Inkshares Community discussion

Hi everyone, I thought we could start a thread to talk about what we love most: Writing. Do you have a regular routine? Do you plot out your whole story first or just start writing? How do you get motivated? Or where do you find inspiration? What are your favorite types of scenes to write? And how do feel about all those 'rules' that other bloggers tend to repeat as mantra? This is a spot to talk about anything and everything related to this wonderful art form.

Finding the right routine has been a huge struggle for me, and based on the number of blog posts, books, lecture series, and classes on the subject, I imagine it's a problem for many people.

I go between wanting super high-tech writing tools to analogue, from outlining to discovery writing, and I run the gamut along that spectrum constantly. The fluctuation makes routine difficult to commit to.

I use pen-and-paper to outline, which I then transfer to Scapple, which I then put in Scrivener, then I'll free-write chapters by hand that I'll then put into Scrivener for editing and compiling. As a result of this convoluted process, I think my writing suffers. I think it comes down to building a set of good habits — writing every morning; taking notes by hand or on a phone when I'm out and about; listening to the right kind of music when I write; avoiding excessive distraction if necessary.

Making a ritual that you associate with writing, like having a special location, or pen, or music, or short meditation, has been said to really improve writers' abilities when it comes to churning out words like a Sandersonian cannon. Habits, habits habits. That's what I have to work on.

Whatever works for you is the best. Sometimes time is what sets a routine. After having so many separate ways of adding to your story, it may have a bit of a disjointed feel. I mostly free write, creating the story linearly. I use music to come up with key scenes, even to choreograph battles or love scenes. Music helps me see those parts like a movie in my head. I think of it often even before I'm actually ready to write it. If I've been away from writing, or only had time to write a few passages, I'll later go back, sometimes all the way to the beginning to not only edit but make sure the flow is working, the plot points consistent, everything cohesive, which helps me to gear up for the next writing session. I sometimes have large spaces between scenes I have already thought up. In those cases I just start writing and see what happens. Eventually my subconscious takes over, and new plot twists happen or back story comes out, or connections and subtext begin to weave throughout. Free writing is amazing because sometimes I wonder where it's coming from. I've heard other authors say that their characters speak to them and now I know what they mean. I think it's that creative rush that makes me love writing so much. And of course sometimes I end up with crap... So I just start over. Lol

Step 1. Idea pops into head
Step 2. Write 2-4 pages of idea
Step 3. Create basic character sheets/setting sheets
Step 4. Sometimes create some sort of plot that has linear timelines.
Step 5. Continue to write.
Step 6. Get writer's block and go work on another novel.
Step 7. Work on plot point that's further on in the novel.
Step 8. Wait 6 months and finally finish.

That's the basics of how I write, it's really nonsense, but my muse is quite fickle.

Oh! I like this sequential step format, K.E.!

For this book, mine would be:
Step 1. Character pops into head
Step 2. Draw a sketch and jot down some notes
Step 3. Think about the character's world and cultural upbringing
Step 4. Decide some more things about the world and make a map
Step 5. Repeat steps 1-4 dozens of times
Step 6. Think about character interactions and development
Step 7. Jot down some scenes
Step 8. Waste one million hours researching plants and pinning old-timey outfits on pinterest
Step 9. Finally work up the nerve to actually start writing the book
Step 10. Keep at it until good habits are formed (thank you weekly writing chatrooms!) and progress is made
Step 11. Repeat Step 10 until done.

Christine wrote: "Oh! I like this sequential step format, K.E.!

For this book, mine would be:
Step 1. Character pops into head
Step 2. Draw a sketch and jot down some notes
Step 3. Think the character's world and ..."

Haha thanks. It's a very basic process that usually involves lots of time spent on tumblr before kicking myself and going and writing.

