[stylist] Writing process

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Kerry,

Wuthering Heights is my all-time favorite book!  *smile*

I completely agree with you.  We all have to find the process that works
for us.  I, too, do not really do the draft thing.  As organized as I
am, drafts have never really been a part of my process even when sighted
or for academic papers.  I usually received straight A's so I must have
done something right!  *smile*

This post is very articulate.  Perhaps you would consider writing a 1000
words or less article about the writing process for Slate & Style?

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of stylist-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 12:00 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 21


Send stylist mailing list submissions to
	stylist at nfbnet.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
	stylist-request at nfbnet.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
	stylist-owner at nfbnet.org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than
"Re: Contents of stylist digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Re: stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19 (Kerry Thompson)
   2. Re: stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19
      (James H. "Jim" Canaday M.A. N6YR)
   3. Re: stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19 (LoriStay at aol.com)
   4. Re: stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19 (Judith Bron)
   5. Re: stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19 (Donna Hill)
   6. The Tragic Shooting of Gabrielle Giffords (Judith Bron)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:37:49 -0500
From: Kerry Thompson <kethompson1964 at gmail.com>
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [stylist] stylist Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19
Message-ID: <4D2E576D.8090204 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi friends,

Bridgit, everybody's process is different. For me, writing is about the 
language. So, from the first, the words are as important as the story 
I'm telling with them. Of course, sometimes it's necessary to get the 
story germ down as quickly as possible before I forget it.

That leads me to my second point. For me, writing and rewriting aren't 
separate, distinct phases of the process. I'm a tinkerer. I continually 
reread my work in progress, pausing to substitute a better word here, to

expand a phrase to a paragraph there where it strikes me that the 
meaning is unclear. And, as the story grows, especially with a novel, it

sometimes becomes necessary to go back to add or alter allusions or 
whole scenes.

With short stories, too, the manuscript is dynamic. I tighten here, 
expand there, occasionally move or delete entire passages. But it's not 
a matter of Draft 1, Draft 2, Draft 3. I don't work that way and can't 
even fully understand the concept of working that way. But, as I say, 
everybody's process is different. You have to find the process that 
works for you. If producing distinct drafts and revisions works for you,

then by all means go for it!

Like you, I learned to read print, before losing my sight. Like you, 
too, I love Nineteenth Century literature, especially Dickens. Wharton 
isn't one of my favorites, though. I prefer the Brontes. I think, 
perhaps, you and I were taught writing in different ways, from different

aesthetic paradigms. It sounds like you're into modernism, while I'm 
more old fashioned. One way isn't right and the other wrong, they're 
just different.

Chris, LOL That's short and to the point. Very good!

Solidarity and Peace,

Kerry