Ask Dr. LJ: Writing Fiction

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So a couple of questions for those of you Out There who write fiction:

• How much or how little do you know about your characters or story before you dig into the actual writing? Do you allow yourself to make them up on the page or do you do significant amounts of pre-writing?

• How many different projects do you generally have going at one time? Do you tend to focus all of your energies on one story at a time or bounce among your projects?

• Do you write your stories in chronological order? In the order in which the events will be read? In whatever order the events occur to you? Alphabetically by chapter name?

I know where my answers to these questions come down (Not enough; too many; starting from Page 1 and moving forward) but I'd like some different perspectives 'cause I don't feel like the way I've traditionally tried to do things is working out all that well for me. Time to try some new approaches, I think. So what works for you guys?

Comments

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

First off - I did a post for you, about getting to know your characters. Clicky!

this seems like as good a place as any to tell you that I really enjoyed your PYH story on Friday

Thank you!

I usually don't know my ending, either, so I think I'm going to try that.

Yes, do. :)

What sort of stories do you write?

So was what you wrote on Friday going to be part of the narrative when all is said and done, or is that more for your benefit (and the benefit of those getting to read it here) than anything else?

It wasn't going to be, since my main character is suposed to be finding this stuff out in flashbacks - but now I think she may find the bit I wrote stuffed into a cabinet in her apartment or something, because I like it. :)

And if so (or if not, really), how often, if ever, do you find yourself writing pieces that you know aren't intended to be published but fill in story gaps for you? (I see you answered that to some degree in regards to Shayara in the next 'graph — does it hold true for your other works as well?)

With Shayara, very often. There's just too much story there for all of it to make it to general audiences, but I like writing it - and I've been told that, even when the average reader doesn't see all of the backstory, they can sense that there's a lot there, and it gives the characters additional depth.

With the other stuff, not really - probably because the other stories are far more contained.

I think it's been hard for me to allow myself to do that, writing stuff that no one but me's necessarily ever going to see, because I get far, far too focused on the end result of my writing as a measurement of productivity and not enough on the process of writing itself.

Well, think of it as character development and as exercising your writing muscles!

Writing non-linearly used to intimidate me, because I felt like writing The Big Stuff would set it in stone in my mind, and that I then wouldn't be able to rewrite it (and do it better) when the time comes. This has turned out to not be the case...

Out of curiosity, do you have a publishing timeframe for Shayara?

Yes. As soon as my artist freakin' draws it. *laugh* I love her, she knows my world and characters, she's perfect, but she has a bit of a mental block against doing the work. This is why I'm focusing on doing stuff like the primer - I write a lot faster than she draws...

[badlittlemonkey.livejournal.com]

First off - I did a post for you, about getting to know your characters. Clicky!

Thank you, that was awesome! Very helpful. I'm actually anxious to try out some of your recommendations, but I just haven't had a chance to do any writing (or even respond to your response until now...blech, *razzle frazzle* st00pid having towork while I'm at work).

Also, I really like the snapshots you've posted of some of your characters. I really thought you did a nice job summing up their essences in a few hundred words. Even that little bit you included in each paints more of a vibrant picture than I've managed when writing thousands. But I'm sufficiently inspired to try it again... especially because just reading yours felt like giving me permission, if you will, to write stuff that doesn't have to be part of the narrative. My brain works in bizarre ways sometimes. :)


What sort of stories do you write?

Ah, that there's part of the problem. I'm still trying to find the stories that are mine to tell. I've tried writing "literary" fiction, crime fiction, superhero comics, non-superhero comics and young adult fantasy (which is where the characters most active inside my head lately are from)... I keep finding that I'm writing things which don't feel quite right to me, which is useful for know what not to do, but I still haven't found that story that just sings in my head, y'know? Though again, I think the YA fantasy story that's been kicking around for awhile has potential. I had started writing it and stalled out at around 15,000 words -- it was at that point that I officially decided the NaNoWriMo "just do it" method Didn't Work For Me.



With Shayara, very often. There's just too much story there for all of it to make it to general audiences, but I like writing it - and I've been told that, even when the average reader doesn't see all of the backstory, they can sense that there's a lot there, and it gives the characters additional depth.

I'd certainly agree with that, as a reader -- even what little bit of your Shayara stuff I've read in your LJ implies a vast history, and I never doubted for a moment that even if you don't know all of it yet, you certainly know plenty. :)


Writing non-linearly used to intimidate me, because I felt like writing The Big Stuff would set it in stone in my mind, and that I then wouldn't be able to rewrite it (and do it better) when the time comes. This has turned out to not be the case...

*nods vigorously*


Yes. As soon as my artist freakin' draws it. *laugh* I love her, she knows my world and characters, she's perfect, but she has a bit of a mental block against doing the work. This is why I'm focusing on doing stuff like the primer - I write a lot faster than she draws...

