my writing process

July 2018 is my first time doing Camp NaNoWriMo 

if you pay attention to me at all (which, thanks for that :) ) then you'd know back in November 2017 was my first time doing NaNo at all. Wrote a YA Fantasy. First time i've ever finished anything, story-wise, in my life too.  I had a blast, but I was also lucky enough for work to be on strike so I had all the time in the world. 

July, not so much... BUT ! 
I am being positive and instead of just dropping my goal, I'm going to keep going with it. 


I was torn on whether I wanted to edit my November project or start one of my others 
but a friend online convinced me to do edits 
so here I am. 

and instead of doing edits, I'm going to write about how I do it instead #procrastination at it's finest. 

What I get before I start: 

- a coffee, plus water or something for when the coffee is over. 
- fully charged laptop 
- spotify app opened because I need my tunes (24/7. Now that i live alone again I constantly have music playing, it's lovely) and headphones for when i do a serious scene
- my cue cards for my book notes (character profiles, world building, languages) These are colour-coded and I love them. I have a few sets for the different stories I have on the go. 
- My notebook for whatever project i'm working on  - because sometimes I need to draw out a timeline, or a route my peeps are taking, or i mix it up from typing to writing. I follow my muse in the moment
- which means I also have my super-cute pencil case with a picture of a type writer on it, filled with all my favourite writing pens. 

The Actual Process: 

Back just before I did NaNo, I read Lauren Graham's bio Talking as Fast as I can and she mentioned a writing style on how she writes. It's called the "Kitchen timer method". You set a timer, for sprints basically, and you open 2 documents. One is your WIP, the other is for the thought-bunnies that just come up like groceries lists, and a reminder to bring more coffee next sprint. 

considering my brain doesn't ever shutup, this is the method I follow. It helped a lot. The problem came when I never went back and read my notes until the end of the month and then I realised I forgot a lot of stuff, but some was just ramblings and editing notes so those come in handy now.  well, the editing, not the ramblings ;) 


My editing process so far is pretty weak. 
I've printed off my book and did a quick scan of stuff I want to change/delete, but there were so many small things and inconsistencies when I first drafted that I realise now since, p.s I am a 98% pantser for my writing. Even the names changed half way so sometimes I see one name, sometimes I see the changed name (for some reason Ctrl F didn't actually find them all. What is the point of technology, I ask you) 

I struggle between updating on the printed copy, rewriting from scratch (following the paper edits) and editing the original story on the computer. It also makes it difficult to track my word count this way, but I know How i want the story to look, so it's just a matter of what I need to get there. 

easier said than done but, im hopeful ! 

As far as the where goes, I can't be overly distracted - so I tend to keep the dogs out of the room, needy lil buggers - and no television. Sometimes a movie will help but only for certain scenes. I was on a major Power Ranger kick for the last week of NaNo and that thing was on repeat (though I didn't like how they redid Rita) 

and I can't have silence because again, my brain tends to wander and then I get nothing done. Music or a well-known movie helps the multi-thoughts focus on something else - does anyone know what this syndrome is called? It's how I fall asleep too. Just a fan won't do, I typically throw on a disney movie to crash to. Hmm, a story idea is forming now. (apparently I need a thought-bunny document up when blogging now too) 

Time of day doesn't matter, I follow my muse. It usually follows work though. I force myself to think about my WIP when I drive so that when I get home, I'm amped to go write. Once I'm in the zone, I'm good. I'm not someone who can write all day and night though. I find I have a solid hour or two, pending if I'm on a roll or not, and then I need a break. 

Reward System 

I've seen a lot of other writers who have done tip vids and blogs and most of them suggest a reward system of some kind. They don't work for me. The word count pushed me, I really wanted to win NaNo. My own limit was set for July but it's more the feeling that I'm satisfied with progress vs a word count this month. (i really want to get my ending under control). I was lucky enough to have a partner at the time who was cool with my undergoing this project. I'd get up shortly after getting into bed and go back to the computer, or he'd fall asleep first and i'd still be typing away...   One of our anniversaries was in November, so he had given me a new notebook that says "bright ideas" on it, or something. It's pink. i love it. It's kept by my bedside for when my dreams would make some cool story lines. 




So that is pretty much it for my writing. 

It's not much, but it's me. It's messy and organised chaos but it works. 
Course, my first draft is a disaster. but they should be. so I'm happy with it. 


Any other writers out there? Any one up for beta reading? Anyone up for crying in the corner together not doing edits?