1. Are you a “pantser” or a “plotter?”
I tend to have an idea of the beginning and the end and, of course, the characters, but I sit down to write and a scene plays out in my head and I just write it. I’ve no control. People die, crazy things happen, I find out things about my characters that I had never even considered…. And I love it all. But, that said, I definitely have an idea about what’s going to happen. I just have no clue how my MC is going to end up there.

2. Detailed character sketches or “their character will be revealed to me as I write?”
I did one character sketch and it worked all right, but she was my first *real* character. Once I got down how to portray a character, I realized I didn’t need the sketch. I have a great one — super detailed and I can see how it can help a lot of writers, but I learn about my characters as I go. They definitely reveal themselves. Even with the girl I did sketch out, I ended up finding out later that she was a cutter at one point and now has blood lust going on…definitely didn’t plan either of those, but it’s who she is..

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?
Only for one book. The first one. It *might* be my best, but it also has allowed me the freedom not to have to work so hard on the subsequent ones. I have more confidence. Once an idea enters my head, I take a few notes and let it all simmer ’til I can sit down and then I just write. I suppose I do have a good idea of what’s going on, but really only in the back of my mind. And it’s the knowledge the characters give me…not anything that I hyper aware of.

4. Books on plotting – useful or harmful?
Books on plotting are probably not all that harmful. Maybe not super useful, either, but what’s wrong with learning something new? As long as you’re not reading a book about *how* to write, in general (because, let’s face it, if you have to be taught how to write, you’re probably not a writer), I don’t see the harm. [Sorry, I'm not one of those people who believe writers can be made...]
I do believe that learning how to *tell* a story is super important. A writer must know how to portray the action and have reason for everything. If a character can easily get out of a situation, then something in your book needs to change. There has to be a reason for everything. Otherwise there’s no point. And I mention this mainly because a good friend read a few books on storytelling and he made me realize that that’s key. I’ve always asked questions about plot holes in movies and such—ever since I was little. If a character has a choice, but only make a certain one just to keep the story going, then something needs to be done…. Motivation/necessity — crucial!

5. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?
I’m a procrastinator, but only because I have no choice. If I could sit down and write constantly, I would. And I’ve done it before. But it caused some problems with the family, and now I’m taking care of my child completely by myself so I just don’t have the opportunities that I used to. But the itch is definitely there. It kills me.

6. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time?
It completely depends. I *can* write eight hours a day and churn out chapter after chapter. But I just don’t have the chance. Now, if I was getting paid to write novels rather than articles, I’d have my child in day care after school and I’d work a *normal* work day and get a ton accomplished. But I don’t have that luxury

7. Are you a morning or afternoon writer?
Neither. I’m an ‘everyone’s gone to bed and I Finally have no responibilities’ type of writer. Along with the fact that I work better at night. I don’t really wake up ’til about 3 or 4 in the afternoon (I mean, I’m awake and up, but my brain isn’t functioning properly) and I’m raring to go at around 9-10pm. I stay up ’til 3, on average, but some nights I don’t even go to sleep. My personal filter tends to disappear then and I can just be me and let the characters flow through me at the same time. I don’t have to be a mom or a daughter or whatever else I’m supposed to be. I can just be a writer.

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 can write with about any noise besides music. Only because I’m way too into music and I’ll start listening to the lyrics and then my thoughts get all jumbled. I edit with music, though. Editing is like doing the dishes to me. Just second nature. Even though my characters write for me, it still takes more effort to churn out the draft than it does to revise/edit.

9. Computer or longhand? (Or typewriter?)
Computer. I’ll sometimes write scenes in my notebooks or journals, usually the beginning of a book — to become more personal with it. If I write it out longhand, I create a stronger bond with the brand new characters. But once that part’s done, it’s off to the computer I go. Even typing, it’s hard to keep up with my thoughts. I cannot write fast enough.

10. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends. My first book, yes. The other three I have going…I’ve not a clue. But I have others in my head that I know the ending to. I’m really not a type of writer you can pinpoint. I am how I am and that means jack…which can be rather annoying at times.

11. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write?
I’ve honestly only considered the market once, and it was more about what was best for my character more than the market. But the decision was huge and market did factor in. Otherwise, an emphatic NO! If you’re writing for the market, well, nevermind. I won’t go there….

12. Editing – love it or hate it?
Adore it. I love making something better. It’s so great to me. But hey, I went to school to be an editor so I’m a little different than other writers. I know most aren’t the least bit fond of revisions.

