What's your process?

[lucidity]

What sort of process do you use when writing? Do you write directly on the PC or in longhand? What sort of research do you do, if any?

I write mostly in longhand and then transcribe on the computer when I can. Being a stay-at-home mom means my free time is not always my own. I can write longhand while still being with my son. It also helps me to be able to think things through. By the time I type up what I have written I am already revising and editing.

Once the first version is typed, I then print it out and let it sit for a bit. After some time I will go back and read through and make changes, usually with a colored pen. It is here when I may grab my thesaurus and see if there are word choices that are better than the ones I had originally chosen. ;D

As far as research, it will depend on what I am writing about. If it’s a medical issue I will consult my old nursing texts or do some web surfing to find sites dedicated to the ailment. If it’s more of a canon issue I will consult the books and maybe surf to one of the more reputable sites, like the Encyclopedia of Arda for LotR or the Harry Potter Lexicon for Harry Potter questions.

Can you think of any more things you do specifically in your own writing process? ;D

[lindahoyland]

I fear the only longhand I use since getting a PC,is signing birthday cards !I type my story out as it comes into my head, then when I want to post a chapter, paste about 1200 words into a fresh document then rewrite it.
For example,this was the first draft of the last chapter I posted last.

The final version is at
www.fanfiction.net/s/2579722/50/

Grabbing a candle, they rushed in to find Arwen struggling with her husband who was shouting ”No! Leave me alone!”

Eowyn pulled her away, while Faramir gripped Aragorn’s arms firmly. The King continued to fight him, all the while staring vacantly with unseeing eyes.

“Aragorn, peace! You are safe now!” Faramir said soothingly, while at the same time gesturing to Eowyn to bring more candles and trying to avert his eyes from Arwen, who was clad only in her nightgown. The Queen suddenly snatched up Eldarion and fled sobbing from the room. Eowyn followed her into the kitchen.

Head bowed, the Queen sank down heavily on a chair, clutching Eldarion fiercely to her.

“What happened?” Eowyn asked, “Look at me Arwen!”

Arwen reluctantly looked up. Only then did her friend notice the ugly red mark,
disfiguring her cheek.

“What has happened to my husband?” she whispered as much to herself as to Eowyn. ”He was always so kind, so gentle, so patient. When we married, even though he had already waited for most of his life to make me his wife, he was willing to wait longer as I was nervous and he was so afraid of hurting me but now …”

“What happened?” Eowyn asked gently.

“Eldarion woke up and needed feeding, which I did and then blew out the candle and settled down to sleep again. The next thing I knew Aragorn was shouting at me and lashing out. It was so unlike him! Does he no longer love me?”

“Never think that, Arwen!” Eowyn said firmly, “ I see it in his eyes every time he looks at you, how much he adores you. I am sure there must be an explanation. Now I am going to make some tea.”

After giving the Queen a comforting hug, she busied herself with the cups and mixing some herbs for the King.

Unnoticed by the adults Elbeth left her makeshift bed by the fire and crept alongside Faramir.

“Strider!” she called, “Wake up, it’s me, Elbeth!”

“Peace, mellon nin!” Faramir continued to soothe, ignoring the child.

Aragorn blinked and suddenly focused on his companions, looking extremely confused.

“You were having a nightmare,” Faramir explained as he gently rubbed his friend’s back. He could feel him trembling beneath the thin nightshirt he wore.

“Nightmares scare me too!” Elbeth said comfortingly.

Eowyn appeared, a cup of steaming tea in her hand. She held it to Aragorn’s lips, “Drink this!” she told him,” Valerian and chamomile.”

“Thank you,” he sipped the tea and gradually became calmer thanks to their combined ministrations. “Where is Arwen?” he asked.

“She is settling the children,” Eowyn explained, shooting a warning glance at Faramir.

A few minutes later the Queen returned, a robe over her nightgown and carrying Eldarion. A purple bruise across her cheek disfigured her usually flawless complexion and she looked as if she had been crying.

