I read a post today on a writer's process and liked it enough to want to explain more of my own. Each writer has his/her own process and I share mine in the hope it may help a new writer find their process through examination of mine and others.
When I was young- I wrote in the wee hours and often pulled all night writing binges, but writing for me now happens in the morning.
I like to be awake for the opening bell on wall-street and in Las Vegas that means six o'clock in the morning.
Step one is to brew coffee and open the various writing pages on the computer. I read the material from the previous day while the coffee brews. I make edits and revisions and take notes about where the story will go for the day, including bookmarking websites of the casinos I may visit.
Once I finish making notes, I put together the playlist for the day depending on casino, setting and characters. A key note of importance for me is to avoid playing DJ with the songs. It distracts when a song doesn't fit the scene being written and you must stop to find another. Avoiding controllable interruptions makes it easier to deal with the ones NOT in your control.
I let the playlist run on shuffle while I do the morning chores. The monotonous nature of chores allows my brain to chew on the story and the music and do whatever it is happens up there...
After the morning chores, I write for 3-4 hours. I try to take 5-10 minute breaks to stretch, though admittedly sometimes this doesn't happen. I don't have word or page goals, but rather try to move the story in some way or in the very least write the best scene I can that day.
On off days, I revise the morning writing after closing bell or one o'clock Las Vegas time. No matter what I'm working on, I stop and take stock of my progress. On work days, I skip this part to get ready for the shift. I write a summary of the day that will act as a bookmark for when I'm waiting for coffee to brew the next morning.
In the evenings, I read and make notes for the next day. I like to have a picture of the settings I'll use in my mind before bed- it gives the brain a chance to dream about it. And it seems many stories are found in dreams. That and while showering.
I hope you enjoyed this post about my writing routine. How does it differ from your own process?
From Vegas,
Stephen John Moran
READ PART II - MY FICTIONAL WORLD
When I was young- I wrote in the wee hours and often pulled all night writing binges, but writing for me now happens in the morning.
I like to be awake for the opening bell on wall-street and in Las Vegas that means six o'clock in the morning.
Step one is to brew coffee and open the various writing pages on the computer. I read the material from the previous day while the coffee brews. I make edits and revisions and take notes about where the story will go for the day, including bookmarking websites of the casinos I may visit.
Once I finish making notes, I put together the playlist for the day depending on casino, setting and characters. A key note of importance for me is to avoid playing DJ with the songs. It distracts when a song doesn't fit the scene being written and you must stop to find another. Avoiding controllable interruptions makes it easier to deal with the ones NOT in your control.
I let the playlist run on shuffle while I do the morning chores. The monotonous nature of chores allows my brain to chew on the story and the music and do whatever it is happens up there...
After the morning chores, I write for 3-4 hours. I try to take 5-10 minute breaks to stretch, though admittedly sometimes this doesn't happen. I don't have word or page goals, but rather try to move the story in some way or in the very least write the best scene I can that day.
On off days, I revise the morning writing after closing bell or one o'clock Las Vegas time. No matter what I'm working on, I stop and take stock of my progress. On work days, I skip this part to get ready for the shift. I write a summary of the day that will act as a bookmark for when I'm waiting for coffee to brew the next morning.
In the evenings, I read and make notes for the next day. I like to have a picture of the settings I'll use in my mind before bed- it gives the brain a chance to dream about it. And it seems many stories are found in dreams. That and while showering.
I hope you enjoyed this post about my writing routine. How does it differ from your own process?
From Vegas,
Stephen John Moran
READ PART II - MY FICTIONAL WORLD
