Anyone else do this...?

SilverPhoenix · May 29, 2009

Think about writing/your characters all day long, and then at the end of the day, suddenly realise you never actually wrote anything all day?

Or am i just the lone Queen Of Procrastination? -sigh-

Sage · May 29, 2009

SilverPhoenix said:
Think about writing/your characters all day long, and then at the end of the day, suddenly realise you never actually wrote anything all day?

Or am i just the lone Queen Of Procrastination? -sigh-

There are definitely days where I am caught up in the whirlwind of being completely enthusiastic about novel, but stuck at work, and then couldn't write a word once I got home.

But, fortunately for me, if I am that enthusiastic, I usually can't wait to write something, so much so that sometimes I skip ahead to write a scene I'm not supposed to be writing yet.

Red-Green · May 29, 2009

In my book, this counts as writing. If you are actively thinking about characters and what they're doing, you'll have it all mapped out in your head. Then you can transfer it to paper.

pixydust · May 29, 2009

I simply love writing in my head and think it's a vital part of the writing process. I actually set time aside, away from the kids and the noise of life, and 'work' on my book with just my music and my imagination (an a pen & paper for notes, of course). I think up most of my key scenes, playing them over and over in my head, before I actually sit down to write them.

ccarver30 · May 29, 2009

Yep, this was me for a long time with my current WIP. I constantly thought- where in the HELL am I going to take this story? I finally got the nerve to just sit down and see what came out. Luckily, the scene got written!!

sunandshadow · May 29, 2009

I've been gradually moving toward the idea that thinking about the story is the part I find fulfilling, maybe I should just accept that and not try to force myself to actually write it down.

Sage · May 29, 2009

But just think of all the fun you'll have rereading it, s&s. Or sharing with other people!

Stinna · May 29, 2009

I like to carry a digital recorder around with me so when I am thinking about my characters or the book, if something too good to miss pops in, I can at least capture it in some form. Even if I'm too busy at the moment to find paper and pen or get to my personal laptop. I always have time to talk! (Course then you have to explain what the recorder is for...and heaven forbid if someone actually hears you talking to it!)

archerjoe · May 29, 2009

Only on days ending in "y".

Stinna - I carry a small notebook with me. I think the looks are equally strange when people see me whip out the notebook, scribble something and put it back.

Sage · May 29, 2009

I would occasionally write down dialogue that would come to me at work on post-it notes. Unfortunately, my current tasks at work don't let me do that, but it made for interesting writing when I'd finally get to those scenes.

san_remo_ave · May 29, 2009

Heh. I find sometimes that I get caught up in thinking about my characters/scenes and I don't get any of my regular work done.

SilverPhoenix · May 30, 2009

@Sage it's good to see you've got the enthusiasm down =P

I guess, like Red said, at least I'm mapping out the story. I don't have the middle and end figured out yet. So it's hard to write sometimes when I don't have the distant goalpost in view.

(Haha there is currently not a single working pen in the house )= although there is a pile of about twenty dead ones. I am severely tempted to walk 3 miles to buy some. And a notebook.)

scarletpeaches · May 30, 2009

I don't like to do this as it makes it seem like the story's written before it actually is, and by the time I come to write it down, it's stale. In my opinion anyway.

My characters linger in the back of my mind all the time, but I gag them - or try to - until I'm in front of the computer.

Samantha's_Song · May 30, 2009

Gawd, no, I do this all of the time! I had a new novel/story to start. The scenes, the dialogue, everything was already played out in my head, but I never started writing any of it down for around two weeks. Even now, I still keep picturing the scenes in my head and have only got five pages actually written so far. Plus I need to finish the tiny editing tweaks on my last one and start querying it; that one is so near, and yet so far.

SilverPhoenix said:
Think about writing/your characters all day long, and then at the end of the day, suddenly realise you never actually wrote anything all day?

Or am i just the lone Queen Of Procrastination? -sigh-

sunandshadow · May 30, 2009

Samantha's Song - OT but I was just laughing at point 1 of your rules for beta reading - the genres you don't do are exactly the ones I love to do (with the minor addition of historical romances).

