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Do you outline or pants? What is your writing process? Share your methods below!
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I have to start with a plan, otherwise the plot would just wander off without me. But the plan I begin with is generally quite a broad outline of ideas with one or two lines or specific scenes sketched out. I then keep that plan at the bottom of the document I'm working in, delete the bits I've done and add and expand on/amend it as fresh ideas, characters and plots come to me in the process of writing. My plans are the bare bones I need to hang the new ideas that come along in the writing from and flesh out the whole.
Alan wrote: "I always plan my books in great detail. The reason I do this is because I create educational comics, or graphic novels. I do all the research, writing and drawing and design myself, so I can't affo..."Hi Alan!
That makes perfect sense why you outline. I can't imagine redrawing and redesigning everything on top of rewriting. Very interesting process -- thank you for sharing!
Deborah wrote: "C.M. wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Both plotter and pantser (plantser?), which are terms I never heard of until I came here to Goodreads. As for howI write, I let the good spirits guide me. (BTW, I am Ch..."Yes, I was referring to the breed of horse. West Texas is pretty.
Katherine wrote: "I have to start with a plan, otherwise the plot would just wander off without me. But the plan I begin with is generally quite a broad outline of ideas with one or two lines or specific scenes sket..."Hi Katherine!
That's an interesting process. Thank you for sharing!
The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and illustrated books and manuals for the electrical and electronics industries. There is no room for error in this kind of writing so I design and work from a very detailed and comprehensive outline, outlines which cover both the text and the graphics. I've also written short stories under a dozen different pen name for which I was a pantster. Now, at the ripe old age of 76, I'm starting to write my first novel and I'm a plantster. My novel involves some fairly complex settings and if I didn't outline them. going as far drawing detailed floor plans, I could easily get things mixed up from one scene to another. I might not catch those mistakes but readers would, I know that because I do when I'm reading and those errors often have me tossing the book aside and moving on to another book.
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Jerry wrote: "The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and illustrated books and manuals for the electr..."
Welcome to the old authors club, Jerry! I am one month away from 65 and I am a pantser but, like you, feel necessary to draw things I invent in detail in order not to mix up my descriptions. The most glaring example of that need to be consistent was in a book that described a 5-year-long space mission to Jupiter and Saturn by a huge spaceship using fairly conventional engines (nuclear-chemical). Since the crew needed some kind of artificial gravity for such a long mission in order not to suffer grave medical sequels, and since 'artificial gravity' was not an option, I designed a ship big enough (mostly liquid hydrogen fuel tanks in terms of volume) to accommodate a system of big contra-rotating carrousels to which were attached pivoting 'living and working' pods. Since the potential for mixing up descriptions in my book was huge, I had no choice but to draw deck by deck and pod by pod detailed deck plans of those carrousels. I said 'had no choice', but in reality doing these deck drawings was half of the fun of writing my book. I drew many more sketches and layout drawings for other novels of mine, including submarines, warships, spaceships, aircraft, tanks, military vehicles, weapons and body armor. For the novel I am presently writing, I designed (roughly but realistically for the technology of 1988) an aircar. Again, had great fun doing it.
Welcome to the old authors club, Jerry! I am one month away from 65 and I am a pantser but, like you, feel necessary to draw things I invent in detail in order not to mix up my descriptions. The most glaring example of that need to be consistent was in a book that described a 5-year-long space mission to Jupiter and Saturn by a huge spaceship using fairly conventional engines (nuclear-chemical). Since the crew needed some kind of artificial gravity for such a long mission in order not to suffer grave medical sequels, and since 'artificial gravity' was not an option, I designed a ship big enough (mostly liquid hydrogen fuel tanks in terms of volume) to accommodate a system of big contra-rotating carrousels to which were attached pivoting 'living and working' pods. Since the potential for mixing up descriptions in my book was huge, I had no choice but to draw deck by deck and pod by pod detailed deck plans of those carrousels. I said 'had no choice', but in reality doing these deck drawings was half of the fun of writing my book. I drew many more sketches and layout drawings for other novels of mine, including submarines, warships, spaceships, aircraft, tanks, military vehicles, weapons and body armor. For the novel I am presently writing, I designed (roughly but realistically for the technology of 1988) an aircar. Again, had great fun doing it.