Under the pretext of fetching more tea, Faramir took her aside.

“What happened?” he asked quietly.

“Aragorn struck me!” she sounded as if she could hardly believe it.” I do not think he even knew who I was!”

“You blew out the candle and he fears the darkness,” Faramir explained.

“I have known him more than seventy years and he has never been afraid of the dark before!” Arwen protested.

“He was not locked in a dark cellar before with pain and the scuttling rats his only companions! “ Faramir said sadly,” He has had dreadful nightmares ever since. He would have been completely unaware of his surroundings. When you share his thoughts you will see it all.”

Arwen’s eyes opened wide in horror.

“I can only imagine what he endured during his imprisonment but I do know much
the thought of you sustained him,” Faramir continued, “He loves you very much.”

Arwen nodded, suddenly resolute.0 “Thank you for telling me this. Now I must go to him.”

Settled back on his pillows, Aragorn was on the verge of sleep. Eowyn moved aside to let the Queen take her place. “We are only in the next room if you need us,” she said, giving her friend a quick hug before going to the door.

Aragorn opened his eyes again to look at his wife and immediately noticed the bruise. A horrible realisation hit him as he sat up again. ”Arwen, no!” he gasped, “ I am so sorry, what have I done?”

“You did not know?” whispered, replacing Eldarion in his cradle. She hovered at the foot of the bed, still apprehensive, as never in her worst nightmares had she believed her husband would ever strike her.

“It was so dark. I thought they were coming again to torment me and I lashed out. I had no idea where I was. How can you ever forgive me?” Aragorn buried his face in hands and wept, all thoughts of sleep forgotten.

Arwen was immediately at his side placing her arms around him. ”Eldarion has struck me and bitten me a few times without knowing what he was doing and I have forgiven him, she said, her voice full of compassion.

“Leave the candle burning, I could not live with myself if I did it again!” Aragorn whispered.

“Share your thoughts with me, Estel!” Arwen placed her hand on the bowed head. Then all at once she knew and understood what Faramir had been trying to explain and Aragorn had until now tried to shield her from. She started to weep again as the knowledge hurt far more than the blow, that he would no more intentionally have given her than cut off his own right hand. Yet only understanding would enable her to help him as she realised that even Elbeth had understood more of what he had endured than she did.

“Estel, beloved!” she lay down beside him, drawing his head against her ample bosom and tenderly stroking his hair until he slept.

She lay wakeful long after staring at the candle flame and wondering how long it would take to find again the strong, kingly man she had married concealed within this broken man she held now in her arms.

The chapter I posted before though, wasn't drated beforehand, as ocasionaly, I have an idea which comes to me just before posting.I also didn't finish ATRATM till I was about to post.


My preferred method, though is to work from a draft.I often wonder if my readers notice if the off the cuff chapters are inferior.

I do most of my research online,check my copy of LOTR when need be and ask online friends who know more than I, about certain matters.

On the rare occacions I write poetry,which is not part of a fanfic, I have to write that in longhand first.

[eggowaffles]

I've written almost exclusively on the computer since I was seven years old. Occasionally I go through spurts where I write in notebooks, but those endeavors usually don't last more than a few days and inevitably end up at the bottom of the garbage bin. My ideas tend to organize themselves much better when I'm typing, particularly since I do so much editing and reworking in the act of writing, which is messy and tedious to do on paper.

I don't really write in drafts much—I write all the way through to the end, either obscenely fast or painfully slow. If I like it, I'll use it, if not, I usually delete it all and start over. Not too much editing.

I'm usually popping in and out of my bookshelf and various Internet sites while I'm writing, checking facts and looking for weird words...

[StefaniaB]

My writing process for fanfic isn't too different than my process for technical writing, which I've been doing for decades longer than I've been writing fanfic. I'm really just a journey-woman fanfic writer. I do my writing almost exclusively on the computer. The only time I've written fanfic in a notebook is while traveling.

