U is for Unleash the Beast

No I’m not talking about your husband or your little monsters at home. I’m talking about opening up your mind and letting your writing skills take over. Letting your subconscious allow for freedom to write whatever comes to mind.

Everyone has their own techniques while writing. Some are pansters and others are plotters.

I’m a punster and it gives you that sense of no boundaries. The place where you can write anything and everything that comes to mind. It may not pertain to the story but it might be an idea for story #2.

Sometimes it’s good to let go. Just let your freak flag fly and let any idea flow through your mind and straight to paper. You might be surprised at the awesome you produce.

I know a lot of people edit while they work, personally I commend them for it. The disaster I encounter after writing stream of consciousness is an absolute nightmare to control. However I also love that my voice is the same all throughout, I never lose my character relationship and in the end even if I see a disaster zone I can then become the plotter that I desire to be.

That’s right, I outline after the fact. For me it works. I already know the whole story, what my character is capable of, and how it ends. To me the post-it’s and index cards can be filled out immediately. No hidden blanks, no empty chapters, just a whole lot of fun.

How do you write? Have you unleashed the beast?

Hi, I'm an Underwriter

Announcement: Two of my blog buddies have started up a site called Hidden Truths! They're fantastic bloggers and looking for our support! Run over and learn all about their novel Fantum and the awesome blog they've created!

I'm also elated to announce that I hit the 1200 follower mark! So thank you to all who find me interesting... you are loved!

Back to the program. Hello! I hope your side of the world (wherever that may be) is gorgeous, sunny, and fabulous today!

So I'm curious as to what my fellow writers have to say on the topic of overwriting or underwriting. Consider this Writer's Anonymous (okay so if you're anonymous you can't post so I'll know who you are, but you get the idea).

I've known from the get go that I'm an underwriter (how do you know?) well that's the easy part, I skip. I skip a lot.

You see when I'm writing a novel I'm a panster (who normally is pantless while writing - just a tid bit about me). I write like a maniac, I am weird, I can write 6-10,000 words in one sitting if I'm feeling it.

That being said I also have a tendency to jump scenes. I love to write my story in correct order, chapter by chapter, in line. When a new scene pops into my head I'll add notes like:

Becky drops Edward turns out she hates vampires

And then pick up where the scene that overrode my thought process would sit. It's not ideal but for me it's perfect because I can add that scene later, the movie is just moving far too fast for me to waste time with little scenes.

I received a revise & resubmit from a publishing house and they had said to no longer focus on the word count since I'm a natural underwriter. They didn't know that about me before hand but I was relieved when they had told me to let it all go. This allows me to work at my own pace and fill in my own blanks. After all, I knew what was missing.

So, what are you?