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catscradle Aug. 21st, 2002 01:36 pm)
catscradle Aug. 21st, 2002 01:36 pm)Another good survey on writing. . .
How do you choose titles for your stories?
Hopefully I base it on the story content. Winding Down the Day is also a folk song title I chose to reflect Trowa's mindset on what life had been like after the wars. Dies Irae is a Latin term for Day of Wrath - I ended the world in that fic. Misted Moon is from a Japanese death haiku - thought it worked as a nice metaphor for that story. The White Cat - well, it's about a white cat. Some are easier than others ;)
Do you write differently with a cowriter than you do alone? Is it easier or harder
With a co-writer we write out the dialogue first in a chat and then add the narration later. I like that method because the fic gets an extra ironing out. If there's something that needs fiddling with, we've got the idea out there and can get back to it later and work with it. I try do that solo as well, but sometimes I forget about it and pass it by - if I'm writing the narration for the whole fic, I'm going to get to it.
Solo I just write whatever comes to mind at the moment and try to write out a complete scene before I move on to another. I don't always do scenes in order, which makes editing fun ;)
It's easier to write with a co-author if I'm writing with someone I'm comfortable with (waves to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
damoyre. We write very well together. Before her, I don't think there's ever been another person I could actually write with. So I guess it's something where you just have to find a person who has characterization ideas that mesh with your own.
Do you write original fic differently from fanfic (if you write it at all)?
Definately. Midset is different, tone is different. There's a lot more freedom, which can be both easier and a curse. Sometimes when I've got a very specific idea of what I want to write about - no fandom is going to fit into the idea - it's better to write something original than to shoe horn the story into certain preset characters and setting. Or sometimes I'm sitting at the computer for hours twiddling my thubs trying to think up something original to write about. Fanfic is the better option when I need more guidelines or I just feel in the mood for a certain type of character.
For series and long works, do you decide a goal in advance to stop at or are they open ended? If you do choose a goal, how often do you stick to it?
For long series (I have two - both are eight parts - woohoo!) I plan out the big goal up front, then rewrite it as I write and end up with something completely different anyways.
How do you deal with character plinkage?
I do what I'm told ;) Seriously, the character does what the character will. If it leads to a pointless story, I'll usually scrap it. But they do what they want. I just type it out.
When a scene feels forced, what are the first few tricks you try to fix it?
Rewrite it.
Are most of your fixes deletions or additions?
It's a mix of both.
How long does it usually take you to write a story? How many revisions do you go through?
Anywhere from a week to a month or longer. Event he short stories. It takes me a long time to write. I revise as I write, then do one big revision at the end. Usually midway through I'll evaluate if the fic is going in the right direction or a dead end - then I"ll chuck a few pages and get back on track.
Do you use beta readers?
Always.damoyre for an insider beta and thebratqueen for an outside perspective. (waves to DaMoyre and TBQ)
How do you choose titles for your stories?
Hopefully I base it on the story content. Winding Down the Day is also a folk song title I chose to reflect Trowa's mindset on what life had been like after the wars. Dies Irae is a Latin term for Day of Wrath - I ended the world in that fic. Misted Moon is from a Japanese death haiku - thought it worked as a nice metaphor for that story. The White Cat - well, it's about a white cat. Some are easier than others ;)
Do you write differently with a cowriter than you do alone? Is it easier or harder
With a co-writer we write out the dialogue first in a chat and then add the narration later. I like that method because the fic gets an extra ironing out. If there's something that needs fiddling with, we've got the idea out there and can get back to it later and work with it. I try do that solo as well, but sometimes I forget about it and pass it by - if I'm writing the narration for the whole fic, I'm going to get to it.
Solo I just write whatever comes to mind at the moment and try to write out a complete scene before I move on to another. I don't always do scenes in order, which makes editing fun ;)
It's easier to write with a co-author if I'm writing with someone I'm comfortable with (waves to
damoyre. We write very well together. Before her, I don't think there's ever been another person I could actually write with. So I guess it's something where you just have to find a person who has characterization ideas that mesh with your own. Do you write original fic differently from fanfic (if you write it at all)?
Definately. Midset is different, tone is different. There's a lot more freedom, which can be both easier and a curse. Sometimes when I've got a very specific idea of what I want to write about - no fandom is going to fit into the idea - it's better to write something original than to shoe horn the story into certain preset characters and setting. Or sometimes I'm sitting at the computer for hours twiddling my thubs trying to think up something original to write about. Fanfic is the better option when I need more guidelines or I just feel in the mood for a certain type of character.
For series and long works, do you decide a goal in advance to stop at or are they open ended? If you do choose a goal, how often do you stick to it?
For long series (I have two - both are eight parts - woohoo!) I plan out the big goal up front, then rewrite it as I write and end up with something completely different anyways.
How do you deal with character plinkage?
I do what I'm told ;) Seriously, the character does what the character will. If it leads to a pointless story, I'll usually scrap it. But they do what they want. I just type it out.
When a scene feels forced, what are the first few tricks you try to fix it?
Rewrite it.
Are most of your fixes deletions or additions?
It's a mix of both.
How long does it usually take you to write a story? How many revisions do you go through?
Anywhere from a week to a month or longer. Event he short stories. It takes me a long time to write. I revise as I write, then do one big revision at the end. Usually midway through I'll evaluate if the fic is going in the right direction or a dead end - then I"ll chuck a few pages and get back on track.
Do you use beta readers?
Always.
damoyre for an insider beta and thebratqueen for an outside perspective. (waves to DaMoyre and TBQ)