For me:

Step 1: Describe idea in 15 words.
Step 2: Take those 15 words and make a paragraph
Step 4: Make a complete story arc.
Step 5: Make character sheets! With stats! :)
Step 6: Pick a day to start: Write every day for 60-90 days straight non-stop for 3,000 words a day until the first manuscript is done. This part is actually the easy part for me. I live in my head. I do not even LOOK back at what I wrote.
Step 7: Thrust horrible and terrible first draft on unsuspecting friend with rabid enthusiasm.
Step 8: Rewrite.
Step 9: Thrust better stuff at a different group of friends.
Step 10: Rewrite.
Step 11: Hire an editor.
Step 12: Cry in the shower.
Step 13: Rewrite.
Step 14: Enter a surprise contest that came out of the blue?

That's where I'm at.

As for the craft of writing, I have read Elements of Style and On Writing, and I'm working to read more. I spend a lot of time focusing on how good authors do something, and then make sure I follow that, rather than the bad work out there.

For the craft of writing, I've read about 30 books and each one has really changed how I look at writing. I have my five favorite on the resource page for my editing website: http://www.storyperfectediting.com/re...

I'd also add to that Lisa Cron's book "Wired for Story" which changed how I look at story from a much more abstract level. Highly highly recommended!

My writing step is:

Step 1: pretend I do drugs(because drugs are bad)
Step 2: gets idea
Step 3: write stuff down
Step 4: procrastinate and forgets about book
Step 5: repeat until done
Step 6: cry in the shower with crankybolt
Step 7: realise I'm a hypocrite as I am supposed to be writing my book.

I generally write in the evenings because everything is quiet and distractions from other people are at zero. So come dark, I grab my laptop, slip my headphones on, play music (usually an epic music mix from YouTube themed on what I plan to write - sad, happy, epic, uplifting, etc) and get typing. Sometimes this means re-reading over previous chapters to remind myself and keep to the feel of the part and the plot flowing smoothly, but I try to write at least 2-3 pages (I use Word) a day.

For the planning process of a story, I've had the rare time where inspiration hit and voila, a week later I've got a rough (very) completed draft of 61k. But usually, if I'm focused, it takes about 2-3 months to get a draft completed. But I can't write unless I've got the entire story visualized in my head. From there I slap out the main points I want to have, maybe expand on certain moments (I'm not an outliner so much), and then get writing.

My favorite things to write are: dialogue (it's always interspersed with actions, because I detest (for the most part) long times of speech), times of intense emotion (I see it as a challenge to write as realistically as possible so that the reader connects 100%), and cliffhangers. Seriously, as a reader I abhor them, but as a writer I adore them!

Far as writing rules, I have three basic ones: keep writing, remember commas are the devil but they can be tamed come the revisions, and don't let things get boring.

Inspiration comes from literally anywhere and anything, and my motivation, well, that's a different story. I've always been writing and love telling stories, so I've never really had a problem with that. There are days where I don't feel like writing and would rather curl up with a show or a book, but then those generally inspire to get back to my own stories!

Step 1: Ideas pop into my head & proceed to pester me incessantly. At this point there is quite a community of ideas rabble rousing up there.

Step 2: Write. Preferably in an area with both crowds and beer so I can be antisocial in a otherwise social setting.
I tried outlining when I first started writing, but I found I couldn't really work from an outline and just really have to let a story come out how it wants to come out. More of a Dionysian approach than most, but its the only method that works for me.

Step 3: Edit.
Repeat step 3 at least two times to fix all of the dumbest errors made due to the aforementioned beer in step 2.

Step 4: Force a close stable I can trust to be critical to read it and rip it apart.

Step 5: repeat step 3 while muttering curses about my mean friends.

Step 6-9: repeat steps 4 & 5 with slightly growing confidence and diminishing curses.

Step 10: obsess over creating a mythical 100% perfect query letter and pitch until I give in to ab absurs perfectionism and don't write any letters/pitches. Instead go back to step 2 for the next book in the series.

Step 11: after having finished steps 1-10 more than once hear about a contest and enter it on the spur of the moment as a way of finally trying to get my stuff out there.

Clearly my way has certain flaws, most notably step 10, but the steps before that work pretty well for me.

I'm a hopeless pantser (or gardener, as GRRM likes to call it). I've tried to make myself outline, more so with this latest WIP, but once I start writing, my outline gets riddled with holes so bad it looks like Swiss cheese at a mouse convention! My ending usually doesn't change, but how the characters get there never seems to happen the way I originally plan.

