Are you linear writers or just random scene writers

I am not sure what you mean here. Like does one write a scene that is intended to go several chapters out? Or just writes tons of scenes and cobbles them together afterward by trying to get them to fit together once a bunch written?

I have never heard of such. I believe there are probably people who do such, with and without success. But I cannot imagine doing such.

I write it as it comes and the stuff I just wrote provides direction to the next, and so on. Guess I am linear.

I DO, on occasion get an idea that I think to hold for later - but I do not write it out and try to make it fit. I do not detail the scene out. I just let the idea sit about the brain matter. I let it stew and when it comes time for that part to go in, I work it to have it fit the story. Meaning the idea is worked to fit what is there. Rather than trying to splice in and make something work that was detailed prior and does not.

Maybe you can clarify? Just so I understand what you are asking?

ETA: Of course we will tell you to do what you think is best or what works for you. For, only you can know such. If you are going to write you ARE going to HAVE to do this stuff. And based on what you think/what works for you.

Not what someone else tells you is right for them. We are all different and cannot know what is best for another. Just for ourselves. And, we are all in the same boat trying to figure this stuff out. Somehow we all find a way to do it that best suits us.

Just write Blue. Just write. Don't worry about writing. Don't make writing hard for yourself. If you wish to write - DO IT.


Christine

I normally write from beginning to end. However, because I did a fairly comprehensive outline, I'm actually doing chapters out of order. The outline gives me a clear picture of the book so I don't need the previous chapter written to do the next one.

I write in a linear manner, from beginning to end. Rarely one scene will be begging to be written, and I'll write that down, but then I'll go write back to my place in the story. Revising, on the other hand, is a different story. For me, revising is a time where I can skip around if I want.

Linda Adams said:

I normally write from beginning to end. However, because I did a fairly comprehensive outline, I'm actually doing chapters out of order. The outline gives me a clear picture of the book so I don't need the previous chapter written to do the next one.

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Ahh! This makes total sense. I can see such if I were an outliner. That is not backwards really - in my view. For the thoughts were linear to get the outline. Not cobbled at all. Just writing scenes several chapters out for it is set up.

I still cannot do such. But, presented as you explain I totally can see it working.

Christine

Linear. I tried to skip around writing random scenes within a chapter once and it ended up taking three times longer than usual. I usually try to write from beginning to end and only skip a scene if I really have to.

Highly nonlinear. I generally have a good idea of where my stories are going, so I often jump ahead to write particularly interesting scenes.

I am mostly linear. I move forward from beginning to end. Sometimes I can jump forward-- usually skipping ends of scenes or transitions and keep working on the plot. Sometimes I'll jump ahead and write a whole scene, but it's more common to jump back and put in a new scene.

Try something. Try something different. So long as you are writing, you will find what works. =)

I like to write like a reader reads. What's coming next? Well I'll just have to find out. I don't know what will happen in any future scenes nor will I attempt to write any. Besides, every time I've tried to do any "random" writing, it's ended up being complete bupkis. And the story needs to build up to each scene; writing linearly makes building up much easier.

I generally write linearly. If I started writing out of order, I'd never get up the motivation to write the "boring" parts. Also, it helps me think of new possibilities when I have to force through. Of course, because I don't use outlines, I could get very mixed up writing out of order.

I usually write from the beginning to the end. When I get stuck, I tend to write random chapters - I tried writing backwards, but didn't get very far.

I write in a mostly linear fashion. It's easier to understand the nuances of how the relationships have developed, and it helps to know what my character would know at that point. But I don't do a lot of outlining, so my storylines tend to grow out of what I've written.

Sometimes I do write a scene and then realize that it needs to be placed before another scene I've already written. Other times I realize I need to write another scene to bridge between scenes I've written - e.g. to explain how the character got from A to B. If I feel like it I may go back and write that scene, especially if I'm feeling stuck about what to write next, but usually I'll just make a note where the scene should go, so I'll remember to come back and add it later.

Sometimes if I'm stuck, I'll play around with ideas. I might write a scene or an interaction that doesn't have much to do with the plotline as it stands. Then I may decide to add that scene to the story - perhaps while I'm writing it it opens up a new plot direction, or perhaps later on I see that I can add it in. And sometimes I've been really excited to write a big, important scene, and I'll write it out of order just so I don't gloss over everything that comes before just to get to the good scene. But usually I do most of my writing in order.

Mostly linear, since I write character-driven stories. Usually the plot progression is organic to what my characters would think or do for that particular incident, and the plot may change because of that, so it makes sense for me to write in linear form so the plot can evolve organically. However, there are times when I know exactly what will happen at a key scene and I may jump to it if the mood strikes.

