What Sparks Your Creative Writing?

– Apr 6, 2010Posted in: Blog, Writing

At first, there is an image. One concrete scene that plays out in my head. It’s so vivid and clear in my mind. And it repeats itself over and over again. That image usually latches onto an idea, then another and then a plot forms. The combination of those things starts me writing fiction. And usually, I find myself walking down a road with characters and, often, subject matter that I know little about.

And that’s how my writing process begins. This may be because I am visually oriented, and can often see clearly the scenes of my book played played out in my head down to the details of what is on tables, what’s hanging on walls and who is in the crowd. Most of the journalism I did for the military usually started with a hook. I’d interview the principals, get some scope on the story, then the “hook” would usually stick itself in my head. Then I’d write it. Something close to 1,500 stories when like that, including a few of the writing samples on this Web site.

For example, my second novel project begin with the image of a baseball player at bat in a crowded stadium being shot by an assassin. That led to another idea (concerning baseball players in the 1940s and their military service) which led to another one of my favorite interests (cryptography).

The novel project that followed the one above started almost the same way, with the image of a tramp steamer sinking in deep waters with nefarious cargo. The third project started with the question, “what if one man had to save a planet from the 1980s?” You get the idea.

What I write tends to happen on a whim, with little knowledge of where I’m going. And it continues that way for about 10,000 words until the idea has exhausted itself. Then, one of two things happens:

  1. I’ll connect it to another idea. Sometimes the ideas may be related. Other times, they are not. Then the writing process continues for another 10,000 words (or however long that inspiration lasts).
  2. I stop. Cold. When this happens, one of two things occurs: either I sit down and think about where the story should go, or the project gets idled.

For you writers who outline, I do that, too, but not until I’ve got about 20-25,000 words in the manuscript. And, as an admittance, by that time, I tend to run out of gas. I don’t know where to take the manuscript next. I’m scrambling for ideas and too many times my writing gets forced. So, a project will sit until I can come back to it with some enthusiasm, especially novels. Right now, my online experimental novel, Galactic Milk, is stuck at about 45,000 words. I’m looking for some place to take it. The first novel is done, but needs some significant edits, so there’s that.

Needless to say, the starts are fantastic, the middles are okay. The endings are tough. Friends have told me they have problems with middle more often than the end. I’ve never heard anyone have trouble with the start.

My solutions to these challenges vary. Some projects, I just *find* a middle and an ending. Then, fix it in the edits. Other times, they seem to work themselves out on their own. Some projects are simply comatose.

So, because, I’m always interested in process, and because I’m something of a knowledge junkie, I’d like to know how your writing process works? What sparks you go 80,000 words? Can you describe it in a comments in under 100 words?

Here’s your chance.

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