Preferred writing methods.

[Miss Wings]

So being the nosey person I am How do people prefer to write their stories? For example- I write on paper before transferring to a Word Doc..

[kumainpink]

Same here, only I use Office Org

[sn0rkack]

I use Word. I have a folder called FF and from there I have more folders per story. Each has what I call a guideline that consists of... well, not chapters, but ideas spread out in something like chapters; basically the plot and stuff. From there I usually have a few chapters ranging in interest of the story. If I'm interested in the story enough I'll post it, but most have around 3 chapters. What bugs me is I have ideas and stuff just sitting here but I don't feel like posting and I'll see people with stories just like it and I'm like, "I should have posted it!" but I don't wanna post two chapters and have some people want me to post more and then I'll feel like a doucher cause I lost interest in the story. Maybe one day I'll just post them all.

[Miss Wings]

like i said i write on paper. transfer to either word of open office and save them in 1 large folder named HJP FanFic followed by separate ones that are named after the stories..

[Dimcairien]

I generally write in word, but sometimes I'll use google docs.

[Silvertongue]

Jun 12, 2012 10:24:34 GMT -5 sn0rkack said:

I use Word. I have a folder called FF and from there I have more folders per story. Each has what I call a guideline that consists of... well, not chapters, but ideas spread out in something like chapters; basically the plot and stuff. From there I usually have a few chapters ranging in interest of the story. If I'm interested in the story enough I'll post it, but most have around 3 chapters. What bugs me is I have ideas and stuff just sitting here but I don't feel like posting and I'll see people with stories just like it and I'm like, "I should have posted it!" but I don't wanna post two chapters and have some people want me to post more and then I'll feel like a doucher cause I lost interest in the story. Maybe one day I'll just post them all.

This is exactly what I do! I also carry a notebook around with me everywhere just in case inspriation hits me randomly. Usually that's for book ideas though and not fanfiction. If I don't have my notebook then I'll put a note on my iphone.

[Dimcairien]

I've written my fair share of stories, or started them, on my iTouch or paper. Sometimes I've gotten an inspiration in the middle of the night and it's always interesting to see the results from that.

[eskimoRock]

I always use word, but if I have an idea then i tend to put it down in the notes section on my phone.

[Darkflame4ever]

I keep all the ideas in my head because it's easier to keep them organized, and my wrist starts hurting if I write on paper too long. Now and then I'll make a few notes on my iPhone and then just write out everything in Word.

I try to go chapter by chapter, but if I get stuck, then I'll skip ahead and write the end or a fight scene and then go back to fill in the middle.

[Isilarma]

It varies for me. Sometimes I'll just be able to type them up on Word straight away, but usually I have to write them out on paper. Can't do that for RtBs, but I find it easier to write them out first. And it lets me edit them when I type them up.

[ginnyrules27]

I just use word to write chapters, but when it comes to ideas I jot it down in a note book because the minute I start on story, I forget what the heck I'm writing and then POOF! It leaves.

[Serena R. Snape]

I usually type them up in Word, OpenOffice or LibreOffice (whatever I have installed at the time... ) to some music - music always helps my muse to work.

[Silvertongue]

I can't write when listening to music; it distracts me. So does having the TV on when I'm reading.

[Serena R. Snape]

I'm afraid I'm scared of the silence, that's why I have my music on day and night - unless I'm watching something or eating with my parents (then I just talk a lot. ;D)

[mountaingirl777]

Jun 12, 2012 18:30:37 GMT -5 Silvertongue said:

I can't write when listening to music; it distracts me. So does having the TV on when I'm reading.

same here, have to have silence for me to write or read.

My style is usually just getting on MS Word and just brainstorming. Most of the time when I get an idea, I have to write out right then or else it is gone. Multichapter stories are really hard for me because I lose inspiration after a few chapters because I get another idea and I'm stuck on it.

I do use paper and I also have a few notes on my Iphone about stories.

[Silvertongue]

Jun 12, 2012 18:39:58 GMT -5 Serena R. Snape said:

I'm afraid I'm scared of the silence, that's why I have my music on day and night - unless I'm watching something or eating with my parents (then I just talk a lot. ;D)

I LOVE the silence. When there's a weekend that my brother and sister go to my dad's and my mum is out shopping the house is completely silent and it's absolute bliss. Then mum comes home and that's fine 'coz she sits and reads too. But then my brother and sister come home and it's just like BAM, instant noise and chatter constantly and the cats run away and there's plastic bags everywhere and doors slamming. Ugh...hate noise.