I've found outlines to be a bit helpful as far as just getting the plot as it is at the beginning out of my head so I don't have to worry about losing something I really, really like. I never cement myself with an outline and mine are always VERY loose; I'm always going back and correcting them, because then I can take that and use that as a base for a summary.

I am recovering pantser.

I love to get into it and just write but without an outline, my stories always fizzle and die dully. I am good at beginnings and terrible at endings, so I rarely make it out of the middle of a manuscript. If I had a nickel for every story I've written 25-30K words of, I'd have like four nickels.

So, outlining is the solution there. I can say "hey this'd be a nice place to end up" then try to write toward it. If my pantsing takes me off course, that's fine, but at least the rough outline serves as a guide.

I prefer the pantsing method, but unless I've got plot goals in mind that I keep in my head (which I guess could be labeled as an outline of sorts) my stories do fizzle. I've got so many unfinished manuscripts it isn't even funny anymore, but the stories I've gotten a firm grasp on what is going to happen to them...those are the ones I've finished. So having some idea of the end results does definitely help and I've only learned this after, oh, 8 years of pantsing =P

Tabi wrote: "I prefer the pantsing method, but unless I've got plot goals in mind that I keep in my head (which I guess could be labeled as an outline of sorts) my stories do fizzle. I've got so many unfinished..."

I do too. I get an idea and ooo write 4-5 pages, then I forget. Some of my ideas are almost 5-10 years old haha.

K.E. wrote: "Tabi wrote: "I prefer the pantsing method, but unless I've got plot goals in mind that I keep in my head (which I guess could be labeled as an outline of sorts) my stories do fizzle. I've got so ma..."

I have sooo many old Word documents on my computer and I never delete them because I either know I'm going to go back and figure things out (because a lot of them are great ideas I never took the effort to build) and I just can't bring myself to toss old writing. How about you?

Same, my fantasy folder alone has about 30 ideas that are in limbo. I agree on tossing old writing. I also have a folder that I duct taped that is stuffed with ideas/bits of old writing.

Poll: Do you (generally) write in the order of the story? Or do you skip all around?


This came up in my cabin last Camp NaNoWriMo, and I was surprised to find that most of them start at the beginning and work towards the end, with minimal skipping.

I work on the whole book at once, usually writing a scene or half a scene at a time, then later figuring out the order and making sure the timeline doesn't get screwy. As it grows, the structure forms and I figure out what needs to be filled in.

I try to write in a linear form, but usually I get stuck or I get a great idea for further on and end up writing that. A few of my newer novels have an entire word document just for ideas. Some make it into the novel, some don't.

My ideas usually start out with certain scenes that I write so I don't forget them, then I figure out the why of those scenes and build a plot around them. I can't write skipping around, so once I've got those out of the way I start from the beginning and work my way to the end.

But then sometimes, Christine, I've wrote a few things how you do where I see the whole picture and the bits that stand-out the most, I give my attention to first.

Definitely linear because the characters evolve and change as I write. If I skipped around, writing scenes as they came to mind, I feel like the characters wouldn't progress through the story.

Here's my process.

In a seemingly magical way, an idea comes into my head. If I like it, I'll start developing it, doing research, determining if there is a story to tell. If I feel good enough that I want to commit a year to it, I'll begin an outline of the story usually by chapter start to finish. Then, I begin to write in earnest. As I write, I gain a better understanding of the story, and the outline frays around the edges. I may rethink or rewrite parts of the outline, mostly it is just there to remind me of where I want the story to go, so I don't pants my way into a hole. Eventually, the story is done, and I creep into a burrow and sleep for another twelve years.

Don't feel bad if you are a pantser. Planners are not evolved pantsers. Everyone has a flow that works for them and if blasting out an idea without a guidewire produces your best work, do not be ashamed of it.

*Ahem* We Pantsers prefer the term ' Discovery Writer'.

Actually, I much prefer pantser. It reminds me of all the times I was pantsed as a kid and causes me to cry... so happy!

