Comments on: Writing process

By: David J. Williams » Blog Archive » Writing process, part deux

David J. Williams » Blog Archive » Writing process, part deux — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:50:21 +0000

[…] post of last week on the writing process generated some follow-up questions; one of them centered on how much editing occurred to MIRRORED […]

By: Tinatsu

Tinatsu — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:10:12 +0000

Thanks for the post, Dave. If I ever have a few months with nothing else to do, I’d like to take a stab at seat-of-the-pants novelling; but since I can barely squeeze in the time to do any writing right now, I’m sticking with the planning approach. Also, I hate revising, so I’d rather do as much problem-solving up front than when I have pages and pages of lovely prose to consider killing.

By: jW

jW — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:57:20 +0000

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator may provide clues for the difference in preference, if you believe in the MBTI. The different ways people process information and make decisions sometimes strains relationships: planners frustrate the “just do it” people and vice versa…and have difficulty understanding the vantage point of the other. Just ask my wife.

By: PaulB

PaulB — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:49:12 +0000

excellent advice and something I will put into practice when I eventually get round to sorting out my notes

By: David Williams

David Williams — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:49:07 +0000

Chang – keep in mind that I’m really just talking/pontificating about novels here. Short stories are a whole ‘nother beast . . spontaeneity there may make more sense than it does if you’re trying to get 500 pages together. think sprint vs. marathon.

By: Chang

Chang — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:55:56 +0000

Thanks, David! I have Mirrored HEavens on the guilt stack waiting to be read soon as I am done with Born Standing Up.

It’s funny but I have always been a make it up as I go along writer. It’s gotten me through a couple of books and some short stories. And I used to think that people who outlined were soulless squids.

Then one day I discovered I had written an outline for a story and realized outlining is your friend.

By: David Williams

David Williams — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:14:53 +0000

@John C: answers to come, sir. . . : )

@ NapoleonSolo: totally, and Davies delivers. See, that’s the thing, I’m not saying it’s a BAD approach, I’m just saying it would be a shit approach for ME. I also think it’s an approach that works disproportionately for very experienced writers, and a lot less well when you’re just starting out.

And (I suppose) I’m also saying that it’s a far more *risky* approach than planning it all out. Endings are the toughest thing, so why start in on 100,000 words if by the 50,000th you’ve just done the proverbial Wile E. Coyote off the cliff . . .

By: xxnapoleonsolo

xxnapoleonsolo — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:49:13 +0000

For the polar opposite to your approach, take a look at The Writer’s Tale by Russell T Davies, detailing the making of the Doctor Who Titanic Christmas special and series four.

It is amazing how last minute everything is, and how much of the series Davies thinks up on the spot

By: John C

John C — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:26:56 +0000

Thanks! I was hoping you would respond. Ok, lets take it to the moment where you have finished your work.

Who proof reads it?

Recommends changes to story line?

Points out possible conflicts in story line etc.

Is this a task u take upon yourself?

MH had a complex story line as the cast went along their merry way wise cracking/back stabbing/double dealing each other.

Did u use a black board to keep track of where they were at?

is everything kept on your laptop?

Thanks
John C