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Before you write something, how much time do you spend on the brainstorming, outlining, etc. stages? What percentage of your time do you actually spend writing the actual piece?

I never plan...lol Usually whatever pops into my head..thats what comes out. Sort of on the spur of the moment. If I get an Idea and I don't want to lose it...I HAVE to write it down, otherwise I'll forget it and end up kicking myself in the end. Kudos man,

Ben out

I let the ideas bounce around in my head for awhile before I actually begin writing. Sometimes I have the material written before I start to write! However, this weekend I observed so many character types and story ideas that I did write them down for review later.

Normally 4 or 5 new ideas will come to me each week. I never do any indepth outlining or brainstorming. Occasionally I'll brainstorm after I am halfway through a work of fiction. But most stuff, especially poetry is straight off the old, demented but loveable cranium.

Normally on the train 7, I use the commuting time to think and develop stories, but the real deal is in front of the word processor. Sometimes I think weeks on certain subject or idea and when I'm writing I quickly give it up.

It seems like people's answers mostly boil down to: some planning before, some during, some after, but not too much. At least that's what I see--maybe I'm projecting. In some ways I'm always planning, but only one or two steps ahead, in tune with a vague motion. Then I head there and get lost along the way, discovering 4 or 5 steps in between what I thought were just 1 or 2. Then I back off, maybe plan a little more, and when I sit down am always surprised by how much smarter my fingers and keyboard are than my overt brain is. Some kind of magical tandem. "Planning" for me means "hammer-handedly trying to convince myself I know what I'm doing, enough to convince myself to sit down." The beauty is usually in the accident, which is much more lovely than anything I could have "planned," and usually more efficient.
Thanks for reading.
N.S.

While I was working on the first draft my novel I did some pre-planning and research, but mostly I worked on getting words to the page. Then, as my story progressed, I kept a rough outline of what I'd already written and where I thought the story would go, but as I got better ideas, I changed the outline. I found this method especially helpful after the first 100 pages. There were times when I'd have to leave the manuscript for a few weeks. When I came back to it I didn't have to read the whole manuscript over again to put myself back into the story--I just read the outline.

I think some planning helps on those days when your brain doesn't want to settle down and write--you can't use writers block as an excuse because you know what the next scene is--it's right there on your outline.

I also think it's important to the creative process to be open to ideas in the moment. Outlines and planning don't have to be unchangeable.

I never plan. The characters write the story for me. If I plan at all, it's like nskoenings, one or two steps ahead, little things here and there. A scene or two. I never plan the end.

I have one story where I did plan the end, and it sucks for me. I don't want to write the middle anymore. Because what it all comes down to is that while I share my writing with others, I write for me. And if I know how the story ends, then I know how it ends. I don't need to see the rest of it.

Unfortunately, I feel like I spend too much time planning, and not enough doing actual writing. I've had entire chapters, scenes, dialogues written in my head, but when it comes time to put it down on paper/screen, I find something else that needs polishing up or worked out. Procrastination is a terrible habit for me. I'm hoping that will change for me, soon.

I think it depends. If I have a great idea for a story with a lot of ideas in my head, I'll just start writing it. Other times, I will spend more time planning a story out.

Before you write something, how much time do you spend on the brainstorming, outlining, etc. stages?
Not too much time. In the past I've planned out the chapters with just little blurbs explaining what happens.... of course sometimes that changes. I skip around a lot too - like I start writing when ever inspiration hits me suddenly and I can't help but jot everything down. I keep everything in my head really which probably is bad, but it works for me. I think it's good to have an idea as to where you are going. I should probably write out all my ideas in case I suddenly have amnesia or whatever. So I suggest to write out what ever you are thinking -- even if your ideas are lame write them out because you never know when an awesome idea will sleek out of the shadows... spend a little time on planning - get an idea of where you are going - kind of draw the road map, I guess. Don't stick horribly to it - there's always room for experimenting and it won't all come out right the first time. But most of all -- actually write the novel - don't waste precious time on the planning!

What percentage of your time do you actually spend writing the actual piece?
About 90% -- better to finish than to have a nice outline.

i try not to spend too much time planning. if you spend too much time, it just becomes another form of procrastination for me.

I don't actually plan what should be written because if i plan i feel i will not be writing what i intend to write. I think what to write but i don't plan how to write so i will be using almost 95% of my time writing.

nskoenings wrote:It seems like people's answers mostly boil down to: some planning before, some during, some after, but not too much. At least that's what I see--maybe I'm projecting. In some ways I'm always planning, but only one or two steps ahead, in tune with a vague motion. Then I head there and get lost along the way, discovering 4 or 5 steps in between what I thought were just 1 or 2. Then I back off, maybe plan a little more, and when I sit down am always surprised by how much smarter my fingers and keyboard are than my overt brain is. Some kind of magical tandem. "Planning" for me means "hammer-handedly trying to convince myself I know what I'm doing, enough to convince myself to sit down." The beauty is usually in the accident, which is much more lovely than anything I could have "planned," and usually more efficient.
Thanks for reading.
N.S.

Hmm... Could I read something you made and see if you're doing a good job anyway?

kaytie wrote:While I was working on the first draft my novel I did some pre-planning and research, but mostly I worked on getting words to the page. Then, as my story progressed, I kept a rough outline of what I'd already written and where I thought the story would go, but as I got better ideas, I changed the outline. I found this method especially helpful after the first 100 pages. There were times when I'd have to leave the manuscript for a few weeks. When I came back to it I didn't have to read the whole manuscript over again to put myself back into the story--I just read the outline.

I think some planning helps on those days when your brain doesn't want to settle down and write--you can't use writers block as an excuse because you know what the next scene is--it's right there on your outline.

I also think it's important to the creative process to be open to ideas in the moment. Outlines and planning don't have to be unchangeable.

Yes. That's how I plan mine. Except I haven't written 100 pages yet

And, like everyone else, ideas are always storming out of me that I have to include in something. Whenever it's something that doesn't fit in one of my books, I make a short story out of it. Kinda like when you're mad and you use a punching bag because you're in school and therefore can't get at that guy you hate without getting in trouble.

I can't start writing if I don't have the title yet. So I make a plan and come up with a title. And when I feel that the title is good, I start writing.