Open Thread: Oracle Hotline

[mithen]

(I've decided I'd better just post threads late rather than not post at all when I'm too busy to post at the time I prefer to!)

--Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing the story?

I tend to delay too much! When I had more time it wasn't that bad that I was always going "Wait, I have to collect one more bit of information before I write," but nowadays that one more bit of information can derail my whole day, so I really need to get myself in gear faster!

I hope everyone is doing okay in these difficult times. It honestly feels really weird to talk about writing fiction right now, but I know being creative is part of life no matter what. You're all in my thoughts.

Comments

[bradygirl_12]

Hope you are well! :)

Do I do a lot of research before writing? Depends on how important that research is. If it's just incidental details, I can check those later, but if it is a central point of my story, then I do the research first. That way I don't delay myself if I just write, write, write and fill in a song title or recipe later. It's different if I need to find out the date of a historical event that is the crux of my whole story, for example.

I finished editing my second original manuscript! Oh, of course there will be more edits, but the major stuff has been done. Accomplished! :)

I'm also having a great time writing a long-ish John/Sara story from The Alienist fandom that takes place during Halloween season. I have this urge to write Halloween more than ever! ;)

[navaan]

Congrats on finishing that manuscirpt! <3 Reason to feel accoplished for sure.

Oh, Alienist. That sounds intriguing. And have fun with the Halloween writing. We don't even celebrate Halloween but it's a bit of a mood for me right now. Perhaps I'm reading too much Justice League Dark stuff, currently, and it made me fondly think of your Halloween challenges.

[bradygirl_12]

Congrats on finishing that manuscript! <3 Reason to feel accomplished for sure.

Thank you! :)

Oh, Alienist. That sounds intriguing. And have fun with the Halloween writing. We don't even celebrate Halloween but it's a bit of a mood for me right now. Perhaps I'm reading too much Justice League Dark stuff, currently, and it made me fondly think of your Halloween challenges.

Aww, how nice of you to remember! I sure had fun hosting and participating in those Challenges. :)

[navaan]

Oh, wow, good question. That does depend on the story and what there is to be researched. If the setting and details of the plot depend on the abckground or history surrounding everythign then I do a lot of research before I even jump into the outline. Sometimes that's reading up on an era of history, sometimes it's canon review or notes about police work. Other stories are simpler and easier to jump into without that because the setting are closer to my every day life.

I do have the problem of delaing too much too, especially when something becomes important too me and I start thinking everything needs to be researched and detailed first.

Mostly doing fine! Everything is still a bit strange, but muddling on. I hope you're doing well over there too!

[me_ya_ri]

A post is always better than no post!

Not usually. There are some series where I have to noodle a bit or have an idea of the general plot direction before I start but it's always going to change 2-3 times during the process of writing so I don't worry too much about it. I'm mostly an into the dark sort of writer, forging along with my scribble of a map and a candle to light my way.

We're doing okay here, thankfully. Both my husband and I still have jobs so that's way better than a lot of people around us. Neither of us have gotten sick and neither have our families. Honestly, fiction and art are what's keeping me on an even keel right now so don't feel bad about asking.

Hope you're doing well, too! *hugs*