Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I Am Writing

Okay, I am world building.

And working on goals and motivations and character descriptions for all my major characters (2 protagonists and 2 antagonists). And organizing research. Getting ready to do some serious brainstorming with my CP, followed by some serious outlining.

The book I'm currently working on is the first in a complicated post-apocalypse romance series, so I'm trying to really lay down some foundation before diving into the major part of the writing process. (Although I did write the first two chapters, so I could "meet" my protagonists.)

When you are writing, do you do all this? Do you do something different? Or do you just sit down and start writing...?

Deborah, who really wants to know

7 comments:

  1. I mostly just start writing but then after my sudden spark of writing energy fades I start planning where I want my story to follow and what I want to include and the people. One of my stories is about a town and I went as far to draw a map of the town and put who lived in what houses etc so I would be able to keep it all straight in my mind.

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    1. That sounds great! My CP is encouraging me to find pictures of actors or models who look like my characters...

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  2. I do that to. I've been coming up with stories for years. And about 12 years ago I started collecting pictures of people I thought was interesting or that I could just imagine in my head what their personality would be like. I still use the ones I have from all those years ago in my stories I am writing now :) So glad to know that people actually suggest that and I'm not just strange. I think the planning part can be as fun if not more in some cases then actually writing it all out.

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    1. Ironically, I don't get into the planning part nearly as much as some of my author pals do, although I believe it is important and do it in detail for many stories. I don't love to do research or planning--I just love to write :-)

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  3. I'm a pantser all the way through. Although I do break the cardinal rules of not worrying details through on the first draft. I find if something comes up - a small detail, object, or place I'm not familiar with I have to research the hell out of it before I can proceed. Love studying bits and parts of languages I don't know (Irish, Spanish, Navajo - depends on the character) and finding my characters at ease in using words I'd never imagine using. Different cultures are always fascinating.

    By the end of the book, I feel I'm just as drawn in and captivated as I hope my audience will be. I don't think I'd ever be able to outline for that reason alone. I want the ending to catch me off guard.(Hugs)Indigo

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    1. My main CP, Lisa, is also panster all the way. I'm always amazed by all the different styles of writing that end up with the same result--a great book.

      And I use bits and pieces of other languages too. Latin, in one book :-)

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  4. I find myself world building/ characters first most of the time when I start to write... I think I do this because of dreams.. A lot of my dreams are my inspirations... I get all crazy and draw my characters too!!! :D hehehe

    On rare occasion I bust out like 2,000 words of the story- which I wish I did more often.

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