tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post6343333542391007212..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Discussion: Do You Write in Chronological Order?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-56867537848353408002013-11-25T06:27:45.828-08:002013-11-25T06:27:45.828-08:00Wow! What an interesting method. I also find that ...Wow! What an interesting method. I also find that my characters don't reveal themselves fully until I'm in the middle of writing, which is why I tend to view my outlines as guides rather than strict rules. I like that jigsaw analogy, though—I can definitely see the relation. Very interesting.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17550092164331546312013-11-24T13:27:06.989-08:002013-11-24T13:27:06.989-08:00While I try my best to outline, I end up pantsing....While I try my best to outline, I end up pantsing. The characters just don't reveal themselves to me fully until I begin to write about them. And the scenes that come to me are definitely not in order - they are key pieces of insight that drop into my mind as I ponder their motivations, back-stories and the key moments of their arc. I wish it were different, because filling in the gaps takes a huge amount of work, but it's like a jigsaw that won't reveal itself until some is done. I also know that if I don't write scenes (or parts of scenes, or just dialogue snippets) as they occur to me, I'll lose them!Charlotte Brentwoodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-53603663460316140832013-11-23T06:47:11.597-08:002013-11-23T06:47:11.597-08:00Sure thing!Sure thing!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-74441850255069518172013-11-23T06:46:59.010-08:002013-11-23T06:46:59.010-08:00That's interesting! I think I understand what ...That's interesting! I think I understand what you mean, though. I've sort of played around with that with flashback, though I don't usually jump around in the book timeline all that much. Very interesting.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-12107134351911941502013-11-23T06:45:56.374-08:002013-11-23T06:45:56.374-08:00Yeah, I have trouble trying to think out of chrono...Yeah, I have trouble trying to think out of chronological order too, even when I've planned everything out in advance, but for some it works! Just not for us. :) <br /><br /><br />I do agree about editing, though—I often edit out of sequence and jump around a lot because I focus on the issue rather than when the issue comes up...if that makes sense.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-89441564859931262892013-11-22T22:57:03.358-08:002013-11-22T22:57:03.358-08:00I write in the same order of the final book, but i...I write in the same order of the final book, but it isn't necessarily chronological. I often start a novel in media res and then fill the gaps by moving back and forth in time, but I do it directly during the first draft. I never change the order of the scenes, after writing them, nor write one which will appear later in the book.Carlahttp://www.anakina.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-24051436201769483382013-11-22T13:51:58.911-08:002013-11-22T13:51:58.911-08:00Hybrid writer! That's great. I did that for a ...Hybrid writer! That's great. I did that for a while before transitioning over to my plotting ways now. But I agree with the problem of getting bored—a large part of the reason that WIP I tried writing out of order with fell apart was because I'd basically removed my motivation for getting through those transitional scenes. So. <br /><br /><br />And yes. It never stops being totally interesting. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-6351462545335724662013-11-22T13:50:37.577-08:002013-11-22T13:50:37.577-08:00Scrivener definitely makes writing out of order ea...Scrivener definitely makes writing out of order easier, because rearranging scenes is literally a click and drag operation rather than cutting and pasting awkwardly. So I can definitely understand how pre-plotting then writing out of order would be relatively easy with Scrivener. <br /><br /><br />It also doesn't surprise me that pantsing would lend to writing in order. I haven't pantsed a novel in a long time, but I can't imagine trying to pants <i>and</i> write out of order (although that's not to say it's impossible—I already had a commenter say that's exactly what they do!).Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-83514773554614896062013-11-22T13:48:15.929-08:002013-11-22T13:48:15.929-08:00Heh, I tend to have to be more specific with endin...Heh, I tend to have to be more specific with ending points because otherwise I get stuck. To me, endings are the most difficult, so careful planning helps.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-12237591002128420112013-11-22T13:35:27.474-08:002013-11-22T13:35:27.474-08:00I do a very rough outline, so I basically know whe...I do a very rough outline, so I basically know where the story is heading, but I don't plot every scene. So, I'm a cross between a pantser and a plotter. But I definitely write in chronological order! If I wrote my favorite scenes first, I'd find the other scenes boring to write in comparison. And I'd become confused, too.<br /><br /><br />I agree that it's cool how writers can have very different techniques.Tara Theresenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-57468800604465947532013-11-22T11:47:07.845-08:002013-11-22T11:47:07.845-08:00When I outline I write whatever scene I want to at...When I outline I write whatever scene I want to at the time because I know where everything is going so it isn't a problem. During those few times when I am trying to discovery write I write from beginning to end because it is easier especially since I only have a general idea of where I am doing.Laurennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-10575855653421106312013-11-22T11:26:40.670-08:002013-11-22T11:26:40.670-08:00I just figured out (as in twenty minutes ago) a di...I just figured out (as in twenty minutes ago) a different way of plotting. having a loose outline for the story is key; having a more detailed outline for the different "arcs" or sections of the story helps as well. I'm working on my NaNoWriMo manuscript, and I had to make a more descriptive outline for the ending instead of just "MC defeats big meanie, saves friends," otherwise I'd pants the ending and the pace would be awful. Why is writing so harrrrrrrd? ;)Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-50488396156032342312013-11-22T10:20:13.353-08:002013-11-22T10:20:13.353-08:00How great! I love how many variations on the plott...How great! I love how many variations on the plotting/pantsing/order I'm getting here. It's fascinating how we work so differently to achieve the same end. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-27868982757648768882013-11-22T10:19:02.056-08:002013-11-22T10:19:02.056-08:00*high-fives* Yay like-mindedness!*high-fives* Yay like-mindedness!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-57958477604273686472013-11-22T10:18:35.471-08:002013-11-22T10:18:35.471-08:00Interesting! I think it's great that you can l...Interesting! I think it's great that you can look back at scenes you already wrote and use that as motivation. Very cool. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17584800874115953662013-11-22T09:19:41.431-08:002013-11-22T09:19:41.431-08:00I definitely outline. Without the skeleton, there&...I definitely outline. Without the skeleton, there's nothing for the meat of the story to cling to. However, I don't always write in order. I will always write the first page first, even go as far as several chapters in, but if there are scenes that are just too juicy, ones that are fresh in my head that the outline doesn't give justice to, I will write them out of order, then leave an "[INSERT SCENE HERE]" tab to place the scene later. It keeps my morale up, and it's my way of making sure I write in the highest quality version of the scene possible, straight from the press of my inner printer.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-75008112638937104242013-11-22T09:09:06.984-08:002013-11-22T09:09:06.984-08:00My process seems to be like yours. I plot it out q...My process seems to be like yours. I plot it out quite a bit, even though I usually add in more scenes as I go. But, I really struggle if I try to write out of order. Like you said, I often find something that happened earlier, that I didn't necessarily plan, weave into a later scene.Fallonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17394731750912741212013-11-22T06:48:45.015-08:002013-11-22T06:48:45.015-08:00Wow. That's impressive, I definitely wouldn...Wow. That's impressive, I definitely wouldn't be able to manage that lol. Kudos to you! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-63147588294112431772013-11-22T06:46:51.500-08:002013-11-22T06:46:51.500-08:00I'm a pantser who writes out of order. Yes, I ...I'm a pantser who writes out of order. Yes, I am weird.Esther Spurrill-Jonesnoreply@blogger.com