We've been talking about writing habits, over at Passionate Critters. (My critique group)
Mostly about revision, but also writing in general. Harper did a very nice blog post about it.
There are different habits, different ways of doing things. None of us are the same, we all have our little quirks. Little things we like to do. What works for one person, might not work for another.
Personally, I'm a night owl. I do my best writing at night, way past midnight usually, slurping a tepid (or cold) cup of coffee that has sat on my desk so long, I forgot it's there. (I used to work in IT. Cold coffee is… not unusual.)
When I concentrate, when I'm in the story, I don't see or hear anything else. You could probably rob me blind while I am that deep into it, I wouldn't notice. Well, not until you tried to take my computer. I'd probably murder the burglar for interrupting the flow.
To concentrate, I often fiddle with little strips of fabric, roll it between my fingers while my mind goes into overdrive. For some odd reason the feel of the fabric helps me to focus.
I go outside, stare into the darkness while I have a cigarette (yes, filthy blah blah…) and my characters usually have a conversation in my head while I do it. If there is a particular pose I want to convey, I try it out, see how it would look or feel. My neighbors probably wonder about me. Oh well.
I write everywhere. There isn't a second of the day when I don't write — even if it's just in my head. I get incredibly annoyed when I have something I need to put on paper or screen, and I can't. Boy, do I ever!
But if you watch me — I won't write a word. Not even one. I will wait until everyone is out of the room, because I can't stand having someone watch me. It drives me nuts when someone does that.
Yep, weird.
That's me, you may well have your own habits.
So how do I revise?
Pretty much the same way. I don't have set formula. I don't do it chapter by chapter. I read my stuff many, many, times though.
Over and over. Sometimes just for pleasure. That's when I find things, when I read it as a reader, not as a writer.
I step away for at least a week before I revise. I won't open the file, won't read any of it.
Then I read it again and hopefully notice those odd bits that don't work, or the ones in the wrong place, or where the pace slows down, or… you get the idea.
I cut words. Sometimes just one, sometimes entire chapters. If I get bored reading it, then so does anyone else. Out it comes.
What I don't do is throw that stuff out. It goes into another file.
I look for duplications. I sometimes say the same thing twice, using different words. In fact, I do this a lot.
I look for repetition, words I use a lot, phrases too. Unless it's a trademark of the character, it comes out.
You could say I have a habit of culling my habits. 
24
Aug
I have been slack.
Not just writing wise, but blogging wise too.
Though I did manage to finish the "Short" story.
I’m letting it stew at the moment, because I’m not happy with the ending. Not much time though, the thing needs to go out of the door soon.
In other news, I had the judging sheets from the Rebecca back.
93 from one judge, 68 from another.
One was published, one wasn’t.
(No, I don’t know who they are.)
Seems to me one judge got the story, the other didn’t.
The annoying thing is, the stuff I got marked down for wasn’t reflected in the comments. The comments of the lower score… well. I don’t put backstory into the first twenty pages, because it doesn’t belong there.
I don’t make dialog changes from sensible to downright idiotic sounding. (Sorry, Judge. The suggestions were simply stupid and sounded awful — and I’m not the only one who thought so.)
There is some telling, yes, but nowhere near as much as this judge claimed. Yeah, the low score pissed me off. The comments even more so because I didn’t agree with 90% of them.
Nor did I appreciate the condescending "I’m published and you’re not therefore I’m right and you’re wrong." tone at the end of the sheet.
I’ve I told that author whose work I’ve edited, she would probably faint.
Saying that, I still appreciate the time taken to judge the entry and make detailed comments, even if I didn’t agree with them.
We can’t win them all!
The other score sheet was better. The changes suggested were a great help, the catches were all reflected in the score. Most of all, she got it. She got the story, the characters, the world, and that makes all the difference. Thank you, Judge 15, whoever you are. I will be making some of those changes you suggested.
Oddly, the changes suggested by J15, were partly the ones I agreed with from the other judge. Funny that. Both caught the same things, and those I will address. (Cliche’s mostly.)
What else?
TTT – I got as far as the first 5 lines round, a few fellow critters did too. I’m proud of us.
So as September nears, I will get back into writing and blogging.
24
Jun
There is a new group out there, in case you didn’t know.
A group aiming to change the way RWA deals (or rather doesn’t deal) with electronically published authors.
It’s a Yahoo group, called RWAChange. Here is the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWAchange/
I am for change. I’m sure there are a great many things RWA is good for, but unfortunately if you’re not in the US, don’t belong to a chapter, or – gasp-wheeze-cough – are electronically published… then there isn’t a heck of a lot for you there.
My feeling about RWA?
John Steinbeck said it best:
“A dying people tolerates the present, rejects the future, and finds its satisfactions in past greatness and half remembered glory”
I feel RWA is ignoring potential and is rejecting change. A change that has been asked for for the past 10 years. I left because of the issues affecting electronic authors (and publishers), but now they are addressed once more.
Maybe this time there are some open minded people who will listen.
If you want to be a part of it, join the group, see what it’s about.