Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hi everyone. I guess this most solitary profession of ours is approached in a myriad of ways so the question is this - from gestation to finished book - what is your writing process?

For me (I write WW2 espionage thrillers) I start with an actual event or such then weave my story around that. I let the initial idea stew a while in my head before committing anything to PC. I then work out a sort of 'running order' - like the scenes in a film after which I will write a quick first draft. I then rework said draft (perhaps six or seven times) until I'm happy with it.

I usually get an idea for a book while I'm listening to music or just daydreaming. I write down a bunch of notes about the characters and a very general overarching story line. Then I just try and make time everyday to sit down and write. I try and get about 1000 words a day. I tend to let the story develop on its own and let my characters control the story.

Mine come from scenes in dreams, or an image that forms from a photo, etc. usually. Then I write the scene and walk away. If it nags at me over time I will start a plot and begin to write.

I get these stories itching inside my head. It's a most peculiar sensation and only stops once I give in and write the darned thing.

Folks, keep in mind that while we don't mind authors discussing their work in threads like this, please refrain from bookwhacking (this means posting links to your book and inviting others to "check them out"). Thanks!

For me, since I write a variety of different things and often have many projects going at once, it's hard to pinpoint what my process typically is.

Ideas usually come from some small thing - seeing a deck of cards in a Laundromat, listening to one of my clients tap his fingers on car door, etc. These start turning into images and I start seeing the characters form, start seeing where a story might go from this tiny event.

Ideas can stay in my head for a day or even years before I start working them. I don't take notes. I have so many ideas cooking that I figure if I forget one, it probably wasn't going to make a good story anyway.

Usually I write about three fourths of the story, then let the rough draft sit a while. Could be a few days, maybe a month, maybe years. I never consider anything abandoned. It's all just simmering a while. Whenever the project sounds interesting again, I'll pick it up and write the whole thing out again, this time with revisions on parts that are not working. Around the third rewrite, I add an ending. Then it's a process of edit, edit, edit... many times... trying to get the story to balance, making sure the characters stay consistent, watching for spelling and other errors, adding humorous touches or interesting character defining moments.

I'm done when I have a read through and find very little to nothing that bothers me.

Dwayne wrote: "Folks, keep in mind that while we don't mind authors discussing their work in threads like this, please refrain from bookwhacking (this means posting links to your book and inviting others to "chec..."

It hadn't occurred to me, but now I have a strong impulse to bookwhack...

I keep my ideas in a story clip file. Just about 450 entries in there right now. A lot of them come from news stories, others from dreams, songs, conversations, observations, people I see walking down the street or taking transit, etc. When I am ready to start a new book, I start browsing through the file and pull out a few intriguing ideas. Start to brainstorm/mindmap with them to see what I come up with. From there go onto a draft timeline.

Then I use the Snowflake Method to develop the story and outline. Draft a concept cover. Character sketches including pictures. Then I run through a beat sheet and add any other bits I might have missed.

Then I'm ready to go. Write about 5,000 words per day until it is done. Do a continuity read-through. Let it rest for a month. Go back through and do edits. Put it on my publishing schedule.

Run through several sets of edits before it is scheduled to go to beta readers. Send to betas. Get it back, make any changes, send it to editor. Get it back from editor and publish.

Of course, there are lots of other small steps in there, but that's the bones of it.

My stories just sort of "come to me". They pop into my head as a vague idea, often upon waking. Then they grow and build, and knock on my brain until I start typing them.
As I type the words just sort of flow.

Does that make me weird?? :-/

I should say that occasionally an idea will hijack me, completely skipping and story clip file and insisting on being written immediately, even though I have not scheduled myself to write aa book that month...

P.D. wrote: "It hadn't occurred to me, but now I have a strong impulse to bookwhack..."

For SHAME!

Someone had posted a comment with a link to their book. I removed it. Hence the gentle reminder not to bookwhack. Sorry it became a source of temptation for you.

I haven't heard of 'bookwhacking'. I was the one who posted a link but it was done merely to illustrate what I was speaking about how my book blurb may seem fantastical when it is actually based largely upon actual events. There was no intent to advertise.

I often get "Great book; I'm glad that doesn't happen in real life" when, in fact, my books are based on real life and things that are happening every day...

Adam wrote: "I haven't heard of 'bookwhacking'."

