tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post4175234800002067768..comments2024-03-29T04:41:13.129-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: Drafting, DraftingElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-18012338794551638042011-07-16T01:36:49.596-06:002011-07-16T01:36:49.596-06:00GREAT IDEA! Why has no-one mentioned this before? ...GREAT IDEA! Why has no-one mentioned this before? It's the electronic version of sticky notes.<br /><br />I do a similar thing - write notes to myself as I go - but I do it within the text, in italics and surrounded by a double asterisk <i>**likethis**</i>. Balloons is way better, though; it's less intrusive and doesn't interrupt the flow on the page.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-27760141543897998602011-07-14T08:02:09.162-06:002011-07-14T08:02:09.162-06:00I like this, thanks for sharing. I am trying to be...I like this, thanks for sharing. I am trying to be an outliner this go around, thinking it might not be the way I write, though...this weekend I am going back to the old...fast draft it. Will try the balloon thing, too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-6733031006231845202011-07-13T22:26:26.588-06:002011-07-13T22:26:26.588-06:00My tips and tricks for drafting: do a little outli...My tips and tricks for drafting: do a little outline after you've written the first quarter of the book--a rough outline, more like a guild---you don't have to follow it completely or at all, but I've found it's nice to have something to refer to. I haven't done this for every book I've written but the couple of times I have it has really helped. Thanks, Elana!!Paul Grecihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11340974339238587138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-35785242401770625322011-07-13T21:44:51.961-06:002011-07-13T21:44:51.961-06:00This is the first time I decided to outline, and I...This is the first time I decided to outline, and I must admit, it has worked well as I now write the first draft of my WIP. I did it using my own way of outlining, basically calling on a spreadsheet I created. It has helped tie everything together and I find that it's making the writing process a lot faster, and I was already a fast writer to begin with.Mike Winchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11771482167997501541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-27405978443907458332011-07-13T21:06:15.605-06:002011-07-13T21:06:15.605-06:00I do the highlighting thing when I need to researc...I do the highlighting thing when I need to research something more or change it. :) I hadn't thought of doing revisions on my own work in track changes. Very clever!Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-28824329054121924222011-07-13T19:11:57.666-06:002011-07-13T19:11:57.666-06:00Am I the only one who views "balloons" a...Am I the only one who views "balloons" as colorful, orb-shaped thingies that float into the air? Help! I am a painfully slow drafter/editing junkie, and I would love to try out Elana's balloon suggestion, but I have no idea what they are or how to use them.Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16208705343454645831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-77322434679942920952011-07-13T18:14:01.500-06:002011-07-13T18:14:01.500-06:00Good idea! I put things in brackets and highlight ...Good idea! I put things in brackets and highlight in blue so I see it easily.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-83333857843441016712011-07-13T17:31:18.214-06:002011-07-13T17:31:18.214-06:00I use a lot of ***** for parts I need to work on.I use a lot of ***** for parts I need to work on.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-75735665721977841592011-07-13T16:21:51.745-06:002011-07-13T16:21:51.745-06:00Balloons. That sounds like a great idea. Especiall...Balloons. That sounds like a great idea. Especially for me and my notebook. I tend to be a slow drafter, trying to get it right the first time. There are good and bad things about that.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01445455787485222068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-65563511793980845652011-07-13T16:11:15.421-06:002011-07-13T16:11:15.421-06:00Your style sounds like mine, except I lack your ab...Your style sounds like mine, except I lack your ability, I wish I was polished enough to give adequate advice here. But for now, I’ll just listen and learn.<br /><br />thxJeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-31835322095022788962011-07-13T14:18:23.342-06:002011-07-13T14:18:23.342-06:00I've learned to use the balloons and highlight...I've learned to use the balloons and highlighting during drafting to satisfy my inner editor, and console her with the fact that "we CAN fix it later,see?"NiaRaiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13245742876021926812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-18950155297479513262011-07-13T13:55:43.038-06:002011-07-13T13:55:43.038-06:00Did u think of this balloon thing by yourself? Or ...Did u think of this balloon thing by yourself? Or is this a technique you heard of?Jessie Humphrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11096043821002254348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-3240395594125300642011-07-13T13:33:08.126-06:002011-07-13T13:33:08.126-06:00Balloons--you mean, like comment balloons? I use t...Balloons--you mean, like comment balloons? I use those too, to make notes to myself! Funny; I just did that very same thing this morning while puttering on my Shiny New Idea, page 2 (that's about all I have on it, too)! Yep, works well. I highlight words I'm not sure of in red, too. Then I can move on and leave the fiddley stuff for later. