I can't say I usually have an issue wanting to write. But if I'm stuck on a particular spot, I have two different methods of figuring it out. First is the typical response of "music". Especially if it's the backing to a long, aimless drive. The second would be taking a hot shower LOL. . .I'm pretty certain it's that thirty minutes of no one bothering me, but I create my best schemes for both real life and fictional worlds while getting ready for work. //R
Sorry for the oddly-worded question - it's much more specific than it sounds. Namely, when you've prepared your design documents, outlined every scene, described every character, etc., how do you actually choose to write? For example: What program do you use to write, and why? How do you format your text? Size, font, spacing, etc. Do you write your entire work in a single document, or do you divide it into chapters, etc.?
Personally I use Times New Roman, size 12 font, with default MS 2007 spacing (Double spaced on enters with 10 points after each line). I place chapter breaks wherever they fit the best. I have tried writing everything in one block and then dividing it, but I've found that at least for me the divided chapters flow better when I place them while I am writing.
Heh. I doubt that I'll ever do that much prep work. A story dies if I spend too much time outside it, thinking about it. But anyway, I write in BBEdit, a text editor with no formatting, single space, auto-wrap, using what I think is the default BBEdit font and size (Lucinda-Grande 11) and I tend to store each day's writing as a separate dated file, files to be combined later when I want to edit a larger document as a whole. No formatting, no nothing, just the naked words. Of course, I couldn't submit work this way, but I'm not at that level of polish yet.
I write in Open Office because it's free, and better than word anyway. I use Times New Roman and size 12 font. Indents rather than spaces. I keep each chapter on different files usually, and one version with everything on it.
I never do that amount of prep... Although I do write short stories, and not novels (at the moment anyway). I use a word processor - Pages if I'm on my Macbook or MS Word elsewhere. Usually write in Times New Roman, size 12, because that's the standard really and it makes me write better (no idea why). I write a story in one document but I'll often have another document open, or a pad of paper, for any ideas to do with it. I have used writing software before where you can have separate tabs for characters, plot, setting etc. but I felt it was unnecessary for me personally. Mostly because I don't plan a lot.
Yep. Don't justify the text, it should be even on the left side, and ragged (unjustified) on the right. One font, one size throughout--don't bother to bold anything or attempt to use a variety of fonts, or make up a fancy front page. Turn off the 'widows and orphans' function, so you can fill down to the bottom of every page. Be consistent with punctuation, e.g. single/double inverted commas, centered # or * for paragraph breaks, etc and set your spell check to US or UK English, whichever you use. And number your pages in case you print it off, even if it's only a first working draft. I used to work writing chapters separately and then join them into one document, but now I've got a feel for how long each chapter should be, how many scenes in each one, if it's mostly an action or reaction chapter etc. So, I do it as one Word document and keep a running count of words and very brief chapter summary with page numbers. This helps me find the place if I'm going back to add in stuff, and also when I come to writing the synopsis it's handy. I make multiple copies of everything on different storage devices and hard copy as well in case the computer crashes.
I use word, and Size 12 font and either times new roman or courier, depends on what i write. For the suspense-novel i used TNR but now that its more romance i use courier, i think i fits better. I think TNR is quite boring to write in, actually, but if someone would ask me to change later i would (after having finished it though ) I used 1,5 space between lines and what said above about the ends of the lines. I also write in 1 document but divide it into chapters myself.
When writing, I use Open Office, with 12 pt Times New Roman. Lines are single-spaced, and for some reason the "default" margin on Open Office is less than 1 inch, but I don't usually change it until I'm several pages in because I enjoy saying "I only wrote two pages" and then it turns out that I've written 1500 words. I indent rather than leave a line between paragraphs. As a rule, all chapters go in one file. There's something sheerly awesome about opening up a file and having to scroll down thirty or more pages before you start the day's work. It's a huge morale booster. During final edits, I switch my font to Courier New, modify my margins to 1" and double-space my work. For whatever reason, this seems to help.