Aggy B. · May 30, 2009

I do this most when I'm stuck or struggling. Not being in front of the computer helps take some of the pressure off the idea of "how can I possibly write this?" and let's me focus on the actual problem.

AuburnAssassin · May 30, 2009

Not quite but I carry on character conversations while driving to and from work. Often they are lines I've already written and I like to hear how they sound out loud vs. in my internal voice. Sometimes I change them, sometimes not. Sometimes I find new snippets for the MC's to quibble about.

Do they always end up in my written document? Not always and then I kick myself for not being able to remember what I had wanted to add or change, especially if all I can remember is damn, it was good, what the he!! was it?

ccarver30 · May 30, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
I don't like to do this as it makes it seem like the story's written before it actually is, and by the time I come to write it down, it's stale. In my opinion anyway.

My characters linger in the back of my mind all the time, but I gag them - or try to - until I'm in front of the computer.

OR you THINK you have it all figured out until you go to write it and the characters take over the show. They don't give a damn about YOUR plans... they do what they want!!

vrabinec · May 30, 2009

I'm with the people who alternate between writing, and thinking abiout what I'm writing next. I do a hell of a lot more thinking about what I'm doing than actual writing, but, by the time I get around to putting it on paper, that part seem effortless because I've already got it mapped out. (Well, okay, maybe not "effortless", it's still usually rough around the entry point to the scene and exactly when it should end, but the meat of it is usually done)

ccarver30 · May 30, 2009

Aggy B. said:
I do this most when I'm stuck or struggling. Not being in front of the computer helps take some of the pressure off the idea of "how can I possibly write this?" and let's me focus on the actual problem.

I am a quoting madwoman in this thread!
Anyway, sometimes sitting in front of the computer is the only way I can solve a problem. I try to figure it out but then the characters lead me in the right direction.

RunawayScribe · May 30, 2009

Heh. I do this sometimes. I try to carry a journal or a pen at the very least so that I can write down any spontaneous strokes of brilliance...

Aggy B. · May 30, 2009

ccarver30 said:
I am a quoting madwoman in this thread!
Anyway, sometimes sitting in front of the computer is the only way I can solve a problem. I try to figure it out but then the characters lead me in the right direction.

That's true. Sometimes writing through is the best way for me as well. But sometimes the problem lies in what I think should happen. Backing away from the writing aspect allows me to notice that and then let things move in the right direction.

scarletpeaches · May 30, 2009

ccarver30 said:
OR you THINK you have it all figured out until you go to write it and the characters take over the show. They don't give a damn about YOUR plans... they do what they want!!

Tell me about it. I don't outline and don't see much point in thinking, "Ooh, I should get Character X to do this," because I start writing and Character X goes, "Yeah, whuteva! Ah do whut ah want!"

Epiphany · May 30, 2009

SilverPhoenix said:
Think about writing/your characters all day long, and then at the end of the day, suddenly realise you never actually wrote anything all day?

Or am i just the lone Queen Of Procrastination? -sigh-

I have months where I do this.

CrissyM · May 30, 2009

I work 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, and have discovered that while working I get some really great ideas... mainly cause I'm so BORD at work I start thinking about my writing.

I've taken notes on scrap paper, bought about 15 differant note books, and only a few of the notes have actually made it into the computer. Then there are the days when I just don't make it to the note prosses, or I'm to physicaly busy to write them down even though I'm thinking about it... And when I get home I'm tiered and just want to nap or...

Ya, procrastination is the name of the game.

Anyone else do this...?

Revisions, revisions, revisions

Our Lady of Parentheticals

KoalaKoalaKoala!

Mother Flippin' Rhymnosorous

Nicole Castro

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Back at it

Revisions, revisions, revisions

At least I don't need backing-up

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Not as sweet as you think

Darkly Romantic Curmudgeon

Nicole Castro

Dipwad

Nicole Castro

It is what it is.

Not as sweet as you think

Don't kill the bar, Dude.