Writing Methods

I honestly can't say that one method is better than another, but it's what keeps you going and helps you churn out a product. Here are a few that I've seen/tried:

Archaeology- This is what most people start with, and quite a number end up using. You start out with a theme or idea and just start writing from beginning to end, uncovering the story as you go.

M. Night Shyamalan- Write from end to beginning. Write the climax and resolution first, then move on the rising action and so on. It has merit for establishing exactly what your story is about right off the bat, but I've never been able to put it into practice.

Over and Done- Map out what happens in your story and then write, starting at the beginning. This is good for collaborations, and popular for screenwriting since you have to submit a treatment to get an episode approved or an advance for a screenplay, in addition to screenwriters nearly all working in collaboration.

The Box Method- This is the way I write most of the time. Start out with an idea and move to an outline, then cement an outline of each scene, to make sure you know what it's really about. All the while jotting down jokes and bits of scenes as they come to you to use when the time comes. Then start at the beginning and write through. It works very well for speed. If I do all my outline work, I can churn out an hour and a half screenplay in 2 days.

Total Instinct- This is a haphazard and dangerous way of writing that I'd only recommend if you're really inspired. You let go of reason and write as it comes to you. You might end up starting at the beginning or middle, and there is a good chance you'll find yourself totally lost with one scene that is suppose to go somewhere in a story that you know nothing about. Still, it can turn out a really great product if it works out; your instinct is the single most powerful thing you can develop as a writer.


There are certainly more than that, and the fact that these are popular doesn't mean they are any better than any other methods. It's just some to try if one is trying to find their own method that works. Both great and terrible writers have used each one of these. It's the content that matters, not the way it gets from your brain onto the paper. If a writing teacher/mentor ever tells you to use their method they have already failed you.