13. Why do you want to write?
It’s not so much that I want to — I have to. It’s just me. Even if I’m just making a list for the store…I love writing. I love putting words together. I can do that with speaking, and I do — I don’t shut up half the time — but writing is just so much more. It’s a life in itself. Whole other worlds…. It’s just the best. I can’t Not write.

14. Do you want to publish your work? Why?
Of course! Some things are just for me, but I love sharing what I’ve written with others. I’d adore it if that could happen on a larger scale.

15. Do like to write alone or do you like to work with others?
Alone. Yup. I like advice from others after the fact, but while I’m writing I like to be alone. But heck, even if I’m not alone, you’d think I was. I ignore everything else going on around me. I can’t help it. Writing sucks me in and has more of a hold on me than pretty much anything else in life. Seems writing is my life.

Since winning her first writing competition at a young age, Eden Tyler, has only fallen more in love with the written word. She uses her English, Psychology, and Sociology backgrounds to create depth to her own stories and novels while contributing to and running websites about writing. This is what fulfills her, along with working as Co-Editor for Fuel Your Writing, but she also enjoys the freelance work that puts food on the table (and that ever-essential roof overhead) for her family.

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So, I’m not one to outline. I’m not one to plan—except for who my main character is and what the general story is, along with an ending. I guess that’s an outline of sorts, but it’s usually all just a bunch of random notes in journals or scraps of paper or scenes playing over and over in my head just waiting for me to write them.

Then along comes NaNo. Yeah. Whole new experience for a so-called organic writer. In essence, it’s a rather primal type of expression, but at the same time, you only have thirty days and you need a plot. Plain and simple. Yeah, a character is great, but a plot is what’s gonna get you through the thirty days of mindlessness. Plot…mindlessness. The two don’t seem to go hand in hand, but they do.

I’m a little behind on my goal as of this moment, but I’m about to catch up by doing what I always told myself I’d never do. I’m gonna pull a gun on my character. Something crazy and horrible happened in my hometown—just down the street from me—a couple nights ago, and it resulted in a death. Real life, meet NaNo book.

My character, Kyle, is just kind of dragging at this party. Of course things have happened and she’s just a big ole mess as far as people go, so there’s a story there. But, I was finding I had no clue where the story was going.
Well, since I’m not a plot/outline gal, I’ve decided to be a gun gal. 

Do y’all do things like that? Or is it a cliche that people suggest, yet no one really does? Like, if you’re having a problem with a character and s/he is going nowhere, not pushing the action along, kill him/her off. Make something crazy happen.
See, I’ve never made anything happen. But I’m about to. I’ll let you know how it goes, but I’m also interested in how you guys deal with situations like this. I also wonder if, by doing this writerly thing, am I growing as a writer? Am I learning what needs to be done to make things work? Or am I so desperate I’m becoming less of a writer? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not insecure or doubting this plan of mine. I just wonder….

Do you use writers’ tricks? If so, have they worked? Let me, and all of our readers, know. I’m in the mood to learn something and who better to learn from than fellow writers, right?!?

Image Credit

Since winning her first writing competition at a young age, Eden Tyler, has only fallen more in love with the written word. She uses her English, Psychology, and Sociology backgrounds to create depth to her own stories and novels while contributing to and running websites about writing. This is what fulfills her, along with working as Co-Editor for Fuel Your Writing, but she also enjoys the freelance work that puts food on the table (and that ever-essential roof overhead) for her family.

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Today I started writing my NaNo novel. I was only supposed to be planning it, but last night a perfect opening paragraph formed in my mind. So I spent the better part of today trying to remember exactly where my head was at the time to be able to reconstruct the beginning of the novel. After a while, I realized that was an impossible task as I’m not the one who writes my stories. My characters do.

The only reason I was even thinking about my NaNo book is because Alexis has clammed up on me. She’s being rather stubborn and is as bad of a procrastinator as I am. She does not want to move forward and deal with all the difficulties that are ahead of her. Her absence has allowed my new character, Kyle (whom I found and briefly talked about in a post a couple months ago), to move forward and start whispering her story in my ear. Kyle’s pretty much at the shouting point now, whereas Alexis seems to have been rendered mute, so I gave in earlier today and wrote the first chapter and part of the second of Kyle’s story.

Yes, Alexis is frustrating me, but I’m falling in love with Kyle. She’s a cool chick and I’m loving learning about her. And hey, maybe I’ll find out that Alexis is jealous and likes to be center stage and the fact that I’m paying attention to Kyle will light a fire under Alexis to move on with her life and do what she has to do. It won’t be pretty, but it needs to be done and her story is great. So I’m hoping to get two awesome books out of this.