As I mentioned above, I've wanted to write comics for a long, long, long time, but I've just never really pushed myself toward it. So you have my great admiration (plus a twinge of jealous mixed with inspried) for actually getting it done, or at least getting a start. How did it feel to see your story actually in print in that anthology?



Oh, random thingy: I've always really enjoyed your Kaylee mood pics. :)

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday!

I'm actually anxious to try out some of your recommendations

You should do some character snapshots!

I really thought you did a nice job summing up their essences in a few hundred words.

That's the challenge. Compressing. Haiku, rather than sonnet, kinda.

especially because just reading yours felt like giving me permission, if you will, to write stuff that doesn't have to be part of the narrative. My brain works in bizarre ways sometimes. :)

Mine too. :) I do know what you mean.

I keep finding that I'm writing things which don't feel quite right to me, which is useful for know what not to do, but I still haven't found that story that just sings in my head, y'know?

*nods*

Though again, I think the YA fantasy story that's been kicking around for awhile has potential.

Tell me about it!

it was at that point that I officially decided the NaNoWriMo "just do it" method Didn't Work For Me.

Me either, really... I keep trying it! But it doesn't work.

even what little bit of your Shayara stuff I've read in your LJ implies a vast history, and I never doubted for a moment that even if you don't know all of it yet, you certainly know plenty.

*grin* Thanks. :) The frustrating thing is that there's so much I can't post, because, well, massive spoilers!

How did it feel to see your story actually in print in that anthology?

Omigosh, it was terrifying. The weeks leading up to the release? Terrifying. Everyone around me had to put up with my constant mantra of "What if I suck?"

Getting the actual comic, though, and seeing my stuff in there - in something that people can pick up off the shelf and buy - wow. It's an almost indescribable feeling. *hug*

[badlittlemonkey.livejournal.com]

You should do some character snapshots!

Very, very high on my list of things to try, specifically with the main characters from my YA book that's been gnawing at me. Those are the characters I know the least and want to get to know most. Maybe once I have a chance to do that I'll even post the results (if they don't suck incredimuch). :)

Question that just occured to me: does the fact that you post these snapshots and other bits of your projects onto your various LJs help keep you going with them? Does having some sort of public demand, even just LJ friends list demand, help motivate you? I know that even just with my blog, I feel guilty if I go too long without putting something up; maybe that would help me out. Hmmm.


Though again, I think the YA fantasy story that's been kicking around for awhile has potential.

Tell me about it!

Mmm, I don't want go get too much into the details here just yet, but I'll tell you that it's a modern-day urban fantasy sort of thing dealing with (hold onto yer hats!) a teenage girls who discovers that she's more than she appears. And yes, I realized that I probably just described at least half the books in the YA section at your local Barnes and Noble. Rest assured that the details will hopefully make it seem less clichéd than that one sentence made it sound. ;)

I'll also spill the fact that the concept and execution have been influenced by Joss Whedon more than anyone else, which means I'm specifically fighting against making it too Buffy-like at every turn. That gets back around to the character snapshots... the more I know about my lead character, the more I'll discover all the ways in which she's not Buffy. I'm very cognizant — perhaps a little too much so, honestly — of that influence and want not to be ripping His Jossness off too much.


it was at that point that I officially decided the NaNoWriMo "just do it" method Didn't Work For Me.

Me either, really... I keep trying it! But it doesn't work.

Yup. I wish it had taken me fewer attempts to learn that.


Omigosh, it was terrifying. The weeks leading up to the release? Terrifying. Everyone around me had to put up with my constant mantra of "What if I suck?"

Getting the actual comic, though, and seeing my stuff in there - in something that people can pick up off the shelf and buy - wow. It's an almost indescribable feeling. *hug*

I hope someday also not to be able to describe that feeling. :)

I've gotta tell you that this conversation with you has been pretty damn inspirational. I think I tend to keep my energy/excitement/interest level about writing up best when I'm able to talk to other people about the process and how they deal with it. And that doesn't happen as often as I might like. Though a friend of mine is organizing a "creative night" where a bunch of people gather at her house, all spread to different parts of the house and work on their creative pursuits — in theory, the camraderie helps exactly that problem I just described. Anyway, rambling, sorry. Thank you so much for all of your words! *hugs*

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

does the fact that you post these snapshots and other bits of your projects onto your various LJs help keep you going with them? Does having some sort of public demand, even just LJ friends list demand, help motivate you?

Yes! Very much so. It helps to get the feedback - both to get audience pressure (the demand for more) and to get some feedback that my writing doesn't suck. I'm not writing into a vacuum.

Though a friend of mine is organizing a "creative night" where a bunch of people gather at her house, all spread to different parts of the house and work on their creative pursuits — in theory, the camraderie helps exactly that problem I just described.

I look forward to hosting stuff like tht when I get up there. :)