The way authors work

[John Dean]

A few years ago, I ran a creative writing course and, at the beginning of one of the sessions, I asked my fifteen students how they worked.

The result was fifteen different answers –one author wrote everything by hand then typed it onto their computer, another wrote it all in note form then linked the notes together, one did not edit anything until everything was completed on the first draft, another never edited anything at all (not to be recommended!), one author wrote in coffee shops like J K Rowling.

My method is different again. I write a chapter then go back and rewrite it, maybe three of four times, before moving onto the next chapter and repeating the slow and steady process.

At some stage, with several chapters created in this way, I go back to the beginning and rework the manuscript, editing carefully, asking if every word has the right to be there.

Then with the end of the story looming, I take the brakes off and write fast and loose, not being careful about what I write, not worrying about spelling mistakes etc, just making sure that I have something on the screen, until I type the words ‘The End’.

Then it is back to page one and working carefully again to give myself a draft which will, for the first time, be printed out before being given a final read-through.

It may seem to some people that my way of writing is cumbersome but it works for me and the key thing is that each writer must use the method  that works.

I would be interested in hearing how other authors work. I am sure there are plenty more different methods out there.