one works an 8-5 schedule but literally cannot sleep until some things get written down, and I’m naturally a night person.
I’ll write paragraphs or pages, then set it aside awhile. Maybe write more paragraphs or pages later (days to weeks to months). Edit/revise in fits and starts, bit here and there. Until I say the heck with it, give it one more serious pass and yeet it into the void (and inevitably find something I forgot to fix before posting after all).
I keep a notebook and pens with me; at my work desk, in my purse, by my bed. If I can’t write something quick on phone or tablet or computer, I get the ideas down as they come; sometimes just a line or turn of phrase, sometimes a brief dialogue, sometimes a whole scene. I don’t want to lose it, so I write when it comes.
Sometimes I write “outlines”; really just notes to myself, in bullet points, fragment sentence, ideas blurted onto the page. Things to keep in mind. Sometimes that’s enough for an idea and nothing comes of it. Sometimes it simmers and waits and gets adjusted as writing happens. It depends on the story, in that case (longer one shots or the rare multi-chapter).
I research; for fanfic this means rewatching some scenes, rereading some lore, digging up info on characters, places, timelines, etc. Maybe some Wikipedia dives for things I have characters doing or know that I’m less familiar with. Frequent trips to dictionary sites to make sure I’m using words correctly, and for some a pass through ProWritingAid to find redundancies and other issues, like adverb abuse. I try to read a draft out loud before publishing to catch difficult sentences and phrasing, or grammar needing fixed, or word issues. It helps to slow down and see what is awkward or needs correction.
I write a lot. Some of it stays in WIP form, some go to note files, phrases or scenes I particularly like but they aren’t really part of anything whole. But they’re ideas, and practice, and maybe I’ll find a place to slot them in someday. Maybe I won’t. That’s OK. It’s all practice.
Maybe a third of what I write ends up published. Maybe only a quarter. There’s an idea one can only write something they intend to finish and post, that one has to finish and post a piece once started, but honestly that’s not true.
Sometimes we’re just not ready to write a thing, though the idea is there; it needs to percolate awhile, depending what it is. Sometimes a scene really just doesn’t work but it’s fun to write anyway. I don’t know when or how I got over needing to “finish” and post everything, but I’m glad that I did. The things I do post are the things that work for me and I can be proud of.
Also stay hydrated, get snacks, get sleep, consume other media and do other research. Recharge the creative battery. The “muse” is fickle many times because we don’t take care of ourselves or keep her fed. Hard to keep up output when there’s no input (which is something I have to remind myself of, too so hey).
I have no idea if I actually answered this in a satisfying manner, but that’s kinda how it is.