Thursday, April 21, 2011

Author Blog Hop: Do You Write in Logical Order?

Thanks to Amy Romine for this interesting blog hop question.

There are two issues in answering the question:

First, what is meant here by "writing"? Are writing and drafting the same? Perhaps the question is: Do I draft in the order in which the material will eventually be read? The answer to that, of course, is that I can't know while I'm drafting whether that will be the final order of the prose or the final logic of the story. In any case, whether or not I write each scene in the order that I assume it will be used, I do have a sense of that order in my head, even if I write the prose for the last scene before I write the first scene.

Secondly, if by "logical," the question is asking whether I tell a story in temporal order, event by event, then I would say, yes, usually, but there are certainly exceptions such as flashbacks. My temporal appoach on the whole is conventional, although I admire authors who can fragment or even dispense with time in their storytelling. That's really tricky to do well.

Thanks again. It's been fun to think about this!

6 comments:

  1. 'In any case, whether or not I write each scene in the order that I assume it will be used, I do have a sense of that order in my head'. I usually do too. I'll have the beginning, middle, and end in sight, but those can always change at the whim of my characters.

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  2. Quite true, my answer was more about starting out, the pre-planning stage, where I don't really know where I am going - but it's through this 'pre-draft' stage, I start writing scenes, out of order.

    This has been a great question and you've raised some good points :)

    Thanks for playing along!

    Here is my blog post for today!

    Angel
    X

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  3. I consider any writing to be writing, draft or finished product. It's all the same process, to polish and make it shine. :)
    I didn't consider that the question addressed whether the story itself was linear - interesting point. It is difficult to jump from one time to another without jarring readers. I actually have a story in mind I'd love to do that, but I've held back because I'm afraid I'll flub it!

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  4. Funny, I've never considered writing a draft. I'm guilty of writing from start to finish...what I hope will be the finished product. Of course, I go back and edit and add here and there, but I never consider I write a draft. I re-read frequently to avoid repetition which I find in so many novels and dislike immensely. This has been an interesting question, and I'm so surprised to see how many are able to jump forward in the process. I envy them.

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  5. I always, always, always write a draft. I can't think without them. Then, after I edit and revise, I generally re-write a new outline and draft again.

    I'm a little meticulous. :-)

    Anne, I've left an award for you. Come on over to www.katrinadelallo.blogspot.com and collect your prize.

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  6. You have thoughtfully answered this question by breaking it down into two parts. I think you are a logical thinker, for sure. Good insight on this interesting question. Thank you.

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