A Look Inside: Writer Process

Last blog, I gave you a look at my Passion Planner and how I manage my personal and work time. Well, let’s dive in a little more with the writing process that I have! If you’re interested in how I go from idea to finished book, this is definitely a good look at what I do behind the scenes.

1. Do you write your first draft by hand, or digitally?

Almost always, the majority of my first draft is done digitally. I use Scrivener as my writing app but whenever I have an idea and I’m not near my computer, I’ll use a scrap of paper or the notes app on my phone.

However, I have been known to write a few scenes in a notebook/on paper, even when I’m at home. Usually I’ll do it in my journal at night or I’ll be taking a break from screens and switch mediums to help the ideas flow a little more.

2. Do you have a writer’s notebook?

Yes and no. I have notebooks, yes, but not one that is only a writer’s notebook. I would say that my Passion Planner serves as my main source of notes, but that’s usually during the writing and editing processes. I have notebooks all over the place where I jot down ideas or roughly outline my work.

3. Planner, pantser, or plantser?

Plantser. There are a lot of bare bones outlines/plots that I have planned, but often some of the little bits between are where I give myself the freedom to pants a little bit.

Pantsing, for those who are unfamiliar, is where you ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ while writing. You just let your characters drive the story with no idea where the plot is going. A plantser, therefore, is a combination of planner and pantser. You have aspects that have been planned and others that come out of nowhere.

4. What is your favorite place to write?

I do love my element at home. It’s a safe place where I can make all the faces I want and not feel judged. Plus, I have a huge monitor so there’s no strain on my eyes.

5. What is your least favorite place to write?

A coffee shop or highly trafficked area. I get distracted by the slightest things, so being in a familiar environment with expected noises is easier for me to concentrate. Also, I like to act out my scenes. Sometimes that’s facial expressions, sometimes that’s actually acting out fight scenes. Best to keep my tripod sword at home.

6. What is your favorite writer’s drink?

I can be boring and say water, but pretty much anything with a bit of caffeine or flavor will do the trick. I like lemonade especially while writing. Not all of us write drunk and edit sober, but I have done it before and it is quite liberating.

7. What do you like to eat when you’re writing?

I’m always snacky so I have to be careful. I can inhale a bag of chips or sleeve of cookies if I’m so focused on writing that I forget what I’m doing in real life. Any snack that doesn’t require me to clean my hands between bites is preferable, especially when my fingers are flying!

8. Do you like to write where it’s quiet, or with noise? If noise, what kind?

I’ve gone through stages of all of these. With the Warrior Series, I listened only to the Narnia soundtracks. With the Smoke and Shadows series, it was Assassin’s Creed soundtracks. With the Blue Star series, I can do a little bit more with my music library. Usually it’s just my top played songs or the songs that go with the book playlist. It has to be music that I’m 100% familiar with lyrically or I won’t be able to concentrate.

9. Do you have a favorite writing season?

I can’t say that I do. I’ve had different successes and it’s all based on what I’m writing. I’d say November is always a good month (National Novel Writing Month) because there’s a whole community writing alongside you.

10. Do you make imageboards or storyboards or playlists before you write a story? Do you do them during? After?

I’ll make ‘bucket’ playlists while writing the Blue Star series (songs that I think go with the story but don’t have a specific chapter assigned) and then I’ll refine it into an official playlist after. As for image boards, yes. Mostly it’s about aesthetic rather than individual characters, but sometimes I find monsters online that I’ll manipulate for my story so it’s nice to have the visual while writing.

11. How do you feel about worldbuilding?

I adore worldbuilding. It’s so much fun to dive into. Am I a stickler for all the intricacies of sewers and plumbing and politics? Not particularly. But the world itself and the magic systems are two of my favorite things to create.

12. How many drafts does your work go through before you’re ready to show it to people or publish?

Depends! My earlier work required a lot of drafts before I was comfortable sharing it. Now that I’ve been writing for a bit and have a better understanding of how I personally create stories, I can do it in less. Usually my first draft is good enough plot-wise where I don’t have to scrap or start from the beginning and can just go straight into editing. That’s not to say that my book doesn’t go through a million revisions before I’m ready to show it, but there’s less developmental work on my end of things.

