Comments on: Susan Answers Questions http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:56:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3425 Pam Halter Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:35:42 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3425 Thanks for all the great info, Susan! Thanks for all the great info, Susan!

]]> By: Karla http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3429 Karla Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:24:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3429 I have really enjoyed these posts from Susan. Thanks so much for taking time to share with us! Thanks, Randy! I have really enjoyed these posts from Susan. Thanks so much for taking time to share with us! Thanks, Randy!

]]> By: D. E. Hale http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3430 D. E. Hale Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:33:57 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3430 Yes, thank you again Susan, and Randy! We appreciate it! I can't wait to hear what you both have to say tomorrow. I learn so much on here. Yes, thank you again Susan, and Randy! We appreciate it! I can’t wait to hear what you both have to say tomorrow. I learn so much on here.

]]> By: Andie Mock http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3431 Andie Mock Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:54:41 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3431 I love hearing people's writing/rewriting process. They give me ideas for tweaking mine. Here's mine: I write/rewrite from gross macro objectives to finer grained concerns. My first layer is the captured by Randy's snowflake method. I tend to create characters from amalgams of people I know well. Though sometimes my best ones are from whole cloth. Second layer is the "vomit draft" - I keep going as fast as I can using the scene structure worked out with the snowflake method - ala nanowrimo. I try to get a "stump" of appx. 50K words that I can then take a chainsaw to. third draft - the "chainsaw draft". Objective is to get the story to make general sense, working a lot on dialog to move the story along. This doesn't take so long if I've done my snowflake well. After which I give it to a wise editor to tell me where I've gone off the rails. Next, the "electric sander" draft. While keeping the editor's comments in mind, fourth draft's objective is to up the emo-ante, increase the world induction and to burnish the theme in each scene making sure every particle of speech is subsumed to the needs of the plot. This is the one that feels like I'm taking a toothpick to a coal mine. But then I have the "dental cleaning tools" draft. This fifth draft is given to a different type of editor for grammar and punctuation. I input those corrections and collapse in a puddle of goo. I love hearing people’s writing/rewriting process. They give me ideas for tweaking mine.

Here’s mine:

I write/rewrite from gross macro objectives to finer grained concerns.

My first layer is the captured by Randy’s snowflake method. I tend to create characters from amalgams of people I know well. Though sometimes my best ones are from whole cloth.

Second layer is the “vomit draft” - I keep going as fast as I can using the scene structure worked out with the snowflake method - ala nanowrimo. I try to get a “stump” of appx. 50K words that I can then take a chainsaw to.

third draft - the “chainsaw draft”. Objective is to get the story to make general sense, working a lot on dialog to move the story along. This doesn’t take so long if I’ve done my snowflake well. After which I give it to a wise editor to tell me where I’ve gone off the rails.

Next, the “electric sander” draft. While keeping the editor’s comments in mind, fourth draft’s objective is to up the emo-ante, increase the world induction and to burnish the theme in each scene making sure every particle of speech is subsumed to the needs of the plot. This is the one that feels like I’m taking a toothpick to a coal mine.

But then I have the “dental cleaning tools” draft. This fifth draft is given to a different type of editor for grammar and punctuation. I input those corrections and collapse in a puddle of goo.

]]> By: Donna http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3433 Donna Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:15:18 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3433 These posts have been very interesting. Thanks Susan and Randy! I love getting ideas from others and seeing what will work with the way I write. I'm definitely learning a great deal. These posts have been very interesting. Thanks Susan and Randy! I love getting ideas from others and seeing what will work with the way I write. I’m definitely learning a great deal.

]]> By: Paul D http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3434 Paul D Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:28:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3434 Characterization: my weakest part of writing. This is good stuff! Keep it coming! Characterization: my weakest part of writing. This is good stuff! Keep it coming!

]]> By: Anna http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3435 Anna Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:32:51 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/12/18/susan-answers-questions/#comment-3435 That was great Susan and Randy! Thanks! That helps. That was great Susan and Randy! Thanks! That helps.

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