My point . . . yes, I’m getting there. And yes, I know I might be making myself sound insane in the process, but it’s true that “writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia,” just as E.L. Doctorow said. Sometimes I feel rather insane, but I love it!
So, yes, my point — are you, the writer, in charge of your stories? Do you plan everything out and make your characters do what you think they should? If you’re not getting anywhere, can you pull out a gun on your MC and see how s/he reacts to get the story moving ahead?
Me, I can’t do that. I just work backstage. My characters dictate everything, and if they’re not talking, no writing is getting done. Which is why it’s taking me so dang long to finish this first book. I’m almost there, but not quite. I have a fighter on my hands who just will not give in to my demands. Her demands are what matter.

So, are you in charge? Or are your characters? How do you write?
(I’m really hoping I’m not the only crazy one who believes her characters to be real and in control…. Please tell me I’m not! )
I’m interested to see how y’all go about telling your stories to the world.

Since winning her first writing competition at a young age, Eden Tyler, has only fallen more in love with the written word. She uses her English, Psychology, and Sociology backgrounds to create depth to her own stories and novels while contributing to and running websites about writing. This is what fulfills her, along with working as Co-Editor for Fuel Your Writing, but she also enjoys the freelance work that puts food on the table (and that ever-essential roof overhead) for her family.

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ENCOURAGE: 1483, from Old French encouragier, en (make, put in) + corage (courage).

COURAGE: 14th century, from Latin cor, heart, a common metaphor for inner strength.

When we encourage someone, we offer them courage, strength, and heart. These elements combine to give that person something even more spectacular—the ability to move on in the face of struggle, sorrow, and pain.

You may be wondering how this relates to writing since this is, of course, a site for writers. Life can be hard. Sickness pervades. Love dies. Hardships loom. But in spite of all that, we carry on and pick up where we left off the day before. So today I would like to offer you (yes you, the one with your fingers on the keyboard) the inner strength you need.

I want to give you courage to sit down at the computer one more time to hash out those words that just won’t seem to come. I want to give you heart that all is not lost when the inevitable rejection arrives—three times in one day. I want to embolden you to face your dreams and your fears, which are probably one and the same. I want to encourage you, dear writer, to do what must be done so you can fill the screen with words—glorious, meaningful words—by the end of each day.

So tell me, friends, what I can do to encourage you? And, more importantly, what can you do to share that inner strength with others?

My Monday post, though a little late:

I have stated on writing since last year, and by “writing” here I mean fiction writing. I’ve come to find that one of the biggest things that distinguishes one writer from another is his or her writing habits. I’ve been through a string of workshops lately, and find that most writers, published or unpublished, tend to have certain writing habits, which might work for or against them.

For instance, as we all know, writing everyday is a good habit, writing only when an idea strikes is probably not such a successful one.

I was wondering what kind of writing habits each of us have. I will talk about one of mine in the post, and you ladies can advise me on it.

Well, my writing habit goes like this: When I’m doing my article writing for a living, I do it at my desk, on the laptop. When I write fiction I do it on a paper notebook in longhand, while sitting on the sofa (this kills my back) and later type it in to my laptop. The typed version edits the scribbled version as it moves along.

Feel free to talk about your writing habits as well, so we can all discuss what good/successful writing habits are, and how we can take advantage of them!

Because I’ve been somewhat ‘stuck’ in my writing, I’ve taken this opportunity to do some revisions. I’ve checked out a couple of websites looking for advice and have found some useful tips. Here at Flogging the Quill I’ve also come across something I don’t totally agree with, and would like your opinion. Toward the middle of the post you’ll find this:

eyes

This is an example of improper usage. Many writers use “eyes” when what they really mean is gaze, or glance, or stare. Some examples in which I take the usage to the next logical step.

Her eyes were on the floor. (Luckily, no one stepped on them.)

His blue eyes bored into her. (And then blood gushed from the two holes in her belly.)

She felt the woman’s eyes searching for her. (It tickled when they slid across her face.)

His tired eyes land on me as he glances around the room. (Then they drop to the floor and bounce across the room.)

My eyes follow the headlights. (I ignore the wrenching pain when they leave their sockets.)

Roger kept his eyes on the road. (He realized his mistake when the ice cream truck ran over them.)

While I find this comical, I must admit I use sentences like these a lot:

I threw my hands over my head and fell back, eyes still glued to my attacker.

His eyes drilled a hole in the floor.

His eyes trailed the ground in front of us.

So my question is this– is it wrong to use sentences such as these? Could they be improved by using the verb stared, glared, gazed, etc?