Whenever you post, you should see a yellow box open up entitled "Group Rules". If you have not read them, please do so. You are free to ask any mod about any rules you are not familiar with, such as bookwhacking.

I also write historical fiction, and I find picking a specific time or event is the first srep, since a build everything around it. I follow by writing a very rough draft. then I do a total rewrite, and edit the rewrite until I am happy.

I sit and I write what I see from the movie in my head. Seriosly, I watch what I write, before I write it. I don't really plan, I don't over think, I just let my fingers put what they see.

Riley wrote: "I sit and I write what I see from the movie in my head."

Good to meet another "visualizer"! I need to picture the scene before I can write it, and when I'm blocked it's often because I haven't yet managed to visualize the scene with enough clarity.

Having said that, I do plan quite a bit. I flip back & forth between plotting at the high level, and writing by the seat of my pants at the scene level to see what emerges.

All my novels so far have come from one initial scene that leaped into my head. From there I build on what happens next. For me, that "what happens next" is usually the hardest part. Unlike many writers, my mind isn't buzzing with ideas in a logjam to get onto the page. Ideas for me are few and far between and bloody hard work to drag out into the light.

Riley wrote: "I sit and I write what I see from the movie in my head. Seriosly, I watch what I write, before I write it. I don't really plan, I don't over think, I just let my fingers put what they see."

That sounds like me...a lot. I don't plan much. There are things I know have to be in there but the rest, I leave it to my characters. I write what my mind visualized and then I have to stop and wait for it to 'see' something else. Sometimes it works well and I see a lot and other times I can barely write a few hundred words. :( So for people around me, I must look like a lunatic, always day dreaming. :/

And Ian, I think I can relate to you with the head not buzzing with ideas and I love the way you said it and I quote: Ideas for me are few and far between and bloody hard work to drag out into the light.

Kayla wrote: "I also write historical fiction, and I find picking a specific time or event is the first srep, since a build everything around it. I follow by writing a very rough draft. then I do a total rewrite..."

Take two & here's hoping I haven't infringed any rules.

I have only published one book thus far but I too took a point in time - an actual event - & weaved my fiction within it. I also like to ensure that techniques & items used are historically correct. When the research is complete I then run through the story, film fashion, in my minds eye & then describe what I have imagined. When I'm reading/editing etc I am playing this 'film' in my head.

Usually I'll have a scene in mind and start writing to find out what's going on. I eventually figure out where the story's going but most of the time, I'm trying to figure it out as I go.

You mean there's a process? Maybe I should look into that. ;-)

I think our "process" involves propounding stuff. When it's my turn, my co-author makes faces and laughs. Sometimes I write words -- even sentences. Occasionally paragraphs. She fixes them. I say: "What was wrong with that?" She laughs and/or makes faces. I sulk.

Eventually, we get sick of looking at whatever it is. At that point, we upload to Amazon and hit "publish".

Michael wrote: "Usually I'll have a scene in mind and start writing to find out what's going on. I eventually figure out where the story's going but most of the time, I'm trying to figure it out as I go."
This is what I do, too. Sometimes I really have no idea and it takes a while to get there, and then I feel like the story must be dragging. I have a beta reader who reads chapter by chapter as I write it, and she's really encouraging, so I try to trust the process.

Lots of people seem to have beta readers who read chapter by chapter along with them as they write.

That scares me for a number of reasons. Sometimes I scrap whole chapters or even more. Then I move events in the storyline. I also have about seven or eight bits that are more than half novel length which may, or may not, see the light of day at a later date.

I'd feel awful if somebody was waiting for a novel to end and I had to say I'm sorry I don't know what happens next.

So am I the only one who lets nobody read until I have the beginning, middle and end all written?

My beta reader knows going into it that the process is fluid. Sometimes, I'll send her the same chapter 2-3 times as it goes through the process. I have other betas who don't read until the 2nd draft is finished, too. It's good to have fresh eyes on it throughout the process.

Oh hell no, I'm with Jane. My beta readers don't get their mitts on my books until I'm mostly satisfied. They're more like proof readers at that point.
I change way too much as I go; only little things, but it would totally disrupt my 'creative process' if I had others' opinions at that point (*holds back of hand dramatically to forehead like a true diva*) ;-)

We are all different, and that's what makes this planet so interesting.

I start with an idea and let it grow and mature for a while, then sit down and outline all the chapters, from start to finish. This way, I know exactly what happens when and writing goes easily.

