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[mare]

I can't seem to find our thread we were posting on. This is the first time I'm coming on today and it was there when I last read it last night. I'm not sure what happened, so I'm starting a new one.

I did see where Julie mentioned school wasn't done yet. This seems later than usual for you. Am I correct in that thinking? I feel like you were usually done before Memorial Day.

Sorry about that, guys. I really have no clue what happened. I would even blame my sausage fingers, but I was only reading last night and didn't come on to post anything. 

[mare]

Oh, and I got my elastic, so I was able to redo my bracelet.

[backstreetsbabyg]

That’s weird… the thread really did just disappear… has this ever happened before?

My last post from last night was asking everyone what their writing process was.(some writing YouTubers that I follow have done challenges in the past like “writing like Stephen King for the week”. I’ve been toying with trying it to up my productivity.

[RokofAges75]

You're right; the thread is gone!  Weird.  That has happened before, and we can never figure out why.  I posted my thoughts on AI and a response to Lindsey's question about writing process that I don't feel like retyping right now LOL.

I'm glad you got more elastic, Mare!

Some years we do get out before Memorial Day, but we started a little later this year and then had two snow/cold days, which pushed us back an extra two days.  Tomorrow would have been our last day otherwise.

[mare]

Threads have vanished a few times before. I have no idea how or why. That sucks when you write out a long reply and it either erases or the thread disappears.

That's a good question about writing processes. I don't know if I've ever really thought about that. I've never been one to map out a story by outlining what I want to cover or anything like that. I usually come up with an idea but don't really act on it unless it just won't leave my head. A lot of times, I'll have a thought, "Oh, this would make a great story!" But then that's as far as it gets. Other times, I find myself constantly thinking about the what ifs of it. That's when I actually start writing it down. Sometimes the Title comes first, sometimes that's the hardest thing to come up with. Generally, I know what direction I want the story to go. I'll have specific parts of the story all done in my mind, but the process of getting there is very spontaneous. A lot of my plot twists happen as I write, never really intending for them to happen until they show on the computer.

I know I've mentioned this before, but "Why I'd do it all Again." Originally started out as a - what would happen if Nick and Kevin went on the Amazing Race together. That then morphed into the idea of having cameras surround them 24/7 as if a documentary was being filmed, which morphed into each one having their own Pov about a day in the life while on tour. That's a lot of unplanned morphing. lol but then ironically, I went back to the Amazing Race idea but then just changed it to fly fishing. I have yet to actually do the Amazing Race. lmao maybe one day.

I have never attempted to write in the style of someone else. I would find that too difficult. It would make sense for someone who is trying to find a voice of their own maybe?

[backstreetsbabyg]

Threads have vanished a few times before. I have no idea how or why. That sucks when you write out a long reply and it either erases or the thread disappears.

That's a good question about writing processes. I don't know if I've ever really thought about that. I've never been one to map out a story by outlining what I want to cover or anything like that. I usually come up with an idea but don't really act on it unless it just won't leave my head. A lot of times, I'll have a thought, "Oh, this would make a great story!" But then that's as far as it gets. Other times, I find myself constantly thinking about the what ifs of it. That's when I actually start writing it down. Sometimes the Title comes first, sometimes that's the hardest thing to come up with. Generally, I know what direction I want the story to go. I'll have specific parts of the story all done in my mind, but the process of getting there is very spontaneous. A lot of my plot twists happen as I write, never really intending for them to happen until they show on the computer.

I know I've mentioned this before, but "Why I'd do it all Again." Originally started out as a - what would happen if Nick and Kevin went on the Amazing Race together. That then morphed into the idea of having cameras surround them 24/7 as if a documentary was being filmed, which morphed into each one having their own Pov about a day in the life while on tour. That's a lot of unplanned morphing. lol but then ironically, I went back to the Amazing Race idea but then just changed it to fly fishing. I have yet to actually do the Amazing Race. lmao maybe one day.

I have never attempted to write in the style of someone else. I would find that too difficult. It would make sense for someone who is trying to find a voice of their own maybe?

It’s not really trying to copy the chosen author’s voice from the vids I’ve watched… more like hitting a certain word count or following their writing schedule I guess would be another way to word it.

[mare]

Oh, okay. I know I usually aim for at least 500 to 1,000 words a day and usually anywhere from 3500 to 4500 words a chapter. As far as schedule, I always write this time every day (9:30 - whenever) fluctuates depending on my schedule. But if I didn't have a regime, I could see me looking for guidance from someplace else.

[RokofAges75]

Oh, I misunderstood the original question about writing process and writing like certain authors, too.  In the first response I posted on the last thread that disappeared, I talked about how I used to unintentionall y emulate authors whose work I'd been reading a lot of.  When I first got into Harry Potter and was obsessively reading and rereading the first four books while waiting for the fifth one to come out, I started using some of JK Rowling's techniques, such as parenthetical inserts in the middle of sentences.  Similarly, when I was reading a lot of Stephen King, I found myself describing settings in more detail, like he does.

