Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[mosaix]

Question?

On average, how long does it take all of you to write your stories for the month?

I wait for an idea, write the story (about 30 minutes), hone it down to 75 words (another 30 minutes), sleep on it then read it though again and improve as much as possible (about an hour). If I'm happy then I'll post it otherwise I'll sleep on it again play with it for another 30 minutes or so and then post it regardless.

 

[Parson]

Question?

On average, how long does it take all of you to write your stories for the month?

I'm sure the fact that I am not a "professional" writer enters into the answer for this question. But if you include time I spend thinking about the theme (ave. 1 hour); developing the idea (ave. 1 hour); proofing (ave. 30 min), I think a fair answer would be 2.5 hours.

This is a true average, and so there is both less and more time spent on some stories. I have found that the more time I spend on the story the better it gets, and the more likely I am to get votes. (Of course I do not get votes like many of the other entrants. Probably proving why I need to keep my day job.) --- Not that I'd want to give it away!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

From when I get the idea, 20-30 minutes. I try not to let myself actively think about the topic for at least a few days, just kind of letting it stew in the subconscious. Once I start really considering possible approaches, the idea generally comes along that day. I really should sleep on the story after it's done, and maybe write several, but I have never been able to do that.

 

[The Judge]

Well, I take a looooooooot longer than everyone else, it seems. I usually don't have a good idea for at least a week, and then it takes several days to write something with which I'm happy. Sometimes the actual writing only takes an hour or so, but I leave it to fester and go back and edit it like crazy. Sometimes I don't get it fully written even in first draft for three or four days. This month has been especially difficult. I keep coming back to one idea, but I can't make it work. Grump.

 

[J Riff]

Well I always take exactly 75 minutes.... precisely one minute per word, ensuring an even flow and correct word choice.

 

[Ursa major]

HB's is a rather clever entry. And seasonal.






EDIT: I edited this message soon after posting and then went elsewhere on the Chrons. Coming back, I found the original text still in place, so clicked on EDIT; I was presented with my edited version, which I saved without typing a single character. Weird!

.

 

[Chel]

Until the last few months it's taken me about a day or two to think of what to write, then an hour or two from the first word to the posted version.

This autumn has been a bit stressful for me though, so from reading the topic to posting something has taken me weeks the last couple of months. This month, when I actually came up with my first idea, writing it down didn't take more than 25-30 minutes (the actual time spent on the train and bus to work), and the second idea took roughly the same.
Editing both stories took another 30 minutes or so, making my husband read them and pick his favourite took about 5 minutes, editing them both again took another 15 minutes and making my husband read them again and still pick the same story another 5.

So all in all weeks of anguish to come up with an idea or two, then about an hour actual work on writing and editing and picking and choosing.

Incidentally, the story I posted is my husband's favourite, not mine. So if I don't get any votes and/or mentions, I blame him!

 

[sloweye]

It takes me days... but then i'm thick

 

[alchemist]

This month, it took days to think of something, which was a re-worked old idea. Then I woke up with another idea. Then days later, a third one came. About 15 mins to type each one on my phone, then repeated fiddling with all of them.
Also, since I had three options, I sought the opinion of alchemissus, and she was quite clear on which to go for. I didn't like that, so I sought someone else's opinion, and she said the same. This all took over two weeks. Next time, I'll just go with the first.
And Chel, thanks for the previous comment about my submission this month. Made me feel all warm inside.

 

[The Procrastinator]

Probably won't be a story from me this month I'm afraid, no time! But hopefully I'll have time to read everyone else's and vote later on. Good luck all and Merry Christmas.

 

[Boneman]

Incidentally, the story I posted is my husband's favourite, not mine. So if I don't get any votes and/or mentions, I blame him!

You could always get him to register on here and then he could vote!

Once I get an idea (which can be very quick or very slow) I daydream about it for at least half a day, and usually write it in about 30 minutes.

 

[Mouse]

I write mine in about five minutes usually. I'll ponder the theme for a while. The month which I spent the longest on, was the month when I picked the theme (because it was a daft theme!). I wrote about five stories, edited them all loads, then decided I didn't like any of them, wrote another in about five mins and posted that. This is why I didn't get many votes!

Mine never go over the word count by very much, so I don't have the difficult task of editing down, which saves time!

Despite what people here say about me, I'm really not that clever, so I can't spend ages thinking about what to write. My stories are too simple.

 

[Bella Donna]

Between 60 and 90 minutes. It's only 75 words, so you only need one idea.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Despite what people here say about me, I'm really not that clever ...

You must have known this was coming.

Slap!!

And you are definitely on the naughty list, for that. When Santa gives out presents to everyone else in this thread, you'll be very lucky if you get yours.

I can't even say how long it takes me to write a story, because it can vary by so much. With some I go right from the idea to writing the story down. The last couple of months, I've been so tired, it seems like forever before I even think of an idea, and then turning it into a story of any sort has taken days. But however long it is between the idea and the story, editing usually takes ... um, I don't know how long, because I do it on and off, not just at one sitting. A little here and a little there. I am obsessive about editing everything else I write, and can't turn that off just for the Writing Challenge.

When I finally reach the point where I think I really should be spending the time on something else, which may be after one day of alternately leaving it and coming back to it at odd moments, or it may be after two or three days, I post it before I can change my mind. Often, very soon afterwards, I think of changes I wish I had made.


Edit:
And I just read HareBrain's story. Amazing.

 

[HoopyFrood]

I tend to have the theme at the back of my mind for most of the month (I seem to be leaving it longer and longer each month) and then when I finally let myself think of it properly, I generally get an idea pretty quickly. Then I write it pretty much first time, don't think I've ever really gone over the word limit, and post it. Which means I usually end up spotting mistakes after I've posted, which is somewhat silly of me. I have some paranoia lingering for that hour when you can still edit, when I'll check it again and again, just in case. The one time I did try to be clever and put something hidden in, which took a couple of hours to fit in, it just didn't seem to work. I'll stick to bears and people dying a lot.

 

[R M Tobias]

Generally half an hour from genesis of idea to posting.

Can't really justify spending more time on it then that. Judging from the previous winners, they've all been members 12 months + so I figure one has to pay a bit of due dillegence before they start to figure in short lists.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

... so I figure one has to pay a bit of due dillegence before they start to figure in short lists.

I can think of at least one newcomer who appeared on many short lists, and another who was not only on my short list, I voted for the story.

And if I were to go back through all the threads I'd probably come up with other examples.

 

[R M Tobias]

Though expressed as a percentage of the whole, that's surely a very narrow field.

The New Kid isn't likely to become School President. A new brand of Cola isn't likely to topple Coke and Pepsi.

Not saying it 'won't' happen, just saying it's unlikely.

 

[mosaix]

Judging from the previous winners, they've all been members 12 months +

I think the quality of the stories might have had a small part to play in it as well.

 

[R M Tobias]

I think the quality of the stories might have had a small part to play in it as well.

Perhaps, but then the quality is pretty high overall and there isn't really a set of guidelines to determine 'what is quality' (maybe ask Robert Pirsig?)

Also, does that mean if a winning entry receives 7 votes and another entry receives 6, the winner is of higher quality then the runner up?