Writing process: linear, mostly linear, non-linear

[switchbladeeyes]

fan_writers is a new community for meta about writing. Pretty neat!

The community posted a poll about how people approach writing and their processes. I thought this was the most interesting poll question:




I never really thought about this before. So I enjoyed contemplating my own process and reading the comments to learn about how people's creative brains work.

Where do you fall on this, friends?

Comments

[switchbladeeyes]

I typically write in a non-linear fashion. I can start anywhere in a story and bounce backwards and forwards all over the place.

The stories themselves, once complete, are told in a linear fashion. But that's not reflective of the general process of writing a story. Looking through my stuff, I do have a few that I wrote "start to finish," but that's not typical. The shorter a piece is, the more likely I will write it that way.

Even starting "at the beginning" will sometimes find me going backwards so that the final product actually begins at an earlier point in time than I had originally started with.

One person commented in the community that they write in a linear process because they have to write what happens and that helps them figure out what happens next. I am not saying I don't do that too, but I also will often write what happens to figure out what should have happened before. For example, if I have a specific ending, pivotal moment, or plot twist in mind (which I often do), I will start writing there. I think probably because that the "most interesting/fun" part of the story for me so why not. Then I'll write to figure out how events go there. Start with the fun bits, not the beginning, I guess lol.

Looking at my FKFicFest story, I wrote that one starting in the middle. The FK story prior to that, all over the place in the process.

[brightknightie]

I chose plain "linear" for that survey, and also "outlining" and "structure," though of course there's always going backward to re-write or to add or cut, and once in a great while I jump ahead if there's something I just cannot get through ("[insert scene here]," "[and something happens here that solves this]"). I really, really, hugely prefer to know the ending that I am ultimately heading for when writing, but I do not at all like to write it in advance; when things go well, the ending comes into better focus as I get closer to it.

It was interesting to see that my own approaches were on the rarer side in the survey results. On reflection, I think perhaps folks have different ideas of when brainstorming/ideating ends and "real writing" begins. :-)

You?

[switchbladeeyes]

I really, really, hugely prefer to know the ending that I am ultimately heading for when writing, but I do not at all like to write it in advance

I'm the opposite! If I've got the ending, I'm most likely to start there.

On the other questions, I picked "hybrid" and "intuition." I usually have at least a few bullets on points I want to hit in terms of "outlining" but then just feel my way through a lot as well.

On structure, I'm sure I've internalized some concepts of structure, but I don't consciously apply formal structures (like, rough bullets points as an outline won't be characterized in terms of Acts or rising action and the like.)

On reflection, I think perhaps folks have different ideas of when brainstorming/ideating ends and "real writing" begins. :-)

Good point.

Because I start from wherever, brainstorming doesn't really "end" before I start the "real writing" lol.

[pj1228]

I usually write linear from beginning to end, scene after scene, with few exceptions. If it's a case fic, I usually start with the discovery of the body or something alike. At that point I usually have no clue who the killer might be. That pretty much develops during the writing process.
But there are exceptions, when I have a particular scene in mind that could be pivotal in the middle or even the ending. Then I write that first and go backwards.
I hardly ever make notes and an outline first. When I have something in mind, I want to write it and don't have the patience to finish an outline beforehand.

[greerwatson]

Originally I'd start with the scenes that were most strongly in my mind and then fill in the blanks. However, nowadays I usually write from start to end—at least for the first draft, though there may be additional scenes added at that point. However, for long stories (10K) I'm still likely to jump around a bit.

[thefruitbat]

Depends on the story. Sometimes (mostly when writing short pieces) I have a clear outline in mind, sometimes I only have a scene. If I'm lucky, I can write from the start to the end, but often I'm jumping around, finishing the fic when everything is properly connected.

[switchbladeeyes]

It's interesting to me that you can do case fic without notes or an outline!

[switchbladeeyes]

but often I'm jumping around, finishing the fic when everything is properly connected.

Yes, this is where I'm at usually. Stitching all the pieces together.

[switchbladeeyes]

What do you think prompted you to shift your process?

[greerwatson]

I think, as much as anything, the fact that nowadays I write stories that tend to be a lot shorter. My first fkficfest, I wrote a fic that was 60K long.

Don't get me wrong. Even a 300 word ficlet needs structure and content. However, it's easier to grasp the story in its totality when it's shorter.