A question for our writers

[Haven]

Do you write on your computer, or on paper?

If you do write on your computer, do you save all of your revisions in the original document, or do you save new documents for each draft revision?

Do you give yourself a writing schedule, or do you write only when you're feeling inspired?

I'm interested in learning about your process. I've been writing my entire life, but recently I've started to write longer pieces and I find myself using my computer more than ever before. I've been saving each draft as its own document because I like to go back and look through the process, and I sometimes want to pull things back into the piece that I took out.

I suppose you could say I've finally found my story, because this particular piece has me pounding the keys more than ever before. I'm only 12,000 words in, so it isn't really that long, but in the past I've only been serious about my short stories so this is the longest piece I've ever worked on and revised for an extended period of time.

Also, are you a member of or have you ever joined a critique group? If so, how did you find it? I have a couple groups that I'm interested in joining, but I haven't yet taken the plunge. Usually I just circulate my stories to a handful of friends and colleagues for critiques, but I think now that I have a piece I'm really interested in developing an actual critique group might be a good thing.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dancing Fire]

what is a computer?

the last time i wrote a composition gas was 40 cents a gal.

 

[Haven]

Date: 5/16/2010 1:52:16 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
what is a computer?

the last time i wrote a composition gas was 40 cents a gal.

Haha, DFire.

I am definitely not writing compositions! I''m writing a book, silly.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 5/16/2010 1:54:08 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 5/16/2010 1:52:16 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
what is a computer?

the last time i wrote a composition gas was 40 cents a gal.

Haha, DFire.

I am definitely not writing compositions! I''m writing a book, silly.

do it the old fashion way.

 

[zoebartlett]

My sister and my mom are writers, and they go about it in different ways.

My sister has an online journal (not really a blog) that she updates occasionally. She writes in paper journals when she''s not writing online. She''s in very interesting lines of work (puppy trainer, actress, writer, stage manager occasionally, etc.), and she always has stories to tell! My sister often travels around the country for shows she''s in, and she keeps her laptop and paper journals with her at all times. I know that writing is an outlet for her, and she''s never been involved with writing groups or anything structured. Well, that''s not entirely true. Every summer she works at a creative, performing arts camp as a counselor, and she often runs a writing seminar. I suppose that''s structured in that she and the kids share their writing and encourage each other''s work. I''d say that, unless she''s writing a play for a theater, she''s pretty unstructured. She writes anywhere and everywhere. She writes whenever she''s inspired, and that''s very, very often! It''s funny, I''ve often thought while reading your posts here, that you and she would really get along, actually. Obviously I don''t know you in real life, but just from what you''ve shared on PS, you and my sister seem like very similar people -- very creative, thoughtful people who have many interests and hobbies.

My mom has worked in education for a really long time. She is now an administrator at her high school (she''s retiring at the end of the year though). Before this job, she worked as a HS English teacher, and she ran her school''s writing center. She worked with students on various projects and writing assignments. In her spare time, she works as a consultant and an author. She''s published a few books and several journal articles. Most of her writing is NF, but some of her work is more creative, while other things are more analytical. She is part of a writing group that meets throughout New England. I think they get together maybe once a month or every other month, usually for a long weekend. They take turns hosting everyone at their house, and they spend their days writing, sharing, and critiquing everyone''s work. When my mom is writing a journal article, a book, or when she''s with her writing group, she''s pretty structured. When she''s writing purely for th enjoyment (and not for a deadline, etc.), it''s more unstructured.

I know this was long-winded, but hopefully somewhat helpful. Good luck with your writing!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

My Dh is a writer. He has a couple of things.
He does most of it on the computer, but does have a notebook for when he wants to move around or in case he gets a sudden inspiration. He sort of keeps drafts. After each one, he prints off copies, has various people read them and write comments which he then alters in the original file. He tends to keep the drafts in paper though. If it is for a class and he does not like the revisions but is doing them for the grade, then he keeps 2 seperate files. He also never deletes anything he writes, even if he thinks it is really bad.

As for the timing, he sort of does. He generally only writes when he is feeling inspired, but if he isn''t he forces himself to at least try with little projects. He does a lot for school, so there are deadlines there. He and 2 friends also have a writing group that meets every 2 weeks and they always give each other small assignments. This way, he can write what he is inspired to, but if he is stuck, he will then do the assignment, which are usually challanges or to work on weaknesses in his writing.

His piece of advice is not to have a set time to write, but have a set space. We have a small appartment, so he took some free cubicle walls and set them up and covered them in fabric to create his study, which has helped a lot for him.

