If you love to write and are anything like me, you might enjoy seeing another’s process when it comes to writing. What easier way to show this than when writing a short story?
In my previous post, the challenge of writing a Christmas short story was announced. As I write/draft, “The Winter Mix,” I will show my process and progress here for any interested. You’d be surprised how much you can glean from another’s process.
So let’s get to it:
Step 1. IMAGE BELOW
Brain Reflections: Decide I really want to do something I love. Realize a short story is less cumbersome. Realize that a Christmas short story would be awesome.
I don’t type stories anymore, because I decided that writing longhand (paper and pen/pencil) is really, really effective for slowing me down and producing quality over quantity. But, being in a place where I didn’t have the ease of really focusing mentally that hard, I pulled up the closest computer I had and started throwing it down – words, that is.
Basically, I got as cheesy as I could – see that’s the key to getting something out sometimes. Just go with it; otherwise, you can limit yourself to even starting. In this case, it’s just a short story, and I just want to really enjoy the process of seeing if I can come up with something half way decent, so I started typing.
BTW: Google docs is your friend if you find yourself squeezing in writing here and there and anywhere.
In the image above, you can see where I very simply just started typing. No worries about font or size, except being able to see it, of course. I knew I wanted to write a short story, so I googled to make sure I was in the right page range. I even considered a novella, but don’t think time will allow.
As I typed, I couldn’t help but reflect on just how horrible it was. After I wrote about a page, I took a pause and re-read in order to make small tweaks, but still with a no-worry mindset. There’s always time for improvements/revision. When it was time to leave, I highlighted and commented where I left of with my “edits,” for ease of returning to work.
I haven’t returned to it in a day and a half, so, here’s hoping I can get back to it soon. I’ll give more updates as I go. The only other thing I did was pause and reflect on what exactly it was I wanted to write; like where I could go with it. Still a little vague other than this:
A woman gets in a wreck and two days later goes to the library for research on past due college work. She’ll get locked/snowed in, decide to call it a night, etc etc, only to find the books have a life of their own and want to include her in them.
Pretty vague and lifeless, but it’s a building I’m putting together slowly but surely.
Where are you at in your progress? What are you writing? How do you roll?
#amwriting #Christmasstories #writewithme #shortstories
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