Welcome to another blog hop. Today the topic is:
What is your process for writing? Plot, then write? Edit as you go or not until you’ve reached the end of the story? Figure out your characters first? Something else?
I do not start out with much of a plot, but make the majority of it all up as I go along. I have my characters’ names, ages and their physical characteristics written down so that I don’t make any howlers regarding eye or hair colour for instance, but other than that I have no idea what will happen to them until I finish each chapter. I cannot work to a set plan, and enjoy the freedom to write whatever comes into my head.
Regarding editing, I edit each chapter as I finish it in order to avoid the 60 -70,000 word slog at the end of the book. I go through each chapter before I start another one and remove any repeated words and anything ending in ‘ly’ or ‘ing’ if it’s possible to do so. I also take out the words ‘said’ and ‘replied’ if I’ve put any in by mistake. Sometimes I delete the whole chapter and start all over again.
I also do not write unless I think I’ve got a good initial subject for a story. It might be many months between finishing one book in the spring and starting the next in the winter, but in this in-between time I wait patiently for the next good idea to come along. It always does, and I enjoy the summer at my caravan with no writing pressures and no deadlines to meet. I’m not the type to always be writing the next WIP. I write for a hobby, and need a break between books to get the characters out of my head and get away from the computer.
What are other blog-hoppers’ processes for writing? Click on the blue button below to find out, or just leave a comment.
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Stevie Turner 
That’s quite interesting to see. I tried the edit after each chapter approach but it didn’t work for me, it kept pulling me out of the flow. I now edit at the end. Unless I make a significant change to the name of a place, person or thing that I’d rather get changed before I forget.
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I just can’t face the slog at the end.
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I like your process Stevie. You are somewhat of a pantser like me. although the rough plan is in my head. I am not nor will I ever be that person who edits as she goes along because it would through off my flow. But I do like your idea of editing after each chapter to take down the final load of final edits. Thanks for sharing that. ❤
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Hi Stevie, this is a very good way to write and get the best out of life.
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I don’t know if I’ve ever deleted a whole chapter.
I’m way behind my times today.
Tweeted.
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I deleted all of ‘The Porn Detective’ and turned it into ‘Mind Games’.
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5. Beware of a scene that becomes too dear to you, dearer than the rest. It will usually be found that it is out of drawing. – John Steinbeck
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I find this topic one of the most interesting aspects of writing. The bottom line for me is that everyone must find a process that works for them. That’s why I quibble some with “how to” writing books.
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Indeed. We all work in different ways. What goes for one does not necessarily suit somebody else.
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I always start with the ending, and work back to how the characters got there. I use a paper notebook and pen for the timeline and character names so I don’t confuse myself with dates and names along the way. Because I only write daily fiction serials and short stories, they are edited as I go, with a final check before pressing publish.
Besst wishes, Pete.
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Oops! I should have checked ‘Besst’. 🙂
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Starting with the ending? That’s interesting. I’ll have to try that someday.
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It works for my long serials, PJ. But I have never written a complete novel. I like the process of going back to work out how they got to the ending. Here is one example.
Best wishes, Pete.
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You should make this a PDF so interested parties could read it away from a website required format. Just sayin’.
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Thanks, Phil. I have to tell you I would honestly have no idea how to do that, my friend.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hmm. There’s a program out there that pulls your website down, by date, into giant word files, I use that for net stuff that needs to get into Scrivener. Otherwise, you could open Word on half the screen and copy out the story from the other half and save it as a PDF file. Whatever, you should get these off the web and stored, even for posterity. Hell, publish them. They read better than a wealth of the stuff that’s out there.
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Thanks, Phil. I have more confessions. I don’t have a clue how to split screen my monitor, and I do not have MS Word. I am just not tech-savvy. 🙂
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Arrrrrr!!! Is the link you posted the story in order?
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It is a complete story made from the serial episodes, so reads as a ‘novella’.
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Aha.
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Here is a link to all my ‘complete stories’, Phil.
https://beetleypete.com/?s=complete+story
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I’ll have a look. You have enough material to put together a much better than average Indie Story workbook. What would help would be chapter markers (hint hint). Simply inserting a line with a number would work.
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Yes, I never wrote the serials to be read as a complete story, so when I compile them into one, I don’t make any changes or try to make them read differently. I have never been interested in self-publishing because it seems like a lot of work, and my tech skills are non-existent. 🙂
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You now have a Word docx file and a PDF in case a publisher asks. You have over 8k followers. If 25% of them buy your collected short works that’s a couple of tanks of gas, anyway! Drop over to my site, make a comment so I can snag your email and I’ll send you your work in files to be shared. No, I am not seeking financial reward or to steal your work or spam your inbox. Stevie will vouch for me.
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I would not think that of you for a moment, Phil. I very much appreciate your taking the trouble. Coming over now.
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He’s a bit quick with giving the middle finger, Pete, but yeah, I can vouch for him. He also makes me laugh, and so that ain’t bad…
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Thanks Phil for your help.
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My pleasure.
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Lol – good luck with that!
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I don’t think I could work like that, as I don’t know the ending until I’m a good way through the story.
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