Another 'when to write' question, and researching.

Vaxil · Jul 17, 2006

Sorry, but this was a question I have never felt gonna a complete or 'OK' answer too, so sorry if this redundent. (SP?) :Huh:

Is it OK to write what you 'feel' like writing with out actually writing the story? For instance there are times when I feel like writing a certain scene and I sit down and write it. But when I'm done or don't feel like writing anymore I stop.

I have written almost half a book of scenes like this, and I plan to save them until the time comes when I decide to sit down andf seriously write the idea.

So my question is, can I continue to write and save my ideas like this, or is this just not the way it all works?

Another question, one of my novels is going to require me to do a lot of research on a couple of topics, and is it OK to not write while your doing your research? It seems to logical to not write about it unless you have the knowledge of what your writing about. But maybe thats just me. Thanks!

Cath · Jul 17, 2006

Sure, I believe it's alright to write what you want when you want - as long as you don't have someone chasing you for a deadline.

I think it depends how focussed you want to be at your writing. If you're aiming to be a professional writer then treat it like a job - sit down, get writing and concentrate on the story. If you're writing for fun, do what you like, it's up to you.

katiemac · Jul 17, 2006

Write in whatever order works for you! There's no right way. However, keep in mind that writing these scenes isn't keeping you from the bigger picture. If you continue for too long in this direction, it may end up as a procrastination or crutch tool. But as long as you feel like it's helpful as opposed to a hinderance, keep writing however you'd like.

As for research, that's up to your discretion, too. I don't research as much as I probably should because I'm too eager to get to writing. But, getting started also lets me know how much more research I'll need. I usually answers questions when I come to them. Either way can work for you, but again, make sure you're not getting to hung up on research that you're procrastinating the story.

Best of luck!

MidnightMuse · Jul 17, 2006

There is no right, wrong, up, down, left, right or sideways. There is only writing. You'll get out of it what you put in - so like Cath says, if you're writing to get a novel finished, you need to treat it like work and get'r done. But if, at this moment in time, you're writing for pleasure and testing your abilities - learning - growing - researching, then that's what you should do.

Perhaps you're not ready yet to sit down and complete a novel length work, start, middle, end. Perhaps, for you, for now, doing exactly what you're doing is right for you. It's okay to write while you research. It's okay to not write while you research. It's okay to eat cake while you write, too, just be mindful of the crumbs

PeeDee · Jul 17, 2006

Is it "okay" to write when you want to?

C'mon.

Who's gonna fire you? Who's gonna yell at you?

If I've got ten minutes to kill and I don't have easy access to my work in progress, or don't feel like mucking with it, I'll just go write a quick scene. It might not be related to anything at all, I just write it for the heck of it.

Write every second of every day that you can possibly manage. If it's a time period that you want to write, then by God, write faster. When it comes to "when to write" or "what to write" or questions like that, there are no rules. No bosses, nothing but you and your imagination, and your fingers. Hammer 'till you're outta words, then inhale deeply, and find some more words.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 17, 2006

writing

Of course it's okay. Whether or not it works is all that matters. If it's working, it's fine. If it isn't working, it's not fine.

But if you want to succeed, there always comes a time when you have to plant your butt in a chair and get the work done. All the saving of ideas, and all the research in the world isn't going to get a novel written.

So is all this really leading up to a written, finsihed novel, or is it all just delaying what you know you'll have to do sooner or later if you want to be a writer?

Writers write. Talking about writing isn't writing, planning writing isn't writing, and researching writing isn't writing. Only writing is writing.

NeuroFizz · Jul 17, 2006

To back up what James just said, I agree with all of the above as long as you feel you are not developing a bad habit of jumping all over the place. Discipline is a necessary trait of all writers, and one way it is expressed, and needed, is in seeing projects through to their ends. To me, discipline is more than just hashing out a regular writing regime. It means finishing off projects. Jumping around is fine, and can be good intellectual exercise, but in the early part of your writing career, you may want to work hard on that discipline thing.

If your writing requires background research, it's best to have it done before you go too far into the story. Some of it can be touch-ups in the second draft, but unless you are a fan of widespread re-writing, you may want to get most of the research in order before you get too far.

Steve W · Jul 17, 2006

Hi,

Write in the manner that's most comfortable for you. But only if that gets results!

Research? Is a little tricky. Some people use it as an excuse not to write. Others get so bogged down in nailing all the facts, they spend all their time researching and never write anything. Still others research so much they feel they have to cram everything they've discovered in to make it seem a worthwhile exercise.

I've written off the top of my head and researched after, and researched first, then written. I found the first method best as once you've written your book you won't waste time researching areas you don't need - a problem with the former method. That said, if you know sweet FA about your subject matter you can'd just jump in and write a masterpiece.

Cheers,
Steve

PeeDee · Jul 17, 2006

I tend not to research until well after I've finished my manuscript. If there are details that I need to know before I can write a particular thing, I go find them, I write them down, I go back to writing. I may adore reading about whatever subject is it I'm researching, but reading isn't getting any words written on the page.

This starts to be where discipline comes into the writing craft.

Gillhoughly · Jul 17, 2006

What you write/why you write doesn't matter, just write.

There is no right way to write. You just DO it.

Put onto paper whatever you want and don't worry about what you'll do with it later.

As Joe Bob Briggs says:

Never be afraid to write something that stinks. The more stinky stuff you put out, the more risks you take. And the more risks you take, the better chance you have of creating something beautiful. No great writer has ever been a wimp.

Nobody can tell you how to write, but there are certain things you can do to get to a place where you can write. There are three of them:

Write every day.
Write every day.
Write every day.

I've got that taped up over my desk.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 17, 2006

Research

I do most of my research afte rthe first draft is finished. If I'm unfamiliar with a subject, I do sit down and read straight through two books on the suibject or era, inserting bookmarks as I go, but this takes only days.

Then I write the first draft. If I come to a spot where I need new research, I may do a quick internet search, of just insert a note about what I need and let it go until the first draft is finished.

Research is needed,but if you aren't writing something, you're probably going about it wrong.

bsolah · Jul 17, 2006

I love writing for the heck of it. There's no pressure and inner critic yelling in your ear. You can just write.

It actually helps me get past this odd feeling I have that I'm writing a scene too soon in the story, that I feel there needs to be something in between where I'm at and where I see the story going. It ends up being filler a lot of the time. Does anyone have this problem?

PeeDee · Jul 17, 2006

If you're at a point in your manuscript where you don't know about something...make it up. Total B.S. Lie your way through that part. Then, go back and turn it into something respectable. I think more than anything else, the most vitally important thing to do with the first draft is just to write it as fast as you can. Is it fast and sloppy? Who cares? The point is to get the beginning, middle, and end down. After that, you can slow down and examine.

NeuroFizz · Jul 18, 2006

This must be a genre-specific thing. Writing historicals requires some preliminary research unless the writer is already familiar with the time and place. If that is so, he/she has already done the necessary research, directly or indirectly, to be that familiar with it.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 18, 2006

research

NeuroFizz said:
This must be a genre-specific thing. Writing historicals requires some preliminary research unless the writer is already familiar with the time and place. If that is so, he/she has already done the necessary research, directly or indirectly, to be that familiar with it.

Historicals are where I read two thick books on an era before beginning to write. It's pretty difficult to fake your way through even a first draft without some research.

Another 'when to write' question, and researching.

Vaxil

Cath

The mean one

katiemac

Five by Five

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Jamesaritchie

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Steve W

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

Jamesaritchie

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Jamesaritchie