Michel wrote: "Jerry wrote: "The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and illustrated books and manuals ..."I agree but back in the dark ages when I got my start as an electrical engineer and as a tech writer all those graphics had to be done by hand while seated on an old wooden stool behind a drafting table. That was no fun at all but it had to be done. Today with cad/cam programs, sketching programs and diagramming programs, it can be a great deal of fun. The sketching programs were a game changer for me because when it comes to freehand drawing I stink worse that a rotten potato. With photography, on the other-hand, I really miss all those hours I use to spend processing film and prints in the darkroom. There was something addictive about the smell of all the chemicals. Still, I have to confess that digital makes being creative much easier.
Jerry wrote: "Michel wrote: "Jerry wrote: "The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and illustrated boo..."
Actually, I do all my drawings manually, with simple drawing templates, compasses and rulers. I love drawing as much as writing, while it also gives me an excuse to research the Internet for specifications of pieces of machinery (engines, weapons, et.) which I want to incorporate into my fictitious designs. One thing I have become quite good at is how to utilize to the maximum the internal volume of my sci-fi spaceship designs.
Actually, I do all my drawings manually, with simple drawing templates, compasses and rulers. I love drawing as much as writing, while it also gives me an excuse to research the Internet for specifications of pieces of machinery (engines, weapons, et.) which I want to incorporate into my fictitious designs. One thing I have become quite good at is how to utilize to the maximum the internal volume of my sci-fi spaceship designs.
Jerry wrote: "The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and illustrated books and manuals for the electr..."Hi Jerry!
Congratulations on embarking on your first novel! The plotting process will certainly vary depending on the project, and you are correct about the need to keep everything organized; errors and plot holes can be deadly. Following up on your reply to Michel, what do you like to shoot photography-wise? I too loved developing film and prints in the darkroom, but as you said, digital allows for far more creativity and it also doesn't run the risk of ruining all your negatives when someone puts the wrong chemicals in the baths.
Michel wrote: "Jerry wrote: "Michel wrote: "Jerry wrote: "The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and i..."Templates and drawing instruments would be fine with me too if it was just for short stories or novels but when it comes to illustrating books and manuals that I ghostwrite speed and accuracy is of utmost importance,
C.M. wrote: "Jerry wrote: "The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and illustrated books and manuals ..."Howdy C.M. Thanks for the welcome. PLEASE!!! Let's not go there with accidentally using the wrong chemicals. I was really into the chemistry side of things, mixing all my own chemicals rather than buying the premixed chemicals. In my darkroom everything had a place and everything was always in its place so I operated primarily by feel. I seldom took the time to check labels. That worked fine until, every once in awhile, my wife would move a bottle or jug while cleaning and I didn't discover it before turning the lights out
Other than the photos that I shoot for the tech books that I ghostwrite, I mainly shoot animals. I have always shot animals, both wild and domesticated but I use to shoot people too, but not so much anymore. I still shoot an occasional wedding, birthday party or graduation if asked by someone I know but my primary love is animals.
Jerry wrote: "C.M. wrote: "Jerry wrote: "The method I employ depends almost completely on what I'm writing. I've been a professional technical writer for some forty-plus years. I ghostwrite and illustrated books..."That is no good at all! But, quite impressive that you mixed everything yourself.
Shooting wildlife and other animals is quite the adventure. You never quite know what they will do or how the shots will turn out, and it's fascinating to observe them in their natural states.
If by Percheron you mean a horse breed, then yes....not that I know much about horses but my daughter loves horse-back riding. It was taken at a horse-back riding place along a beach in Port Aransas, Texas. Actually, I really don't know if it's a Percheron or not. In far west Texas where I live, most horses are quarter horses or mixed breeds.