I use MS word normally, Times New Roman, size 12 font, double-spaced. I prefer keeping everything in one document. Sometimes I start others for particular sections and then copy paste everything into the 'master copy' as it were.
This is just a fairly brief question on my part, mostly because I am curious. When you are writing, do you write in silence or listen to music? Personally I play one of my Pandora radio channels while I write, which has some interesting effects on my writing as I am beginning to see. Since I write in a fairly non-structured manner, I just sit down with an idea and almost zero prewriting, reading over a day's work I often notice that the oscillations in action or drama in what I've written follows the music. For example when some arrangement of Braveheart starts playing I tend to write a slightly more dramatic scene or when a more action oriented E.S. Posthumus song runs I write a high action scene. It normally isn't anywhere near that obvious, but it makes for some interesting thoughts going back over what I've written. Anyway I digress, silence or music and why. Thank you for reading, and until next time I bid you vale, Douglas Rumbaugh
For me silence or music or even having some tv series running while i writing is matter of how tired I am, and what sort of flow I'm in. At time I need silence to focus, and at times I need music to not get to bored. It I am handling a passage thats a bit tricky, and not sure where it going, for me it can be help to slip in and out of focus when writing and then I let some movie or tv show I'm already seen at some point run on part of the screen.
I have three children under eight, what is silence ? I usually have my music on in the background, my kids have the TV on or are running round shouting lol Maybe in about ten years I will be able to tell you if I can write in silence Right now I am listening to You're Nothing At All from City of Angels, my daughter has Thundercats on the TV and my son is playing with My Little Ponies are they are having an arguement.
To me, when I'm writing something, I'll listen to my favourite music. Music make my mind has many idea to keep going and give me more emotion to think about words. P.s: My English is not good, forgive me about my grammar
Nah, I can't write in silence. I need musiccc~ Usually it's wordless music, like soundtracks from my favourite games/movies. If i'm in the mood, it can be lyrical music too xD It inspires me and sets the mood ^^
Same deal Youniquee, same deal. I tend to listen to either serene piano music or film scores like, as I mentioned in the opening post, Braveheart or anything by Michael Giacchino. I do work well in silence too, and sometimes I need it, but I feel like I function better with non-lyrical music in the background. Lyrical music on the other hand... that tends to just distract me.
I like to write while listening to music with my headphones on. I will switch the music depending on what type of scene I'm writing at the moment. If it's a big battle/action scene, then I need epic music. If it's a nice cozy scene, then I need nice soothing music. So I will end up listening to anything from Rob Zombie to Loreena McKennitt to Ayumi Hamasaki.
Sometimes I write in silence, usually if I'm editing so I don't get distracted with song lyrics. But most of the time I do listen to music because it gets me in the mood to write, like motivated in a way, and sometimes I just completely zone out and am totally absorbed in my writing so it doesn't really matter if I'm in silence or have music on.
I need peace and serenity to write. I used to write a lot in my parents' conservatory which was lovely. Nice view onto the garden, sounds of nature...
i use ms word, since that's the lingua franca of the writing world [all by screenwriting, that is]... and i use proper ms format... here's where you can learn what that is: http://www.shunn.net/format/
I don't do any of the preparation you do for writing a story. I use Open Office - For my first draft I was using 12 pt double line spaced Times New Roman but as a a reault of putting something into the British Writers Award I have started to use Ariel black 12pt and really like it. For a first draft I don't do any chapters I just write it. When I am rewriting it then I add in the formatting that seems to be most frequently asked for in the UK - either 12pt Arial Black or Times New Roman, double line spaced and 3-4 cm margins, footers and headers (I make mine 3.5), I add page numbers and the title page, and a title/author's name and my email in the header.
silence works best for me... the only exception would be if i'm setting a story in a certain part of the world where listening to the local music will put/keep me in the mood and bring me back to places i've been... in that case, it has to be instrumental only, so the words of a song won't interfere with the ones coming out of my head...
I can take just about any sound but people around me talking. If I'm in the same room as my parents, I need to put on my headphones and tune out. What type of music I listen to doesn't really matter. I don't tend to notice too much.
