This is how I write, is it usual or uncommon?

Question

I'm writting a fantasy novel and I started with no idea what was going to happen. I just started writting. I have just over 100 pages right now and haven't had to go back and scrap anything yet, actually I like what I have so far. Anyway, after the first 100 I went back and fixed a few mistakes in spelling and grammer. I ended up adding about two pages in total, just to clairify a few things I didn't when I first wrote it. Being my first attempt at writting a novel I am not sure weather I am going at it in an odd way or weather this tends to be common? It works for me and I'm not going to alter my way I was just curious weather this is common or not?
I myself have no clue what is going to happen next, it just seems to just unfold as I write. No outlines, no clue, no idea. It seems, however to be working quite well for me.

Answer 1

Lots of people, myself included, start books by just writing, without outlines or even ideas of what is going to happen next. However, even the best authors edit and edit and edit- it never comes out perfect the first time. In fact, I think that the better writer you are, the more you edit. One of the greatest American authors of all time, F. Scott Fitzgerald, was a meticulous editor, and he would change things in his books right up until their last minute before publication. So if I were you, I'd keep going, but go back and see if there is anything that you can rephrase or rewrite, because it isn't perfect. And remember, it doesn't matter how great your story is if the writing is crap.

Answer 2

Writing is work, like anything else, and people approach things differently. If this works for you (and it does work for many published authors as well!) then keep at it.

If you're looking to write professionally, I'd suggest joining a critique group so an outside set of eyes can help you find things you might have missed (you probably didn't catch all the spelling errors, etc.) and things you might not have known you needed. For instance, something that makes perfect sense to you because of your own experiences might not make sense to someone else, and you might not know something isn't working without some outside help.

But no matter what, keep writing. It sounds like you're having a good time, and really, why write if you're not having fun doing it?

Answer 3

It depends entirely on what you are trying to accomplish. If you're writing as a hobby, then the best way is whatever way you feel like, because that's what hobbies are all about. If you're trying to get published, to become a professional author, you should never assume your work is good till after you hear from critics. Pay attention to critics, with an open mind. No matter how much they insult you, there is usually a grain of truth in what they say, and it can make a big difference in the quality of your writing if you take them seriously and give a lot of thought to what they say.

Answer 4

Even when you have a certain style of writing, youmay need to change it for some reason or another. Right now, I am working on two different stories (I know I'm crazy, but if I don't write the plots haunt me forever) and they both require two different approaches. One has fully formed characters and hardly any plot figured out. The other has a detailed plot, but the characters are much less defined. Sometimes, depending on what comes to you first, be it characters, plot, or setting, will change how you need to approach something. That being said, if it is working for you, don't bother changing. You will have to go back and tweak things, change things, add bits and pieces, but that's normal.

Answer 5

Actually, this is very common, to just get an idea and start writing. It sounds like you've got a character-driven plot. But beware, if you don't eventually get some sort of idea how it's going to end, at least, you might wind up dropping the whole thing. It's hard enough to complete a novel with the end in mind, but without it...I can't see it.

Answer 6

No, your way of writing a novel isn't common. Some people do it that way, but not many. Most people have to know the ending and the main plot first. Then they usually agonize over every sentence and then get into a good groove of writing. Then the next time that they continue writing, they analyze and nitpick. I know a lot of writers who say they probably only end up publishing about 20% of all of their writings from one story.

Then some people get really inspired and write all different parts of the sotry little be little and ponder over how to piece them together.

It's good that you've found a writing style that works for you.

Answer 7

No your method is common. A lot of writers pick a point about halfway through and go back and review. And yes, you will always find things you need to add. Don't worry so much about pages or words. First of all, industry standard works in words not pages. Based on 250 words per page. But the fact is you shouldn't worry about that. When is it done? When you have finished telling your story - regardless of how long or short it is.

If that method works for you, fine. No point in discussing it since you have stated you aren't going to change anyway, right? But never say never. That is a bad attitude to take. There could come a time when something you're writing requires outlining. My guess is your story is very plot driven with very sketchy character details. Most people who "wing it" tend to write plot driven stories. Writing without an outline is not common. Most people cannot "wing it" successfully and I constantly advise against it. Most of the wing it stuff I see posted here is horrible.

You must understand something. Writing is a gift given to us by our Creator. But it is our obligation to take that gift and hone and train it into a skill and a talent. If you think you can get by on just your gift, I am here to tell you that you cannot. The first editor you come up against will point that out to you by slicing you to ribbons. Remember that it is not what YOU are happy with but what a publisher is happy with and what can sell. Those may be two different things. The trick is to develop your skill so you know how to write for people - not for yourself. BIG difference. Trust me - my editor and partner have had a lot of knock down drag out fights over that topic. Be ready for a LOT of criticism. That is the nature of the beast. Develop a nice thick hide - like as thick as the Great Wall of China because you will need it to deal with editors and publishers and agents. Oh yes - and writing instructors too.

Writing to please yourself is a nice concept, but ultimately you have to write to please and develop a readership or you will sit alone in your room reading your stuff to yourself.

Lastly, my dear puhlease ... learn to spell. The word you want is whether ... Weather is when it is raining or snowing ... Pax - C

Answer 8

How stories unfold as you write them is one of the reasons I love to write. Not knowing what is going to happen next is not uncommon. Many acomplished authors are stunned about what happens in their books. I write short stories, and am curantly writing a novel. I know what is going to happen in the first and in the end, and am surprised about what is unfolding in the middle.
Good luck on your book!

Answer 9

It's not an unusual way to do it at all. Stephen King himself, in his fabulous book, "On Writing", says that this is usually the way he does it. It's the way I've done it. It's fun, really, because if you don't know what's going to happen in your story, then your readers won't either. It's a fool-proof formula for successful suspense.

Happy writing!

Answer 10

There are lots of ways to approach writing. Lewis Carroll came up with the last line of the last stanza of his work. Sometimes organization can come from chaos. At some point, when you try to pitch this to publishers, you will have to create an outline and organized synopsis however.