The Basic Process: Fiction
Maybe it is my computer programming and management background, but I approach writing as I do a development project. I spent far too many years treating writing as a hobby. This attitude led to my acceptance of the myth “creativity cannot be turned on like a tap.” Yes, it can be — especially if you are creative every day. The value of discipline cannot be overestimated.
The process I am currently using involves keeping detailed logs of pages, chapters completed, and any other information I can track. Consider it from the standpoint of an assembly line, from design to completion. While not the romantic vision most entertain of writers and other artists, it makes the process flow much better for me.
Fiction
Draft a one-page outline of the story. If the draft is interesting, continue writing, otherwise, place it in File 13. If it’s too complex for a one-page summary, it is more than one story. Some writers struggle to create a summary or outline, but you need to remember that when you try to sell a story the query letter will have to summarize the story in single paragraph. I can spend an entire day trying to condense a story to a page.
Begin a file on the project. The file actually consists several files: a real manila folder in my filing cabinet, a computer directory (folder), and a binder for the current draft of the work. My physical file is extremely important. I place any handwritten pages, audio tapes, and my research for the story into this file. Only when I am finished with a story do I move the file from one drawer to another.
Consider the format: novel, short, play, et cetera. The choice is not final, but it gives some idea of length and structure. You can use a chart of average work lengths to help guide your writing. I try to remind myself that these lengths are averages, of course, but it is always better to write too much than too little in a first draft. All works get the knife, once written.
Construct character and setting sketches, figuratively and literally. I draw maps, time lines, and anything else I might need to insure continuity. A sloppy work in which characters change abruptly or settings seem to drift will be rejected by readers. Now your characters and their motivations.
Establish a schedule for drafts, by chapter or scene. Follow the schedule, placing completed chapters into the draft binder. People ask if it is necessary to constantly print and file a work. Trust me, once you lose a hard drive with a year’s work the backup process becomes routine — and things still go wrong. I have recovered several documents by resorting to the last printed version.
If writing a play or novel, detail every chapter or scene on a half-page or index card. Indicate the setting, characters, lead-in, conflict, resolution, and hook. There are some great software applications for taking notes and even some dedicated word processors that include a “notecard” view.
Celebrate when the first draft is completed briefly... time to edit, again and again.