Wednesday, May 4, 2016

IWSG Post - My Odd Writing Style

I wait for the first Wednesday of the month, so that I can talk of my insecurity for that month. IWSG aka Insecure Writers Support Group gives me the freedom to complain about my writing anxieties, worries, fears, doubts, insecurities, without looking silly as other writers too face similar issues. IWSG members help each other by giving suggestions on how to overcome these writing issues. Check out the IWSG website for helpful writing tips.

I can’t talk of IWSG without mentioning our amazing Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh (author of the Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars), who started this awesome group to save writers globally from the negative effect of their own feelings. If you aren’t following Alex, you are missing out on a wonderful writer, a warm friend and a super helpful blogger.

I started my first YA novel on 1st April. I have so far written 37,061 words. I make it a point of writing 1000 words every day, hoping that by May end I will have the first draft ready. As of now I have made a decent progress.

Now its confession time. Unlike other writers who spend a lot of time world-building and outlining, I need to start writing immediately. Whenever I start world-building or writing a detailed outline, my mind rebels. I work best when I start writing, when the words flow, then the characters start talking to me.

I just have a basic outline in place; by that I mean I have a beginning, a middle and an ending in mind and several major plot points all plotted out. At that stage there is no extensive world-building.

When I read of how some writers spend months plotting every little detail, I feel guilty. Because for me as I work on subsequent drafts, I tighten the plot, add the details and character arcs and the sub-plots.

How do you all write? Are you a detailed outliner? Or like me do you have a basic outline in place?   



27 comments:

  1. I am so bad at it, Rachna and that's quite an interesting target to write 1000 words a day. I gotta be back with 500 words daily for my first draft is lurking somewhere for more than one and a half years.

    www.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com

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  2. I seldom outline until the book is underway, and then, during the first draft, I only outline enough to see "ahead of the headlights" (a metaphor attributed to so many authors, I don't really know who said it.) The closest thing to planning in my first draft is that I usually do have the end in mind -- very roughly, but a goal to move toward. I think so many writers successfully work in such different ways, it's best just to go with your own process. You seem to be prolific, and you do get published. Obviously, your approach is working. Have a great day.

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  3. Need to work hard like youy Rachna:) !000 words a day is pretty good.

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  4. No, I can't outline like that either. You are so not alone on that. Everyone needs to use the technique that works for them.

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  5. You said it yourself - "I work best..." Do what works for you! Learn from others, pick up tips, etc but your process is exactly that - YOUR process. :)

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  6. I need a detailed outline but I don't spend a lot of time world building. It's all about what works best for you, not for others!

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  7. Most of my writing is without a detailed outline. But I usually know where the story's going, though that may change during the writing.

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  8. I tried working from a chapter outline once, but it proved to be useless as I (and the characters) kept changing the story as I wrote. Now I just jump in and start writing. I save the organizing part for the second draft.

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  9. I think that's a great way to do it, Rachna. Just go with the flow, if that works for you. We all work differently. I haven't found my method yet. Still trying different approaches, depending on my mood. My first novel just evolved from an idea in my head but I've started a rough plan for the second one. See if that works or not. I'll just let the characters draw my fingers across the keyboard and guide me on their journey.

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  10. I'm definitely a very detailed plotter but every writer has to do what works best for them. And even though I outline, there are still many surprises that happen along the way.

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  11. I can't do the detailed outline either. It kills me. The characters need a little wiggle room. I make a major turning point outline, then fill in 3 to 5 scenes between each point, then go forward--but not until I know my characters. Thankfully I'm well acquainted with the characters I'm currently writing.

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  12. I am the same way. I don't do detailed outlines and I really need to just write. I don't think your style sounds odd at all!

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  13. I write most of my stories just the same way. When I have trouble I make notes, but I discovery write/pants as much as I can.

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  14. I used to write like that, but now I outline to avoid writing my characters into holes they can't escape from. ;)

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  15. I don't do an outline. I have an idea and then let the characters take over as I write.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.
    Mary Montague Sikes
    Notes Along the Way
    The Artful Way

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  16. I couldn't plot first if you paid me. Well, depends on how much you paid me. Channeling Jack T. Colton in Romancing the Stone: I'm cheap but I can be had.

