To begin: I absolutely am not trying to throw shade at anyone who writes fast. Everyone’s process is different, and I wish I could write a book in a month or turn out perfectly polished short stories regularly. I wish I could, but the more I write the more I realize that I never will be able to, and that’s okay.
I’ve never been an especially fast writer. When I first started writing “seriously” (I was around twelve, and everything I wrote was a poorly-disguised rip-off of something else.) I set myself a goal--something like 2-3 pages a day. That’s more or less the limit I stick to now, though some days I can’t even make that. (My stories are still rip-offs, by the way. Just better-disguised ones. :))
Keeping a strict schedule is also a sticking point for me. I used to write every day, but not anymore. Most days, yes. Every day, no. Sometimes it just comes down to laziness, but other times I do need space to mull over the plot a little. I’m a pantser, and also super disorganized, so if I don’t keep reminding myself to hit the main points, nothing will happen plot-wise and I’ll be left wondering why I ever decided to write this stupid story in the first place.
Basically, I’m not one of those people who can write a novel in a month, or even two months, without it being a hopeless mess. Which is the point, but half the fun of writing is, at least for me, taking the time to get to know the characters, sink into the setting, and enjoy the story. I can’t do that when I’m worrying about word or page counts.
I used to feel guilty about writing slowly, or about the days where I wasn’t able to write at all. To be honest, I still do. Every time NaNoWriMo rolls around I wonder if maybe this is the year I’ll give it a try. And maybe one year I will. But for now, I’m trying to be happy with the process I have.
Everyone has a different process. Everyone has their own way of doing things, and no one way is objectively better than the others. If you write fast and love it, keep writing fast. If writing slowly works for you, stick with that. Don’t be afraid to experiment, but know your strengths. And enjoy what you have now. At the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.
Do you write quickly or slowly? What does your process look like?
Picture Credit: X
THIS POST THANK YOU FOR IT YES I NEEDED IT LIKE STAT SO HI. *deep breaths* I'm a very slow writer. xD I dream of being a faster writer, I set imaginary goals in my head, but I don't actually meet them?? I like to think that I'm pretty organized (but idek) and I'm definitely a very intense plotter, but I still write very slowly. XD I guess I just like taking my time? Anyway, I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID AND I AGREE WITH EVERY WORD OF IT OMG. <3
ReplyDeleteI was listening to my sister's editor talking about writing/plotting processes and she said, "Just do whatever works best for you." I know that sounds suuuuper simple but it just hit me in a new way! I was like, WHOA. YES. I NEED TO DO THIS. xD because I feel like a lot of times we get caught up in other people's opinions on something we do (at least I do...ahem) but iT'S ART. LIKE YOU SAID, WE NEED TO DO IT HOWEVER WE LIKE. one method isn't better than the other -- we're all different. :)
*hugs this post* it's perfect. GAH.
abbiee
PS HOLY SMOKES I JUST FOUND YOUR TUMBLR AND IT IS BEAUTY.
DeleteI've read blog posts where some people focus on the quantity of writing as if that's the same as quality, which, at least for me, just isn't true. On the flip side, I'd never want to suggest that I'm a better writer because I write more slowly. I'm still trying to make peace with the fact that my process works for me, and I don't need to change it, at least not as drastically as to force myself to pump out a 1,000+ words per day when I just can't. I'm so glad you enjoyed the post!
DeleteAw, thank you! It's mostly a disorganized jumble of fandom stuff plus other people's art, but I do my best. :)
Friend. I. Am. The. Slowest. Writer! Just...bless this post. I have no idea how people write fast. I like to pants or plants. I mostly end up plotting as I go. It takes me about six months-a year to finish a story and I wish I could move faster. I have so many ideas and I just want to get them all down, but letting things mellow, I find, helps the end product come together better.
ReplyDeleteYou keep doing you!
You're absolutely right about letting things mellow--sometimes I just need to let my projects sit for a while until I figure out what the next plot point should be. I usually plot as I go, too. I'll go into a project knowing how it begins and how it ends, but the middle is pretty much a blur.
DeleteThanks so much for commenting!
THANK YOU for this post. I'm not really sure if I clsssify as a slow or fast writer?? But this post soothes my soul. It's nice to know that the way I do things is okay just because it's the way I do things... I don't have to do it like someone else to make it good, you know?
ReplyDeleteI keep having to convince myself over and over again that my writing process works for me and therefore it is okay. And I think everyone feels that the way they're doing it isn't enough, when it really is the way to go as long as it works for you. :)
DeleteI personally write quickly, but I'm also a huge fan of everyone writing at their own pace! Writing fast is okay. Writing more slowly is okay. Writing isn't a competition, and your value as a writer isn't determined by how quickly you write or how you write. You do you, and that'll work out better than anything else you could force yourself to do!
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! For the longest time I felt guilty about being a slow writer, but whenever I tried to write fast it never worked out for me. I think everyone has their own ideal pace and what works for you is obviously going to be different than what works for someone else. There wouldn't be any point to writing if we all did it the same.
DeleteMe too! For me, I'm a really slow writer because while my first drafts appear to show up fast, it's because they're usually less than 20,000 words. The next few drafts take months and months to make them actually novel-length, and that is just enough to drive me bonkers sometimes. I need to take plenty of breaks. So I totally get it. It's good to stick to your own pace, and it's also okay if you don't understand other people. XD I sure don't.
ReplyDeleteI tend to write short, too, and in my first drafts I never explain ANYTHING. I have to go back at least twice (and usually much more) in order to clarify things. Plus, I tend to backtrack a bit as I write if I really don't like the way the plot's heading in. So, yep, it's a process. A slow process.
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