When I say I #amwriting. . . (my process)
It always amazes me when I say I am writing (or I #amwriting as I often say on Twitter) and someone understands that to mean I am filling a blank page with new words.
Writing is so much more than new words---so much more than a flight of fancy edited to eliminate typos and grammatical errors.
Writing is a process of crafting a full piece of writing. It is a labor of love (and torment) and it includes so many more steps than making new words pop up on a screen.
One morning a couple weeks ago, I sat down and constructed two flow charts to try to explain to a friend what it is I do when I say I #amwriting.
First, I give you my process of creating a rough draft:
When the rough draft is complete, I begin the adventure of major reconstruction. It looks something like this:
So when I say I #amwriting, now you know. I'm somewhere on the path toward crafting a final piece of writing. Am I writing new words? I might be, but I wouldn't count on it.
Writing is so much more than new words---so much more than a flight of fancy edited to eliminate typos and grammatical errors.
Writing is a process of crafting a full piece of writing. It is a labor of love (and torment) and it includes so many more steps than making new words pop up on a screen.
One morning a couple weeks ago, I sat down and constructed two flow charts to try to explain to a friend what it is I do when I say I #amwriting.
First, I give you my process of creating a rough draft:
When the rough draft is complete, I begin the adventure of major reconstruction. It looks something like this:
So when I say I #amwriting, now you know. I'm somewhere on the path toward crafting a final piece of writing. Am I writing new words? I might be, but I wouldn't count on it.
All those lines looks like a spider's web gone awry..lol...but very true. Writing involves so much more then most realize.
ReplyDeleteSaving the link to this post in my special *ToBeDecided Circle in G+.
ReplyDeleteWant to craft a post of my own featuring this and linking back here :-)
Yes--and this is descriptive of my process rather than prescriptive for anyone else. It looks much more complicated than it feels. :)
ReplyDeleteOoh! I look forward to that, Alexander!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your process, Johanna! It sounds like you put an enormous amount of work into structure and plot. Do you hold to that or find yourself 'pantsing' as you go along? Learning about another writer's process is so valuable.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at "chart." This is a very well-thought out process. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't truly pantzed since my first attempt at writing a novel. I don't really even call that first one a novel, because it had no discernible beginning, middle, or end. There was a point when I stopped writing, but it wasn't truly an ending.
ReplyDeleteSome people are able to write off the cuff and their books turn out okay. I'm not one of those people. I've given a lot of thought to this and I think it has to do with holding all the details of a novel in your mind at once. If you can do that, you might be okay pantzing a novel. If you're like me and you forget details as you go, pantzing is toxic.
Even so, my characters do have their say and plot points surprise me but, before I write those changes in, I check against the structure of the novel. Is the idea really brilliant or am I setting myself up for a lot of grief later on? I explore the detours thoroughly before draining my creative energy into writing those scenes. What are the implications of a change--and am I willing to deal with the implications?
Ahh, I need to make more charts for you, Janis. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always fascinating to get inside the mind of a writer and learn their process. Thanks for letting us in on yours Johanna!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing how other writers think too. I'm fascinated by the details. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is seriously cool. Thanks Johanna.
ReplyDeleteJohanna, forget about Janis. I am the ONE who loves charts. No one understands how complicated this "writing thing" is. Thank you for sharing. I understand torment.
ReplyDelete[...] here at the beginning. I’m still staring at this flow chart created by author Johanna Harness and it’s going to take me a minute to get through. Check it [...]
ReplyDeleteI'm still boggled by what the flow charts indicate. On the one hand, I know my process isn't so intricate. On the other, I know your stories are cleverly knit and more detailed than mine. You've shown us exactly why. I hope you don't mind I've saved the flow charts as inspiration. Perhaps they'll give me the nudge I need to improve my novels. Thanks so much for the work you put into the flow charts and for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
JC
Excellent post. So wonderful to connect with other writers. It's true, look at writing as any other craft, its more than just putting words on a blank page.
ReplyDeleteJoanna--thanks for sharing. I work with business, science, and technical writers, and I use a simplified model called the Writing Cycle. I'm debriefing today from a week-long class and we had many questions about how the indnividual sessions on various modes of discourse tied into that cycle. Your charts have given me some ideas about how I can expand that model to help it all make sense. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteLOVE seeing those cards :)
ReplyDelete[...] post originally appeared on the Gem State Writers Blog on July 20, 2011. [...]
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