Christian Speculative Fiction discussion

Writers and creatives,
Each week, I'll be posting a specific question related to your writing craft. I am looking forward to receiving answers to my queries as it relates to your writing habits.

It's really interesting to me; maybe it will be to you, too.

We'll continue this thread until the ideas are exhausted. BUT, in reality, these threads will remain OPEN-ENDED for future writers to share a little bit about themselves, to answer the specific questions, and to give advice along the way.

Who knows. We may actually learn a thing or two--and receive the encouragement needed to improve in our craft.

WEEK 2: GETTING THE WORDS DOWN

Describe your typical routine as to how you get your writing preserved for your writing projects.

Is there a way that has been more "successful" for you, as far as getting published?

Is there a way you don't really like, but you do it anyway?

Do you have more than one routine?

Feel free to write whatever comes to mind regarding this topic, of course.

Thank you, my fellow writers. I look forward to hearing from you over the next week. This should be exciting!

-Sean

My typical mode of writing is using my split-key keyboard on my desktop. While at work, I use my Surface 2 Laptop for writing during breaks.

However, about ten years ago, my writing was accepted in various Christian magazines and weekly newspapers. One of them was Focus on the Family's Clubhouse Jr. Magazine--a short story about D-Day. And subsequently, my much longer short story about D-Day, directed to adults, was published as a weekly serial over three weeks in a newspaper called CAPPERS. What was interesting is that in each of these, and two other stories published, they were written by hand (not keyed into a computer).

Which is why I occasionally get down a story in a notepad--and then when I rewrite it, I'm editing/improving what I wrote.

Of course, the only downer for writing longhand is the amount of time to transpose onto computer. But, I wonder if something is being lost when I skip the pen and go straight to the computer keyboard.

What about the rest of you, my fellow writers?

Thanks for sharing about your creative process.

Kind regards,
Sean

I could never write if I had to use pen and pencil. There's something that clicks in my brain when I sit at my keyboard and type. Writing with pen in hand is just too slow as my brain plows ahead at a more rapid pace. My friend Jan prefers to write with pen and notepad and I shake my head. Also, to be honest ... I tend to hold the pen wrong so it ends up hurting my hand.

I do most of my writing on my laptop but there are times that I don't have that access so I handwrite then transpose it later which typically involves a bit of editing. Somehow by the time it gets onto the laptop, I come up with a better way to word it. I also keep spreadsheets where I can put down ideas that I'm not ready to develop yet. I have paper everywhere to make notes so I don't lose thoughts or ideas.

I started writing over 8 years ago but didn't try publishing until I had several books already written. I have friends who took several years between books and it drove me nuts waiting on the sequel. I decided I didn't want to do that. Now I'm at a point where the first five are published, the sixth is with the editor, the seventh and a prequel are waiting on me to proof. I am not a plotter and not the best in my organizational skills, but I do have a system.

C.S. wrote: "I could never write if I had to use pen and pencil. There's something that clicks in my brain when I sit at my keyboard and type. Writing with pen in hand is just too slow as my brain plows ahead a..."

That's interesting, Chris. Efficiency is the goal for each of us. Whichever way works best for our end product should be celebrated, Thanks for your share, Chris. -Sean

Reggi wrote: "I do most of my writing on my laptop but there are times that I don't have that access so I handwrite then transpose it later which typically involves a bit of editing. Somehow by the time it gets ..."

Thanks for your post, Reggi. You sound like me when I first came to UK from USA regarding certain foods. I couldn't find a decent hamburger here--and missed it so much! So I learned how to make it myself. (My friends and churchmates all love my hamburgers.) Same for other foods not available here that I used to enjoy in America.

You decided to do it yourself instead of waiting for others, which is a great motivation.

I love that you have a system despite not having organizational skills.

(I plan to peruse your books, Reggi.)

KR,
-Sean

I thought I was just being a control freak. ;) I have been known to leave a restaurant thinking I could improve on a dish I just ate. I end up learning to make things I've never cooked before and I frequently prefer it to the restaurant's food.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my books. We are in the process of switching from KDP to Ingram and re-doing the covers. It's a constant learning and growing process.

Incidentally, I also use a split keyboard which is literally two pieces connected by a cable. It relieves the stress in my back and shoulders when I'm on a writing binge.

Reggi

I make a rough outline, take tons of notes, and begin to write. Once I thought that I would be eco friendly and use a pencil. That turned into a hard to read nightmare so I switched to typing.

I use often use Open Office (free) for notes and outlines, Word for the actual manuscript, and sometimes use Docs to share revision notes.

Thanks for sharing, Thomas. I think we're getting close to the time when we'll be able to take handwritten notes or write the actual novel/project on a tablet, and our handwritten sections will be altered automatically so we don't have to type them out. (I think my writing will improve as my four short stories that sold to magazine companies in the US were all handwritten.)

Reggi, I like your personality of wanting to improve things--because you know you can! It's definitely a learning/growing process when it comes to writing.

Thanks for the comments, writers and creatives.

Anyone else? What is YOUR technique that works best for you and producing your best writing?

-Sean

I hand wrote my first novel and then typed it in. It took FOREVER! I type everything now, but I make notes and outlines in a notebook.

Oh, Lara's comment reminded me of a God - thing. I wrote a Christmas play, YEARS ago. It was typed - typewriter typed. I decided a couple of years later to put it into a computer. I searched for the paper copies and couldn't find it anywhere. Our house burned down shortly thereafter. At that point, I assumed it was lost forever. In cleaning up the mess, (the house was a total loss) we found two copies in the bottom of a drawer. They had slight smoke damage but they were legible and I was able to type them into my computer. I still want to publish it one of these days but that was where I started, on a typewriter.

Speaking of typewriters, I have heard that some people tote their old fashioned typewriters to their local coffee shops to write. That would take a lot of work, but it would be awesome to see the reactions of the other patrons.

Haha Thomas. That would be an interesting sound to hear in a coffee shop--especially if they were shifting the ink carriage at the end of every sentence.

Thanks Lara, for your share about your process.

A lot of us here are older and can REMEMBER typewriters (and typewriting class, one of the best classes I ever took in high school). What was your Christmas play about?

Reggi wrote: "Oh, Lara's comment reminded me of a God - thing. I wrote a Christmas play, YEARS ago. It was typed - typewriter typed. I decided a couple of years later to put it into a computer. I searched for th..."
Reggi, That is a truly amazing story. God's blessing on your Christmas play!

Thomas wrote: "Speaking of typewriters, I have heard that some people tote their old fashioned typewriters to their local coffee shops to write. That would take a lot of work, but it would be awesome to see the r..."

When I was younger ... many, many moons ago, we had a big, old Underwood typewriter. That thing was heavy and typing on it required STRONG fingers. (My poor pinky finger suffered.) I can't imagine ever toting that anywhere.

When I got to high school, my first typing class required we type on manual typewriters. Joy was found in second-year typing when we were allowed to use electric typewriters. They seemed so easy.

Over the years as I worked different jobs, I progressed through correcting typewriters, word processors, and eventually computers. Now I use a keyboard that is so responsive I could never have imagined it back then. What a blessing.

Truly a blessing what we have now, and the access to getting our books in front of people--what more could we ask for? I learned on an electric typewriter, and then bought a word processor (with separate screen). It's amazing what we can get done now because of technology.

Thanks for sharing, guys!
-Sean