[Trilonias]

I write on word, but sometimes I'll jot ideas down on paper, especially if I'm not near my computer.

I also gotta have music going, but nothing visual. Helps me get into the right mood. Can't have other type of noise though.

[G. Novella]

I jot down all my ideas, flesh out the main points on paper.

Then I abandon the entire thing once I start typing on MS Word and new ideas flow in. And I have to write in silence, otherwise the music starts to affect the chapter, and the characters begin starting to match the lyrics persona instead of being their own person. (Does that happen to anyone, or is it just me?)

[heraldofdreams]

I listen to classical music while writing, often its the HP soundtracks from the movies. As far as story ideas I write in Word and I have one file called 'Chapter Ones'. There I put the summary, title, pairs and a rough draft of the first chapter. I usually have two or three stories going at a time. One thing that really helps me with consistency is I print out a blank Excel worksheet with a space for chapter titles and content and I'll scribble all sorts of notes on the edges and back. You should see all the pages I've got for my story 'Midnight Sun'. I can't stick with one story because then I get blocked and have to try something else.

[Silvertongue]

Jun 12, 2012 20:08:40 GMT -5 G. Novella said:

And I have to write in silence, otherwise the music starts to affect the chapter, and the characters begin starting to match the lyrics persona instead of being their own person. (Does that happen to anyone, or is it just me?)

Yes! I do that all the time. Or I end up typing the lyrics instead, or whatever someone is saying to me. XD

[G. Novella]

I can't read anything before writing either. I start to adopt another character's characteristics into the story and often it's comics and their themes tend to conflict with my stories.

[Miss Wings]

well technically I have 2 accounts to see which story would get the better reviews etc. Account 2 is better because it's short and a lot of people want me to continue with account 1 but I don't think i'm that good of a writer and so I haven't continued.. attempting a new chapter for 1 of my stories on account 1 now and adding a petition into it..

[Ithiarel]

I have an old fashioned Moleskin notebook that I carry around everywhere. The content varies from simple story ideas, to short character ideas, to drawings of characters and settings, to small dialogues. Before I start to write, I sketch out a plot overview by hand on drawing paper. This includes pieces of dialogues and random ideas that come up during this stage. (But usually, at this stage I already have the whole story finished in my head.)
The actual writing is then done on computer (in Open Office).

Through a lot of trial and error I have found out that:
- I work best between 10 and 11 a.m.
- with some background noise (telly, radio, cats, mp3, whatever)

What I can't stand at all, is being interrupted by people. Even if it's just with for a small question - it's nearly impossible for me to get back to writing afterward. Luckily, my family has gotten used to that by now. So, whenever I write I tape one of those NaNo-Stickers to my door ("Novelist at work") and can be reasonably sure that no one will interrupt me, until I take the thing down again.

[Silvertongue]

What I can't stand at all, is being interrupted by people. Even if it's just with for a small question - it's nearly impossible for me to get back to writing afterward.

Same with me and I hate it when that happens. You've just got an idea in your head and then someone speaks to you and it disappears and you can never remember it again.

[viralic1]

I generally type my stories up on LibreOffice. I don't have to write things down, because I get like huge ideas in my head and they never leave.

[Ithiarel]

Jun 13, 2012 10:52:41 GMT -5 Silvertongue said:

Same with me and I hate it when that happens. You've just got an idea in your head and then someone speaks to you and it disappears and you can never remember it again.

Luckily, that happens rather seldom to me. I'm suffering more of a motivational problem. Once I put my text aside, I jut can't go back to them. Instead, I start procrastinating with anything I can get my hands on.

I can remember ideas for a very long time. But on stressful days, it feels as if I have too much in my head that isn't needed right then. And that's where my notebook comes into play. Because everthing I've written down, I can put out of my mind with a good conscience, and come back to it some time later with a fresh view.

[Silvertongue]

What I meant when I said ideas isn't a whole idea for a fic, but maybe how to structure a certain sentence I don't like the look or flow of, or a certain word to use in a description. They fly out of my head almost as soon as I get them unless I'm there at the computer typing out at the time. And if someone talks to me while I'm focused on it, it's gone.