    Don't ever feel bad/guilty that you don't write like others. Do what works for you. I write sci-fi romance. If ever there was a place for world-building it's there. Yet, my world builds as I write. I have to take notes along the way (so I don't forget). Eventually, my world comes together, and I flesh it out. Again, do what works for you. Best wishes.

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  17. I totally understand what you are saying. I just let it flow, makes notes of the incidents i want to detail. I then come back to it two three times to fix the structure and stuff.

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  18. I have a bullet point outline of a story as I know the end from the beginning. Then I'm a total panster and write here and there and wherever. it's really very messy but effective writing at that point.

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  19. You have to write in a way that works for you. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. I do use an outline, but I certainly don't have a detailed one. I like room for spontaneity.

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  20. I do that, too, at first, and then I stop at about 10,000 words into the story and play with some world-building and character stuff, and then I go back to writing . . and it goes back and forth.
    Best wishes on all of your writing!

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  21. Your writing style sounds absolutely fine; there's no need to feel guilty as you're doing more than me in terms of plotting (like a middle and an end, for example!) We all have different approaches and refining through each draft sounds like a great one. With world-building, I take a story-first approach, and record aspects of my world as I go to make sure I don't contradict myself. You're making brilliant progress anyway, so congrats!

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  22. Everyone approaches writing differently. I've tried several methods and each one has had its benefits and drawbacks. When I write short stories I just work with the idea that's popped in my head - not much planning except for key points. I wrote the first draft of my novel from an outline, got to know more about my characters and then worked hard to develop each scene. For my next novel, I will do more than an outline and plan each scene in more detail. This is mainly to keep me focused and to do the hard graft before writing the story. I don't know if it will work out that way. Great post, Rachna. Congratulations on your progress!

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  23. Hehe, I'm a huge world builder and I spend hours just thinking about how everything connects and figuring out the logic. That's just so I make sure things stay consistent between my four books, companion novel, and spin-off series. But for me, that's fun and part of the thrill of writing. For other people, it's work.

    I'm happy you found a way that works for you, and it's fantastic you're making good progress. Keep it up!

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  24. I'm a panster too...if I outline it often comes later:)

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  25. You make me feel so much better. I have to write too, and don't spend much time world building. I find that writing the story makes it come to me. That said, my process means I spend a significant amount of time re-writing, draft after draft. Sigh.

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  26. Hey, dear, if you think you've gotta lotta problem in your writing, just wait till you see mine...

    If I'm the sower, we plant the Seed; if I'm an artist, we RITE the symphonies heard Upstairs ☆IF☆ you accept His lead withe orchestra...

    Wanna find-out the fax, Jak, in a wurld fulla the 'power of cowards'? Wanna wiseabove to help a 'Plethora Of Wurdz' [POW!] which are look'n for a new home in thy novelty??

    Q: But [gulp] can anyone tell me the difference between K2 plus IQ? A: Nthn. In Heaven, we gitt'm both for eternity HeeHee Need a few more thots, ideers, wild wurdz (whoa, Nelly! easy, girl) or ironclad iconoclasms?

    VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI: As an ex-writer of the sassy, savvy, schizophenia we all go thro in this lifelong demise, I wanna help U.S. git past the ping-pong-politics, the whorizontal more!ass! we're in (Latin: words to wise).

    "This finite existence is only a test, son," God Almighty told me in my coma. "Far beyond thy earthly tempest is where you'll find tangible, corpulent eloquence". Lemme tella youse without d'New Joisey accent...

    I actually saw Seventh-Heaven when we died: you couldn't GET! any moe curly, party-hardy-endorphins, extravagantly-surplus-lush Upstairs (in [the] end without end -Saint Augustine) when my o-so-beautifull, brilliant, bombastic girly passed-away due to those wry, sardonic satires.

    "Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the Heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightousness as bright as stars for all eternity" -Daniel 12:3, NJB

    Here's also what the prolific, exquisite GODy sed: 'the more you shall honor Me, the more I shall bless you' -the Infant Jesus of Prague.

