Writing's What I Do

I randomly clicked on a link on someone else's comments and found a writing meme/quiz. So this one is snagged from Un-Cool:

1. Do you outline?
Depends on the book. Sometimes I do. Most of the time I start with an idea, then write out a few chapter ideas and then see where they take me. Once they're done I usually have ideas for the next collection of chapters.

2. Do you write straight through a book, or do you sometimes tackle the chapters out of order?
I write in order. How the heck do you write out of order?

3. Do you know how a book is going to end when you start it?
I usually know the main thrust of the book. But the smaller story endings come about as I write and the characters talk.

4. Where do you write?
At my desk or sitting halfway down my bed.

5. What do you do when you get writer's block?
Get depressed, and snappy. I usually eat more. And mope. Then I read a lot. And it usually goes away then.

6. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of wordcount, or as a percentage of the book as a whole)?
I tend to write about 4,000 words per session

7. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
"Soul Mates III"? That had three re-writes. It's my baby and so I wanted it perfect. I usually only do the original write, then a clean-up.

8. Do you let anyone read your book while you're working on it, or do you wait until you've completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
Jem very rarely gets to read a chapter here or there. I used to let her read as I went along but it took the fun out of it. So now no one reads anything 'til it's done.

9. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Spend a day doing whatever I want. And usually I want to go out and drink ;)

10. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
I usually have two books on the go, it stops boredom.

11. Do your books grow or shrink in revision?
Hmm... Well, "Soul Mates" 1 got longer, 2 got shorter and 3 got longer so. As for the other books I'd say they tend to stay the same.

12. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
God, no!

13. What are your favorite writing books?
I've never read any I don't think.

14. Morning writer, evening writer, or doesn't matter?
I write after lunch until I can't do anymore. I do like to write late at night sometimes as well.

15. How do you handle reviews? Open 'em up and brave 'em, or wait?
I've never had a proper review but I suppose I'd read them and then cry if they were bad hehe

16. How do you handle rejection?
I swear a lot and get very disheartened for a few hours.

17. Do you prefer to work on writing by yourself? Or do you prefer collaborating?
I couldn't collaborate. Not on a book. I don't know how that would work.

18. Able to work on airplanes?
I've had story ideas on planes but I've never written on one

19. Have you ever abandoned a book or an article that you had finished? When? Why?
I've only ever not finished one book - "Him". It fitted the times but then I left it for a few months while I worked on something else and then when I went back to it it just didn't fit anymore.

20. What writing advice do you really believe in?
Write until it just stops coming and then stop. Don't force it cos it'll be shit work. Write when you want to, basically.

Labels: meme, writing

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