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Your Writing Process, And/Or Problems with Same |
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| treydog |
Mar 17 2006, 03:51 PM
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Master

Joined: 13-February 05
From: The Smoky Mountains

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As we seem to have achieved a "critical mass" of writers here, I thought I would begin a thread regarding how it is we do this thing called "writing." The idea of this discussion is to maybe help each other with the creative process and also talk about how we deal with "writer's block."
Here is my process- please note that I do not believe that everyone (or anyone else has to write this way. It is simply what works for me.
Before I ever wrote the first word of Trey, I had made up my mind as to who he was, how he felt about certain things, what his "values" were. He dislikes Imperials and the Empire, hates slavery, isn't very good with authority figures, is perfectly willing to steal (although not from the poor or weak), etc.
I keep a spiral notebook in which I write dialogue, scenes, etc. in longhand. Even though I have been using a computer for (mumble-mumble) years, the act of actually writing in pen and on paper helps me connect with the material. Although I try to maintain a certain flow (chronological in the case of Trey), I have learned from bitter experience to write down EVERYTHING right when I think of it, even if it won't show up in the story until much later. To assist with finding those orphan ideas, I use different colored pens and assign them numbers. Then, when it is time, I just make a note to myself, thus "Insert 15." I usually do not write every word that appears in the final, just as much as I need to get going. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less.
Because I am doing a straight MQ story, I depend heavily on the Construction Set to get the in-game dialogue right. On the other hand, I consider how Trey will react to certain characters and situations and "create" conversations are needed if things are to make sense
Once I have enough (usually 3-6 pages) manuscript, I go to Word and begin turning my scribbling into real story. A lot of composing and creating takes place at the keyboard. The manuscript may simply say "Temple Informant." I will take actual dialogue, plus maybe some additional conversation to show the interaction between Trey and the NPC and develop the scene. A quick spell check (Word hates ES names), and I am ready for the next step.
The most important part of the process is the read-through. This is the place where I read the installment out loud to the talented and patient Mrs. Treydog. The purpose of this is to ensure that the writing "flows." If something I am reading "clunks" when read out loud, it needs to be fixed. I also find typos or missing words during the read-through. Additionally, Mrs. Treydog may ask questions or provide other suggestions.
Example- in the scene with Delitian she asked me, "How does the captain know who Trey is?"
So I wrote in the "I am Trey of High Rock" bit. Interestingly, the "... I've heard the name" response is already in-game.
Once I have fixed whatever did not work on read-through, I post the installment.
If this thread survives, I will talk later about dealing with writer's block.
Edited to fix typo and to add:
One of the hardest things for some writers to do is to decide when is "it" finished. The read-through also helps with that question. Bottom line- you have to let it go sometime. If you polish the story long enough, you will be left with nothing- particularly not the enjoyment.
This post has been edited by treydog: Mar 17 2006, 04:41 PM
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The dreams down here aren't broken, nah, they're walkin' with a limp...
The best-dressed newt in Mournhold.
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Replies(260 - 279)
| Fawkes |
Jan 30 2012, 07:38 AM
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Finder

Joined: 13-December 11
From: Solitude

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QUOTE(McBadgere @ Jan 30 2012, 12:35 AM)  And don't kill any of them off...It's Impolite...  ... And not gentlemen like at ALL. Just don't kill them and ask permission, like Rob said, also try not to pair them of with someone unless the author gave you permission to. This post has been edited by Fawkes: Jan 30 2012, 07:39 AM
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Jericho the "hero" "The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom"-Nyx
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| mALX |
Jan 30 2012, 07:57 AM
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Ancient

Joined: 14-March 10
From: Cyrodiil, the Wastelands, and BFE TN

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QUOTE(Darkness Eternal @ Jan 30 2012, 01:27 AM)  I mean as in a character from another person's story make a cameo apperance, and vice versa. Or have one character from a single story appear in the other one.
Acadian's Buffy has been in SubRosa's (and vice-versa) and has a cameo coming up in mine in X number of months King Coin's Aravi has been in mine and is slated for two other stories My character Maxical has been in Acadian's D.Foxy's characters Damien "Foxy" Reynard and Sneakers have both been staples in my story Treydog and his wife have both been in my story Winter Wolf's and Remko's characters were both in Acadian's story Thomas Kiara had several references to other characters in his story Also, content - I have cross-overed both content referrals and character Docata from Rachel the Breton There are several others, I just can't think of them right now. It is not just needing to ask permission though, you have to send the final draft to them for approval of how you have portrayed their character - and they may want to make edits to that in order to agree This post has been edited by mALX: Jan 30 2012, 08:06 AM
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| Athynae |
Jan 30 2012, 12:50 PM
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Knower

Joined: 3-May 11
From: Mid TN

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Typically, I think, the borrowing is for a chapter or so if the character is actually playing a support role, sometimes it is just a cameo like Aravi (sp?) appearing in mALX's story. In treydog's story he borrowed one of Minque's characters, Serene's daughter Athynae, mentioned in the beginning of her story as the reason she is writing it all down. Now, Trey has blown her into a leading support role and well, the rest shall we say is history...and the characters in three stories now share (with permission) alternate universes. Working with writers you admire, and in my case actually becoming the writer for one of those characters just by odd chance, it a wonderful experience. I so appreciate Trey and Minque sharing Athynae with me, and Black Hand allowing Seth to play such an integral roll in Athynae's life. Now, guys, apologies for getting a little behind on the reading, I'll catch up, promise. And you will all see soon why I got behind.
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"I'm a woman of very few words, but lots of action." - Mae West (Hush Foxy)
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| Acadian |
Jan 30 2012, 01:26 PM
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Paladin

