Let's be real: there's never anything routine about writing. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have a writing routine. Or would "ritual" be the more apt word here??? Let's go with "strategy."
As a full-time ghostwriter for CEOs and entrepreneurs, a writing strategy is essential because writing literally keeps the lights on in my house. As a paid screenwriter, strategy is likewise essential to moving projects forward, especially when incorporating notes or doing revisions. And as a book coach for aspiring fiction and nonfiction authors, these are the questions that often come up:
-Are you a pantser? (Someone who writes "by the seat of their pants")
-Are you a plotter? (Something who plans out every scene and beat beforehand)
-Somewhere in between? (Plantser?)
-Should I write at the same time each day?
-Are mornings after a cold plunge and walk better?
-Are afternoons after my 4th coffee better?
-How do you handle notes/edits that you don't agree with?
-How do you find a good writing accountability group?
-If I'm introverted, does my dog count as a writing accountability partner?
As a thought leader here on Stage 32, I can't wait to dive in on all this (and more). While the AMA doesn't officially start until tomorrow, feel free to start dropping in your writing routine thoughts/questions, or borrow them from above.
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Jonathan Jordan Gosh, I've always been intimidated by people with writing routines. Either I'm writing all day on deadlines when I was working in media, or write last minute to meet a deadline because...
Expand commentJonathan Jordan Gosh, I've always been intimidated by people with writing routines. Either I'm writing all day on deadlines when I was working in media, or write last minute to meet a deadline because procrastination is my jam. With books, I can chip away periodically, and then when it gets to a certain point, dive right in and finish it in two weeks. So yeah, my writing routine is dysfunctional at best. lol. And yet, I eventually get stuff done. Or not.
I am the person who still needs to cut and paste pieces of paper on the floor to organize thoughts, chapters. I just can't do it via computer. I have to see it physically in front of me, like a story board except it takes up way more space. Because most of my books are non-fiction, I figure out the topic list, then group them into chapters. My printed off research is cut and paste under neat the topic heads (usually on a blank 8.5 x 11 paper), then once organized, I write in the computer in order. Yes, I had the interviews and other research ready to insert. And then sculpt from there.
Screenwriting is completely foreign to me so I plan to just going to chip away at storylines and practice A LOT. One thing for sure. There is no such thing as retirement for a writer.
Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to do this.
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I'm in the beginning stages of writer a screenplay drama/suspense if anyone interested in joining me. I work full-time and write in the evenings mostly. The last time I collaborated it worked so well,...
Expand commentI'm in the beginning stages of writer a screenplay drama/suspense if anyone interested in joining me. I work full-time and write in the evenings mostly. The last time I collaborated it worked so well, we split the assignments up in half and bounced our scenes with one another. His goal was to produce the movie in NC which he did, Marked for Trade on Amazon Prime.
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I have no writing routine. Sometimes, I don't write for weeks. I still have managed 34 books and 3 pilots and 1 feature. Now, it's easier if I work at least a bit on a certain story every day, even if it's not actual writing.
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I had moved from all screenplays to ghost writing books for clients. It's a matter of $. They LOVE what I produce, so much so that 2 of them have started with me on book two of a series. And people th...
Expand commentI had moved from all screenplays to ghost writing books for clients. It's a matter of $. They LOVE what I produce, so much so that 2 of them have started with me on book two of a series. And people that read what is produced love the writing. And yet, on here, the screenplay readers of my writing say things that are totally contradictory...like 'too many words...non-dialogue lines should be three lines long, no more...more white on the page...too descriptive...more descriptions in fewer words...more dialogue, less action lines...who is the protagonist...I love that your have an ensemble of protagonists...arggh. And yet I have sold screenplays in the past...I read submitted scripts sent to me by people on here that are supposedly 'technically perfect' but boring; they criticize my technique, and never discuss the CONTENT...one suggested a secondary character should be the main one, one said the word'started' has only one meaning, and sent comments in illiterate English...and on, and on...seems to me that the look of things is more important than the content to most readers.
Mozart, when told that he had 'too many notes' by Joseph2 of Austria, asked the Emperor which ones should be removed... crickets...then...'' just take out a few, then it will be perfect".
Now I write on demand when provided notes by the book clients, by phone conversations, or emails. I'd LOVE to get more screenwriting jobs, but most on here or elsewhere want a collaboration and offer no pay. Tnen I do almost all of the work and no results.
And I am very fast- a full feature in 2 weeks. This is a weird business.
On a writing routine-write like a demon when you get notes or are hired to do a job-the pressure of creation leads to an acceleration of intensity from rapidly firing synapses-you access the 'muse' who whispers in your ear-it's a religious experience-you contact the divine when the words flow like water, and you can't type fast enough, and you start hitting wrong keys like a madman...and that's GOOD!
I like to go visit possible locations for a script, and ask myself what the characters would do in that space. Then they start talking, and you just take dictation. So easy.
Thanks again for having this AMA, Jonathan Jordan! Happy Holidays!