gracenm

Day 11: In your own space, talk about your creative process(es) — anything from the initial inspiration to how you feel after something’s done. Do you struggle with motivation or is it a smooth process? Do you have any tricks up your sleeve to pull out when a fanwork isn’t cooperating? What is your level of planning to pantsing/winging it?

I don't really have a creative process. I haven't done enough of anything to know what works best for me. I can say that most of the things I've written that I've liked were written in the Notes app on my phone while I was probably supposed to be doing something else. I guess if I had to come up with something, my process is: get a flash of dialogue in my head, frantically tap it out, then come up with whatever will link me from one flash to another.

I struggle with motivation when it comes to longer stories. I've only written one (that most people would still consider short) and I needed a Watcher to get that done. (My usual beta read every chapter but only gave a bit of positive feedback to keep me going through the first draft.)

I don't know about "tricks" but I definitely find myself needing to "blow off steam" from one story with another story or with something like a vid.

The planning/pantsing question is one I'm actively figuring out. I've outlined for any story I've written that's more than 8K. But I had the experience recently where I outlined a story I was really excited about and then I was like, "OK, that story's done. NEXT!" So I'm still planning to go back a try to write it but I'm also working on a story that I haven't outlined and just have basic ideas for. So we'll see which I like better, assuming I get either of them done!