 

[kama_s]

I write long dossiers and manuscripts. I used to have a version system. I would begin with version 1.0 (which I would insert at the end of the file name, e.g.: XYZ 1.0). With every change, I would increase it to version 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc. Everytime I finished something significant, I would begin version 2.0. At the end, I would make a separate folder for each version.

At my current job, they prefer a dating system. So at the end of every file name, we add the date it was saved (e.g.: XYZ 2010-05-16).

I always make a new file for every change/amendment. I like having things documented.

 

[Indylady]

Haven, I''m not a writer, but I wanted to chime in and say that I''m so glad to hear you''re writing! I''ve always felt like your posts paint a picture and really enjoyed your writing style.

 

[Haven]

Thank you for sharing your writing style, and that of your loved ones, everyone.

Zoe--Educators run in your family too, huh? Mine is crawling with them!

Your sister sounds super interesting, I love that she has so many different things going on professionally. Thank you so much for your kind words, I know how much I love my sisters so I'm really flattered that you see a similarity between the two of us. (I think *you* and I would be great friends IRL too, by the way!)
I think I want to find a writing group like your mom's group, that sounds like a really valuable thing to be a part of. How very cool that she's published!

Brazen--I was wondering if anyone kept paper copies of their drafts, thank you for sharing your DH's methods. I think I'm going to hold on to my printouts of drafts, even though they have my revisions all over them.
I definitely agree that having a space is important. When we bought our house I "called" one of the extra bedrooms immediately. However, I actually end up writing more on my one-and-a-half chair in the living room when DH isn't home. Funny--I have this beautiful little studio space just for me and I end up sitting in the middle of our house to write.
I do retreat into "my room" when I really need to be alone though, so it's nice to have it.
I think I'm going to take his advice and give myself some time to write every day. I usually only write when inspired to do so, but now I find myself getting anxious about it at odd times of the day and wishing I could leave other things to go home and write. Maybe a schedule will help that.

kama--I really like your version system. I especially like that you save in decimals until you make a significant change. I may adapt that concept to use in my composition classes, if you don't mind!

IndyLady--Thank you so very much for your kind words. That is very sweet of you to say!

Thanks again, everyone! I really appreciate that you took the time to chime in with advice and support. I've never been so into my writing before, well, not since those teen angst years when I thought I was oh-so-deep.

It's been a long time since I've had large amounts of drafts and revisions to deal with!

 

[ChinaCat]

Date: 5/16/2010 1:11:32 PM
Author:Haven
Do you write on your computer, or on paper?

If you do write on your computer, do you save all of your revisions in the original document, or do you save new documents for each draft revision?

Do you give yourself a writing schedule, or do you write only when you''re feeling inspired?

I''m interested in learning about your process. I''ve been writing my entire life, but recently I''ve started to write longer pieces and I find myself using my computer more than ever before. I''ve been saving each draft as its own document because I like to go back and look through the process, and I sometimes want to pull things back into the piece that I took out.

I suppose you could say I''ve finally found my story, because this particular piece has me pounding the keys more than ever before. I''m only 12,000 words in, so it isn''t really that long, but in the past I''ve only been serious about my short stories so this is the longest piece I''ve ever worked on and revised for an extended period of time.

Also, are you a member of or have you ever joined a critique group? If so, how did you find it? I have a couple groups that I''m interested in joining, but I haven''t yet taken the plunge. Usually I just circulate my stories to a handful of friends and colleagues for critiques, but I think now that I have a piece I''m really interested in developing an actual critique group might be a good thing.

Thanks for sharing!

Haven- I haven''t had time to read the other responses but FWIW- here are mine:

I write on my computer, but I have notebooks where I jot down notes on stories I am writing, inspirations, songs, character names, etc. I like to handwrite my musings and notes, but when I sit down to write, I need a computer.

I save new drafts. I also print everything out, I need to "see" what I wrote in order to revise it.

I used to write only when inspired but since I have zero free time now, if I want to write, I have to plan it out. Weirdly, I am writing more now than ever before in my stolen moments.

I have done workshops which is basically an organized critique group. I found it really helpful and am very inspired by reading other people''s work too. I am actively looking for one. In my experience, friends aren''t the best critics. They are either too nice to say anything critical, or too critical in a way that feelings get involved.

Good luck!

 

[dragonfly411]

Haven
Any longer writing I do, I tend to do on the computer. I can easily revise and save the changes, without scratching out, or re writing. For poetry I use paper...b/c I LIKE to scratch out and revise it haha.