Introspection Of The Writing Process

Whenever I read or see an interview of an author or a poet, almost always there is a question about the writing process and techniques. Frankly, a number of good writers are able to deconstruct their process to the bare bones. I won’t lie, I am jealous.

A few years back, I was at Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street, London. Behind the eye-catching red door was the home of arguably the most iconic English writer since Shakespeare. For me, personally, it was a pilgrimage. In the considerable time Dickens spent there, he struggled with health and financial issues. I was trying to understand his writing process from the prism of the humble residence and his difficult life. In my opinion, it was his personal experiences which enriched his writing. It was his struggles which shaped his writing process. It took time but the legacy will probably survive till the end of the time.

Dickens mostly wrote in a serialized manner. There was strict adherence to a routine. He dedicated hours to his writing and walked through the streets of the city while taking breaks. Without the strict routine, Dickens would have struggled to meet the demands of the publisher within the defined timelines. This formulaic manner of writing was a product of the time he lived in and he somehow managed to make it work for himself. To give characters arcs and define plot lines, Dickens largely relied on rough outlines and short notes. In his process there was a certain rhythm and high level planning backed by rich human experience and some brilliant writing skills.

Unfortunately, I had a rather privileged life and never pursuit writing beyond a hobby. I work in corporate as a technical manager in reputed IT consultancy. But I love writing, probably way more than reading.

When I imagine a story, I visualize the images which act as plot points and pivots of this story. The first act of writing is define the outline of the story. Then I spend some time drawing a back story for each of the primary characters. In these two steps, I compile the bible of the story. Then the writing begins. Once I have completed the first draft, I take a few weeks off and revisit the first draft. In this revision, I identify ideas which need to be dumped and plot points which need to be fleshed out. These notes act as the foundation for the second draft. The process repeats till as a reader I am not satisfied. This Agile method works for me. Probably has something to do with my long experience in IT sector.

I think identifying a writing process is a personal and intimate aspect of writing. It works well when the process comes organically to the writer; rather than being taught in a classroom or influenced by a blog post. And eventually it boils down to the relationship between the writer and the audience. The legacy of writer is built upon that relationship.

Stay blessed.