Jane wrote: "So am I the only one who lets nobody read until I have the beginning, middle and end all written?"

I don't let anyone read the story until I'm satisfied it's as good as I can get it. Once I get feedback, then I can address whatever issues the betas caught.

Apologies for sounding daft but I'm not up to speed with everything computorificated. Beta readers? I am I correct in presuming they are proof readers?

Apologies in advance for sounding thick but the truth is I'm not all that worldly when it comes to computorfication. Beta readers? Are they the same as proof readers?

Beta readers are readers who go over a lot of issues, and tell you what does or does not work. Think of them like a reader who is a sound board for your book. They can help catch grammar and punctuation issues, but they're mostly there to help encourage you, or point out what does and doesn't work.

My chapter-by-chapter reader is exactly that, an encourager. She usually puts the pressure on me to keep going when I'm having days like today, when I am completely unmotivated and feel like everything I do sucks.

I come up with an idea, wherever that may appear from, it varies so much. Then I just go with it. I sit down and just start writing. There is really no real process for me. The words just sorta flow out and a story is created. Sometimes the middle gets a little tough to get through, but that's when I step away and take a break.

I like having no process. Keeps things interesting for me:)

Jane wrote: "Lots of people seem to have beta readers who read chapter by chapter along with them as they write.

That scares me for a number of reasons. Sometimes I scrap whole chapters or even more. Then I m..."

Jane, I agree with your process. First, I'm a talker and if I talk about my work in progress, I won't write it.
Secondly, in process my ideas are fragile and will bend to the thoughts of others. Once the work has taken hold, sure, I like feedback, but along the way? No, then it's not my book.

I tend to get an idea such as "What would happen if one group of people discovered something devastating, and kept it to themselves?" That then suggests a world. The world suggests characters, and they tell me what the plot is.

Sometimes it doesn't work that that way. I had this picture come to me of a woman inside a glass tube on top of a pillar. What is she? An exhibit? A prisoner? A package to be delivered? Or did she choose to be inside the tube for protection? Does she want to be seen?

It's taken me several years to work out who she is and why she is there.

Tom wrote: "I'm also a 'movie guy' and have studied Pixar's story process. Here's just one link to their 22 'rules':

http://io9.gizmodo.com/5916970/the-22...

A Pixar mov..."

Yes! Disney and Pixar are both masters at storytelling. They're very inspirational to me, too.

Adam; I think of beta readers as assessing the story more, and proof readers checking my spelling/grammar.
Of course, they can do a bit of each. But that's how I differentiate.

And yes, Pixar are amazing.
I still cry every time I watch Toy Story 3.
Their ability to animate the inanimate never ceases to amaze me.

I still consider 'The Lamp' (not sure on it's actual title) as one of their most incredible feats. How can you feel sorry for a lamp?? A LAMP!! :O

xx

Jane wrote: "Lots of people seem to have beta readers who read chapter by chapter along with them as they write.

That scares me for a number of reasons. Sometimes I scrap whole chapters or even more. Then I m..."

I'm with you, Jane. Nobody gets to see my novel until I've drafted, reviewed, revised at least a couple of times and I'm either as happy as I can be with it, or I know there's an aspect I need help with and I've gone as far as I can on my own.

Apart from anything else, I know I'll go down some blind alleys, write some scenes that I will have to hack apart. I can't stand the idea of someone looking over my shoulder at a work in progress. I find it incredibly inhibiting.

Ian wrote: "Jane wrote: "Lots of people seem to have beta readers who read chapter by chapter along with them as they write.

That scares me for a number of reasons. Sometimes I scrap whole chapters or even m..."

I'm the same. Since so much of my story will change after the first draft I don't like anyone looking at it until I've cleaned it up quite a bit. I also prefer that my beta readers see the story as a whole and focus on it as a whole rather than a chapter at a time.

I am incredibly slow when it comes to my ideas. I'll come up with a story idea, visualize it, flesh it out, then set it aside for a while, come back, flesh it out some more, lather, rinse, and repeat until I finally feel like actually writing said idea. But I'm always coming up with ideas so I always have plenty to choose from when I'm ready to write. When I am ready, I write up a bunch of notes and as detailed a outline as I can make. I'm also a very linear writer so write from beginning to end, usually a scene at a time.