Mission organisation: Day Two

Four chapters converted into nice tidy notes today. 6/20 done.

As a writer, I have a feeling I tend to do things backwards. My first draft is almost pure stream-of-consciousness. Second draft is when I get into figuring out what the hell happened and start to get real structure going. Third draft is for polishing.

Somewhere then, and only then, can I sort out notes and the like.

I know that a lot of people like outlining. I loathe it. I don’t know what’s going to happen next in the manuscript – that’s part of what keeps me writing. Nor do I write character bios and the like; I’d rather they reveal themselves to me as I go along.

It’s weird, but it works.

I reread Stephen King’s On Writing over the last few days. Always a good read – tonnes of good solid advice. I sneered at King’s work for a long time, regarded him as little more than a hack. Then I read On Writing and started reading the Dark Tower books. Sure, it’s not Shakespeare (but who the hell is?), sure it’s not always polished. But dammit, it works and people read him. A lot. He’s doing something right.

I’m settling back into the routine well at the moment. My sleep is still shot to hell, so I’m not sure I’m being anywhere near as efficient as I was a few months ago. But it’s forward motion, and that’s all that matters to me.

Mirrored from Stephanie Gunn.

Mission organisation: Day Two

Four chapters converted into nice tidy notes today. 6/20 done.

As a writer, I have a feeling I tend to do things backwards. My first draft is almost pure stream-of-consciousness. Second draft is when I get into figuring out what the hell happened and start to get real structure going. Third draft is for polishing.

Somewhere then, and only then, can I sort out notes and the like.

I know that a lot of people like outlining. I loathe it. I don’t know what’s going to happen next in the manuscript – that’s part of what keeps me writing. Nor do I write character bios and the like; I’d rather they reveal themselves to me as I go along.

It’s weird, but it works.

I reread Stephen King’s On Writing over the last few days. Always a good read – tonnes of good solid advice. I sneered at King’s work for a long time, regarded him as little more than a hack. Then I read On Writing and started reading the Dark Tower books. Sure, it’s not Shakespeare (but who the hell is?), sure it’s not always polished. But dammit, it works and people read him. A lot. He’s doing something right.

I’m settling back into the routine well at the moment. My sleep is still shot to hell, so I’m not sure I’m being anywhere near as efficient as I was a few months ago. But it’s forward motion, and that’s all that matters to me.

Mirrored from Stephanie Gunn.