13. How do you feel about editors and editing?

YES! But also remember that humans aren’t perfect. Neither are you. No matter how many times I’ve edited a book, there is always something that I catch later (or someone else catches). If you can afford an editor, they are worth it. If not, there are other options that can get you a good, polished project.

14. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I think it’s finding that flow with a scene that you’ve been imagining or working your way toward for a while. There are a bunch of scenes where I knew they would happen and it was just about getting to that part in the book (I write chronologically). Once I got there, it was like an unleashing. The words were easy and I just got to have fun.

Honestly, the entire process of creating something out of nothing is fun.

15. What do you do when you have no inspiration, but have to put something on the page/get that story finished?

I had this happen with Star Supernova. I lost my motivation and heart for the project after my best friend passed away. It was one of the first stories I shared outside of my head and she was a big supporter. It was really tough to make the words flow at first, but I found that getting a playlist going and writing bullets for things I needed to get done helped me sit down and work on it. Each time I finished a bullet, I’d write a new one down and get to work.

16. What do you do when you have lots of inspiration, but no way to actually sit down and write?

Daydream the heck out of it. Commit every part of that scene to memory. Play it over and over in your head until you’re sick of it. Then, when you can sit down and write, you know it and it takes no effort.

Also, keep notes whenever you can. Sometimes they become nonsense, but if you have a spare moment while standing in line at the grocery store or waiting at the coffee shop, jot down something in a notebook or on your phone.

17. Have you ever dreamed something that ended up in a story?

Not directly, but I have woken up and suddenly known where a plot line needed to go, even if the dream had nothing to do with the project. Mostly it’s daydreaming the scene in a bunch of different ways and seeing what the consequences of each action are to determine which is the best way to proceed.

18. How often do you hit save/back up your work?

Constantly. I have a computer backup every 15 minutes and a file backup every three seconds.

19. What is your favorite punctuation mark?

THE EM DASH.

20. Have you ever gone to school for writing? Would you?

I considered it for a bit, but no. I’ve always enjoyed the writing aspects of my classes (yes, I was one of those kids who loved history papers and writing project reports). I don’t think I would now, even though it would be fun. I like the freedom I have of writing what I want at the pace I want.

21. How do you get better at writing? Do you read articles, blogs, or books about writing for tips and tricks? Watch videos? Make it up as you go along? Something else?

All of the above, plus reading other fiction books! While I read for stories, I also learn something about writing with each one I pick up.

There is no universal writing advice. What writers do is particular to them. It’s a mish-mosh of so many different tips and tricks, all molded to fit how the writer works.

But in the end, the best way to improve is to keep writing.

22. What’s something you wish you learned earlier as a writer?

In terms of writing, I struggled with pacing. I think I tried too hard to fit the molds of plot archetypes and tried to force everything into boxes rather than let things flow naturally. I would definitely go back and tell myself to just write the story as it needs to go and worry about the rest of it later.

In terms of the business, I definitely started out writing for fun and had no concept of publishing books as a business. It set me back a little bit, but now that I have the hang of writing as a business, it’s a lot more fun (and complicated). At least it helps me use my educational background!

23. What is the first thing you remember writing?

I can’t tell you anything before 2018 when I started writing Soul Forgotten.

24. What is the last thing you worked on?

Finished up The Bones of Crystal Sand and Star Supernova!

25. Your perfect writing day would be…

Wake up and get an hour or so of writing done (maybe a full chapter, but basically get to a good stopping point). Then, move around a bit with breakfast, exercise, and getting ready for the day. After sitting down, I’d do a bit of business work (social media, newsletter, or other marketing things) and get back to the writing. Honestly, I could sit at my desk all day and be happy. Once the ‘work day’ is done, I’ll make a note of what I want to work on the next day and then head out to spend time with the family and maybe get some reading done.