What are your writing quirks?

LiMeiLing · Feb 19, 2010

My weirdest writing quirk is that I hate changing character or place names in my stories. I'd happily restructure an entire story before changing the name of one character. It's not a matter of difficulty. I know how to use find and replace. It's just that once I settle on a character or place's name, that's just their name. Any other name would feel wrong.

I'm really flexible about pretty much every other detail. And I like to think if an editor made a good argument for a name change, I'd do it. But I cringe at the thought. When I named the fantasy world in one of my novels, I didn't realize it was also the name of a city in Canada. It's not a well-known city, so maybe I'll get away with it. But it worries me because I really don't want to change the name. I don't even want to change the spelling.

However, for a new novel I'm writing, I thought of an alternate last name to the main characters because their last name is the brand name of a popular candy. I wasn't really trying to make an allusion to the candy; the name just sounded right. But another name just popped into my head in case there's a problem with the first.

Still, this is only one name out of many. So what are you're weird quirks? Anyone have the same problem as me? Or can you top me in weirdness?

Jamesaritchie · Feb 19, 2010

I'm sure I have writing quirks, but I have no idea what they are, or I'd probably stop having them.

Namatu · Feb 19, 2010

I try not to use the first/last names of any people I know. Ever. This can become rather difficult.

Mr Flibble · Feb 19, 2010

When I start a story I almost invariably discover that what I thought was the start is, in fact, the end of the first act and I need to add extra chapters at the start.

ether · Feb 19, 2010

I have the same quirk for names that the OP does. Not so much for places and things, but my main characters. One I have them down on paper, I can't bring myself to rename them. Non-major characters I can do it with, no problem. I have one in my first MS that went through like four renames before I settled on one.

I also have to force myself to write in order. I can't skip around and piece stuff together or it sounds terrible. Not only that, but I'd end up writing all the 'fun' scenes first and ignoring the slower ones and... nothing would ever get done.

Chris P · Feb 19, 2010

I'm too wordy. I love split infinitives. My chapters are either 70 pages or two (no in between). I'm the same as other people with names.

backslashbaby · Feb 19, 2010

I just posted about this, lol.

I like not having to explain everything right there in the same paragraph. I don't like having to 'over explain' things, but if the reader really wants/needs that, I'll do it because it's about their enjoyment.

So I have the darndest time weighing clarity issues.

Namatu · Feb 19, 2010

I will write out of order if a scene strikes me. Otherwise it will go away and won't be as good when I get to it chronologically. My mind is not one to hold onto things for later. The best results are the fresh ones. Once I start thinking something through - scene, dialogue - I need to pull out the pen and start writing or kiss it goodbye.

HighDesertBrat · Feb 19, 2010

IdiotsRUs said:
When I start a story I almost invariably discover that what I thought was the start is, in fact, the end of the first act and I need to add extra chapters at the start.

I'm just the opposite. I usually find my first two chapters can be cut with no loss to the work. They tend to be things I need to know, rather than things the reader needs to know.

kaitie · Feb 19, 2010

I write too long and have a tendency to be wordier than necessary. My current narrator is even wordier than I am, though, and I haven't quite figured out what to do with that yet as it's part of his style. I do pick fun at it every now and again, though.

Anyway, my other quirky things that I'm slowly but surely getting over are an overuse of the words "that", "small", and "thin." I also am not a fan of the word "said," and while I do use it it tends to be one of those things that mildly annoys me at the same time.

(I prefer not using anything at all, or using bumps. I'm not saying it in the replace with a word like "enunciated" sense). I don't like naming characters the first time, particularly in third person. No idea why.

I'm sure there are more but it's 1 in the morning.

Marian Perera · Feb 19, 2010

I have a bad habit of overusing semi-colons; most of them have to be removed during edits.

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 19, 2010

I can't think of any.

Kitty27 · Feb 19, 2010

I am intensely flowery and come dangerously close to purple prose.

I HATE changing names and places. It infuriates me for some reason.

I will write entire chapters out of order if an idea takes hold.

I MUST make soundtracks for each novel and I must have music to write.

I cannot stand to have anybody in the room with me when I write.

I read out loud as I type and ask questions. I also answer myself. Yes,I am cuckoo.

I write much better at night. I really get outrageous on a rainy night. SOOO gothic. Sigh.

Mr Flibble · Feb 19, 2010

Kitty27 said:
I am intensely flowery and come dangerously close to purple prose.

*snicker* me too. I do an editing pass just for that!

scarletpeaches · Feb 19, 2010

I write much better when tt42's online, even if we're not speaking to each other directly. Don't tell her, but I think she's my security blanket.

lucidzfl · Feb 19, 2010

^^^ CReepy.

scarletpeaches · Feb 19, 2010

Hmm. Yes. Her five publishing contracts in less than a year are creepy, too.

Oh, wait, no. I mean...PWNED.

lucidzfl · Feb 19, 2010

I didn't say SHE was creepy

Cella · Feb 19, 2010

I hate editing my own stuff for the fourth and fifth time. Does that count?

lucidzfl · Feb 19, 2010

Is that a picture of you in a nightgown?

jilly61 · Feb 19, 2010

I have to use my 'special' pen to address snail mail envelopes.

lucidzfl · Feb 19, 2010

jilly61 said:
I have to use my 'special' pen to address snail mail envelopes.

Me too, I call it my wife. I can't handwrite for shit. I'm way too shaky.

Cella · Feb 19, 2010

lucidzfl said:
Is that a picture of you in a nightgown?

if you mean me, then nope. It's just a tank top.

eat: sorry for the derail, OP.....

lucidzfl · Feb 19, 2010

Cella said:
if you mean me, then nope. It's just a tank top.

eat: sorry for the derail, OP.....

I think I'm responsible for the derail. Also, its funny, your smiley is looking up and in the opposite direction of your pic.

BTW, That is me in my avatar. Typing is a bitch.

Libbie · Feb 19, 2010

lucidzfl said:
Is that a picture of you in a nightgown?

^^CREEPY

As for my writing quirks, there are certain words I use way too many freaking times, and have to go back later and root out and destroy. Very frustrating, since I TRY not to use them in the first place, but I always do. SIGH.

I need silence when I write, too. And I need to be either completely alone, or around total strangers. No music. White noise is acceptable (steamers at the local Starbucks, etc.) Silence is best. I do a lot of writing at the library for this reason. Absolutely no people I know can be near me, or I can't concentrate and am very self-conscious. This is why I am planning to live in a hermit hole very soon, and only come out in the evenings for socializing. Man, I'm gonna write SO MUCH when I'm all by myself!

What are your writing quirks?

Lost in mental space.

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

~~~~*~~~~

Lost in mental space.

Hired Pen

With great power comes

starting over

Court Jester

So Goth That I Was Born Black

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Back from the dead

Back from the dead

Cella

Back from the dead

aye aye in search of an agent

Back from the dead

Cella

Back from the dead

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

*