Snowflake Day 3

[cornerofmadness]

Day 3

In your own space, talk about your creative process - from what inspires you to what motivates you to how you manage to break through blocks. Does your process change depending on the type of creating you're doing?

This is always such a hard thing for me to answer because I'm not really one to examine my 'process'. I do try to come at this professionally for the most part (as now I do more original fiction than fan fic). I do find music very helpful. Whether it's original fiction or fanfiction,I try to find music that fits my view of the universe or the pairing etc. Having that on in the background is very helpful.

Deadlines help. I work better when I have one or I might never get it finished. I also like to find challenge communities and exchanges within the fandom. I enjoy those.

I usually do a lot of research if I'm writing something longer, especially if I'm new to the fandom. If I'm just drabbling I would put in less work.

I am a pantser. The fastest way to kill a story for me is to outline it. The closest I come is writing out notes of things I might like to do. I'm not the most efficient sometimes as I have to go back, reread, fill in holes etc but this is the way I prefer to work.

Comments

[kiramaru7]

Interesting... I'm the same way! Thanks for sharing this! :D

[cornerofmadness]

Cool. I think there are probably more pantser out there than easily admit to it (it's easier now thanks to Stephen King's book On Writing

[kiramaru7]

There probably are. I remember being on this forum once & this guy basically told me I was wrong to write a story form start to finish with no outline, etc. Even starting at the beginning was a huge no-no to him. XD

OOH! I must look for that book!

[cornerofmadness]

Oh I had a guy in a writing group in the 90s. He thought he was all that because he went to Clarion's writing class. This was before King's book but a couple other mystery authors also pants it and after multiple times of him basically calling me an idiot for not having an outline (and I'm not even sure why he thought I didn't because we were just doing story critiques, I dont' even remember mentioning it but I must have done). I included those articles in my mail out and he never spoke to me again.

Best thing really.

[kiramaru7]

That wasn't nice of him, especially in person! How rude! >.> That's good, at you don't have to deal with him anymore. :D

[cornerofmadness]

it was by mail but still, yes rude but he did that to EVERYONE. I was so glad when he decided he was too good for us and dropped out. I do want to know if he ever succeeded as a novelist (him and one other dick from a different group). Because I have! HA!

[kiramaru7]

Still RUDE and not nice. That must have been a good day! :D Yup!! That woudl totally serve him right too if he hadn't! *grins* And the other dick too. :D

[cornerofmadness]

I admit it, I'm annoyed enough years later that I hope they failed. One even told me it was impossible to have red earth. Apparently had never been to SD, GA or OK!

[kiramaru7]

I would be too!

Apparently not. XD They sound like that forum dude, who said everything should be outlined & you should start your story in the middle & work form there. XD

[cornerofmadness]

snort. I can see why he thinks the middle is a good place to start. It's the place where most people lose their way but many people I know HAVE to work more or less linearly.

[kiramaru7]

Yeah? About the most I can do is have a vague idea of where I want to end up & then start at the beginning & work my way there. Sometimes I don't end up there, but I'm still happy with the ending. Yeah! I just can't imagine doing that. I have to work linearly. XD

[cornerofmadness]

I have vague ideas too but I write mostly linearly. Occasionally I'll jump around but not often

[kiramaru7]

*nods* But even though I have a feeling of where I want to end up, I'll still write linearly. The only time I jump out of order, is when I get a sudden inspiration for a good ending, so I'll write it & then work my way over to it. If it's just a vague idea, then it doesn't get written until I get there in the story.

[cornerofmadness]

Sometimes I get scenes that won't leave me alone so I try to write them out of order. Also the memory is getting bad so I might forget things

[kiramaru7]

*nods* That's usually how I start a fic; something bugs me until I get it down on "paper". I hear you! Sometimes I get a good idea at work, but I can't stop to deal with it, so I spend the rest of time trying to remember it.

[cornerofmadness]

Oh I hate that or on the road or in the shower, some place you can't write it down

[kiramaru7]

Yes!! I forgot about the shower! I get a ton of good ideas there & by the time I get out & back downstairs to my compy, I've forgotten 1/2 of them. XD

[cornerofmadness]

yep that happens

[kiramaru7]

Oh yeah! XD