Writing Process

Like Frey_a I'm in Australia so the prompts come in early / late afternoon Saturday depending on daylight saving. (Because we're in the other hemisphere, relative times shift by two hours - you go forward, we go back and vice-versa.)

So in theory:

Truth be told, I'm a little frightened by how closely my process mirrors some other's here. Well, with a few exceptions.

For example, write a second story and offer one as a sacrifice and hope to finish the better one before the time limit. (This has happened in at least three competitions but not in the current flash.)

I do wait for the prompts and sleep on them unless an idea strikes right away. I will scratch out the general plot, characters and then sleep on it.

Then in the morning with any luck, I can punch out a first draft in the morning. I write it all. If I have to cut, so be it. Research, technical details get added last. Cut back later. Ha ha.

Edit.

Beta readers.

If it gets this far without self-loathing or doubt then I probably don't have a second story already started somewhere in the back of my head distracting me. "Pick me. Pick me. I'm the better choice."


After my husband asks "What?" for the dozenth time, I know I've been talking to myself. So that's my process. So...not like other's at all. Sorry!

FireHorse wrote: Like Frey_a I'm in Australia so the prompts come in early / late afternoon Saturday depending on daylight saving. (Because we're in the other hemisphere, relative times shift by two hours - you go forward, we go back and vice-versa.) So in theory: - I read the prompts, then carry on with my afternoon while brewing ideas. This can include brainstorming with my family or any other poor sucker who happens to show up. The cats are not interested so I've given up on them. - later afternoon / evening I sit down and write a first draft, then sleep on it - quick review on Sunday morning for obvious improvements and time to get out to the betas - edit, finalise and submit Sunday night so I can focus on work Monday. Unlike Frey_a I work for myself. That gives me a little more flexibility. So in practice: - I read the prompts, then carry on with my afternoon while brewing ideas. This can include brainstorming with my family or any other poor sucker who happens to show up. The cats are not interested so I've given up on them. - late evening I sit down and pretend I'm writing a first draft. Actually I scroll the forums, research, play games and generally procrastinate - sometime between 1am and 4pm I decide it's time to stop procrastinating and write something. Then I get into the groove and write and tinker and edit till at least midday. - sometime on Sunday afternoon / evening I'm ready to submit to betas. I love betas but I don't share first drafts. I like them fairly polished before they go out. - Edit more based on beta feedback. Sleep on it. - wake up Monday. Review. Submit. - Tinker more when I'm meant to be working. Resubmit. Obsessively check (no-work) email for additional beta feedback. Resubmit. - Finally get into some work. Come up for air, think of something I want to change and discover the deadline has passed. ...I'm meant to be working now, but here I am procrastinating on the forums and we don't even have prompts yet!!!