If I am writing something new for work, I typically do the research, interview engineers, and work with software before I begin to write. Obviously this doesn't apply to fanfic.

Where fanfic and technical writing dovetail is in my next step, the outline. My technical doc outline usually breaks down into section heads. For my fanfic chapters, I type the major events that I want to happen in a particular chapter into the Star Office file for the chapter. Then I fill in the blanks. I haven't done a chapter outline of my current story "Avoidance," but I know how many chapters I still need to write, what they will contain, and how the entire tale concludes. The problem is, my chapters turn out longer than I thought they would.

When writing fanfic, I do my research as the need arises. I use the Encyclopedia of Arda web site a LOT, as well as LOTR and the other Tolkien books that I have. I've asked Raksha for some help on family trees in the History of Middle Earth, which I don't have. I just bought "The Atlas of Middle Earth," which has been a terrific resource for the look and feel of cities like Minas Tirith and Meduseld. I think it might be online, as well. Finally, I've asked some questions about Medieval life from folks on the Henneth Annun Yahoo group. They've been great.

I revise a lot as I write. When I finish a chapter or section, I reread and revise. Then I have my writing reviewed by my fanfic Beta reviewers or our editor at work. When all comments are in, I make my final changes based on the reviews. Finally, I run SpellCheck, make the changes, and submit the chapter.

- Steff

[lucidity]

On the rare occasions I write poetry,which is not part of a fanfic, I have to write that in longhand first.

Linda, we do seem to have quite a few poets on this site!

I don't really write in drafts much—I write all the way through to the end, either obscenely fast or painfully slow. If I like it, I'll use it, if not, I usually delete it all and start over. Not too much editing.

Okay, Eggos, I guess that's one of the many advantages to having a young and agile mind. Once the old gray matter starts to shrink, you may need to edit just a tad.

For my fanfic chapters, I type the major events that I want to happen in a particular chapter into the Star Office file for the chapter. Then I fill in the blanks.

Stephania, I do something like this as well. I will know what events I'd like to happen in a given chapter and will write those at the top of the page then go about fleshing it out.

Do you guys prefer silence when you write or the opposite? I need absolute quiet when I think, but my sister is the opposite. She cannot concentrate unless she has a good bit of background noise. I suppose she is that way because we grew up in a small house with 7 people under one roof.

[lindahoyland]

I like to be quiet when I write,apart from a cat purring on my lap, but I cannot concentrate with the TV or music on.

[eggowaffles]

lucidity said:

Okay, Eggos, I guess that's one of the many advantages to having a young and agile mind. Once the old gray matter starts to shrink, you may need to edit just a tad.

Actually, the real word for it is "laziness", but I'll take "young and agile" in a pinch... ;D

I tend to like noise while I'm writing and usually have music going in the background at all times. Silence makes me fidgety.

[StefaniaB]

I live with no other company than my aged black cat. So I write with some kind of noise going on. I typically have the TV on at home.

At work I usually listen to talk radio or National Public Radio. Sometimes I listen to the baseball game while at work -- but that's distracting. We have individual offices with doors that close. i find it very difficult to write at work without the background noise. It drowns out your next door neighbor's conference call with Japan or the sounds of people chatting in the hall.

- Steff

[shieldmaiden]

I'm also one who tends to write exclusively on the computer. On rare occasions (like when I get inspiration and have no computer access at the moment) I'll write things out on paper, but I usually edit as I go so I like being able to go back and retype things instead of crossing out and starting over.

I also tend to do a lot of prepwork before I write. For instance, when I started writing An Act of Desperation, I seriously went through the calendar at the back of the book to make sure I knew exactly how many days were in between certain canon events, how old characters were, where I wanted things that I was adding in to fall, etc. Other than that, it's more research things as I go, like how to realistically use a weapon or different healing plants that might fit in Middle-earth or whatever. Sometimes I use an outline, sometimes I don't-- it really depends on the story, though I do tend to use them more for longer stories.

And music is a must. I can't deal with silence. It stifles my creativity. ;D