Do you write fanfics?

Whether you're writing fanfiction or original fiction, the same principle applies:

Write first from your heart. Then revise from your head.

Don't go back and try to edit what you've written while you're still working on the first draft. You will be tempted to, but that is a quagmire from which there is no escape. Get the draft finished. Then fix it.

That is good advice because I often micro manage my own writing when I write as I constantly get stuck on words and description. I also try to correct some misspellings.

I specifically mentioned that only writers who hope to be "pro" one day need to worry about the quality of their stories. Real fiction requires things like grammar, avoidance of cliches etc. But stories done for fun answer to nobody but the author and the readers should remember that.

I love writing fics about my OTP (Phinabella). It's so refreshing.

There are plenty of writers who agree with the "don't go back and edit as you write" school of thought (Stephen King included). I just can't do that. I feel what I write is so much better if I reread and revise as I go.

Another tip, is to jot down ideas as they come to you. If you're like me, you'll forget. I've taken notes on napkins, paper towel, and post-its!

edited 11th Apr '17 2:06:34 PM by elwinglyre

I can usually remember the big plot beats, but I send myself emails of specific scenes, actions, and dialogue exchanges that I want to be sure make it into the final result.

The general advice to take from all this is do what works for you. Some people write from start to end without editing even smaller mistakes until they're done with the first draft. Some write scenes here and there when they come to mind, and later edit them together in the right order and glue them to one coherent story. Some edit whenever they read something they think needs editing. And if you read fanfics regularly, you see that a lot of people just write whatever with no thought into it, no editing, and then publish whatever comes out.

I am cautious fellow however I do get careless and sometimes I get stuck on a word. I have an idea on what I want but I get stuck some words that I do not know about. I often have trouble getting I want down on paper especially when I have an idea but I have no idea what it is.

If you get stuck on something, for me it often helps to write around it. Use synonyms, describe something in a different way, or just add a note of what you want there and skip it.