Why You Should Change Up Your Writing Process: A Guest Post by Katie Grace

I'm very excited to welcome the lovely Katie Grace to The Ink Loft for the first time! She just celebrated her two-year blog anniversary, and I fondly remember helping her get connected way back then.

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Katie Grace is a writer, blogger, child of the King, enfp, spreader of smiles, and a firm believer of hope in this messy world. (isn't that a mouthful?) She has a bad habit of writing 20,000 words in one day, staying up until two in the morning, and eating a whole pizza in one sitting (as well as using too many parenthesis in her bio).

She blogs at A Writer's Faith, and tweets constantly on her Twitter account.

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Before I start my post, a HUGE thanks to Rachelle for letting me guest post! (and patiently reminding me when I forgot that I was supposed to send it to her.) Happy blogging anniversary to one of my first online writing friends! <3

I've been writing for 15.625% of my life. (Look at me math.) I've written four books and am getting ready to write my fifth. Each time I write a book, it's a different adventure. Obstacles to overcome, writer's block at different moments, and with each book I like to switch up my writing process.

At first I did this without realizing it. I plotted a little more, I wrote my novel on a different word processor, and so on. For each of my books, the way I wrote the book worked well, but what if I found a way that would work better? So I am on a quest to find the best way to write a novel -- what method works best for me.

But why should you try switching up your writing process? I compiled a (short) list of reasons to answer that hypothetical question that you may or may not have asked. Here they are.

 

It's important to try out different methods to figure out what works best.

I already mentioned this above, so maybe this point is considered cheating, but it deserves to be it's own point. The process you're using to write your book may work well, but what if something works out better? I used to never write on paper, because I thought it was time consuming and made my hands cramp. I read a few articles online suggesting to give handwriting a try. I grumbled and gave in.

Best decision ever.

Now I do all of my brainstorming on paper. It releases my creativity in a way that the computer screen just can't do. No distractions, pretty doodles in the margin, not to mention that it forces me to choose my words carefully since I hand write slower than I think and type.

I'm still not sure about writing a full novel by hand, but someday I'm going to give it a try. Maybe it'll be my new favorite process -- I won't know until I try.

Courtesy of Pixabay

The creative process is part of the fun.

WAIT. IS THIS A SNEAKY WAY OF ME TELLING YOU THAT EDITING CAN BE FUN!?

No.

Editing is never fun.

BUT, that doesn't mean you can't make an effort.

Going over edits for my current WIP, I used sticky notes. Lots of sticky notes. I aggressively stickied EVERYTHING in my editing rage and created an outline for the first time while I got ready for rewrites.
Was it fun? Debatable. But violently slamming sticky notes on the horrible parts of my novel gave me great satisfaction and I will 10000% do it again.

 

If it doesn't work out... so what?

If you try pantsing a novel and it doesn't work out... so what? You take a break and plot it out instead.
If you try plotting a novel and it doesn't work out... so what? Discard the outline and go back to your happy pantsing ways.

If you try writing on paper and decide that you viciously hate it... so what? Stop writing on paper. You never have to try again.

There's not much to lose (beside perhaps your sanity), so be brave and give other methods a try.

 

What are some different processes that I can try?

I'm glad you asked because I have a list of answers to that hypothetical question.

// if you're a pantser, give plotting a try. (I'm doing this next month(!!)

// if you're a plotter, give pantsing a try.

// write on scrivener.

// sign up for NaNoWriMo.

// write at night.

// write in the morning.

// write with music.

// write without music.

// write a book by hand.

// try different outlining methods.

// get a critique partner.

// dictate your novel.

// write outside.

// brainstorm with a friend.

// eat more pizza.

// give OneNote or Evernote a try.

// try different plotting methods. (there are tons of them.)

// get into the habit of pressing the "save" button.

// just switch it up. Do what you're doing and put a twist on it.

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Thank you so much for this post, Katie! I highly enjoyed it! What did ya'll think? How do you change up your writing process? Let me know in the comments!