"The Execution of Justice" actually took me YEARS to write, as I was employed full time, and really did not have much self-confidence in the novel. Many friends and relatives kept asking about when I would finish the novel. One day, May of 2008, my Godson, Moises Raudez, (who also worked with me in the bail bonds agency), forced me to lock myself in my home office and WRITE the novel. It took me less than a month.
My creative process begins with setting the plot. Then comes the story line, the protagonist and the antagonists, the supporting characters. I have adapted a technique learned from JANET EVANOVICH, I make a "story board" to follow each day.
When I actually sit down at my computer, I place myself in the mind of "Detective Mike Walsh", and I get the story, with all the supporting characters, locale descriptions, weather conditions, and dialogue flowing.
After the first draft, I re-read and revise, revise and revise some more until I am personally satisfied with the end product.
The creative process of writing first and foremost requires a vivid imagination. Children develop such an imagination early in life, which is a processing tool, and it grows when wonderful children’s stories are read to them.
Thus, as a child, I learned the art of day-dreaming, building castles in “the air”, and exercising my imagination. It took up a great deal of empty voids and was an excellent deterrent to boredom, as well as putting me to sleep at night; therefore, before starting a new novel I start with an idea that always revolves around more than one character.
The idea can be one I’ve thought of while reading a book, one that is sparked while I’m writing a book, or one that is inspired by an actual event, such as the manuscript I’ve just finished. Then my imagination takes over—usually while I cook, clean, do gardening, or other chores and pastimes and a plot begins to form. Once I have a plot, characters, setting, and a beginning, (which sometimes gets changes) the characters come alive through their hopes, dreams, relationships, problems, etc. and the book actually seems to write itself through my fingers clicking on the keyboard keys.
I never worry much about specifics such as spelling, grammar, etc. during the first draft. I simply let the thoughts pour out at will. When that is done, the real work begins: rewriting, which is followed by numerous rewrites and much, much, editing. Because it is so important to keep facts straight, I actually went through seven edits on the book I’ve just finished. It requires a great deal of dedication to what you’re doing and perseverance to the task. But once finished, there is nothing more exciting or satisfying than holding my published book in my hands.   | | |
I think any writing starts with an idea. I don't "sit sown to write". I interrupt any activity to go to my laptop and write down a thought or describe a feeling.
It's tough. During the least likey moments I get a surge of creativity and will grab anything worth writing on to try and jot down titles or ideas. I've found that I truly enjoy the memoir/essay genre and sometimes just a simple smell or 30 second conversation with my dad will throw me back into a fountain of funny memories. Then it's a matter of sitting down and actually recording them. I still have not mastered the art of discipline. Many other writers have told me to try and write at least 30 minutes a day so the "daily" thing is what I'm currently working on.
I have characters and a place in mind when I sit down to work on a play. The same is true of poetry, though often it is a phrase that comes to mind or an image. Often I just play with words on paper.
Well I will just sit and usually what comes out is what I put down. It's fairly easy at times.
In my genre I am mostly an essayist and I write a journal. I don't always write my 3 pages a day. I think I take so many notes at work and also with my students. It's about finding the time to manage and organize our writing.
Well I'm a reviewer, so before I start writing, I have to experience something first. So I'd say that's step number one. I take notes, then I try to think of funny things to incorporate with my material.
Often, I will get an idea of a subject for an essay or story merely by speaking with a friend or even if I were taking pictures with my camera. From that, I find myself exploring what I want to talk about and organize my thoughts as if I were telling a friend or family a story from the beginning.
complete and total chaos. I'm not really sure on that, I see something it triggers an idea and then I can't get it out of my head until it's typed or written somewhere. I will say though that I tend to find the most inspiration when I'm in a math or science class, or a home improvement store- if Lowes had WiFi I'd never leave.
Usually, I pace and talk out loud about the topic, do a little reference research, then brainstorming ideas. Jotting down thoughts and then writing an outline. Then I build an abstract and learning objectives, then dive in for an initial draft. Lastly, i read what I wrote and add reseached item references, polish final edits and publish.
The inspiration comes from inside the brain. We may call this the conception. Let's travel to faraway (or nearby) places, take many photos, take notes! The next step is to share the experiences with the reader. The delivery or birth of the work is the final stage of the process. It starts when I grab the pen... Sorry, no: when I sit down to the computer. The life or after-life of the work is, when people take note and start reading it.
I usually get an idea either from a dream or just a thought and I quickly write it down. When I am writing a large portion of work, I write by hand in Japanese notebooks. The paper is very smooth and easy to write on. I usually write before I go to bed when the house is quiet. I'll play music that reminds me of the book I am working on.
I am strongly driven by emotion, by the passion and futility of life and death. Being a moody creature, these feelings tap into the more intellectually oriented aspects of my psyche and drive words and structures from my subconscious into the world of words and images. Of course, I must also force myself to the drearier tasks of linking sequences of images and feelings into coherent and readable works. I really love my craft.
These days most of what I write stems from interviewing people. I spend one or two hours chatting to them, relaxing them into conversation mode while I record almost every word on my laptop as they speak. (I can type very fast!) I need to leave that interview for a day or two, maybe longer, before going back and bringing their words to life. My aim is to bring out as many humorous, poignant and human stories as I can, about the interviewee, so that the reader can relate personally to the story.
Nothing much happens before sitting down to write! I have such a busy life that I don't have time for anything but getting down to business. Sometimes I think this is a good thing because so much can be lost in procrastination. |
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