a question for writers

[cellio]

This question is directed toward two groups: people who have completed fiction works, and people doing NaNoWriMo (national novel-writing month).
How do you structure your writing? Do you write your story linearly from beginning to end (not counting editing passes)? Or do you jump around, leaving place-holders for things you'll fill in later?
My

Comments

[cafemusique]

I'm a NoNoWriMo person...

I'm writing beginning to end...there are a couple of times I've cut something short...I haven't left any written note, but it's definitely in my mind that I want to finish/insert in the editing process.

The one thing that's clearer to me this year is that this effort won't end up on November 30th as something I'll be proud to pass around. There will be a whole pile of editing to do if I get finished, because there are chunks that need to be deleted, things that need to be fleshed out or re-arranged...

Maybe the way I'd describe it is I'm writing linearly from now until the end of the month, but there's some jumping back that will probably happen post-first-draft.

But, who knows, I've never yet been successful (or even close to finishing), so who knows?

[kyleri]

I'm doing NaNoWriMo too, and I'm writing linearly though I've done enough of an outline that I probably could jump around if I wanted to.

With any luck (okay, with a lot of luck and a lot more work) I'll be able to tell you in a few years that my style works for getting published. I _do_ know that it's working to get the book written - I'm over 30,000 words already. I _think_ I'm going to produce something that I'll be able to knock into shape with a bunch more work, but right now I'm far too close to it to have any real idea if I'm right. :/

[geekosaur]

Every so often writers (most of the ones I've seen are SF authors, but I'm sure other genres are represented) talk about what it takes to write against deadlines like this --- only one I can think of off the top of my head is Niven, about writing a story on demand at a con. It's rather different from normal writing.

(I'm currently recalling someone's short story about a writing contest vaguely like NaNoWriMo but converted to a spectator sport --- Google is failing to find it for me, though. In particular I'm recalling one point where many of the spectators are cheering for "their" contestant: "Culp, Culp, Crank That Pulp!")

Or Harlan's window story.

[patsmor]

If I do write an outline, I don't dare show it to anyone (my mother shredded one about 30 years ago and the scars are still too deep).

It's coming to me in chunks. I waited after the last chunk for the next act to hit my head, which it did (of course) in the middle of writing my final report for an audit I'm doing. I've been trying to not let it escape until I get it written down.

Today I wrote 1000 words, still holding the rest of the chunk in my head, because Duncan needed the computer for an essay. Tonight I plan to sit down and let it flow if possible.

I have real trouble with straight-line plots, and the sub-plots drive me crazy. So I just chunk it out until the characters are done with this part. Mostly, it's like watching what my friends unroll in my head -- the characters do what they're going to do. (For example, I didn't realize one character was going to show up in this current section until she started talking.)

Is that too stupid to say?

[ohiblather]

In my experienced, I've found that published fiction writers vary widely in their approach. Some outline in great detail before they start to write. Others only have the vaguest notion of what they want to write about, hate the idea of outlining in detail. Both methods seem to work.

I find I need some kind of outline, but don't like too much detail. I do like detailed character and background outlines, though.

I found Nanowrimo useful in forcing myself to get over my tendency to over-edit as I go. Also showed me that I COULD produce more words per day than I thought I was able to. Overall, I'm glad I did Nano, but would probably not do it too often unless I needed that kick in the pants again.

I'm currently editing the Nano novel I wrote a couple years ago for submission to my agent. I like the story a lot, but it was in REALLY rough shape and the edit turned out to be more of a rewrite.