(no subject)
May. 2nd, 2007 10:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kennahijjaWriting Meme
(filched from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rfachir and made to fit fic)
Copy the questions into your blog and answer them. Then tag five other writers to do the same!
Tagging... whoever feels exhibitionist-y at the moment :).
1. Do you outline?
Out-what? No, never ;).
2. Do you write straight through, or do you sometimes tackle the scenes out of order?
I start write straight through, get distracted and start scribbling key scenes/paras on the side, shove sex scenes (should they feature) to the end, and end up with a more or less confusing mess that needs stringing together at the end. Not always, but too often...
3. Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer?
Pen - I suck writing directly into the computer, and typing out handwritten notes saves one stage of revision.
4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
Second :). But usually whatever the particular story demands, no personal preference of first over third (or vice versa).
5. Do you listen to music while you write?
No! I can't have *any* distractions, more's the pity.
6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
Does rarely come up with fanfic :).
7. When you're writing, do you ever imagine your story as a television show or movie?
No - I rarely visualise anything (I just don't have a visual mind), very specific key images aside.
8. Have you ever had a character insist on doing something you really didn't want him/her to do?
Mostly Tom Riddle/Voldemort, the awful, over-riding bastard! Won't even listen to screams of "You're totally Out Of Character!", the creep. In one word, yes. Though it's fun when the lesser defined characters do it. Regulus Black was quite a revelation there ;).
9. Do you know how a book is going to end when you start it?
Always - knowing the ending is the crucial thing for me to start writing. Though *very* rarely things went totally off course and I didn't see the twist coming. But usually not.
10. Where do you write?
Mostly on the train, commuting to and from work. Whenever I have time to kill and nothing else to distract me. Sometimes in the middle of the night at the dining room table :).
11. What do you do when you get writer's block?
Do something else, fiddle with other fics, curse, drink coffee, curse more, do other things. Or try and force myself if it's a deadline issue.
12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of wordcount, or as a percentage of the fic as a whole)?
As long as I have to write, which is about 600-1000 words at once.
13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
One?
14. Have you ever changed a character's name midway through a draft?
Even at the very end of the draft... I'm attached to characters/personalities, not names. Well, not often :).
15. Do you let anyone read your story while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
Depends. Whoever wants to see something gets to see something - I'm not fussy about that. But beta emergencies aside, usually fics go out when they're done.
16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Grinning like a silly thing, followed by mad thinking over next piece.
17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
Multiple projects at once, usually with the piece with the most pressing deadline on top.
18. Do your stories grow or shrink in revision?
Usually they shrink, a little.
19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
hummelchen usually gets to see the tricky fics, and whatever she has time to look at for plot critique. And of course my lovely betas!
20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
I don't draft and I hate revising ;).
(filched from
rfachir and made to fit fic)Copy the questions into your blog and answer them. Then tag five other writers to do the same!
Tagging... whoever feels exhibitionist-y at the moment :).
1. Do you outline?
Out-what? No, never ;).
2. Do you write straight through, or do you sometimes tackle the scenes out of order?
I start write straight through, get distracted and start scribbling key scenes/paras on the side, shove sex scenes (should they feature) to the end, and end up with a more or less confusing mess that needs stringing together at the end. Not always, but too often...
3. Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer?
Pen - I suck writing directly into the computer, and typing out handwritten notes saves one stage of revision.
4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
Second :). But usually whatever the particular story demands, no personal preference of first over third (or vice versa).
5. Do you listen to music while you write?
No! I can't have *any* distractions, more's the pity.
6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
Does rarely come up with fanfic :).
7. When you're writing, do you ever imagine your story as a television show or movie?
No - I rarely visualise anything (I just don't have a visual mind), very specific key images aside.
8. Have you ever had a character insist on doing something you really didn't want him/her to do?
Mostly Tom Riddle/Voldemort, the awful, over-riding bastard! Won't even listen to screams of "You're totally Out Of Character!", the creep. In one word, yes. Though it's fun when the lesser defined characters do it. Regulus Black was quite a revelation there ;).
9. Do you know how a book is going to end when you start it?
Always - knowing the ending is the crucial thing for me to start writing. Though *very* rarely things went totally off course and I didn't see the twist coming. But usually not.
10. Where do you write?
Mostly on the train, commuting to and from work. Whenever I have time to kill and nothing else to distract me. Sometimes in the middle of the night at the dining room table :).
11. What do you do when you get writer's block?
Do something else, fiddle with other fics, curse, drink coffee, curse more, do other things. Or try and force myself if it's a deadline issue.
12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of wordcount, or as a percentage of the fic as a whole)?
As long as I have to write, which is about 600-1000 words at once.
13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
One?
14. Have you ever changed a character's name midway through a draft?
Even at the very end of the draft... I'm attached to characters/personalities, not names. Well, not often :).
15. Do you let anyone read your story while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
Depends. Whoever wants to see something gets to see something - I'm not fussy about that. But beta emergencies aside, usually fics go out when they're done.
