One Step in the Writing Process

 

People picture a writer at work as one who is madly typing on a keyboard or furiously writing on paper with a pen or pencil. Writer at work? Yes. 

Writers are also at work when their fingers are idle. They might be sitting on the porch sipping lemonade and enjoying the view. Quiet, relaxed. That's what we might see. It's also quite possible that the writer  is pondering a story idea in his/her mind. The thoughts tumble one over the other like acrobats, It's the first step in the writing process.

Another writer is emptying the dishwasher, pulling plates and cups and glasses out and putting them away. A mindless task. It's a fine time to work on a story idea. You can be mulling over story ideas or problem areas of a story you're working on when doing tasks that require no conversation with others. 

A writer on a bus or a plane looks to be sitting quietly. In reality, he/she may be spinning story ideas as the miles go by. One of my favorite times to give thought to story ideas is when I'm ironing

The thought process is a big part of writing. We don't merely sit down at the keyboard and zip out a story. A lot of thought has gone into it before we ever reach that point.  A writer can think about a story for days, or weeks, even months, before ever starting to do the actual writing. I must admit I don't iron very often anymore, but it is certainly a good time for thinking.

A writer on a beach staring at the water could be entertaining one story idea after another. Or perhaps just one. I find that if I have an idea, I tend to stay with that one until it is time to begin the first draft. If I try to think  about too many ideas at the same time, none of them come to fruition. That's me, but maybe another writer can sort out two or three story ideas in their head with no problem. Once again, we do what works best for us.

One problem writers may have is that their mind is working overtime on a story idea when it should be paying attention to whatever is happening in a classroom, at a concert, in church, or when being instructed on the day's job. There are times when writers can give serious thought to what they hope to write and times when they must put it on hold and give their attention to whatever is happening around them. 

A writer probably enjoys going to a coffee shop and sitting alone. Good thinking time! But if a friend shows up and joins him/her, that's the time to put the thought process on hold. We don;'t want to be considered anti-social.

One place I find dangerous to think about story ideas is when I first go to bed. Quiet? Yes. The perfect spot to work out that sticky area in the story you've been working on. Or to begin a new story idea. The problem is that it can be difficult to shut your mind off and go to sleep. If you can give yourself ten minutes to think and then turn over and off to dreamland, fine. But if you are like me, be wary of starting the thought process if you will have trouble coming to a stopping place in a reasonable time. 

Writers do as much thinking about writing as they do actually getting the words down in print or on a piece of paper. It's a multi-step process. Think--think some more--first draft--thnk again--revise and edit--think again--submit.