Joined: 14-March 10
From: Las Vegas

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QUOTE(Grits @ Jan 30 2012, 02:57 AM)  QUOTE(mALX @ Jan 30 2012, 02:01 AM)  Er... that is a mod, if you are talking about Equestria.
Is there a mod called Equestria? The Equestria in Jerric's Story is the one from Buffy's world, borrowed with permission of course.  No, Equestria and the Valley of Horses is pure imagination. Buffy and Teresa have crossed into each others stories more than once. I have also referenced bobg's Angel and deceased Sarah in Buffy's story.
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| McBadgere |
Jan 30 2012, 01:51 PM
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Councilor

Joined: 21-October 11

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That's what I thought when I read the credit on Grits' story...But I will admit to not knowing anything about Mod names...  ... Ooooh, plus...Something I thought of this fair morn...How we all use magic in our story is different...And while we can multiverse each other's characters, they will not do some things the same way... Something else to think about when multiversing...  ...
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| treydog |
Feb 6 2012, 02:12 AM
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Master

Joined: 13-February 05
From: The Smoky Mountains

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QUOTE(Fawkes @ Feb 5 2012, 05:47 PM)  I got a question, how do you guys deal with Writers Block, er well It's not writers block per say, I know what I want to write but I can't seem to get it into writing.
Any tips?
Early in this thread, I wrote a long meditation on the problem of writer's block. Since quoting myself would be a bit much even for me- I will skip that step. In the situation you describe- having ideas but not getting them on the page- I would recommend doing it this way: Write whatever you know for certain is "there." It does not matter how fragmentary or unconnected it may be- get it on paper. Sometimes, you can build an entire scene from a single sentence or even a few words. I do not want to presume too much based on what you have said, so I will leave it at this- most of the folks who write on here maintain some kind of "work-in-progress" or "ideas for later" file or notebook or brown paper grocery bag. That way, less gets lost. If you want to, feel free to expand on what is happening (or not happening) with your writing in this thread. Or PM me or another writer. Here's hoping for the block to disappear.
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The dreams down here aren't broken, nah, they're walkin' with a limp...
The best-dressed newt in Mournhold.
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| McBadgere |
Feb 6 2012, 07:28 AM
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Councilor

Joined: 21-October 11

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For me, whenever I've gotten stuck, I wind up writing a different bit...Doesn't matter whether it was supposed to be the next bit, as it were. That's where that last part of mine came from...Perhaps I should have sat on it though...It seems to have confused things too much...  ... Just try to write something...Anything... But don't stress that it isn't the very next part of the story...As Trey said, something that you know you have...
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| Fawkes |
Feb 6 2012, 05:19 PM
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Finder

Joined: 13-December 11
From: Solitude

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Thank you guys! I went to read what you posted on writers block Trey. I've taken both of your advices and just came up with I guess you could say "plotlines" that won't happen for a while. I think that I'm going to do it like you McBadgere, I'll see if I can write it different, maybe I can pump those creative juices stuck in my head to my writing 
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Jericho the "hero" "The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom"-Nyx
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| Darkness Eternal |
Feb 6 2012, 08:07 PM
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Master

Joined: 10-June 11
From: Coldharbour

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Go outside, use ideas. Plants, trees, buildings, people, lakes etc. Or watch movies for inspiration. Or just keep writing McBad said.
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And yet I am, and live—like vapours tossed. I long for scenes where man hath never trod A place where woman never smiled or wept There to abide with my Creator, God, And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept, Untroubling and untroubled where I lie The grass below—above the vaulted sky.”
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| Darkness Eternal |
Feb 7 2012, 03:48 PM
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Master

Joined: 10-June 11
From: Coldharbour

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QUOTE(mALX @ Feb 7 2012, 02:23 PM)  Reading other's stories can inspire, and that works for how you want to say something as well.
My last chapter had a segment where one description was inspired by something I read in Darkness Eternal's story.
Alexander (this Site's Administrator)'s story "Cyrodiil" inspired a whole different way of writing a story for me.
Truly. You wrote about a certain aspect vampires have, the bloodlust and the thirst for it. I always wanted to come to write it, but since I'm a lore fanatic of sorts, I might have to make a way for it to happen. After all, a young vamp has little control over bloodlust. So to be honest, I enjoyed reading that part of the story. Safe to say I got over a writer's block, but I found out that you can "skip" scenes, per se. It helps alot. For example, you can write an entire chapter on his Tiberius went to purchase bread for a khajiiti cook, or you can explain that he went there, how he went there and what happened when he got there instead of adding the trivial details like: "Tiberius was on the road, studying the particles of dust that sat upon a particle of dust while floating with the countless other dust particles."
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And yet I am, and live—like vapours tossed. I long for scenes where man hath never trod A place where woman never smiled or wept There to abide with my Creator, God, And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept, Untroubling and untroubled where I lie The grass below—above the vaulted sky.”
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| mALX |
Feb 11 2012, 09:10 PM
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Ancient

Joined: 14-March 10
From: Cyrodiil, the Wastelands, and BFE TN

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QUOTE(McBadgere @ Feb 11 2012, 02:54 PM)  If, say, you've been an ar$e and deleted the next part of your story from the computer...Pffft...As if...
*Cough*...
Erm...Do you a) rewrite the bit that you deleted
or f) Re-hash the plot and start afresh with a new bit...
And yes, the bit that went had more overarching things than the whole of what went before put together...
Just wondering what anyone else had done when faced with a complete re-write?...
I have it in full if you need it, it is still in my email box. (and PS, I read it and loved it !!) This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 11 2012, 09:11 PM
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