Recently, a couple of my author friends tagged me in a writing project. The assignment: post seven things about your writing.
1. My writing is done at a standing desk.
2. When I start a book, the first and last chapters are written first.
3. I do not use an outline.
4. In the beginning, notes are made on main and significant characters. As the writing continues, the characters grow and change and take on their own identities and display their strengths and weaknesses.
5. My plan is to avoid the “dark and stormy night” syndrome. Establish the setting with a few brief sentences, then let the characters tell the story in dialog. Not fond of the omniscient narrator. Instead of writing that the elderly lady sang off key, I bring out the old woman and let her sing.
6. I read a lot of old books, take notes, then use them for inspiration and ideas in my books.
7. I enjoy writing dialog. I get into character for each speaker. My dialog has received critical praise. I believe I do good with it because I’m a good listener. My wife says it’s because I talk a lot.
BONUS: I write for the same reason many readers read—escape. My characters are the voices in my head and I enjoy spending time with these people.
FIND OUT seven special things about the writing of Charley Descoteaux and Jeff Tsuruoka
March 20, 2015
FCEtier
FCEtier 
3 responses to “The Seven Things (about my writing) Challenge”
aurorawatcherak
March 22nd, 2015 at 05:45
Reblogged this on aurorawatcherak and commented:
I love a challenge, so I accepted it. Seven things to know about my writing!
1) My books start as a character or two telling me his/her story. Until that first character presents himself, there is absolutely no point in my deciding to write a book because it won’t start.
2) I am an adventure writer. Typically, I’m 30,000-words into a manuscript before I know where it is going to end. I obviously don’t write from an outline … for the first draft.
3) I re-write from an outline on the second draft. I have a definable beginning, middle and end, I add subplots, and I now know what I need to do to bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion.
4) I write long, so I write series. Short stories are a challenge for me. How can anyone really get to know a character or the world they live in without spending time with them?
5) I write anywhere anytime. I loath filing for work, but I write in my head while I’m doing it, so it’s tolerable. Alaska (where I live) is the ultimate road trip state and long miles can be spent having conversations with my characters.
6) I love mythology, religion, history and political science, so there are often elements of these underpinning my writing.
7) Despite living in Alaska, I have never successfully written an Alaskana-genre book.
aurorawatcherak
March 22nd, 2015 at 05:44
I love a challenge!
1) My books start as a character or two telling me his/her story. Until that first character presents himself, there is absolutely no point in my deciding to write a book because it won’t start.
2) I am an adventure writer. Typically, I’m 30,000-words into a manuscript before I know where it is going to end. I obviously don’t write from an outline … for the first draft.
3) I re-write from an outline on the second draft. I have a definable beginning, middle and end, I add subplots, and I now know what I need to do to bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion.
4) I write long, so I write series. Short stories are a challenge for me. How can anyone really get to know a character or the world they live in without spending time with them?
5) I write anywhere anytime. I loath filing for work, but I write in my head while I’m doing it, so it’s tolerable. Alaska (where I live) is the ultimate road trip state and long miles can be spent having conversations with my characters.
6) I love mythology, religion, history and political science, so there are often elements of these underpinning my writing.
7) Despite living in Alaska, I have never successfully written an Alaskana-genre book.
tylenevr
March 20th, 2015 at 16:16
Great info, i could tell you some scary things in my life. Of course a fake name. Lol. May not be scary, or enough drama. Tylene