Elizabeth
asked
Nenia Campbell:
What is your writing process like from writing, reviewing to editting? Is it stephen king style? Have you tried his techniques he recommends from his memoir on writing? Is it helpful to you or not? If not, why not? Or is your process entirely different?
Nenia Campbell
I love Stephen King's memoir! I've had the same copy for ten years because it is so amazing. One day, I hope to meet him so I can have him sign it and tell him how much of a hero he is to me. :)
My writing process is pretty weird. I write the story in drabbles, with scenes and then huge blank parts that I don't feel like writing. Then as I go on, I patch it up with transition scenes. My rule of thumb is that if what I'm writing feels boring to me, it'll probably feel 10x more boring to my reader, so I try to make the dialogue engaging in rewrites, add wit or atmosphere or more description, etc.
Sking suggests taking a break and writing the story with new eyes. I actually forget what the characters are like if I take a break, so it'll actually take me longer to read through the book like 2 or 3 times and get a re-feel for what everyone is like. (I am also very OCD, so when I write a sequel, I re-read EACH PUBLISHED BOOK in that series before embarking on the story so I can try to keep a semblance of continuity.) It is not uncommon for me to rewrite a book about four or five times, either as a whole, or in parts.
The first draft is in pieces, like a scattered outline. Then I separate it out and rewrite each chapter as a separate file. Then I put it together and rewrite the whole thing from start to finish. Then I rewrite it again--but this time, backwards, starting from the ending and going back to the beginning again. Then I upload it into a PDF and read the whole thing, without any editing marks from the word processor. Sometimes I change the font to keep things interesting. I used to write and publish on Fictionpress, so I have an emotional attachment to 10-point Verdana.
And that is my writing process. Also, scattered in between is lots of crying to my friends, headkeyboarding, more crying to my friends, looking at internet memes, and watching funny cat videos. This last is an especially integral part of The Process.
I hope that answers your question! Maybe that is more information than you wanted. ;)
My writing process is pretty weird. I write the story in drabbles, with scenes and then huge blank parts that I don't feel like writing. Then as I go on, I patch it up with transition scenes. My rule of thumb is that if what I'm writing feels boring to me, it'll probably feel 10x more boring to my reader, so I try to make the dialogue engaging in rewrites, add wit or atmosphere or more description, etc.
Sking suggests taking a break and writing the story with new eyes. I actually forget what the characters are like if I take a break, so it'll actually take me longer to read through the book like 2 or 3 times and get a re-feel for what everyone is like. (I am also very OCD, so when I write a sequel, I re-read EACH PUBLISHED BOOK in that series before embarking on the story so I can try to keep a semblance of continuity.) It is not uncommon for me to rewrite a book about four or five times, either as a whole, or in parts.
The first draft is in pieces, like a scattered outline. Then I separate it out and rewrite each chapter as a separate file. Then I put it together and rewrite the whole thing from start to finish. Then I rewrite it again--but this time, backwards, starting from the ending and going back to the beginning again. Then I upload it into a PDF and read the whole thing, without any editing marks from the word processor. Sometimes I change the font to keep things interesting. I used to write and publish on Fictionpress, so I have an emotional attachment to 10-point Verdana.
And that is my writing process. Also, scattered in between is lots of crying to my friends, headkeyboarding, more crying to my friends, looking at internet memes, and watching funny cat videos. This last is an especially integral part of The Process.
I hope that answers your question! Maybe that is more information than you wanted. ;)
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