Poll: Story writers, how do you write?

[twistedmic]

This question is for anyone who writes stories, either original (with hopes of eventual, paper, publication) or fanfiction.
How do you write your story? Do you sit at a computer and type it up as you go along? Do you use a typewriter (that's an old fashioned word processor for you young-uns out there)? Or do you hand write them and latter transcribe them onto a computer?
I, personally, prefer to hand write them in notebooks or on loose leaf notebook paper and later transcribe them onto a computer. Hand writing them gives me a chance to get the ideas written down and saved without having to worry about getting a hold of a computer. It also gives me a hard copy that won't be destroyed by a virus or power surge.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Computers seems to save on materials and legibility.

 

[kortin]

I rarely ever actually get them into a computer, but I like to write little tid-bits for a book i've been trying to write for about 5 years now. I've got hundreds of pages of ideas, I just never have enough free time to put them all in a logical order and make it readable.

 

[Lunar Templar]

on the computer when i do

 

[Ryuo]

I prefer writing by hand (bad penmanship though) Then putting skeleton ideas out on say a Word doc.

Works pretty good.

I just let stuff flow then edit it down later.

Captcha: Included atiforl...

 

[Abbystraction]

I tend to do all my brainstorming on paper and then type out the actual story, since I type faster than I write.

The planning stage is super important to me, especially when working on character development, I literally have entire notebooks dedicated to character exploration. Even if I'm not going to be putting it into the narrative, I always make sure I create a background for my character.

 

[ace_of_something]

without pants

 

[monstersquad]

I hand-write notes in a notebook or on recipe cards. Then when I think I have something worth spending time at the keyboard for in my head, I'll sit down to type it out. Then I use the notes as reference points to keep me focused without improvising too much.

 

[Twilight_guy]

How to write:
1. sit at computer
2. Try to think of something to write for a half hour
3. Say "screw it" and just start writing
4. Continue for some time
5. Review work
6. Say "oh god why" and contemplate suicide for a few minutes
7. Realize that maybe it isn't so bad and maybe life is still worth living
8. Repeat 2-8 until you have enough material
9. Realize that you now need to edit this crap and conveniently realize you have something else you need to do for the rest of the day.

A writer is you!

 

[ScarletRider]

I normally jot down a few notes in my pocket notebook, but if it starts to take off as more than just a few notes, I whip out my ipod and start keying it into there until I can get to my computer later. And I mix and match with whatever is on hand at the time.

An ipod touch is very convenient for writing on the go.

 

[Lateinos]

I wish I could say on a typewriter, cause that'd be pretty badass. But I just write at a plain old computer.

 

[FalloutJack]

Suffice to say, a computer is aa worthwhile tool to do it with. You can edit and proofread very well and certain is easier for it to be saved.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I sit at my computer and just type. I type, type, type, type and continue typing. Here are a few things I've typed up in my boredom:
http://enmadaio2588.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2ik810

http://enmadaio2588.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2o0956

Some of them I type up when I'm feeling depressed. I remember typing this one when my GF and I went through a...rough patch, as she calls it. This was written before I quit Best Buy as well. It was meant to be a series actually and the 2 other chapters are much more upbeat:
http://enmadaio2588.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2u67l2

hm...I had forgotten about that. I've written poetry! Guess who this is about!
http://enmadaio2588.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d2a01y1
[sub]I suck at poetry[/sub]

The final link I'm posting was written when I was...not rock bottom...but I was really, really depressed when I had written that one. Far more emotion went into this last one than silly little things like spell-checks.
http://enmadaio2588.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d263hx6

There you go Escapist (and OP)! Gaze into my soul and know of the madness which poisons my mind and spews from my very soul!!!
[sub][sub]as you can plainly see from that last line though, I pull just about all of my writings straight from my ass[/sub][/sub]

 

[Zergadooful]

If I have a computer but no internet, then computer. If I have no computer, I write it by hand. And if I have a computer with internet, Escapist.

 

[Wuffykins]

Well, it really all depends. Normally I prefer to pen it out in a notebook or spare scrap of paper and make it up as I go along (Interesting sidenote: I read somewhere that this actually keeps the material in your mind more than typing it out, as your brain goes through the motions of each individual letter rather than a reflexive keypress), but there are times I just sit down at a computer and do proper outlining of character backgrounds and story points to keep as reference.

Then there are the times that I just go all oddball, as I've discovered I can write pretty good children's stories on the spot when I drink equal parts beer & coffee. Oh, and I'm not just saying that I find it good, I've had friends working in bookstores tell me it's better written stuff than most stuff they sell.

 

[Naheal]

At a computer, for the most part. I'll take down what's done in most Pen and Paper RPGs that I'm in to write later, though.

 

[Vault101]

computer....

How to write:
1. sit at computer
2. Try to think of something to write for a half hour
3. Say "screw it" and just start writing
4. Continue for some time
5. Review work
6. Say "oh god why" and contemplate suicide for a few minutes
7. Realize that maybe it isn't so bad and maybe life is still worth living
8. Repeat 2-8 until you have enough material
9. Realize that you now need to edit this crap and conveniently realize you have something else you need to do for the rest of the day.

A writer is you!

hahaha I write for fun even though most of my stuff is very cringe worthy, I also dont have a very big vocabulary which is annoying

 

[McNinja]

I just sort of start writing, and everything comes together as I write (characters, story, plot, etc). The only problem is that I get a new idea then add it in, which messes up some previously written stuff, which has to be rewritten. Then I get writers block for a day or three, then I get a fantastic idea and write a few more pages. I used to write in my notebook when I had free time at school, usually several pages worth at a time, but transcribing it to Word is time consuming and boring, so I tend to not write in it anymore. I have a nifty note app on my phone that I can open really quick, jot down an idea, then look at later. It's nice.

 

[Trogdor1138]

How to write:
1. sit at computer
2. Try to think of something to write for a half hour
3. Say "screw it" and just start writing
4. Continue for some time
5. Review work
6. Say "oh god why" and contemplate suicide for a few minutes
7. Realize that maybe it isn't so bad and maybe life is still worth living
8. Repeat 2-8 until you have enough material
9. Realize that you now need to edit this crap and conveniently realize you have something else you need to do for the rest of the day.

A writer is you!

Hahahaha, totally this. Sums up writing perfectly.