In the previous post of the Designers Working With Writers series, our guest writers shared their feelings about working with designers. Two or more creatives clashing on a project can be a recipe for disaster. However, if we understand how each works within their own expertise, then the door is open to finding a solution.

With this in mind, the next question we asked our Writers was:

How do you work?

Liz

I guess you would say that I’m an undisciplined, disciplined writer. This much I know for sure. I’m not a prototype, an archetype, or even regular, but then I’m not sure that I know a writer who is.

I work in a variety of ways to suit the kind of writing that I’m doing and my background has led me to write for every age from preschool through professors of engineering and in every imaginable genre from fiction, poetry, copywriting, how-to, technical, inspirational, and self-help, which could be the result of having written all of the rest.

When I write the “softer” genres, I often hope to work at night or early in the morning. I Like quiet with time for reflecting to do some serious introspection. I think slowly and often listen to music before I begin to let my thoughts come together. When I have a point of view and message, I write as if I’m on a journey from beginning to end. I might edit a bit as I go, but mostly I get the message out. Then I let the piece sit for a short while. When I return to it, I change all of the clumsy words and take out all of the words that I realize don’t need to be there. It’s really quite fun to edit out the unnecessary words and details. And I’m quite lethal.

When I write the “more structured” genres — things that require research, detail, and accuracy — I’m a top down writer. I plan my work in pieces or sections, the way a designer might storyboard a multi-piece design. I define my ending point — that closing conclusion that I want to be the end that satisfies the reader. Then I determine what would be the corresponding beginning to echo or reflect that ending. Usually I’m doing this first, because the middle is the hardest part for me.

If I have a sense of the beginning and the ending, then I can map out what goes in between. First I do that with the broadest brush strokes and quickly. Then I go back to fill in the details. Each time I return to read it, I challenge the details a little harder to make sure that I’ve not left something out.

For that kind of writing I’m highly focused. I often walk around to find the words and to read what I wrote. I rehearse sentences in my head before I write them, because I find putting the words on paper in such detail visually distracts me from what the words mean. So I get the meaning and the words together before I commit them to the text on screen or paper.

Two things are true of every writer, we have to use both ego and self-doubt to write anything worth writing. And no one can help us write. In those ways, writers are like designers.

ME (Liz) Strauss | Writer | Career coach | Strategic planner
Successful Blog | Letting Liz Be | Liz Strauss.com | The Blog Herald | Performancing.com | Write With ME

Roy

For me, writing is a process, a set of rational steps: the search for an idea; the collection of important stuff; working toward a focus; finding a structure; creating an early draft; revising. I want to involve collaborators as early in the process as possible. I want them to be able to plan and rehearse.

Roy Peter Clark | America’s writing coach
Poynter Online - Writing Tools | Book: Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer

Tom

Some days more slowly than others.

Tom Chandler | copywriting : online/blogging : marketing plans
Chandler Writes. You Profit. | The Copywriter Underground

tom

Depends on the project. Mostly I work remote, via iSight, to concept/present. I’ll collaborate w/designers, art directors, or I’ll work alone. It just depends on the scope of the assignment.

tom mullen | writer & proprietor
EXIT3A.com | ANONYMOUS, JR

Following the set format for the DWW series, next up will be How to Choose a Writer.

until the next
Designers WW,
jay, taking over from cat for this post