I decided to try this writing tag to assess where I am as a writer now that I’ve finished the third draft of what I hope to be my first novel. Thank you Antiquarius for tagging your followers all those months ago.
- What genres do you write?
My current project has elements of science fiction, horror, mystery, and drama but doesn’t fit neatly into any one of those categories. Ultimately, telling the story well is my main goal, and I’m fine with pulling elements from multiple genres to get this accomplished. The majority of my stories involve science fiction and/or supernatural elements.
- What setting gets you the most productive?
I like feeling cozy as I write and having as close to silence as possible.
- If you have multiple story ideas, how do you go about picking which one to start on first?
I tend to stay very focused on one story at a time and use my phone to record ideas for later stories. This helps me discover which future stories are worth writing. If I find myself continually returning to a story, then I start to suspect I have an idea worth pursuing.
- Do you outline?
My outlines are really extensive. I tend to dump all my ideas about a story into one outline, fashion this into a neater and more extensive outline, and then write my first draft from there.
- Do you start your first draft with pen and paper, typewriter, or computer?
Computer! My ideas feel more permanent when I type them. I love being able to revise absolutely everything, and I love the lack of pressure that comes from knowing I can write a sentence again and again if I feel the need. I’ve never actually tried a typewriter, but given how many mistakes I make in my drafts, I don’t think I’d like it.
- What do you do to get through writer’s block?
Working on another story is helpful. Also getting away from the computer and spending some time thinking about the problem while doing chores or getting ready for work often gives me the space I need to come up with a solution.
- Do you format your project from the beginning or worry about that later?
I worry about formatting later in the process.
- Do you edit as you go or when you’re finished with the first draft?
I tried editing as I went, but I found that this slowed down the process and felt frustrating. I’d rather forge ahead and have to write an extra draft than worry about editing yesterday’s work today. If I have an idea about something I wrote yesterday and it isn’t a quick fix, I’ll usually leave a comment for my future self to address in the next draft.
- After finishing your drafts/manuscript how long do you give it a break before you start going back over it or do you give it a break at all?
I do like to take a bit of a break between drafts mostly because I want to write some blog posts or outline another story. While in the middle of a draft, I tend to focus on that at the expense of anything else.
- Is there something that you prefer to do to get you through writing? (Playing music, tv, having your favorite drink, or food)
I don’t like any distractions while I’m writing. I love writing and I love food, but putting them together means I wouldn’t fully enjoy either.
- Do you schedule your writing sessions?
No. I tend to write at the same times each day, but this is more about fitting writing around my work schedule than scheduling a specific time to write.
- Do you have word count or chapter goals for your writing sessions?
Never! I respect anyone this works for, but I would feel so bad if I failed to meet a page goal. It definitely wouldn’t be motivating. Every day is different, and every day I feel differently, and I respect my time and my mind enough to be grateful for what I can produce any given day. I do feel a little sad on less prolific days, but I know I’ll finish my projects eventually, and I’ll be glad I never rushed the process when it’s over.
- Are there any quirky things you do to make your projects more fun?
I like to find songs my main characters would like. Some of my main characters like a lot of songs, and others are very picky.
- Do you work on multiple projects at one time?
I stay very focused on my main project when I’m in the middle of a draft, but I like to work on side projects where I collaborate with other artists as well as brainstorm future projects.
- How often do you research what you’re writing?
This depends. Sometimes I’ll take a break and research something; other times, I’ll leave a note to tell myself to research it later—it depends on whether taking a break would ruin my flow.
- How do you organize your projects?
I use a system of folders and key words that probably only makes sense to me.
- Do you reward or punish yourself for achieving or missing out on your writing goals?
No punishments! I never want writing to feel like a chore. When I hit certain page goals, I will often reward myself by buying myself a book or some cosplay gear I’ve been eyeing. I like to feel like I’ve earned a reward for hard work.
- Are there any works similar to your projects that you look for and use – for inspiration and/or comparison?
I love to watch science fiction and horror films, and these definitely influence my work. I find that every book I read influences me to a certain extent. I’m inspired by books I like and learn from ones I don’t. I credit extremely talented authors like Bruce Coville and Judy Blundell for inspiring my love of writing as a child, and I still read their works today.
- How early do you wait to start looking for and hiring editors?
I don’t think I’ll know the answer to this one until after I publish my first novel!
- If you’ve finished a first draft or a manuscript. Tell us how you felt afterwards. (Pick your favorite) If you’re not through the first draft yet tell us how you’re feeling about it at the moment.
Writing the words “The End” for the first time was one of my coolest writing experiences. I’d tried so many times to write a single novel length draft, and something went wrong every time. Now that I’ve finished my third draft of the same story, and I’m so happy to see how much progress I’ve made and how much deeper and richer the story has become.
- Tag someone!
I encourage all writers to try this challenge. I found writing about my process to be very rewarding!
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