The Workflow of Writing
A deep dive & collaborative discussion into the writing process.
Facilitated and moderated by Brian Schwartz
Writing is an introverted activity. Even when it's collaborative, we write independently. There’s no single process that works for everyone, and a successful workflow will vary depending on individual preferences.
We'll dive into questions such as:
Where do you begin? Where do your ideas come from? Do you write by pen or by computer? What program do you start with? Where do you do most of you writing? Do you submit to a critique group? Is anyone providing feedback? Have you attended a writing retreat? When do you engage an editor? Should you hold out for an agent/publisher? Is self-publishing a viable option? What tech tools have become part of your process? Why do you write?
I'll share the details of the process my own critique group uses (which we have been refining for nearly 3 years), and will be anxious to see how our group compares to others.
Writers who publish on a regular basis to share their tried and tested do's & don'ts.
In an informal and intimate setting, this promises to be a much different meeting than you are be accustomed to. The orientation of the room will even change to accommodate a fusion of the collective wisdom. This will be a high value meeting to all who attend - guaranteed to give you some unique insights into the writing process.
In an interview awhile back the SLO Life magazine's Tom Franciskovich interviewed Jay Asher (Author of 13 Reasons Why), who's answer served as an inspiration for this special session.
Tom: What advice can you offer an aspiring writer?
Jay Asher: The best advice is to get into a critique group with other writers. They don't have to write the same stuff that you write. There's a difference between writing just because you like writing and writing to try to get published. I think it's important to have someone read your work and then tell you honestly what they thought of it. And you have to train yourself to not defend your work and say things like "What I meant by this was this or that" you have to let the writing speak for itself. My writing improved so much even after I left [the critique group] because, even afterward. I can still hear some of those group members in my head as I write now. Also, one of the main tips I give I writers don't ever go with your first idea whether it's a solution for a scene or a direction for the plot because usually, your first idea is the first idea anybody would have had, so it's probably not the most creative - it's just the most obvious.
We look forward to having you join us!
When? Tuesday, Sept 12, 2017. 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Dear SLO Nightwriter,
Hopefully you feel as lucky as I did on Tuesday night. What an amazing two hours with Jay! It was a night I will not soon forget. It was definitely a highlight of my time as a Nightwriter.
Although I do eventually plan to write something up to recap the highlights, if you are eager to relive the evening, recall I captured it in audio, which you can listen to at:
One of the common threads we heard in Part 1 was the obstacle of completion. If there's no skin in the game, there's no deadline, then there's no consequence when we failing to complete what we know we must.
Just as Tuesday night was one experiment, I'm inviting you to join me in another.
I just started a Facebook group, as an experiment in accountability. It officially starts Oct 1, but you can join now.
A few months ago I made a commitment to myself (and my critikis) to devote the month of October to finishing my book. Over the last 3 years, I've written 300+ chapters and now it's time to finally pull it all together.
As a reflect back on significant achievements, one common thread was surrounding myself with a community of others with a shared objective. If we're gonna jump in the ocean, it's far less intimidating with others along side.
If you want to make a similar commitment to finishing your own work, I encourage you to take part in the pilot and join the WriteTober Facebook group. I'm using the Miracle Morning Group as a model - Which is a great community to check in with others, ask for help, and offer tips that you've personally found helpful.
Lastly, in the excitement of Tuesday's event, I failed to plug my upcoming publishing workshop at Cal Poly on Nov. 4. There's more info (and compelling short video) at www.selfpublishedsuccess.com.
Thanks to everyone who pitched to make last week so awesome! I'm honored to be a fellow SLONW.
My best, Brian Schwartz