As far as linear vs scenic, I'm with Alan. I used to skip around to scenes as they popped into my head, but that only led to inconsistencies in both characterization and narrative.
When I finally learned to direct my mind to follow the story from beginning to end things became much easier for me, becaise at that point I could usually just let my pencil take over. Then the characters tend to take over allowing for their own consistent personal growth/development as well as preventing most continuuty problems.

I plan alinearly, but write linearly, and I revise alinearly.

i'm a very detailed planner...i've had bulletpointed chapter outlines be 2,500 words on their own.

From there I generally get 3 times as many words when translating the outline into the finished product.

Wordcounts for my entire outline and draft
Outline: 27,324
Draft: 84,215

and there's about 8,500 words of the outline yet to be written up properly...

I don't know how you do that Paul. I start our linear, then usually end up going in a squiggly line. One time I went and wrote the ending after 2 chapters in. I try to plot, but a lot of the time I'm writing on the fly. Which is probably why I get stuck in my books.

Since my Timehop informed me that four years ago today was the first brainwave that eventually collected a few more branches and became the story that is my book, I figured I'd lay out my "process" over those four years.

1. BOOM - brilliant idea
2. Write brilliant idea in Google doc to not forget
3. Outline brilliant idea to wife
4. Be unable to articulate how brilliant idea is an actual story with a beginning, middle and end
5. Doubt
6. Stew
7. Order cloth-covered notebook through work office supplies
8. Start jotting down one line ideas alongside first (no longer brilliant) idea
9. Continue jotting spectacularly random idea fragments into notebook for two years
10. Start list of boy baby names in notebook
11. Welcome first son into world
12. (...)
13. Regain ability to sleep for more than 90 minutes at a time
14. Have opening image of novel flash into head
15. Write first page
16. Outline rough story - four time periods, including historical fiction with real prominent figures
17. Throw away outline because c'mon that's crazy
18. New outline, with a beginning and end but no middle
19. Write three chapters
20. Figure out middle
21. Outline complete! (Over three years from first nugget of idea)
22. Write six chapters
23. Change gender of main character
24. Rewrite entire manuscript so far to reflect new gender
25. Enter S&L contest/Inkshares crowdfund at 18K words
26. Write zero words for entire 70 days of crowdfund campaign
27. Doubt
28. Crippling doubt
29. Spend an entire long weekend nearly doubling existing manuscript
30. Wonder where surge of energy came from
31. Write in completely unsustainable sprints, 5-7K a day, linear
32. Crack 50K words barely 8 weeks after an enormous stall
33. Get smug
34. Drink celebratory beer
35. Realize there are still 30-40K words to go
36. Doubt

(But yeah - linear for me, I get lost jumping around, and I used to hate outlines, but now I live by mine, even if it's only one page. Gotta hit those beats, but can improv around how I get there.)

Im currently writing as well. My first time. I am so confused. I have no outline just notes and pics that i keep together to refer back to. I'm currently at 50,000 words and I'm writing a YA novel. I love my characters they feel so real to me. I'm just concerned that the story may be boring or not "fun". I am striving for a FUN read. I love to read a book that excited me and put a smile to my face as I go through it. I love that. Any tips from you guys for a newbie?

Annette wrote: "I'm currently writing as well. My first time. I am so confused. I have no outline just notes and pics that i keep together to refer back to. I'm currently at 50,000 words and I'm writing a YA no..."

As a bit of a pantser when it comes to my writing style, the only tip I would have(or at least the only one that works for me) is to have fun writing the fun parts or else they won't turn out fun. It may seem like silly advice, and it may or may not work for you, but I know with my writing the parts which have turned out the most exciting/fun/whatever similar descriptor you want to both myself and other readers are also the parts I was feeling the most excitement/enjoyment from while writing.

Beyond that, since you say this is your first time I would also say to not be afraid to rewrite over and over and over. With some of my earliest stuff I started to feel like I was never going to get past the endless rounds of revisions, but I'm glad I went through those now. Of course, I sometimes get odd bouts of perfectionism where I'm overly scrutinize word order. Even now I have to force myself from playing the "maybe if I just rearrange the order of words in this sentence" game.

