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applecrumbledore · 2 years

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How do you manage to write so much, and so well? I recently started trying to write a story, and it will be my first ever multi chapter story if I can manage it, but I don't see how it will ever be written. It's taken me so many hours over the past few days just to write a couple pages, and those aren't even good. It's just a silly AU but if I want to do it justice, it will have to be at least a big bang size and I don't think my brain can do it. How are you so prolific?

I mean!! great question! I never really thought about why beyond "it's a compulsion and I don't know how to not," but this IS the first time in my life I've ever written this kind of volume at this speed (I did the math and it's been 300k words of spn fic since the beginning of 2021 to now which is appalling) so there's gotta be something there. I guess I can share a few things of note that might be helpful

1. I think it's kind of a personal built-in thing, whether you naturally write long or short (I'm aware this is unhelpful lol). in general, I just write long form and have a very hard time writing short! a lot of my fics are over 20k and I don't even think that's a good thing, I wish I could tell better stories shorter. in my personal work, I've self-published 4 novels (nobody ask, they're old and dogshit) but gotten zero short stories published because I don't get ideas for them and when I do I can't make them sub-3k. so to start, I guess: don't feel bad. it's something to practice

2. I never shut up about this because it's so integral to the way that I write but I write exclusively on my phone. I can't fathom sitting down at a computer and being like It Is Time To Write Now and being able to get anything down. seems very high-pressure and soul crushing. if I'm working on a story, I have it up on my phone whenever I have 2 free seconds, writing or reading it over. I think it takes the pressure off because you're not TRYING to write, your story is just hangin out with you all the time. looking at it and reading it over gets me in the mood to add stuff, if that makes sense. it's like writing immersion. and, I think it lets me be more immediate/passionate-- when I have a good line it instantly gets jotted down, when i'm horny, I work on a sex scene. I just use the Google docs mobile app but maybe if you have an iPhone there are better word processor apps (i have an android)

3. related: I write non-linearly, so I don't get stuck on "I don't have any ideas for this part right now." I figure lots of people do this but idk. i have a note form outline, but then I hop around and write the parts that are most exciting to me at the moment, which means I write more because I'm always jazzed about the part I'm writing. I'll think of a good line of dialogue or something and let it spool from there, even if it's in the middle or end, because I know how I want that scene to go and it doesn't matter that I don't have what comes before it.

3a. now that I think of it, I don't know if you write outlines but definitely have even the barest of outlines, like point form. it's motivating to know where you want the story to get to, even if you don't 100% know how you'll get there.

I always feel like a clown giving writing advice because I'm not a professional but I hope those help somewhat. nobody ever takes my advice on the phone thing, but give it a shot. if I didn't write on my phone I literally wouldn't write, so that's GOTTA work for somebody else at some point. thank you and good luck with your story, you can do it!

#see even this post is long #I can't shut up!!#ronanswers #maybe other people should share long form writing advice with this person too. bang for their buck

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archived-and-moving · 2 years

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Hey Tobi!

I know life is getting in the way rn so don't worry if it takes a little while to get around to this. I am in no rush and I completely understand. Life is very much getting in the way of my tumblr time too.

That being said, I'm having thoughts and one (1) maybe-idea right now and I think you'll be able to provide some insight.

So I'm thinking of ~maybe~ doing like a kotlc group project where we all (by we i mean anyone who wants to participate) pick a historical person to research and put it into the form of an xavier riddle episode because i was watching that like two days ago and i thought it might be fun. I might also add an art thing but idk. Nothing's set in stone yet. I just wanted to come ask for your advice because you have experience in this kinda thing. Or at least close to this kinda thing.

For your ship weeks, did you find it easier to have a separate blog or just post it to your main? And have you found how long a reasonable amount of time would be for releasing things like prompts/directions? (Will you maybe make me a playlist if this ends up happening? /j unless you want to) Do you have any other pro tips I don't know enough to ask for? Preposition. Aergh. That seems like a good way to end this.

Hey Squish!! Thankfully I have off everything today, so I actually get four hours of rest! Thank goodness!!

Your idea sounds super cool also. I'm personally a history nerd, so that honestly sounds so awesome! Though I will admit, I don't know too much about the format of a Xavier Riddle episode, however after looking it up, it sounds like something I might enjoy. I'll add that to my to-do list of things to listen to in the background of drawing.

And I can't believe you're coming to me for advice!! Like yes I've done a little bit of stuff but wow!!! Anyway, I am definitely shocked, but please note that: I have no idea what on earth I'm doing. I know what works best for me and I usually just listen to my collaborators if I have them. So yes!!! Take all of this with a grain of salt.

Is it easier to have a separate blog or just post it to your main?

This honestly depends on the person and the project, and you kind of have to ask yourself a couple questions. How big is the project? How would I feel more organized? And how many people do I want to have participate who need to see it?

For example, when I hosted Sophiana Week with Wren, ae wanted a separate account to keep everything more neat and make it easier to arrange between the two of us. However, Shai and I just did it on our split main accounts.

Also, I have a separate account for my Ten Years of Keeper project, simply because I'm working with 11 people on events and such. So, it quite honestly just depends on how you feel.

Have you found a reasonable amount of time for releasing things like prompts/directions?

Please please please don't pull a me and give everyone ten days. Like again it really depends how big you want the project to be but minimum is probably 2-3 weeks. I have ship weeks, and I've found that for me around a month is good, but if you have something more complicated like research I'd shoot above that.

Seriously, I'd give a good couple weeks if it's one that is complicated and needs a lot of instructions. I'm using Ten Years of Keeper as an example cause ah. That's a big boy. If you'll notice, I gave everyone a pretty lengthy heads up, and I would rather have given you guys more time.

Do you have any other pro tips I don't know enough to ask for?

If you're making a big project please know it is draining. You have to coordinate with people, make sure that your instructions are clear, and overall know how progress is going.

This one sounds really silly, but dude if you have access...make a spreadsheet. Like excel and whatever the google alternative is is there and believe me when I say that it's literally your best friend.

I'm using mine to track the progress of my coordinators. How far along in the process they're in, what they're doing, etc. It's kept me organized so far, and I've only had like one mental break down so far, so that's good!!

But yeah mainly take care of yourself bestie. Managing and organizing a project is hard work. (not ship weeks, ship weeks aren't that hard. But for things bigger than that like what you're planning, please don't overwork yourself. Drink water, get sleep, and hope that some day you can put it on your resume somehow, because it shows such essential skills.

Will you make a playlist for me?

Hell yeah dude. Gimme some vibes and one thousand percent. This was a joke but I'm serious, if you actually need a playlist hmu.

#asks #squish tag #tobi talks too much #long post #anyway. hope this helped a little bit???#again i really am just winging it

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