My writing process generally looks something like this:
- Muse over a story idea for endless hours while cutting grass, cooking, driving, sleeping (or trying to, anyway), walking, brushing teeth, reading other books, and pretty much anything else that involves breathing
- Sit down to write it, then freak out because I remember that plots are delightfully confusing things to put on to paper (Because apparently saying “And then the main character somehow solves the mystery and is heralded by her brothers as being brilliant” isn’t considered a proper plotline)
- Frantically pull out my plot-writing books, read them, then Google “how to write a plot for ___________ type of book.” Make decaf coffee to sip (aka gulp) while reading (aka zoning out and eyes glazing over) the articles that pop up
- Realize that the step I’m really supposed to be on is Brainstorming
- Light my candle, then chew the matchstick to splinters as I jot down bunches of random ideas (on computer and paper, cause I’m amazing like that)
- Decide to have a go at the plot again – this time following Angela Hunt’s The Plot Skeleton (for simplicities sake). Because I’m cool, I use my small whiteboard to jot down the various elements of what the plot’s supposed to look like
- Begin plotting like a pro, and maybe do a happy dance when I come up with the perfect villain
- Discover the bottom of my coffee cup looks like the sediment of a swamp, and that the texture of coffee grounds is actually enjoyable to chew, although I do begin to wonder about my coffee making skills
- Realize that you need to brainstorm some more, and cutting grass is legit the perfect place to brainstorm. Sigh over the fact that you’ve already cut a lot of the grass, but head out anyway, scrap paper and pen in hand
- Get great ideas, return to the writing table raring to go… to Pinterest where I find the perfect picture for each of my main characters (and maybe some of the non-main-characters, too – we really don’t want to leave anyone out)
- Type out several more plot points, then the perfect opening line pops into my mind, so I slip over and begin writing the actual book #finally #yay #LookIReallyAmAWriter
- Get so excited about being a pro at this whole writing business that I decide to tweet a pic of my writing setup. Only, after I take the picture I freak out because as it turns out, my writing table is a grand disaster
- Spend ten minutes frantically cleaning my writing table (which mostly involves stacking everything just out of the camera’s view), looking through my camera every two minutes to see what else needs to be moved. (Optional: Add stars and rays of light to the picture to make it look like something utterly amazing)
- Take picture, get two likes, feel like a legit pro
- Realize it’s time to go make supper, consider taking my computer with me since I’m in such a good writing rhythm
- Write frantically for twenty minutes after supper and text a couple of friends about the great progress I’ve made
- Fall into bed (well, I actually sleep on the floor, but saying “fall onto the floor” just doesn’t have the same ring to it), ready to begin the process all over again the next day
And there you have it, folks. A fool-proof way to write a fantastic book.
I like it!!😄
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Thank you. 🙂
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I love this, Lyds!! You had me laughing out loud! 😀
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Aww, this makes me happy! Thank you. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Haha! You made me laugh. A lot. #loveyourhonesty #reallife #lifecanbehilarious
Happy writin’! 😉
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YAY! That done makes me smile. 😉
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This is sooo true, lol! =D Except I can’t cut grass, because I’m allergic (girl on a ranch…. go figure lol)- but washing dishes is awesome! 😉
We have a salt lamp but ohh I need a little one when I get my own room again. 😀
Love this post, girl!
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Oh dearie me! I’m sorry you can’t cut grass, that would be sad! I’m sure your family likes you doing the dishes, though. 🙂 And yay for salt lamps!
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👌📝u got skills
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Haha, thanks!
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Awesome. Agree with so much of this! Yes, Pinterest is so distracting to me. I want to look at all the writerly pins on there and find those perfect pictures for my characters and then, JUST as I am about to actually go and get some writing done, I have a NEW idea based off a picture I saw or a writing prompt. 😀 So many ideas, so little time…
-Bekah
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I never found Pinterest to be distracting to me until I got to a place where I REALLY didn’t know what to do next with the book. 😉 Then it turned into the perfect way to still be “working on writing” while not actually writing. 🙂
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!
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