Second Wind Publishing discussion

My deepest secret revealed: I don't have a true writing process. Do real authors have the following steps? 1.) A seed of an idea begins to grow. 2.) Create a working title. 3.) Write an outline. 4.) Do research. 5.) Begin the arduous task of fleshing out the first draft followed by 6.) Complete the editing and final draft process. 7.) Create final title.

I think most authors knock out pages on a regular basis to keep their writing muscle loose. They keep pen/paper by their bedside to make sure they get their dreams and thoughts down as they come. Me? I hate to admit it, but I write from beginning to end and full scenes/conversations come to my mind. I'm just as surprised about the story and the ending as the reader who reads it for the first time. My novels don't have a beginning, middle and end until they flow from my brain and onto the screen. It sort of feels like cheating because a movie plays in my head and all I have to do is type fast enough to get it all down. When I'm not writing, it isn't a block really, I'm just waiting for the movie to start again. It may be a week or two or several months between. Some days I write thirty pages and other times just one scene.

I realize there's a possibility this type of writing is common and the knowledge of it won't shift any paradigms. For me, this is how it works and I've at least learned to respect my process. I've stopped worrying (most of the time) about how my process differs or is similar to others. My words may not be for everyone, but I have them for a reason and therefore, must write.

What's your process?

1/ I get an idea - it could be from a scrap of conversation, a news item, an interesting fact - usually in conjunction with the 'what if?' approach.

2/ I write it down, with provisional format - film script, short story, novel etc, and a working title.

3/ I forget about it for a varying period. Well, I don't really forget about it, because it's growing in the subconscious. Sooner or later I'll pick up another scrap of conversation or news item that will complement the first idea. The entire story then springs out, fully formed.

4/ I write the first draft as quickly as possible.

5/ Do a quick proofread and edit.

6/ Send it out to a panel of readers for critique.

7/ Start writing another story/script/novel while waiting for the readers' responses to come back.

8/ When the responses are in, do the major edit to produce the second (final) draft.

9/ Repeat as needed until someone buys the damn things!

I don't think there's a true writing process either. Some outline, some write by the seat of their pants, some schedule, some (like me)try to schedule but life keeps messing that up! I think we all do the following when we get that germ of an idea: write down the idea, turn it into a hopefully sellable story, edit & keep fixing the story & re-submitting it until it sells.

My process varies with each book and sadly, the demands of my "real life". I do what I can, as time and inspiration allows. It all seems to come together in the end. I wonder, if I retire from my day job at some point, how that might change...

My "process" is to fit writing in around everyone else in the family, always ready to stop at a moment's notice. (I read that way too.) Which means I hardly wrote at all when I had a job as well. Now I write whenever I sit at a computer, read whenever I sit on a sofa, and continue to spin stories in my head whenever I'm doing anything else.

At every reading I've done this year, someone asks me about my writing schedule. I don't have one. Impossible, my life isn't structured that way. And even if it was, I would not want to regulate it so much. I like writing when I'm inspired.

My writing process is in a constant stage of change. I'm a guest blogger on Donna Hatches blog today at http://donnahatch.blogspot.com/ The interview says a lot about the processes I've went through.

Right now I'm doing the 100/100 club with my writing chapter. We've been holding it annually and it's do 100 words a day for 100 days. It really works to get me into a daily writing habit.

Whenever I get an idea for what I think would be a good story, I just sit at the computer and write, write, write! Several of my colleagues have told me I need to do an outline, so with my current book, I did that, but ended up deviating from it terribly, so that only proves that no two people write the same way. I usually end up writing more than necessary, but have found it's much easier to cut than to add.

One thing I do have to say though is, if I want to really get into my writing I have to make sure I'm not disturbed. I won't answer the phone or if my husband comes in and tries to talk to me, I push him out, for it totally ruins my concentration. How I dream about spending a month in an isolated cottage by a lake with nothing but my computer and some books to read when my fingers get tired! LOL

I have no tried and true process I start writing when an idea hits me and then go with the flow. I should be more displined when it comes to times lately it's just on a whim. I don't need silence and my hubby knows not to mess with the creative process--when the hat goes on, he shuts up. He is good on giving feedback when asked. when i write I usually have my online radio set to my fave station--classic rock

The most important thing I've learned is when an idea, or sentence or simile or even plot details hit is Take out a piece of paper AND WRITE IT DOWN!!

Even just a few words, enough to prod your memory because we are exposed to a lot of imput & it's easy to lose track. Also try to write a quick first draft as soon as possible. Strike while the idea is hot! There is always time to revise & refine later. And revising is important. (With a word processor it's so easy to do that there isn't any excuse for not turning in your best)
Carrying around paper & pencil helps.

I write the ideas that come to mind and allow them to play in my head...and get to typing. The title comes either right away, or later as the writing progresses. There is one series I am working on and had a working title, then as a year or two passed, I have changed the title and found a fit.

I write any time of the day, better after midnight. I jot notes, do some research, and go with the flow. Later, there are rewrites and more rewrites as I go through the edits before sending to an editor. There is one project I worked on three years ago, half way done, and this is the one I wrote an outline. Therefore, I see outlines do not work for me. I also see that I will rewrite this story for sure too.

I don't have a set process either. I keep thinking I should do some sort of outlining, but, the closest I've come is a short list of some story points and character descriptions.