Category: On Writing

Planning a story usually begins with an inspiring idea. I don’t write it right away. I develop it by writing down ideas and different scenarios (i.e. possible locations, characters, outcomes, etc.). Once the plot elements start to click together, that’s when I begin writing.

But throughout the writing process, I continue to plan and develop the story–work out all the finer details and plot elements. I sometimes catch the story going in the wrong direction or something that’s missing from it.

And when I get stuck, I look at what needs to change in the outline. Maybe there are elements that don’t click together. I focus on revising those parts, and when the problems are solved, then I continue writing.

But I catch more errors. It feels like planning a story never really ends until the draft is finished.

And when you get to the editing stage, you might discover plot holes and inconsistencies you didn’t see before. You rework those parts, planning yet again . . .

Getting into the writing zone is when you are steeped in the story. It’s one of the most satisfying and rewarding aspects about writing. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, it’s that experience when all the ideas flow and integrate seamlessly. It feels like the words just roll off your fingertips.

For a novel, I often plan out the scenes and events before I begin writing. I’ll make an outline of the plot (though tentative) so that I know where the story is headed. This helps me to frame the plot so that I know how to tie in various elements and ideas so that they remain consistent throughout the story. But as the story evolves, I discover new things to add (or subtract), new ideas or characters that are necessary for the narrative.

I’m building the world. It’s taking shape–having a life of its own. Writing in the zone gets easier, and I find that I know what the characters are supposed to say, how they’re supposed to react, and what decisions they should make.

For me, it’s important to sketch the plot first, to know what’s ahead. But as the story evolves, I find that the outline was just a guide, not a rule. It becomes a road map, but along the way, I discover new things I couldn’t have known at the start.

And as the path becomes clearer, I find that I am often writing in the zone.

Writing is a process that takes multiple revisions to improve the quality of the draft. The first draft often looks basic and rudimentary, but with revisions, it becomes clearer, polished, and solid. But it all begins with the first draft. Sometimes it’s starting that is the most difficult part. But once we put words down, we can revise and elevate our original ideas into something more.

When I revise a story, I’m going line by line and analyzing what should stay or what should go. I’m deciding what I like about what I wrote and what can be worded better. It’s one of those things where I feel like I have so many options of saying a particular thing.

Take for example: “He closed the door.” I could add an adverb such as: “He closed the door abruptly.” Or I could say: “He slammed the door.” It all depends on context, of course, and each has a different effect.

Overall, I’m revising based on flow. I also look at consistency, but if the wording is not causing me to stop or slow down due to being awkward or disjointed, I know I’m going in the right direction.

One of the most intimidating things about starting a story is the first paragraph. It feels like it should be perfect, that every word should be chosen carefully. Besides, it’s the first sentences that someone will read when they start a story.

There’s a lot to be said about the first paragraph. It needs to have a hook. It needs to grab the reader. But I think all of this comes with editing. The first paragraph is just the start of an idea. All the sentences flow from it.

Who knows: It could be that the first paragraph is deleted, and a new paragraph takes its place.

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

—Louis L’Amour.

The creative process of writing is fun and exhilarating. When you get in the zone, everything just flows as if the characters, the plot, the ideas all take on a life of their own. The best part about writing is not looking back. It’s watching a world come to life before your fingertips.

Editing is one of those challenges as a writer that makes you question everything that’s on the page, to stop and rethink all the concepts that exist in the story. It’s about applying the brakes, critiquing what’s there: analyzing what works and doesn’t work. It can be frustrating to rewrite paragraphs and whole sections, to eliminate eloquent sentences and clever lines of dialogue.

But editing is an essential part of the writing process. It’s about looking back, returning to the beginning. To make the reading experience enjoyable and smooth, one has to fine-tune all the parts so that they work as a whole. Sometimes when I edit, I feel like I’m rewriting the entire story. But after that second or third draft, it’s much more enjoyable to read. It just takes patience and time and dedication to finish the job.