I haven't intentionally set out to follow a specific writer's process, but I've definitely picked up tricks and habits from different writers over the years, both published authors and other fanfic authors.  I read Stephen King's book "On Writing" years ago, so I know I've gotten advice from him.  If I remember correctly, he's one of those authors who writes every morning.  I'm a night owl and used to do most of my writing late at night, but a few years ago, I started writing every morning instead.  I've found that it's easier to stay consistent if I do it first thing in the morning, before I get too distracted by anything else.  If I wait until after work, I'm usually too tired and brain dead to do anything that requires mental effort or creativity, so I write before work when my mind is fresh.  I don't set a daily word count goal like Stephen King does, mostly because I usually only have 20-30 minutes to write while I'm getting ready for work.  If I can get 100 words written in that time, great!  On weekends when I have more time, I try to get more like 1000 words written.  Sometimes I'm way over that, and sometimes I'm way under.  My goal is really just to write at least one word a day to stay consistent with it.  I hit Day 1225 of my daily writing streak yesterday!

I started tracking my daily word count on NaNoWriMo a few years ago, thanks to a suggestion from Dee.  I'm sad because the site just shut down earlier this week, and I lost all my stats.  I found another site called TrackBear that is similar, so I may start using that instead.

Another habit I've gotten from other writers is celebrating with a glass of wine when I finish a novel.  It doesn't happen very often because I write such long stories LOL.

[mare]

I didn't realize NaNoWriMo went away. That's something I always said I'd do but never did.

I definitely prefer writing in the morning. I find that by the afternoon or evening, my mind starts to wander, and I find it much harder to concentrate.

The glass of wine thing is a great idea. Maybe I'll start something like that when I finish a novel I'm about three chapters away from finishing the one I'm writing now. I am not a fan of wine of alcohol in general but perhaps doing chinese takeout would work!

[RokofAges75]

I never did the actual NaNoWriMo contest in November; November is such a busy month that I knew I would never be able to write 50k words.  I did a couple of the "Camp Nano" ones in April and July and had a bit more success with that, thanks to spring and summer break.  But 50k a month is still a lofty goal.  I didn't even write 100k words last year (for the whole year), and I'm not on track to make 100k this year either.  But I care more about being consistent than burning myself out trying to reach a high word count.  I'm like the tortoise - slow and steady LOL.

You should definitely treat yourself with something to celebrate finishing a story!  It doesn't have to be alcohol.  But, seeing as how you're not going to get paid for finishing a project, and praise from readers isn't guaranteed, you should find a way to reward yourself for a job well done.  Only other writers understand how much time, effort, and creativity goes into the work we do, even if it is fun work.

[Carter-Orange]

I agree with treating yourself to something when you finish a story.  Chinese takeaway or bottle of wine sounds good

[mare]

Okay wish me luck, ladies! Tomorrow is the big day, and I am mega anxious! It'll be my first time just using the wheelchair. I'm not used to it. I'm treating this trip like a leg of the Amazing Race. (I bring up the Amazing Race a lot lol)

Leave Buffalo at 7:30 - arrive at Penn Station at 3:45
Take wheelchair taxi to hotel at 5:00
Play is at 8:00
Take Wheelchair taxi to Penn Station at 8:30 am
Leave NYC at 10:30 am - Arrive in Buffalo at 6:45 pm 

[nicksgal]

You've got this, Mare! I've been lurking on your journey on Twitter and I think it's going to go great!

I attempted NaNo like five or six times during my life and only won one year, the year I started writing PNecklace again. But when you go way over what's "industry standard" for word counts, that ended up only being 20 chapters and a little less than halfway through the story. haha.

I think that year was just lightning in a bottle, since my work-load was a lot lighter based on what I was teaching that year. In the years since, I haven't even been able to keep up with a "write anything a day, even a sentence goal." Though that's probably a combination of child and work more than just work. But every day he's getting more and more independent, so I'm hopeful he's nearing being more independent soon (in an age appropriate-way, not like leaving him alone at the house and working at a coffee shop)!

As an aside, I hated the in-sentence parenthetical when Faulkner did it -- could your sentences be any longer, sir?

[RokofAges75]

So exciting, Mare!  I hope all goes well, especially with transportation, and I hope you get to interact with Kieran at the stage door.  Can't wait to hear all about it!

Welcome back, Dee!  I'm still feeling a little lost without NaNo.  I never even did it for real in November because that is one of the busiest months of the year for me, but even in the summer, 50k in a month is very ambitious for a slow writer like me LOL.  I didn't even hit 100k words for all of last year.  Some years are better; I was writing more when I was in the honeymoon phase of my current story.  I love those rare "lightning in a bottle" times when you get the right combination of inspiration and time.  Hopefully more of those are coming now that your son is getting more independent!

[nicksgal]

I'm back! I've clearly been very busy watching mundane documentaries about Big Foot and the Bermuda Triangle, so attempting to do something slightly more productive with my summer schedule.

It's definitely sad, but from what I read about it, it sounds like there was a lot of issues on the back end and lawsuits and things going on that weren't great. I think it's a shame that the young writers program is gone, if for nothing else but to inspire future writers. Maybe teachers that did it in the past will keep doing a loose version without NaNo's oversight.

I agree, 50K is an undertaking! You almost need to make it your full-time job. And even if you get those lightening in a bottle moments, there were definitely days when I didn't hit the minimum suggested daily word count. I always felt like when I looked at 1,667 I always thought it wasn't that much, but there were definitely days where I would stare at the screen and think "I will never be able to write 100 words, let alone 1,667!" And then there were days where I forgot to eat lunch and chunked out several thousand words without pause. Writing -- a fickle master.