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-19165239469218945792011-07-13T13:32:25.752-06:002011-07-13T13:32:25.752-06:00I just go for it, knowing I'll need to add a t...I just go for it, knowing I'll need to add a ton of detail and description during the first edit. I get the basics down and work from that. I'm a perfectionist, but I learned quickly there's no writing like that that.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-8641465345115809332011-07-13T13:15:07.514-06:002011-07-13T13:15:07.514-06:00Recently I came across someone who called a panste...Recently I came across someone who called a panster combined with an outliner is called a pantyliner. LOL! Wish I remembered where I saw it so I could give her credit...Laura Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237841462234396752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-9080791410151048052011-07-13T13:03:46.913-06:002011-07-13T13:03:46.913-06:00I really think anything that gets you to move forw...I really think anything that gets you to move forward is a great process. I find if I don't balloon, or note and move on I'm easily distracted by the research. Great dialogue today! So many inspiring writers out there.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-36793899010029836882011-07-13T12:55:11.357-06:002011-07-13T12:55:11.357-06:00Yeah, I need to learn this "make a note &...Yeah, I need to learn this "make a note & leave it alone" trick of yours. I can't, which is why I draft so slow because I have to do at least a LITTLE revising as I go. -__-<br /><br />Balloons are brilliant though! I've used them when looking over people's papers but not for writing. Hmm.Krispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492607213249874138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-20863954823738886302011-07-13T12:54:50.351-06:002011-07-13T12:54:50.351-06:00What color are the balloons? I have absolutely no...What color are the balloons? I have absolutely no idea how to do this. I would have to type it in help to figure out.<br /><br />I do a bullet outline now. It helps to stay on track even if I change it part way through. And I usually do. But I cannot stop editing as I write. Kills me!Marsha Sigmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11095210839900479297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-87934310561525378992011-07-13T12:05:49.553-06:002011-07-13T12:05:49.553-06:00That is a GREAT idea - wow. :) I'm drafting ri...That is a GREAT idea - wow. :) I'm drafting right now too, and this is a fantastic way to not get bogged down by compulsive revisions. :)Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-47356656598571430312011-07-13T12:05:36.182-06:002011-07-13T12:05:36.182-06:00Balloons - what a great idea! I always try to draf...Balloons - what a great idea! I always try to draft without fixing anything, too, but I usually just trust that I'll notice the problems on my first read-through. But having notes in the margin to prick my memory would be way helpful. Thanks!HelenLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00803623812277046433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-27175383860490211532011-07-13T11:17:44.100-06:002011-07-13T11:17:44.100-06:00Elana - ballooning a note for yourself is a great ...Elana - ballooning a note for yourself is a great idea. Good luck on your draft.RaShelle Workmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582252557500502186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-443021800545927062011-07-13T11:15:27.037-06:002011-07-13T11:15:27.037-06:00LOL I'm a big fan of notes to myself, though m...LOL I'm a big fan of notes to myself, though mine take the form of Post It notes strewn around my desk. If I didn't write things down, I'd never make it through revisions...or even just regular life LOLMichelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-53859902204056314682011-07-13T11:06:34.122-06:002011-07-13T11:06:34.122-06:00Ok, totally using this idea. I don't know why ...Ok, totally using this idea. I don't know why I haven't thought of it before :)<br /><br /><a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Allen<br />(my creative writing blog)</a>Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-35452105028375122432011-07-13T11:06:29.120-06:002011-07-13T11:06:29.120-06:00I like the balloon idea. May have to give it a tr...I like the balloon idea. May have to give it a try. I'm not big on outlines, but trying to work on changing that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-7470116475730265732011-07-13T10:36:46.279-06:002011-07-13T10:36:46.279-06:00Ha--that's too funny because I've started ...Ha--that's too funny because I've started doing the same thing. And then I still have my: "things I need to fix" which is kinda like a revision checklist. Really helps me keep track of all the suckage I need to fix.<br /><br />Also: WOO HOO FOR NEW DRAFTS! I can't wait to read it!Shannon Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08003607156860716462noreply@blogger.com