Writing Process Blog Hop

So Kate Larkindale tagged me in a blog hop and since I’m always looking for ideas to fill up post days, I’m going to answer some questions. If you don’t know about what, you really have to learn to read titles.

1)  What am I working on?

Currently, I’m in the middle of the first draft a soft sci-fi action story. I’m also querying a YA apocalyptic, but I haven’t been having as much luck with that…

2)  How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Hm, this is a tough one. I’d have to say my story is something like a conspiracy thriller in a sci-fi setting.

3)  Why do I write what I do?

Because that’s what I have ideas for!

4)  How does your writing process work?

First comes the idea. It’s usually a small fragment of a dream or even something I see in real life that makes me wonder “what if…?” For my current WIP, it was such a tiny piece, just a name, that morphed into a character, that created an entire world, that gave me an entire story. Now I just have to stay focused enough to get it all down.

The two people I’m passing it on to are Liz and Dianne. Hope you have fun with it!

Edits

First of all, the contest is still going on. I’m actually going to extend it until Monday at midnight because I was silly and forgot to put it on the Campaigner Notice Board. I’ll announce the winner the next day : )

Today’s topic is editing. I’m in the middle of reading it out loud (hello, laryngitis) and have to have two copies of the MS open, one for reading, one for making notes on. It might seem crazy to have two copies, and it is. That’s why I have three.

Hey, you go with what works.

Honestly, I like editing digital copies rather than hard copies. I like that the word count is right below me, that I can highlight any word that bothers me (which is what the third copy is full of…adverbs!) and that I can make notes in the margins that aren’t in my chicken-scratch handwriting. Plus, I find so many things that I either immediately change or make a note on, another thing that’s much easier digitally.

That isn’t to bash anyone who uses hard copies! Like I said, you go with what works. I am interested in learning about the advantages of paper-editing, though. So tell me: which way do you prefer to edit? Do you see a distinct advantage? What do you do when you edit (because I can never amass enough tips)?

The Other WIP

By that I mean “Writer in Progress.” See, becoming an interesting, readable writer doesn’t just happen when you sit in front of the keyboard. If that were true, then all those doofuses who say “Oh, sure, I can write a novel no problem” would actually be doing it.

When I first sat down and wrote a novel, I had no idea what I was doing. No…frigging…clue. My final word count was something like 140K—ridiculous, right? I think so now, but back then, I thought it was the normal length for a book. Seriously, I did (pity the younger me). Editing it was a cinch, another warning sign.

Now, editing takes longer than writing the actual book. For my last book, the total word count of the stuff I cut out was longer than the novel. And that doesn’t count minor word replacements. And I’m still not done editing it, even while I write another book!

I’ve come a long way. As have you, I’m sure.

What have you learned as a writer over the years? Any amusing “then and now” stories?

Happy Thanksgiving! Or November 25th. Whichever.

Updating super early because I’m probably not going to get a chance to see the precious internet until super late tonight, and only if I’m not too tired. Spending time with my relatives is exhausting. 

Anyway, here’s what I’ve been working on: The Flowchart of What Writer’s Do All Day Now Stop Asking. Subtitle: Why I never get anything done. 

I just find flowcharts hilarious. Click to embiggen.

Edit: I increased the font size in the boxes to be easier to read. I hope it works!