Meerkat Prompts: The Writing Process
Occasionally, I get asked questions about how I write a book. It goes without saying that different authors take different approaches to this. Some have a very clear outline and they meticulously plan their writing, in terms of both where and when they’ll write, and what the story will be. Others have a more laissez-faire approach. I for one definitely fit into the latter category!
I wouldn’t say that I ‘wing it’, because in my head I know roughly where I am going. However, I don’t set a rigid structure in place when I write. I have plot points I want to explore, but how I get from A to B is less a straight line, and more of a wavy squiggle. It would be fair to say I don’t have the sort of focus that let’s me pre-plan a story in a set manner, so instead, I grant myself some creative flexibility. It’s worked for me so far, what with The Awakening, and in the not-so-distant future, The Schism.
There are other elements to the process too. I firmly believe that you should enjoy what you write, and write about what you like and love. I am a sci-fi fan, so there wouldn’t be much point in me writing an historical romance, or a courtroom drama. I don’t know enough about that sort of thing to write about it, and I doubt I’d enjoy writing it. It’s a lot easier to naturally flow when you are enjoying the experience. Writing stories should not feel like a chore. If it becomes work, it’s not worth doing. That’s my two cents on the writing process.
