1. I need to have the characters' names decided. I'm not the kind of writer that can put [XXX] and [YYY] in place for names. I can do that with places, or occupations, or stuff like [BIG-ASS-DARK-SECRET-THAT-CHANGED-HERO'S-LIFE-FOREVER]...but the names have to be there. Because their names becomes a part of who they are. When the characters repeat those names to each other, they will resonate and add depth to the work (at least for me that's true).
2. I always pick a song. It's like the WIP theme song. Are we going for dark and moody with this one, or something with a heavy thumping beat? Soft instrumentals, or something active that will get you moving? It's the song that I listen to whenever I need to recapture the mood of my book, so it has to be perfect, and sometimes that means there's more than one song.
3. The title. For some reason the title is important. I know that often it will end up being changed and I'm okay with that, but while I'm working on it, the book has to have a title that resonates with me.
So, those are my writing superstitions.
In case you were wondering, for this new WIP (Steampunk) my characters are named Jasper and Callista (Callie), my song is Shelter by The XX, and ...
Ack!!
What are your superstitions? What do you HAVE TO HAVE before you the words will flow? (And anyone want to help me with a title?
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I don't plot. Really, I don't. I do however need to tell myself the story, the main points...with a total willingness for it all to be tossed into the wind if the characters take me somewhere different!
I defnitely need to know the characters names, have a sense of who they are and where they've come from (although, sometimes that changes), definitely need the title name, and the opening image. If the opening is "wrong" to me, I often have a series of misstarts until I hit upon the one that works for now.
I need the title too, and have discovered I don't have one I like for current WIP. And since it should "go" with connected book before it & I really don't have title approval for that, I feel totally screwed, LOL. And no jelled plot either...I'm only 2 chapters in and feeling my way in the darkest dark, but that's typical.
I can't write to music, or really noise of any kind. My door is shut & John knocks, LOL.
I need to know the working title, and it has to work for the story. And I MUST have character names I can't use symbols in place of them either. If I have the 'wrong' names for my characters, it slows me down. Their names (for me) say a lot of about their personality.
I have to have music when writing. It's usually classical though. Sometimes, words will distract me.
Maureen, you are totally surrounded by mostly non plotters! I think JK is the only vixen that plots! :)
I'm a plotter and as I'm just starting my second MS, I'm finding there are things I have to know. Must have the names. How can you write without knowing who they are?!
I always have the first scene early, usually as soon as the idea comes to me. For the rest, I'm doing character detail sheets, which help a lot. Then I need visuals of the locations. This book is set in a real place, so thankfully there are lots of real images I can stick up on the wall around the storyboard.
Oh yeah, and I have to have my storyboard. :) Good luck with the new one, JK! I'd help with the title, but I'm terrible at them. In fact, this new WIP doesn't have one either.
Superstitions:
I cannot work on my wip if I owe any critiques to anyone.
Needless to say, I've gotten very good at partitioning my time. lol.
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