| Monday, October 8, 2007 |
| Panster or Plotter |
I had to borrow this from Marianne this morning. She borrowed it from someone else. There are twelve random questions about writing below. Ready to play?
What's Your Writing Style?
1. Are you a "pantser" or a "plotter?"
I used to be a diehard panster. I still am to a certain degree but since participating in NaNoWriMo I’ve learned the benefits of plotting. Mainly I just sit down and write, though.
2. Detailed character sketches or "their character will be revealed to me as a I write"?
I try to do character sketches of at least my two leads, but I don’t delve into their psyche or find out what their great aunt’s auto mechanic’s sister’s hair stylist does. A lot of those details I make up as I go along and pray I remember them later.
3. Do you know your characters' goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something else you discover only after you start writing?
I like to have the main things figured out before hand, but mostly I make it up as I go. Gives me room to go different directions during the story. Sometimes I find the path I hadn’t intended to take is much better than the one I planned on before hand.
4. Books on plotting - useful or harmful?
I haven’t cracked a book on writing in years. I used to love them but I don’t like taking the time to read them now.
5. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?
I generally get the real itch when I can’t do anything about it, like when I’m at work. I’m both, I’d say. When I’m working on a good scene I just don’t want to stop.
6. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time?
Short bursts. Not necessarily by choice though. I have a lot of distractions. I think if I could lock myself in a room I could write for hours. Hmmm… now if only I had that room.
7. Are you a morning or afternoon writer?
I get up early to write. I probably get more done in the morning. But I like to write at night too. Afternoon too much going on.
8. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate?
I generally write with both the children and music. Mainly children. My “office” is in the dining room which is the Grand Central Station of our home. I would prefer just some soft, soothing music though.
9. Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?)
Typewriter? Wow, I haven’t used one of those in years. I do mainly computer but I keep notebooks in the car and I write in longhand at work when I have a slow moment or I’m on a break. I love to write longhand, but I know that it has to get typed up anyway so I might as well do as much on the computer as possible. And the computer is definitey faster. I can keep up with my train of thought more easily.
10. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One?
Not really, besides knowing it'll have a HEA. I do know the ending before I reach the middle though. I love to write the ending early on. It gives me direction, a goal. It may be changed at some point along the way, but I have always like to know how the book is going to end.
11. Does what's selling in the market influence how and what you write?
Nope. I used to be hung up on writing for a certain market but there are so many restrictions when writing that way. Now I write as I please (although I do try to follow the basic rules, like no head hopping etc). I’m finding that markets are changing though. The formulas aren’t so rock solid anymore. I think this is a good thing.
12. Editing - love it or hate it?
Despise it. Is that a stronger word than hate? ALTHOUGH, that being said, I’m finding that in my current project, I’m able to add so much more through this process. I’ve taken a good story that was in need of a little meat on it’s bones and have really encouraged it to grow. Maybe that’s not technically editing though. When it comes down to the nitty gritty little details I don’t like it at all. I get so sick of looking at the manuscript by then. I yearn for something new and fresh.Labels: plotting or panster |
posted by Ceri Hebert @ 2:51 AM  |
|
| 2 Comments: |
-
I am SO with you on the editing thing. Ugh.
Have a good week.
-
Oh my, I completely understand about number 12. UGH! :)
|
| |
| << Home |
| |
| |
|
|
|
I am SO with you on the editing thing. Ugh.
Have a good week.