I am endlessly fascinated by how other fiction writers approach writing. I've read countless articles, blog posts, and even whole books on the topic and can tell you that the methods and habits of writers are as varied as the weather in New England. If there is one hard and fast rule to writing, it is that there are no rules.
Reading about other writers' habits can be very encouraging. For example, one of John Steinbeck's tips helped me finish a project when I "lost steam" two thirds of the way through:
"Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish. Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page for each day, it helps. Then when it gets finished, you are always surprised."
With the pressure off, I usually write more than one page a day and sometimes as many as five. Plus, I've found that slowing down my process results in better writing.
There are a few oft repeated "writing rules" that I do not give any credence to at all. Two of them are:
1. Write what you know. (Because unless you've been kidnapped by The Fairy King you can't really write about it, now can you?)
2. Write everyday. (I don't know any writers who actually do this [Stephen King says he does, but I don't know him]. Sorry, tweets and blog posts don't count.)
I have my own little writing habits that work for me, but they are not set in stone; they are just the way I do things now. I wholeheartedly believe in experimenting and being open to change. The main goal of a writer at any stage in her career should be improvement. Therefore, my personal writing rules begin with:
1. Do what works.
2. Read. Widely.
3. Feed your imagination: go places and do things.
4. Ask your characters questions--they know more about the story than you do.
5. Get feedback; let people read your stuff.
6. The publishing industry is not your audience--write for your readers.
7. If you don't love doing it, then for God's sake, do something else! (Writers should not be more unhappy than other people. That's just stupid.)
My current process is not linear and even. I never have "everything" when I begin a project. For me, writing is like doing a puzzle or solving a mystery. I have to find the pieces and discover what they're for and where they belong. Some things fall into place faster and easier than others. It took me a year to finish my last (100,000 word) manuscript. Of course, I do have five kids. (It took Margot Livesey three years to write The Flight of Gemma Hardy and eleven to complete Eva Moves The Furniture, but then Nora Roberts writes a novel in about 45 days and publishes five books a year!)
Seventy-five percent of my writing happens in my head. My stories begin with an idea--a "what if?"--that shapes the central conflict. As I contemplate the idea, a character or two will enter my imagination. Their identities come to me in pieces. I have to assemble who they are, where they are from, what their lives have been like up till now. This is all great fun for me--like getting to know someone new. Setting is never a question. It always comes clearly to me with the characters. In fact, it is a character. It colors and shades everything in the story: it sets the mood, the atmosphere, social climate, etc.
At this point, I really get excited, because once I have these things in mind the main plot emerges. All of this takes weeks, even months. Once I begin to put words on paper, the story plays itself out in my head like a movie. I often have to stop and look something up (research) to understand the story better. I keep notes. I sometimes write down bits of dialogue that the characters say to one another. I pause to sketch out scenes and chapter outlines. It takes several months to write the first draft and three more to revise, edit, and polish it. I go through the entire thing four times.
For me writing is fun and incredibly satisfying--as thrilling as base jumping. Well, okay, maybe not that. But, it is fun. : )
How about you? Do you have a favorite personal writing rule?
Have a wonderful day,
Susan <3
Reading about other writers' habits can be very encouraging. For example, one of John Steinbeck's tips helped me finish a project when I "lost steam" two thirds of the way through:
 |
| John Steinbeck |
With the pressure off, I usually write more than one page a day and sometimes as many as five. Plus, I've found that slowing down my process results in better writing.
There are a few oft repeated "writing rules" that I do not give any credence to at all. Two of them are:
1. Write what you know. (Because unless you've been kidnapped by The Fairy King you can't really write about it, now can you?)
2. Write everyday. (I don't know any writers who actually do this [Stephen King says he does, but I don't know him]. Sorry, tweets and blog posts don't count.)
I have my own little writing habits that work for me, but they are not set in stone; they are just the way I do things now. I wholeheartedly believe in experimenting and being open to change. The main goal of a writer at any stage in her career should be improvement. Therefore, my personal writing rules begin with:
1. Do what works.
2. Read. Widely.
3. Feed your imagination: go places and do things.
4. Ask your characters questions--they know more about the story than you do.
5. Get feedback; let people read your stuff.
6. The publishing industry is not your audience--write for your readers.
7. If you don't love doing it, then for God's sake, do something else! (Writers should not be more unhappy than other people. That's just stupid.)
My current process is not linear and even. I never have "everything" when I begin a project. For me, writing is like doing a puzzle or solving a mystery. I have to find the pieces and discover what they're for and where they belong. Some things fall into place faster and easier than others. It took me a year to finish my last (100,000 word) manuscript. Of course, I do have five kids. (It took Margot Livesey three years to write The Flight of Gemma Hardy and eleven to complete Eva Moves The Furniture, but then Nora Roberts writes a novel in about 45 days and publishes five books a year!)
Seventy-five percent of my writing happens in my head. My stories begin with an idea--a "what if?"--that shapes the central conflict. As I contemplate the idea, a character or two will enter my imagination. Their identities come to me in pieces. I have to assemble who they are, where they are from, what their lives have been like up till now. This is all great fun for me--like getting to know someone new. Setting is never a question. It always comes clearly to me with the characters. In fact, it is a character. It colors and shades everything in the story: it sets the mood, the atmosphere, social climate, etc.
At this point, I really get excited, because once I have these things in mind the main plot emerges. All of this takes weeks, even months. Once I begin to put words on paper, the story plays itself out in my head like a movie. I often have to stop and look something up (research) to understand the story better. I keep notes. I sometimes write down bits of dialogue that the characters say to one another. I pause to sketch out scenes and chapter outlines. It takes several months to write the first draft and three more to revise, edit, and polish it. I go through the entire thing four times.
For me writing is fun and incredibly satisfying--as thrilling as base jumping. Well, okay, maybe not that. But, it is fun. : )
How about you? Do you have a favorite personal writing rule?
Have a wonderful day,
Susan <3
I very much enjoyed reading this. Your advice to ask questions of your characters got me out of a tight place at least a couple of times, so thank you again for that :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with writing what you know. I also think the more you write the better you'll be at it. I have very little writing advise since I'm always looking for what others think and do. Great post!
ReplyDelete