I just sit down and do it. I don’t outline or sketch elaborate diagrams on gigantic dry-erase boards or do any of the other seemingly-wise things I’ve heard other writers do. I start at the beginning, work my way through the middle and eventually wrap it up. Then I reread and rewrite and endlessly tweak and generally obsess. (But before I start my desk has to be totally spotless. Another sickness. Good God I sound like Sylvia Plath.) I write all the time—when there’s not a keyboard around, I have an odd habit (some might call it quirky, charming even, if you happen to know and love me) of transcribing conversations, songs and sometimes just random phrases onto imaginary keyboards. I play air-keyboard! I never thought of it that way before. I’m really good, too. You should come watch me some time.
When I sit down to write, I prepare myself to stay with the Historical parts of my story more so than the creative parts. Before sitting down to write, I review the excerpts I prepared in advance to help guide me along as I put my story into Story form.
Before sitting down to write I spend weeks developing the story in my head.
I start with a basic outline and then see where the story will go and it always surprises me by meandering off in some direction I never would have predicted. I also like Julia Cameron's idea of Morning Pages from The Artist Way. I used this as a way to write a little bit a day when I had a full time day job.
My creative process is VERY casual. I like to have music on while I write, depending on what I am writing depends on the style of music, but usually soundtrack music (instrumental) or period music relating to the theme of whatever I am writing.
I also like to write directly after eating, as it's nice to feel fulfilled before you start to get into the process of writing, and the mind always works a lot better once it's fed!
Creative process? I've got a hyper-active brain. The only way I know to get rid of all that incessant babble is to either get behind a microphone or be seated in front of a keyboard. Thoughts constantly invade my mind and my first instinct is to capture them before I forget them. The process is rather like catching butterflies in flight. Without a net, it's impossible. It's important for me to be seated in front of a keyboard so that the thoughts and ideas flow through my fingers and onto the screen before they get a chance to vanish.
Usually the night before writing the next section of the book I find images of scenes come to mind and I cannot sleep. The following day I settle down at my desk with a coffee and my black tiny toy poodle next to me on a chair asleep. I need to be alone in the room and I usually have music playing according to the scene I am going to write. This inspires me like nothing else can and the words come tumbling out.
I go through all my characters and see how their personality would effect their decisions.
I'm quite methodical and try to write a set number of pages per day. I just sit down and stare at the last few lines I wrote until the next ones pop into my mind.
I keep a little black book of ideas, which I record as they come along. When I decide which idea I'm going to turn into a book, I work up a synopsis and then use that as a guide to writing the book.
Like many artists and writers, I get overwhelmed by the need to create and when an idea strikes, I drop all else to get it out of my head. I work best in the mornings, being a morning guy, and hope to have a good day's work done before lunch. After that, it's too late! The blank page is a hard thing to deal with for anyone, but once I start pouring some stuff out, it takes over. When the passion fades, then I'll go back and see what mess I have made of grammar and style. When I write from my personal experiences, I cite my extensive notes constantly. I have documented almost everything I have done for many years now, a good habit I learned when traveling constantly. In the afternoons I love to take a long run on a trail through the mountains and I do a lot of brainstorming then. Actually, I rarely focus on where I am at any moment, but am lost in my head and work.
When I'm thinking of a new novel or short story, I do lots of scribbling on bits of paper (I always carry a notebook and pen and have even been known to scribble when stopped at traffic lights if inspiration strikes while I'm driving!) I open a file and save the scribbles until I finally feel confident that the story is coming together and that I have enough to make a start. (Staring at an empty screen is always scary!) Once I make a start I continue to scribble ideas down; some I use, some I don't. ('Ideas' include plot ideas, lines of dialogue, questions and all sorts of other things too.) As I write I do go back and do some editing but mostly I try not to interfere with the creative flow by being too meticulous about spelling, punctuation, repetition and so on. That real editing process only comes later, once I've finished the work. And then I read and rewrite and read and rewrite and ... until I get to the stage where I think I will vomit if I have to read the thing one more time. And then I put it away for a while, and then I read it one more time. And then I rewrite and ... you get the idea. I only send it off to a publisher when it really is as perfect as I can make it.   | | |
So far, an intriguing thought or idea will come to me. If it entertains me sufficiently I begin to 'think it out' on where I want to go with the storyline.
Because I hold down a full-time day job and write and have children still at home, my schedule varies day to day. My favorite place to write is at Borders, Barnes & Nobles, and the library where I can get away from fighting kids and the TV.
I write for hours at a time on the weekend. I write a lot at night after work. I write during my kids sports.
I plug in my MP3 and listen to my music and block out the world.
HAHAHA, you mean in between chasing the two year old around the house? I write WHENEVER I have a moments peace.
Let's see...I get the older one off to the bus stop, the younger one his drink of choice (juice/milk), dog fed and on the tethered outside, have a smoke before coming in and making a cup of coffee. Then I get the diaper of said small fry changed, day clothes on then breakfast and cartoon or educational program of choice.....THEN I write. The process starts all over again at lunch time before the NAP, (when I do most of my serious writing). |
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