I think writing a book is like giving birth; it’s painful and it’s messy. (Note: While I’ve never actually given birth myself, I stand by that statement.)

But really, this post is supposed to be how I push through books. I don’t stop for piddly little details like research. That’s why Word has different colors to use.

If I start thinking maybe this scene shouldn’t go where I have it, or maybe it should be cut at all, I push myself through it. I can always take it out later if I’m right.

And I don’t pause to think about little details like craft. I assume that my subconscious knows what it’s doing pretty much, and I let it run like the wind (or like a two year old with too much sugar to continue my child analogy).

If I think this scene is boring, it probably is, but that doesn’t mean I go back and see what was wrong before the scene started - I throw a cougar into the story (have you all seen the preview for the movie Taladaga Nights where the guy is trying to get Will Farrell to drive with a cougar in the car? I think that scene looks worth the price of admission alone).

Then, once I push through the rough draft, the rest is like putting together a giant puzzle. That’s when I research things, move things around a bit if necessary, make sure all the plot threads are tied in a nice little bow at the end.

I always think that part is going to be painful, but you wanna know the truth? It all goes back to my subconscious being pretty smart. I tossed things in there that I didn’t even know why ’til the end. I’ve had entire plot threads that I didn’t even realize when I was writing!

Don’t get me wrong, I think craft is great, and you have to learn craft. But rather than thinking, “I have to do XYZ,” I tend to give my subconscious free reign. I trust that I’m not just using craft, I learned craft.

Works for me.

So there, a writing related post from Emma just because. Now, tell me about your process (if that’s what you can call the above - perhaps I have a lack of process, lol). What are things (especially things that others may think are weird) that work for you?