16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Grinning like a silly thing, followed by mad thinking over next piece.
17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
Multiple projects at once, usually with the piece with the most pressing deadline on top.
18. Do your stories grow or shrink in revision?
Usually they shrink, a little.
19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
hummelchen usually gets to see the tricky fics, and whatever she has time to look at for plot critique. And of course my lovely betas!20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
I don't draft and I hate revising ;).
no subject
Date: 2007-05-03 02:21 pm (UTC)Only for college papers ;-)
2. Do you write straight through, or do you sometimes tackle the scenes out of order?
straight through...
3. Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer?
Pen - I suck writing directly into the computer, and typing out handwritten notes saves one stage of revision. I agree...
4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
first ...
5. Do you listen to music while you write?
No!
6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
Sure...
7. When you're writing, do you ever imagine your story as a television show or movie?
Yes, I am a very visual thinker.
8. Have you ever had a character insist on doing something you really didn't want him/her to do?
No, I am in charge. They are my creations --
9. Do you know how a book is going to end when you start it?
A general idea -- but it changes during the story. It is a developing process, not one set in stone ;-).
10. Where do you write?
at home
11. What do you do when you get writer's block?
Just start writing, eventually it all comes together. And it has a lot to do with not letting a story unfold itself -- meaning having a specific end in mind and not knowing how to get there ...
12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of wordcount, or as a percentage of the fic as a whole)?
Until I have nothing more to say....
13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
I don't remember :-)
14. Have you ever changed a character's name midway through a draft?
Even at the very end of the draft...
No.
15. Do you let anyone read your story while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
Depends.
16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
That's a silly question -- nothing...
17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
One at the time....
18. Do your stories grow or shrink in revision?
Depends....
19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
Sometimes -- and they know who they are...
20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
I don't care
no subject
Date: 2007-05-03 02:22 pm (UTC)OT: a rec
Date: 2007-05-03 07:02 pm (UTC)Re: OT: a rec
Date: 2007-05-05 08:15 pm (UTC)And since I found a meme I had meant to answer anyway...
Date: 2007-05-03 07:25 pm (UTC)Only when I have hit some serious roadblock. It is a way to re-grasp the plot in my mind.
2. Do you write straight through, or do you sometimes tackle the scenes out of order?
I NEVER write scenes out of order. If I do, it is a safe sign that the writing has gone awry and that I might as well give that particular story up.
3. Do you prefer writing with a pen or using a computer?
Computer. Helps that I have been able to touch type for twenty years, so it comes as natural to me as speaking.
4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
Third. But I think I am not bad at first-person narrative, either. What I hate is second-person - to me, it is a near-certain sign of pretentiousness. Who the &^%$£ are YOU to tell your character how s/he thinks, feels or reacts? It is they who should be telling you!
5. Do you listen to music while you write?
Always. Music is brain food.
6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
Instinct. It was years before I found the name Silver Angel, even when I knew the character and her looks. And then I realized that, without meaning to do it, I had added another character to the great Superman family - initials LL (cf. Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Lyra Lerrol), great cape and superpowers, big "S" on her chest. None of which was intended. By the same token, I once created a Harry Potter character before there ever was a Harry Potter! (http://fpb.livejournal.com/107275.html)
7. When you're writing, do you ever imagine your story as a television show or movie?
No, not even as a comic. Although I do get very strong visual images of how things are supposed to look. But if I wanted to produce a visual narrative, I would design a comic strip. Prose is prose.
8. Have you ever had a character insist on doing something you really didn't want him/her to do?
Yes. Which is why my current multi-parter is stuck. I am dreading having to write the climax, because it is going to hurt like Hell - and poor
9. Do you know how a book is going to end when you start it?
Yes. The closing scene is the point towards which everything works. It is usually the middle that I have problems with.
10. Where do you write?
At my computer.
11. What do you do when you get writer's block?
File away the bloody thing. Same as when I am writing away merrily, really.
12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of wordcount, or as a percentage of the fic as a whole)?
I like to finish a whole piece of work in one day. If I cannot, then much the best is simply write till I drop. If I cannot go on from morning to night, there is something wrong with the idea or realization.
13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
I do not count, because I do not usually get to the end and then start redrafting the whole. I redraft as I go, or I may remove or add pieces after I finished something.
14. Have you ever changed a character's name midway through a draft?
Once.
15. Do you let anyone read your story while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
I hardly have people willing to read the damn things after they are written!
16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Lie back, take a deep breath, then get up and go get some coffee or something.
17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
I tend to work on only one thing at a time, but I always have from twenty to forty projects at some stage of completion in my files.
18. Do your stories grow or shrink in revision?
Grow. If they shrink, it is because I decide to chop entire episodes, and when I do, that hurts.
19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
Rarely. I have to say that the best HP fic I ever wrote (It was all on account of the little Russian girl) benefited immeasurably from the criticism of my beta at the time, some German lady or other. 8-)
20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
Writing.