As I said, though, I'm far more of a pantser than most. There are no shortage of people on here who are far better than me structural, so hopefully they'll chime in on this to give you better/more specific advice.

wow!!! thank you so much Thomas... I really appreciate your advice and insight on this topic. I agree with you, when I write and come to a part that I am so excited about the words convey the excitement as well to others... so I must be doing something write..at least some times. I will for sure continue to write and edit and write and edit..lol.. Again Thank you so much.. I hope others can shed some light as well. :)

I write linearly, tho I have points my characters need to get to. I know the ending and key scenes so well in my head that some are even choreographed to specific music like a movie! (I wish the music could play in the background as a reader reads it lol) I can't wait to write those scenes but I force myself to wait till the characters get there because sometimes things change along the way, so by the time they are there the dynamics of the scene is greater, and the emotion stronger. It also keeps me focused and pushes me to keep writing, because those fun/scary/heart wrenching/action-ee scenes are my reward.

Liam wrote: "Since my Timehop informed me that four years ago today was the first brainwave that eventually collected a few more branches and became the story that is my book, I figured I'd lay out my "process"..."

Doubt. So much doubt.

Years ago, I read a quote by Jennifer Weiner that was along the lines of 'walk the dog' - that being to make an effort to write every day, even if a lot of what you write you end up rewriting. From my own personal experience, writing a book was a process that took time, but once I realised that in order to create something I was going to be proud of, I had to be committed to 'showing up' every single day, things started to come together. Then, like cooking, it all simmered down until I was left with a manuscript that I didn't want to make changes to. 'It's not the thing you fling but the fling itself' is what sums it up for me - as in the discipline of writing is what matters, the rest takes care of itself. Hope that all makes sense!

Lucy wrote: "Years ago, I read a quote by Jennifer Weiner that was along the lines of 'walk the dog' - that being to make an effort to write every day, even if a lot of what you write you end up rewriting. From..."

Yeah, it does. It's a very healthy writing habit to adapt. Writing words daily is a great way to exercise your brain, relax, daydream, and finish your writing project all rolled into one. Heck, money is a motive too! So I endorse this quote and that make no difference to anyone's lives whatsoever. But I strongly reccomend you to read this in rowan Atkinson(aka mr bean)'s voice. I think that would make people take it more seriously. :P

Lucy wrote: "Years ago, I read a quote by Jennifer Weiner that was along the lines of 'walk the dog' - that being to make an effort to write every day, even if a lot of what you write you end up rewriting. From..."

Yeah, it does. It's a very healthy writing habit to adapt. Writing words daily is a great way to exercise your brain, relax, daydream, and finish your writing project all rolled into one. Heck, money is a motive too! So I endorse this quote and that make no difference to anyone's lives whatsoever. But I strongly reccomend you to read this in rowan Atkinson(aka mr bean)'s voice. I think that would make people take it more seriously. :P

What I have found helpful is to write daily as you mention...but when I don't do it...yes it happens..it helps me to stay focused on the subject and connect with others like this site or http://www.lifeofwriters.com/home/index that way I don't feel too bad for not writing..

I try to write every, but life gets in the way and writing does not happen. When I get back to writing I push myself to do more than I normally would.

Two wonderful writing tips I was given years ago...

1) Get into the character's head while you go about your everyday routine. 'How would Jason do this? Why? How would he feel about it?'

2) Go into character's world and live in it for a few days - not related to the story. Meet the people, smell the smells, go through the character's routine.

Interesting to read all these posts. Myself, I have an idea, and it rambles around in my head for minutes, days, months, until a moment of clarity arrives. The clarity usually consists of an opening sentence, a sense of what happens throughout, and a closing scene.
Then, the work starts.
I make myself do a minimum of 2 pages per day. I'm a morning person, so after walking the dog and breakfast, I'm in here, and sometimes those 2 pages take half an hour, and I do more, sometimes they take hours.
That goes on for the first draft.
Then it sits a while.
Then, reading, editing, being amazed at how awful some ideas and writing are, and how good others are, I pare and add and pare and add, until it's more the way it should be.
This often involves, while not actually at my computer, going to bed at night with the parts of the plot working in my head, waking up with a brilliant idea (write it down, because it's usually gone by morning), and just generally thinking about the book most of my waking moments.
Then it sits again for a while, and I come to it again with fresh eyes. If it's not too bad at this point, I get a friend to look at it.
And then, more fine tuning.
I know that at some point it has to be published, though I could go on and on and on with tweaking. But I stop, and get going on appearance of the book itself, which is a refreshing change.
The part I hate and feel anxious about is always trying to market my work. I just ain't any good at it.
That's me.

