Fixed and Shifting processes
Process comes in all kinds of flavors
Hey, Runners!
So, we’re talking about process, and how a gentle shift in how we think about process can be really helpful.
Today, we’re going to talk about how our processes can sort into two types; fixed and shifting.
A fixed process is about how you function as a writer.
For instance, I like to write in the morning. My best creative hours are between 6 and 10 a.m. and that hasn’t changed much in all the years I’ve been writing.
This is a fixed process for me; getting up early and getting started.
Question: What’s the best story you’ve read in the past year? Note: Reading in this context doesn’t just mean books; videogames, movies, and TV shows as well as any other story form are all valid reading experiences.
A shifting process will work for a while, and then not really work anymore.
For example, when I was writing A Little Night Magic, I was struggling hard. I’m traditionally a write-in-order kind of writer, but I just kept getting stuck. I was on deadline, and desperate to get this in on time, so I started writing the scenes I was most excited about first, and then filled in the in-between stuff later. That completely worked for me with that book, but it has never worked for me on any other book since.
However, if I find myself struggling like that again, I would absolutely revisit that trick. And if it didn’t work, I would go into my bag of frogs, pull out another one, give it a kiss, and see if it turned into a prince.
What is a bag of frogs? We’re gonna talk about that next time.
I think for me the best story I've engaged in in the past year was Apple TV's "Silo." It was so fascinating, so beautifully made... I really enjoyed it.
Oh, but there was also Amy Tinterra's "Listen for the Lie," which I absolutely loved, and the audiobook is really fun to listen to, because they actually produce the podcast parts.
And if we don't mean "this year" as in 2024, but "this year" as in, "in the past 12 months," Sophie Cousen's "Just Haven't Met You Yet," is also GREAT.
OH AND BALDUR'S GATE 3, which had a LOT of fantastic storylines, and I can't decide if Shadowheart's story or Astarion's story was my absolute favorite among those.
Shadowheart. It's Shadowheart.
I read A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers just over 12 months ago and found a new favourite author. I read the sequel and have been ploughing my way through their back catalogue. Other favs have been The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin and (I have to say it) Bluey.