How do you write?

One of the things I find most interesting when writers are interviewed, is to hear about their writing method.

Places

JK Rowling famously wrote in a Coffee shop, Agatha Christie plotted while in her large Victorian bath tub; Maya Angelou liked to rent a hotel room; Joanne Harris writes in a shed at the bottom of her garden; Truman Capote wrote lying down. Woody Allen wrote while on the New York Subway. I am fortunate enough to have a study with a desk and couch. I have whiteboard paper on the walls which gives the outline of current works, and notes all around to inspire, and also notes on the stories I'm writing.

Tools

Alexander Dumas wrote fiction on specific blue paper; Dickens preferred blue ink; John Steinbeck wrote his drafts in pencil. Jack Kerouac wrote "On the Road" on a continuous scroll, joining pages to put through his typewriter, and keep a continual flow of work. Ray Bradbury (and many others) used a typewriter; others prefer pen and paper, while others work on computers. Vladimir Nabokov wrote on Index cards.

Quantity

Many writers are famous for their daily word counts: Stephen King writes 2000 words a day; Jack London wrote 1000 a day and William Golding was heard to say he wrote 3000 words a day. In contrast, James Joyce measured his writing by the standard of two perfect sentences a day. However you chose to measure your work, it's worth setting goals to aspire to, and help you continue to develop as a writer. I have been working on a number of stories per month, and have a list on my noticeboard of each story, and the word counts from my novel.

Method

Many years ago I had the good fortune to attend a librarian's conference where Marguerite Poland; Pamela Jooste and Deon Meyer spoke. Each of them had their own method: Pamela Jooste hand wrote her work; Deon Meyer wrote directly onto a computer, enjoying the ease with which a character's name can be changed. I prefer to write directly onto a computer, for the same reason, but also because I can go back and search for details and make changes easily. I use Word, and use the titles and navigation screens to make it easier to work through the novel. However, I always have a notebook with me and beside my bed, to scribble down ideas; lines and inspiration.

Finding inspiration

Joan Didion has a drink and quiet hour before dinner to inspire her. Others used more copious amounts of alcohol. Haruki Murakami uses exercise as part of his creative process. Some writers work through the night, and others are more creative in the morning. Stephen King writes in the morning, and reads in the afternoons. Some writers like to work with music playing, others need quiet. He also found inspiration for some of his stories in dreams. Neil Gaiman said: "You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we're doing it."

Organising your work

I like creating timelines, and I use spreadsheets for character details. I work part time, so sometimes lose track of where I am in my work. These tools help me avoid duplication or errors. I keep a data base to track all of the work I submit. I am a techie at heart, so this works for me, but what is important is to find your own strategies.

Editing

There are some authors who prefer to write first, and then edit later, and others who won't move on until the sentence is perfect. Some work with outlines and know the whole plot from beginning to end, while for others it is more organic process. I tend to use

What can we learn from this?

1) Find or Create a space where you feel comfortable and are able to focus on writing.

2) Set goals - daily / weekly or monthly these can be word counts, stories; chapters. Keep this where you can see it to remind you of your targets.

3) Find a method that works for you - try out different styles and methods until you figure out which helps you be the most productive.

One of the most important lessons from all of this is that there is no ONE perfect way to write - each writer has their own style, and strategies honed over time.