Jeffery wrote: "I try to write every, but life gets in the way and writing does not happen. When I get back to writing I push myself to do more than I normally would."

That must be hard; the pushing yourself. Life getting in the way really does suck, though.

Lucy wrote: "Years ago, I read a quote by Jennifer Weiner that was along the lines of 'walk the dog' - that being to make an effort to write every day, even if a lot of what you write you end up rewriting. From..."

Perfect sense. Writing is hard work.

Hanne wrote: "Interesting to read all these posts. Myself, I have an idea, and it rambles around in my head for minutes, days, months, until a moment of clarity arrives. The clarity usually consists of an openin..."

On the subject of marketing, I agree with you Hanne. I can't think of good ways to get people interested, and it's frustrating. I've spent dozens of hours making and editing what I think are pretty good YouTube clips to support my Inkshares novel, I improve my branding constantly, only to feel like nothing I do matters. Oh well, nothing to do but keep trying.

Hmmm, lots of interesting information and personal stories here. I guess I'll add mine.

My flow changes per story. My standard practices are:

1. Make an outline file and keep updating it. Have characters, locations, terminology, and other world-building tidbits ready to go. Even if it's not perfect, or if some of the ideas fail, it's better to have everything tossed in there for later.

2. Let things stew. Thinking about the world and characters, living in it, running conversations and motivations around in my brain is as important as putting pen to paper or finger to keyboard. Half the time when I start writing immediately after an idea is solid, that stuff ends up in the trash because it changed so much later on. Letting myself focus and develop a passion for something is highly motivating and keeps me interested in my own work.

3. I don't have to copy someone else's exact methods. If I want to write a lot, and I feel up to it, I do. If I have to take a break every 30-60 minutes to keep my mind right, I should do that. But trying to do what someone else does, in their exact pattern, is not for the best. If someone else's method fits my style, I can take it as an example, but thinking I'm failing because I can't do what someone else does just leads to depression, which is enough of a problem for me as it is without pointlessly making new excuses to sit there and do nothing.

Okay so maybe this isn't the place to post this (only posting once; John, please let me know where to move this if I posted this in the wrong spot) but I have a writing group I've been hoping to get some members in where the goal is for dedicated writers hoping to get published can get together, share ideas and help build each other's writing.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

In my first novel that i didnt complete, i didn't outline the story, so i ended up muddled. I didn't know what to write next, everything was messy. Before i started writing my second book, i outlined the story. Untill now it's going pretty well.
I found the inspiration from many books i read. I think following essensial rules is very useful. I read alot about writing before getting into it.
I have a daily writing routine, i sit to write atleast two pages a day.

best of luck to all writers ;)

I have JUST published my first book, "Once Bitten, Twice Die," first in a gothic thriller trilogy. I intended to publish it whilst I was still writing the second but in the end I have written all three before publishing #1. This clearly took more discipline, but was well worth it, as developments in books 2 & 3 have meant I have made considerable changes to book 1. Any writers who have published a series of books - how do you approach it? Do you publish one book at a time whilst working on the next? Or do you write the entire series before publishing #1, as I did?

It honestly depends on your business plan. (Wait what? A writer with a business plan?) Mine calls for one entry in two series a year, so I write one, publish it, then write the next installment in the second series and publish that. At least that's the theory, until something like the Sword & Laser contest comes up and my rhythm is thrown all out of whack.

I'm sure there's something to be said for focusing on the creative act first and then be free to market and sell your books. I think a lot of writers forget that they have to sell their product too.