How I Write

So, how I write. I'm taking this very literal, as in the posses of how I write. I'm sure most people any more do everything on a computer, BUT my first draft is hand written. I carry a small note book in my purse at all times that I write my stories in. So far, honestly, my stories are not very long. Even so I usually use two to three note books to write it all out in. Most times I actually write when I'm at work. (Don't tell my boss!) Doing down time or slow days I can pull my note book out and do a little writing. I'm even hand writing out this blog at work, and I will type it up later when I get home. (NOW!) And I do the same with my stories. When I fill a note book, I take it out at home and work on typing it up. As I type, usually a page at a time, I correct spelling as I can. Now, more often then I care to admit, I spell things so bad that spell check does not even know what I'm trying to say. These I leave until I finish typing up the story. Then the next time though is to fix these mistakes and anything that stands out. Then I read the story and make any corrections I see needed, mostly in the way things are word and things like that. Then I send it through the Grammarly program and correct anything it finds, as long as it fits with what I want. Then the story gets saved and set aside, even for years. Some periodically I will go through and change things I see. I have some that I need to do this to, I just haven't yet.

I know very well my editing process needs help. Editing is not a strong point of mine. Honestly, I would love to have another person (or several) I could give my stories to who would read through them and help me out, both in grammar and spelling, but more so to tell me if things sound right. Did I explain things right? What parts or places need work? But I don't have a person like that, at least not now. I have worked up the courage to ask a few people to read though a story, and most say they will, but after I get the story to them, I don't hear back from them on it. I know people are busy, so I'm not mad, but it is discouraging. I am something of a closet writer and not many know I write, so those I can ask is limited. For now I'm not worrying about it. I just write. I'm not in a hurry to get anything else published so the editing can wait. I want to work on getting other kinks worked out, like how to market the book I do have published, before I start trying to publish another book.

I don't let myself start writing a new story until I have everything from the last one typed up at home. And even if I'm not working on a new story there's always things to work on. Some stories need research done before I even start, or I can always work on past stories. I think I have over ten right now that need lots of fine tuning before I send them to an editor. And I do plan to use a paid editor in the future for any published works, besides having someone else read through first.

So, you can see I still have lots to work out and learn, but I have never heard of one sure way to edit, or even write. I say do whatever works best for you. My option any way.

Thanks for reading.