Mostly linear. But sometimes I'll write a scene out of order if an idea is nagging at me. I simply put it in different color font at the very end of my manuscript and worry about it at the appropriate time.

I usually write very much out of order (as in, jumping from a scene in the 2nd chapter to one in the 12th). I can do this because I always start with a detailed outline. I do like to leave the very last scene for last, though, just so when I reach 'the end' I'm actually finished. I've completed three novels working this way, so obviously it works for me.

When Blue talks about working backwards, does she maybe mean writers who write the ending first, and then go back and work towards the ending? *shrug*

I'm a linear writer. Even though I outline and plan ahead, I often discover things that change the story in the midst of writing, and these things tend to have a ripple effect on the rest of the novel. So if I write scenes out of order, I might end up in trouble when I get to the later scenes and they don't fit with what happened before.

The one time I would kinda-sorta make an exception would be when writing parallel storylines. I would still write each narrative in a linear way, but I might write farther ahead in one storyline before going back and working on the other, depending on what I feel like writing that day.

Linear. It's after the story is written that I chop it up and re-arrange the parts.

I guess I'm both.
I get ideas and write them down, but often I have no idea where they'll fit into the whole, maybe they won't.
But when I really decide to get down and write a story - like for NaNo now - I go linear and now and then I look at my earlier ideas to see if they fit in.

First draft I'm always linear. Even if I outline.

Almost entirely linear. One jump forward in Doppelganger, but never again and never any other time, I just couldn't handle it.

I write linear. Before I begin, I organize the book's plot points in an outline and use that as a guide. Of course, if I think up a scene to add in an earlier chapter, I'll either make a note of it to add later, or go back right then and add it.

Provrb1810meggy said:

I write in a linear manner, from beginning to end. Rarely one scene will be begging to be written, and I'll write that down, but then I'll go write back to my place in the story. Revising, on the other hand, is a different story. For me, revising is a time where I can skip around if I want.

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I'm basically exactly like this.
Except I tend to revise the same way I compose.

BlueLucario said:

I can't but be curious, are you guys linear writers or do you just write random scenes? I did both. I tried linear, but it's hard to figure out what happens next just to get from point A to B. I tried random scenes(whatever cool idea that pops into my head) , but I end up trashing them later because they don't work.

What do you guys do? How do you go about it.

I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out what to do with my book. And please don't tell me the "do what works for you" because I really don't know. I would also like to learn more about other authors.

I heard some of you are backwards writers.

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I'm linear. If I write things out of order, then when I try to put them in order they'll make no sense. If it's too hard to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B, then you haven't thought the plot out well enough. I don't even outline but for the most part I don't have huge difficulty going from Point A to B. I just write it and it falls into place. That doesn't happen so easily for all writers, so that's why they outline. I myself, I think over the plot for a LONG time (I'm talking months to years) before writing, so it's not so hard to get from one place to another.

Even if you don't write in a linear fashion, you're going to HAVE to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B sometime. Writing it all out of order won't help you solve that particular problem. You'll still have to string the scenes together and figure out how Point B fits after Point A. You still need to make the connections.

I get the feeling that's why your separately written scenes "don't work" and you end up trashing them--because you still can't figure out how they fit together, how to get from Point A to Point B. I do know that's one reason why I write linearly--it's easier to face the issue of how to get from one part to the next when I'm doing it in order. When I write out of order, all those transitional scenes are saved for last and it's made even more complicated to try to patch it together in any sensible fashion. Best to just tackle it straight on. Step one, step two, step three to reach the destination, rather than step two, step forty-seven, step nine...

It's fine asking how other people do things, but you'll really have to figure out what works best for you on your own, because we all do things differently.

I start with linear then get ideas that would work later so I may jot down a few words or a few paragraphs to keep for later. When I come to that point in the book, sometimes those drop in bits work, I may need to rework things but I usually feel it's something that needs to stay, though not in the point of the story on which I'm currently working.

Ex: MC 1 & 2 are searching for MC 3, the sister of 2. 2's been and still is tormented by a magical chair, albeit in her mind, and these interruptions can come at the damnedest times imperiling her life as well as her sanity.

I get an idea for this taunting scene and do it up before I lose it, then tuck it in at a more appropriate time.

The writing of Twisted Oaks is extremely non-linear, mostly because the narrative allows it to be, but partly because there are parts which still require extensive research or character building which I haven't gotten around to.

I began a NaNo today and feel fairly certain it will be linear.