Comments on: your questions: writing process

By: Zachary Graham

Zachary Graham — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:57:20 +0000

i love ergonomic chairs because you can sit on them all day long without hurting your back`”"

By: Justin Campbell

Justin Campbell — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:01:36 +0000

i like to use ergonomic chairs at home because it supports longer working hours”.`

By: D,B,nJ

D,B,nJ — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:27:56 +0000

For whatever reason (and I am, I promise, not typically a rebellious person) I cannot have ANY restraints when I write. I cannot be told to write something and have an end result that I am proud of. I cannot focus or think creatively if I feel tied down. Obviously causes some problems, but what do ya do?! I love to just be able to grab my netbook (thanks hubby!) and go at it when inspiration strikes. I cannot feel like the hubs is reading over my shoulder, either. EEK! He’s an English teacher and my biggest fan, but I just cannot believe that my grammar or plot or characters aren’t just making him cringe inside. Can you imagine?
So I love just diving in with both feet when the mood strikes and never any other time. And the surest way to kill ‘the mood’ is to have a family member ask, “So, have you been writing?” in that not-so-subtle way that suggests they don’t believe I am dedicated enough (and no, I am not paranoid, as much as I wish it was my own delusions sending this message, I have been told- flat out- that I waste my time if I am not writing and nothing, not even motherhood is a valuable way to spend my time. ACK!
So, to sum it all up:
Delve in when the mood strikes
Avoid meddling family members
Turn the screen away from the hubby or write while he is working

By: Micheal Ronaldfon

Micheal Ronaldfon — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:51:31 +0000

check me blog:

By: ally

ally — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:00:39 +0000

This was so fun to read about everyone’s different processes…Leeann, you totally made me laugh. And Brittany, I will have to check out that ergonomic keyboard. Maybe I should get an ergonomic chair, too. Then I would feel so awesome. Like I’m writing from the future, or something…those things always look so high-tech.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:01:11 +0000

Thanks for the comments!

Have you tried an ergonomic keyboard? My wrists used to hurt nonstop (I type all day for work). Then I switched to an ergonomic keyboard and the pain went away. It was fabulous–definitely worth the investment.

By: Leeann

Leeann — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:23:54 +0000

I write naked. No, not really, but it sounds exciting. (I had to one up the “no bra-er”)

I like moving around to various locations as I think really helps my creativity. I like the library, B&N, home office, closet, and toilet. They all give me a new perspective. I try not to write when the kids are home from school or before they go to bed. But if a sudden idea strikes, I dash into the closet where the clothes act as insulation and camouflage.

I’m with you – no music until editing unless I want to inadvertently start typing the words to the song. And, Cheetos help me focus. A lot.

By: Heather Moore

Heather Moore — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:31:59 +0000

I write in my freezing cold basement as well so I dress very warm. I’ve written to music, sometimes, it depends on the music and what I’m writing. It’s good for drowning out barking dogs though. I found the most perfect song for my latest book, it was like the lyrics were written about the character, so I literally listened to it at least 100 times.

I don’t snack much when I write. But editing kills me, so I definitely snack and listen to music to try and keep alert.

Outlining is usually done as I go. I just need to know the main character’s arc, then I’m off and everyone else pops up along the way. The only book I officially outlined, I ended up completely changing the last 200 pages. So it didn’t do me much good.

By: Natalie Hatch

Natalie Hatch — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:12:31 +0000

I have written with twin two year olds sitting on my lap; at 2am when I’ve had to get up to settle night terrors; during Dora the Explorer dancing again on our television with my children laughing their heads off. I write whenever and where ever I can.
But when I edit I can’t have distractions. I think I’m the opposite of you. I plot out a fair bit then speed through a rough draft of 70k in about 8 days. Then spend weeks/months editing.

By: Julie D.

Julie D. — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:09:54 +0000

I can’t listen to music while I write either. I tried it for awhile, and it just made me write scenes that had no business being in my book, but were prompted by the songs I was listening to. It made me crazy.

I find that I write best under pressure. If I have just an hour of freedom granted, I pound stuff out. If I have a long afternoon with nothing else to do, I tinker until I realize I’ve accomplished nothing. Or until I fall asleep. (My 19-month-old does not come anywhere close to sleeping through the night either!)

Thanks for sharing! It’s fun to read about how other people write. Now if I could just find a magic hoodie…