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I've been creative writing all my life, though with various haitus(es) along the way. IFrom 2010 I started this blog and enjoyed sharing writing and other information with everyone. illness and bereavement supplied the more recent hiatus.

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

What's Your Process Blogfest

Life the Universe and Writing What's Your Process?  Blogfest Blog about ANY part of your writing process: how you create characters, how you plot your novel, how you organize your rewrites, your whole writing process from start to finish, anything. Even if you're a complete pantser, tell us your pantsing process. Do you write chronologically? Jump around? Edit as you go, or just dump it all on the page? Let us know!  Hopefully, we'll all be able to see how other people write, and pull out a few new gems to help us with our own creations! Sign up below, and pass the word around. The more of us there are, the more we can learn from each other.

Okay the above images will start to give you an idea of the theme of My Writing Process. When I started blogging I came across numerous posts from aspiring writers who spoke my language: "I find myself writing a first chapter or three or four, then everything dries up".


I thought "Hey, yes I know that feeling". Then I learned about 'Plotters vs Pantsers' and I realised with a creeping guilt that I must be a panster.

Finally, I had an epiphany moment when reading an article about the children's author

 Liz Kessler who said: "Using a notebook, I spend lots of time writing up vague notes, then when I realise I've got too many ideas I start typing them up on my computer" 


The notebook has to have the right feel for the book she's writing next.
I also remembered seeing J K Rowling on TV showing us glimpses of her notebooks filled with sketches and material for the characters and everything that will provide the background for her Harry Potter novels:


Click on Youtube clip below to see them:


Tolkien invented his own maps for his Middle Earth worlds.


Also, Philippa Gregory always researches her books for 2 years
before writing and must fill up lots of notebooks.


This says much about how AA Milne imagined his world of Winnie the Pooh


So I have stopped being a pantser and have started following these successful authors' advice and I am taking the research and notebook stage to heart, before plotting how I'm going to write my novels.

How about you?

NB: I have scheduled a few posts this week and apologies if I'm being quiet at the moment, I have done my lower back in and have had some stomach bug over the weekend that hasn't quite gone, so I'm trying to take it easy now.
Posted by scribbleandedit.blogspot.co.uk at 07:00

22 comments:

  1. Old Kitty18 January 2011 at 11:57

    Good luck with your research and note taking and planning!! I think doing one's "homework" before actually writing the novel could only help!! I started my current wip as a panster but as I edit I realise the importance of outlining!!! I think maybe if I had some kind of outline first the chapter would have made sense!! LOL!!

    p.s. please get well soon and rest!!!

    Take care
    x

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  2. Ellie Garratt18 January 2011 at 14:29

    Ooo...an interesting blogfest. I'm won't be able to take part in this one :( I have so many writing commitments and other blogfests I've already signed up for in the next two weeks. I hope lots of people take part, though. It's always fascinating to read how other people 'do it'!

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  3. Colene Murphy18 January 2011 at 15:23

    Huh, good plan! I suppose you can't argue with greatness, can you!? Ah...but pantsing...I love it. Won't give it up just yet. But I would love to know how a fellow pantser does on converting!

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  4. Shallee18 January 2011 at 15:47

    Thanks for sharing this! I do a similar thing-- I open up a word doc and just pour ideas down. I also keep files of pictures of characters and settings. It really helps-- a little bit of planning can go a long way!

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  5. Summer Ross18 January 2011 at 15:59

    Those videos you gave were really inspirational. Thank you for posting them. Having some resemblance of structure really does help the ideas flow.

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  6. Michelle Merrill18 January 2011 at 16:06

    That's great that you're trying to be more of a plotter. I just can't get myself to do it...yet :) Thanks for sharing.

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  7. M Pax18 January 2011 at 16:56

    My notebooks are much more organized now. Used to lose stuff in them. lol I've become more of a plotter, too.

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  8. Rachna Chhabria18 January 2011 at 17:26

    Love your process. In the initial stages I too have a notebook where all my random thoughts and ideas are jotted down. Then comes the outline.

    Thanks for sharing all the great writers' methods.

    Hope you have recovered from your health setbacks.

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  9. Golden Eagle18 January 2011 at 19:15

    Sometimes I try plotting like that, and it works, but other times it doesn't for that particular story.

    It was great learning about your process!

    I hope you feel better soon!

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  10. Margo Kelly18 January 2011 at 21:08

    I love notebooks. I love the idea of having a special notebook for each book. Thanks. And, feel better soon!

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  11. Unknown18 January 2011 at 21:15

    I loved your videos. All writers find the way that is right for them.
    I'm a keen planner. I'm sure your research, note taking and planning time will be time well spent especially if it helps you spend less time in revisions. ;)

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  12. Abby Minard19 January 2011 at 02:00

    If it works, then I say go for it! Lots of work goes into those notebooks!

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  13. Denise Covey Writer19 January 2011 at 04:55

    I'm sorry to hear about your back and your bug. I hope you're feeling a lot better now Madeleing. I'm a pantser. I try to plot etc but I just get my idea (and I have lots of notebooks full) and the characters start writing the story (ha ha, sorta.)

    I must be thick, but I can't see where to sign up...:)

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  14. Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy19 January 2011 at 05:24

    I loved this thoughtful post and your process of becoming a plotter. making notes is win :)

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  15. Hilary Melton-Butcher20 January 2011 at 09:40

    Hi Madeleine .. hope your back is better and your bug has gone .. not at all nice.

    Love this post - thanks for the video and the maps etc .. yes - we need to plan and plot .. even if we're just posting.

    Thanks - have a good year .. Hilary

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  16. Carol Kilgore21 January 2011 at 14:10

    I see I'm not the only one who's trying to train her pantser self to slow down enough to think and plan. Great post.

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  17. Anonymous21 January 2011 at 14:34

    I'm a pantser, and it give me great joy and great frustration in equal measure. But there's definitely a place for thinking and planning, even if it takes the form of a very flexible outline. I'm learning this too!

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  18. Anonymous21 January 2011 at 15:30

    Hope you feel better soon. That stomach bug is nor fun for sure. My book should arrive to you soon. It takes a while to go snail mail at book rate across the country and The Pond, but its on its way.

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  19. Su22 January 2011 at 07:34

    I've recently become a plotter, also using the notebook method. It's fun to brainstorm ahead of time & then figure out where to put each twist and event!

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  20. Ellie Garratt22 January 2011 at 08:31

    Just checking how you are. I hope your back is a little better and the sickness has passed. I'm wokring today but will try and catch up later. Hugs.

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  21. Marieke25 January 2011 at 21:01

    I'm a week late, but catching up on this blogfest now after I finally put my own entry up =)

    LOVE those sketches!!

    Hope you're feeling better now :)

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  22. Unknown27 January 2011 at 18:11

    Wow, after watching that video of JK Rowling I think I may have just been converted to keeping detailed notebooks on EVERYTHING! I mean, I have a notebook, but I don't write nearly that much in it!

    And damn, but I wish I could draw! Instead I google images of actors who resemble the characters I imagine!

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