Thoughts on My Fic Writing Process
Mar. 25th, 2021 10:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forestofgloryFor my current fic work in progress I've been trying to only writing when its enjoyable. This has led to me having lots of thoughts about my fic writing process.
The last fic project I was working on before this one was a space AU that's I ultimately decided to abandon. The problem was that I cared far more about the worldbuilding than the plot. Before giving up I spend about two weeks miserably bashing my head against a mental wall trying to figure out a plot that would be interesting enough to be worth writing. So I started this project determined not to repeat that.
The most enjoyable writing is probably when I get into to a flow state and words just keep coming. But I can't do that very often and there's not a lot I can do to make that happened. A lot fic writers talk about their fic being self indulgent and I honestly don't know what that looks like for me. The fics that feel the most self indulgent (and also had good flow) are the ones that have lots of people feeding each other and/or worldbuilding details. But I don't think that's what most people mean when they call a fic self indulgent.
Recently I've been reading a bunch of really good character meta. Which I very much enjoy, but it also makes me doubt my characterization in my fic. And like if I did get the characterization right does it actually come across one the page? Which I guess is the same thing really.
My current project is going very slowly. I work a bit on it most days, but I only write 200ish words a day. I know I can write faster than that! I'm feeling a bit frustrated with how slowly things are going, which is making the whole project less fun. Then of course I get annoyed at myself for making things less fun.
Still I'm mostly enjoying this project. I spent a whole morning reading about the introduction of Champa rice to China for some minor background bits that no one else will notice or care about. I've got a mix of epistolary sections and close third person narration and that's fun to play with. So overall my plan to have fun writing is working.
If you write fiction what are the most fun parts? What parts do you consider self indulgent?
The last fic project I was working on before this one was a space AU that's I ultimately decided to abandon. The problem was that I cared far more about the worldbuilding than the plot. Before giving up I spend about two weeks miserably bashing my head against a mental wall trying to figure out a plot that would be interesting enough to be worth writing. So I started this project determined not to repeat that.
The most enjoyable writing is probably when I get into to a flow state and words just keep coming. But I can't do that very often and there's not a lot I can do to make that happened. A lot fic writers talk about their fic being self indulgent and I honestly don't know what that looks like for me. The fics that feel the most self indulgent (and also had good flow) are the ones that have lots of people feeding each other and/or worldbuilding details. But I don't think that's what most people mean when they call a fic self indulgent.
Recently I've been reading a bunch of really good character meta. Which I very much enjoy, but it also makes me doubt my characterization in my fic. And like if I did get the characterization right does it actually come across one the page? Which I guess is the same thing really.
My current project is going very slowly. I work a bit on it most days, but I only write 200ish words a day. I know I can write faster than that! I'm feeling a bit frustrated with how slowly things are going, which is making the whole project less fun. Then of course I get annoyed at myself for making things less fun.
Still I'm mostly enjoying this project. I spent a whole morning reading about the introduction of Champa rice to China for some minor background bits that no one else will notice or care about. I've got a mix of epistolary sections and close third person narration and that's fun to play with. So overall my plan to have fun writing is working.
If you write fiction what are the most fun parts? What parts do you consider self indulgent?
no subject
Date: 2021-03-27 07:08 pm (UTC)I think everyone's version of "fun" is a little different when it comes to writing. For me, it's less about being in the zone, so to speak, and more about whether what I've written seems right for the story. I find it frustrating when I can't find my way into a scene or section.
In terms of self-indulgence, I tend to think of it as a story with a subject or image that I care a lot about, whether or not it's something anyone else will be interested in or get. Like all the library details in Every book, or the greenhouse in Fism. Something that makes me happy to think about and write about. But I've noticed that a number of readers seem to really like those aspects, so that also encourages me to lean into what I care about and really make it as rich as I can in any given story!
no subject
Date: 2021-03-29 05:40 pm (UTC)I do feel that way about food in my fics, and do sometimes get comments about that but mostly I just put in details fore me. Very few of my readers are going to care about rice varies, but I spent a happy morning reading all about them for something that doesn't really matter.