The writing process

I really like to read essays about writing, written by authors. When people who actually complete books or stories sit down and think about their process, or the themes they interact with, or reflect on the meaning of their genre, I find it fascinating.

A good example is this post by John Scalzi after finishing his new book Zoe’s Tale. I’ve never paid to read anything by Scalzi, but after picking through his blog for a few months I can tell that it’s only a matter of time before I own every book he’s published. The man can write.

Part of my fascination, I’m sure, is just me wanting to be part of the club. I have always wanted to publish a Sci Fi story or a book (it’s on my 101 list), but haven’t yet had the chance to do so.

Recently I’ve been slaving away on a short story that does not yet have a title, and while I’m doing this I’m also thinking about my writing methodology. It’s a bit weird, and I wonder how similar or different it is from the habits of other authors.

What I’m doing is charging recklessly forward with my narrative. I outlined the whole plot before I began, knowing full well that if I didn’t start with a complete story, it would never get anyway. I also know that once I get about 3/4 of the way through any particular project I am distracted---ooh, shiny object---by my next brilliant idea. Believe me I have them all the time.

So I’m charging recklessly forward in order to get all the way through my plot outline before I lose the will to keep writing in this terribly mundane, and let’s face it, no longer remarkable world that was so exciting two months ago.

The other reason I have to keep going is that if I stop and revise, even for a minute, I will end up being endlessly dissatisfied with what I have just written, and I will move only backwards in the story as I obsessively try to make myself sound like Timothy Zahn (seriously, pick up anything he’s written, and you will understand why).

The second pass, then, is less of a “second draft” and more of an opportunity to start filling in all the missing dialogue, action, and substance that probably should be in a piece of good fiction. I’ve never gotten to this stage before, so I’m not exactly sure how it works, but I’m hoping to find out.

OK, I’ve distracted myself from writing for long enough.