Writing The Co-operative

[sealie]

So I was interested to track how writing changed from preliminary concept to posting. So I changed the colour of a section of text, and when it was edited/modified as I worked on The Co-operative, I made a record of the change(s). I don’t know if other peeps are interested but this is how a section of text from chapter 68 evolved over time.

First thoughts: normally not on a computer – scribbles on whatever is to hand, from back of post-its to old recipes.
[how long is this going to last] [not long, I guess, it wasn’t forecasted so I figure it’s a small storm cell] grey windows[relatively small stromcell, it will run out of gas]



Initial tidy up.
“How long is this going to last?”
“Not long, I guess, it wasn’t forecasted so I figure it’s a small storm cell.” Steve glanced at the grey nothingness outside the windows. “Relatively small storm cell; it will run out of gas.”

First read and revision.
“How long is this going to last?” Danny brushed his hand over the condensation masked window.

“Not long, I guess, it wasn’t forecasted so I figure it’s a small storm cell.” Steve glanced at the grey nothingness outside the windows. “Relatively small storm cell; it will run out of gas.”


Then the tweaking starts:
“How long is this going to last?”

“Hmmm?” Steve munched, and swallowed.

Danny brushed his hand over the condensation masked window, revealing a grey world beyond.

“Not long, I guess, it wasn’t forecasted so I figure it’s a small storm cell.” Steve glanced at the grey nothingness outside the windows. “Relatively small storm cell; it will run out of gas.”


“How long is this going to last?” Danny asked.

“Hmmm?” Steve munched, and swallowed.

Danny brushed his hand over the condensation masked window.

“Not long, I guess. It wasn’t forecasted -- so I figure it’s a small storm cell.” Steve squinted at the grey nothingness outside the windows. “Relatively small storm cell; it will run out of gas.”


“How long is this going to last?” Danny asked glancing to the window on his left.

“Hmmm?” Steve munched, and swallowed.

Danny brushed his hand over the condensation masked window.

“Not long, I guess. It wasn’t forecasted -- so I figure it’s a small storm cell.” Steve squinted at the grey nothingness beyond the windows. “Relatively small storm cell; it will run out of gas.”


Springwoof added her twopennyworth (can you spot the edit?)
“How long is this going to last?” Danny asked, glancing to the window on his right.

“Hmmm?” Steve munched, and swallowed.

Danny brushed his hand over the condensation masked window.

“Not long, I guess. It wasn’t forecasted -- so I figure it’s a small storm cell.” Steve squinted at the grey nothingness beyond the windows. “Relatively small storm cell; it will run out of gas.”

Comments

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

Very cool!
A "DVD Extras" on The Making of the Cooperative. :-)

I was interested to see that you began with the dialog, and added physical detail later. Does this happen all the time, or was it just this scene?

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

usually, yes, the dialogue come first. Sometimes it's a sentence that captures the visual element. i think that I capture the dialogue first because the visual element is pretty concrete, then I have to 'remember' to block it.

[amyjanehi.livejournal.com]

This is fascinating!!! I have the hardest time developing the detail I want when I write. Thanks for sharing your process.

And I love that the last edit... was a comma. :) You're fabulous!

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

aw, thank you. I love detail. I'll try and hold back, sometimes. My SGA fic 'The edge of the Bridge' is a perfect example of (in some opinion) of too much detail. But the winner of the auction wanted that detail, and I was in a medical doctor's POV, so I just wallowed and enjoyed myself.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

We share a similar style of writing. I start off with dialogue and key short bits of description or action. This paints a sketch of the overall scene.

Then I go back in adding more description, sensory details,whatever action(y) bits are required.

Third pass over includes emotion, and the hardest, Character's B reactions to either Character A or the action in the scene, etc.

Finally, logical blocking.

This was cool to see!

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this exercise. Generally, I try not to over-analyse things I really enjoy (because it takes the fun out of it, sometimes). But, I've always likened by storytelling to rapidly putting together a skeleton, adding a few bones here-and-there, bit of muscle, bit of ligament -- starts getting fleshy... Well you get the picture.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I actually do not set out to write like this, it's just want I do and sometimes, I recognize the process and sort of shrug and keep going.

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

it's weird trying something different. Like the elemental fic I sent you. I was/am trying something different there. At least for the first two chapters.

[4thoffive.livejournal.com]

I also write dialogue first, I find it tumbles out of me, then go back and do reactions and descriptions but for me, descriptions are the hardest. I can't do it as well as you. You do lovely little details that I never think of - like Danny wiping his hand over the window. Guess I'll just have to learn from you.

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

aw blush. It sounds like we have similar methods. I wonder if most folk write this way?

[lilguppee.livejournal.com]

I'm *always* amazed at your writing as 12 (or is it 13) years later proves!!! I think it's even more impressive it all starts out in script as I tend to think better behind a keyboard. Your environment is so full that I have to remind myself you aren't actually there!!! And I'm really hoping you had a great holiday!

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

I just checked on Cascade Library, my first TS story was Jan 1997. (I was writing appalling 'Due South' fic the year or so before that).

OH! 17 years of posting fanfic. I've always been writing it

[saphirablue]

This is very interesting to see as a reader - how the idea of a scene comes to live as a part of the fic I read. ♥

Thank you!

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

I was thinking I should add some 'environment' as to what my thought processes are as I edit. For example, 'brushed his hand over the condensation masked window' had came to me previously, I'd written it down, thinking I'll use that at the correct point. It occurred here. I couldn't have 'grey world and 'grey nothingness' in close proximity. One of them had to go.

you're welcome

[rungirl60.livejournal.com]

I love seeing the process from start to finished product. Your stories are so evocative-I feel like I am right there with them, seeing the sights, smelling the smells, etc.

[jimandblair.livejournal.com]

that's fundamentally what I'm trying to learn how to do, and tell a good story.