    Go gitt'm, girl. You're incredible. See you Upstairs. I won't be joining'm in the nasty Abyss where Isis prowls
    thesuperseedoftime.blogspot.com
    infowars.com
    -YOUTHwitheTRUTH
    -------------------------------
    PS Need summore unique, uncivilized, useless names? Lemme gonna gitcha started, brudda:

    Oak Woods, Franky Sparks, Athena Noble, Autumn Rose, Faith Bishop, Dolly Martin, Willow Rhodes, Cocoa Major, Roman Stone, Bullwark Burnhart, Magnus Wilde, Kardiak Arrest, Will Wright, Goldy Silvers, Penelope Summers, Sophie Sharp, Violet Snow, Lizzy Roach, BoxxaRoxx, Aunty Dotey, Romero Stark, Zacharia Neptoo, Mercurio Morrissey, Fritz & Felix Franz, Victor Payne, Isabella Silverstein, Mercedes Kennedy, Redding Rust, Phoenix Martini, Ivy Squire, Sauer Wolfe, Yankee Cooky, -blessed b9...

    God blessa youse
    (trust-N-Jesus)
    -Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hey, dear, if you think you've gotta lotta problem in your writing, just wait till you see mine...

    If I'm the sower, we plant the Seed; if I'm an artist, we RITE the symphonies heard Upstairs ☆IF☆ you accept His lead withe orchestra...

    Wanna find-out the fax, Jak, in a wurld fulla the 'power of cowards'? Wanna wiseabove to help a 'Plethora Of Wurdz' [POW!] which are look'n for a new home in thy novelty??

    Q: But [gulp] can anyone tell me the difference between K2 plus IQ? A: Nthn. In Heaven, we gitt'm both for eternity HeeHee Need a few more thots, ideers, wild wurdz (whoa, Nelly! easy, girl) or ironclad iconoclasms?

    VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI: As an ex-writer of the sassy, savvy, schizophenia we all go thro in this lifelong demise, I wanna help U.S. git past the ping-pong-politics, the whorizontal more!ass! we're in (Latin: words to wise).

    "This finite existence is only a test, son," God Almighty told me in my coma. "Far beyond thy earthly tempest is where you'll find tangible, corpulent eloquence". Lemme tella youse without d'New Joisey accent...

    I actually saw Seventh-Heaven when we died: you couldn't GET! any moe curly, party-hardy-endorphins, extravagantly-surplus-lush Upstairs (in [the] end without end -Saint Augustine) when my o-so-beautifull, brilliant, bombastic girly passed-away due to those wry, sardonic satires.

    "Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the Heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightousness as bright as stars for all eternity" -Daniel 12:3, NJB

    Here's also what the prolific, exquisite GODy sed: 'the more you shall honor Me, the more I shall bless you' -the Infant Jesus of Prague.

    Go gitt'm, girl. You're incredible. See you Upstairs. I won't be joining'm in the nasty Abyss where Isis prowls
    thesuperseedoftime.blogspot.com
    infowars.com
    -YOUTHwitheTRUTH
    -------------------------------
    PS Need summore unique, uncivilized, useless names? Lemme gonna gitcha started, brudda:

    Oak Woods, Franky Sparks, Athena Noble, Autumn Rose, Faith Bishop, Dolly Martin, Willow Rhodes, Cocoa Major, Roman Stone, Bullwark Burnhart, Magnus Wilde, Kardiak Arrest, Will Wright, Goldy Silvers, Penelope Summers, Sophie Sharp, Violet Snow, Lizzy Roach, BoxxaRoxx, Aunty Dotey, Romero Stark, Zacharia Neptoo, Mercurio Morrissey, Fritz & Felix Franz, Victor Payne, Isabella Silverstein, Mercedes Kennedy, Redding Rust, Phoenix Martini, Ivy Squire, Sauer Wolfe, Yankee Cooky, -blessed b9...

    God blessa youse
    (trust-N-Jesus)
    -Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL

    ReplyDelete