Ceramic DM Winter 07 (Final Judgment Posted)

[Piratecat]

In general I ponder the photos for 12 hours, leave the last 12 hours for editing, and spend the intervening two days writing.

I check the photos for any obvious commonalities, then try to turn them on their proverbial ears in order to come up with a less expected entry. What else is in the photo that might be relevant? Is there a time, or a background image? What might tie the pictures together?

Then I go and sit in the tub. Or take a shower. Then I sleep. And I studiously don't think about it except to occasionally remind myself what the photos are. If I've properly fueled my brain, I've got the photos in there all sliding around like puzzle pieces, hitching this way and that way as they try to line themselves up. When I get it right I know, and when (if!) I snap the last photo and plot element and character interaction in place there's a near-audible "click." This happens in my D&D design, too. It's a tremendous feeling, and one that I don't feel often enough.

Then I write. I write anything, and I edit later. The more I slam down on the page initially, the better the story ends up and the less I freeze up a day later.

 

[orchid blossom]

Then I write. I write anything, and I edit later.

I wish I could do that. I have the terrible habit of editing as I go.

 

[mythago]

I would love to be able to sit and write and not stop, or to just sorta plan what I was going to write. Mostly it just drops into my head and that's just all there is to it. I get one or two pictures I am not all that sure what to do with. This makes for some sucky stories, let me tell you.

 

[mythago]

Yeah... if PC wins this, it'll be because of BSF's and my sparring. Absolutely

I'm just peeved that he got to you first.

 

[Berandor]

I'm not writing this time, but... I'm amazed that everyone says they get some kind of idea right away. I usually stare at the picture, wonder what the hell, and let them stew for a couple days before I get any idea at all. Then I write frantically and pray I can get something finished.

Well, at least for me, I've got the benefit of a different time zone. Usually I get the pictures in the evening, and I can let them sink in, sleep on them, and next day somewhere between noon and afternoon I start writing; so a simmering process is almost "built in".

But I usually have an idea after that time.

And usually, when I decided on a story, I focus on that to the extent that the interpretation seems totally natural. When writing, I often think my opponent is probably writing the same story or using the pictures the same way. Although that never happens.

*bump for judgement*

 

[carpedavid]

I wish I could do that. I have the terrible habit of editing as I go.

I edit as I go, too, which helps me in two ways:

1. I seem to have less to edit when I'm done.

2. Going back over previously written material seems to help me find connections that I'd otherwise miss.

In situations where I'm the only one who has input to my work before the story is finalized (like this contest), I find that this approach works acceptably well. I think it would probably make me "slow" compared to others, though, in a situation where I were expected to pass editing duties off to an external source.

Oh - I just thought of a technique that I've been using in this contest that I had never tried before. When writing, if I come to an area that I find is slowing me down, I put in placeholders - usually something along the lines of "[more dialogue here]," but sometimes entire plot points.

I then move on to other parts of the story where I find that the words are flowing more freely. Thus far, I've only used it twice, so I can't tell you how well it holds up over time, but so far it seems to have enabled me to write longer stories in the same amount of time.

 

[Piratecat]

I do that too. As far as I can tell, its biggest advantage is that it helps maintain momentum.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I can't do that, at least in Ceramic DM. The couple times I have, I found that the cool idea I developed for the placeholder obsoleted the parts I wrote afterward. For something not time-limited it wouldn't bug me, but I hate being faced with having to shoe-horn something in and go with it. Mentally, at that point I've already written off the story, and it becomes a chore to finish instead of fun.

Of course, if I could train myself to start writing the first night instead of procrastinating, I'd have the time to do it right, but I think that's too hard a trick to teach this old dog.

 

[Piratecat]

Of course, if I could train myself to start writing the first night instead of procrastinating, I'd have the time to do it right, but I think that's too hard a trick to teach this old dog.

I'm totally counting on this if we have to face one another. It's far more reliable than those old days of "post my story then use secret admin mojo to turn off EN World."

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Dog > cat.