What is YOUR writing process? What works for you?
The writing process for Julie Murphy:
I work best with quiet or ambient noise around me. I don't have on the radio or TV. I've always "written" stories in my mind so I visual the scene and start typing. I laugh at myself when the dialogue or thoughts are angry or tense because even the rhythm of my typing changes. I hit the keys harder. I have a laptop and like to work with it in my lap. I don't seem to hunch as much. The weather here in Beaufort has been beautiful and when it is, I work on the screened porch.
I work best with quiet or ambient noise around me. I don't have on the radio or TV. I've always "written" stories in my mind so I visual the scene and start typing. I laugh at myself when the dialogue or thoughts are angry or tense because even the rhythm of my typing changes. I hit the keys harder. I have a laptop and like to work with it in my lap. I don't seem to hunch as much. The weather here in Beaufort has been beautiful and when it is, I work on the screened porch.
Andrea's writing process: As I work on this novel, I am unlocking the secrets of how I write best. Everyone has their own process. What's yours? This is mine: I get into a meditative state, the writing zone. I let one sensory image come to me and start with that. I do not look at my monitor, except for glimses (somehow not seeing the words prevents me from the urge to edit). I try to write from the unconscious, letting images and feelings and sensations wash over me and wash over the "page. " This is not just free-form journalling, and is not quite stream of consciousness. I start with a goal: a scene that needs to be written. Once in the zone, have my image, then go. Usually I write a bunch of "stuff" that will get tossed later. With that out of the way, I can feel myslef launching into something good, and let it flow from there. When I have "written myself out" for the day, then I cheat!!! I go back and edit, correct my horrible typing, delete repetition, and polish it up a bit while the scene's emotional state is still tangible to me. It's hard for me to edit after the fact, then I have lost the immediacy and flow of the scene. I am an emotional writer!
A book about writing called From Where You Dream helped me develop this style, that works best for me, at least in at this stage, and for FIn-Yoda.
A book about writing called From Where You Dream helped me develop this style, that works best for me, at least in at this stage, and for FIn-Yoda.
Monkeys with typewriters are writing my novel!
Fin-Yoda-Nomo participants support and encourage each other! Check The Buzz for comments and progress updates. You can do it - without the help of 100 monkeys with 100 typewriters in your employ.
The infinite monkey theorum states that 100 monkeys hitting keys at random on 100 typewriters for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type a given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare. But, these monkeys will probably not be typing YOUR novel.
The infinite monkey theorum states that 100 monkeys hitting keys at random on 100 typewriters for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type a given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare. But, these monkeys will probably not be typing YOUR novel.
OK. YOU CAN PEEK! So, I found that typing with your eyes closed is not all peaches & cream. But still a freeing exercise. Once, I shifted my hands one key over on the keyboard and typed a paragraph of jibberish. And once the cursor was not placed and I apparently typed an invisible paragraph. Hmmm....
Writing from the Subconscious
Plainsong author Kent Haruf said that he sat at the keyboard with a cap pulled down over his eyes so that he could not see what he was writing. So, he could not read it or edit as he wrote. His books have a natural, organic flow to them.
I tired this exercise, clearing my mind and trying to get into a meditative state. I did not look at my words on the monitor, letting my unconscious mind take over. The language flowed from me in a stream. I was shocked at the raw beauty of the words, the dreamlike images that were rich in meaning. My story veered off in an unanticipated direction, where IT needed to go. I was also surprised that I’d written 2,000 words easily and effortlessly. ~ Will correct the mondo typos later!
Writing from the Subconscious
Plainsong author Kent Haruf said that he sat at the keyboard with a cap pulled down over his eyes so that he could not see what he was writing. So, he could not read it or edit as he wrote. His books have a natural, organic flow to them.
I tired this exercise, clearing my mind and trying to get into a meditative state. I did not look at my words on the monitor, letting my unconscious mind take over. The language flowed from me in a stream. I was shocked at the raw beauty of the words, the dreamlike images that were rich in meaning. My story veered off in an unanticipated direction, where IT needed to go. I was also surprised that I’d written 2,000 words easily and effortlessly. ~ Will correct the mondo typos later!
Blog mentioning Fin-Yoda-Nomo: " In November, check out Fin-Yoda-Nomo. No, it's not about the end of a Finnish Star Wars character (Do or do not. There is no try.) It's about "Finishing Your Danged Novel Month"." To see Tina Haalpa's blog go to http://www.excuseeditor.com/ for ways great to combat procrastination.
