lmwrenwrites

[lmwrenwrites]

My editing process as a fanfiction writer

(I will say some of this might seem extreme for some, but I’m the type of fanfiction writer who writes and edits the entire story before posting it, but there is nothing wrong with doing the opposite🤍)

-I tend to do surface level edits while I write, I know a lot of ppl say not to do this but it helps my motivation

-I go back and rewrite chapters as my writing style and understanding of the story improves. I’m writing chapter 14 currently but today I went back and rewrote the entirety of chapter one

-When I rewrite my chapters I don’t edit them in my first draft document, I open a second document and keep it side by side with the first, then I rewrite my chapters into the second doc

-Once I’m happy with the rewrite, I copy and paste my polished chapter into another separate document where my friends are beta reading chapters for me. Then I make detailed polishing edits based off their feedback

-Once my chapters have gone through the beta readers, I copy and paste them into a fourth document as my final draft. They will sit there until the time comes to publish them on AO3. I might proof read them and tweak a word or two but for the most part they’re done.

The editing is a long process but I actually really enjoy seeing how my writing style has improved since I’ve started writing this story.

I really want to make sure my story is smooth and easy to follow for you guys 🫶🏻 I’m so excited to share Traitors of the Republic with you in November. It’s been a long labor of love for me, but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

[lmwrenwrites]

You can tell I’m procrastinating on writing when I’m posting more 😭 help

[lmwrenwrites]

I love writing fanfiction because now I can round out characters that were previously glossed over

Commander Wolffe is pragmatic and strict but also has a fear of vulnerability and blushes easily

Boost cracks jokes but he sometimes uses it as a coping mechanism (which annoys Wolffe) and struggles with insecurity

Comet is curious and observant but can be easily distracted and easily irritated

Sinker is a rule follower but also a little more sensitive than he would like to admit

Plo Koon is wise and compassionate but the moral grey of war makes him uncomfortable and question where trust should be placed

(Traitors of the Republic, coming soon 😉)

[lmwrenwrites]

What my day looks like as a writer

-wake up in the afternoon (I work late and I stay up writing very late)

-on days that I work I try to get a little writing in before I go to work. On my off days I head straight to my desk

-I read the full chapter I’m working on then pick up where I left off

-After awhile I get distracted and wander off to do random things (we love the adhd)

-Eventually I come back to my desk to read a book that inspires me for my current project (rn it’s Skyward by Brandon Sanderson)

-Once I’m done reading enough to be inspired I start going back to my first chapters and rewriting them in a separate document

-Eventually I go back to working on my current chapter until about 3am to 4am

(Add a little bit of canceling plans and turning down invites to write instead 😭 and some notebook writing while on break at work)

(It’s completely consuming my life but that’s okay I’m gonna be a famous author one day trust)

[lmwrenwrites]

“I almost missed it—the early days of the war that is. Things made more sense, and clear lines had been drawn for me to follow.

Back then it felt like we were heroes in a war, but now I was standing here, shivering in my soaked robes. I didn’t feel very heroic.

I felt lost.”

- Traitors of the Republic

Coming soon to an AO3 near you

[lmwrenwrites]

Weekly update on Traitors of the Republic 🤍

Words: 50,500

Pages: 207

Chapter I’m currently working on: 14

Days: 49

Very happy with a lot of my recent progress so far! I’ve written some solid chapters and I’ve even rewritten most of the first chapter this week too

I had some very long shifts at work this week (11 hours ahhh 😭) so I struggled to find time to write some days but I’ve written at least a paragraph everyday this week and it’s been great for progress

Lately writing has become one of the highest priorities in my life. Not necessarily because of the source material, but because of the act of writing itself. It feels very natural to me, like it’s something I should be doing, like breathing (if that makes sense lol). 

While I’ve struggled a little to make up for lost time I’m going to keep working at it and write as much and as well as I can!

Reading Skyward by Brandon Sanderson has also been really great for making sure my first person POV writing is sounding as best as it can. It’s a phenomenal book too.

Hopefully going to wrap up chapter 14 tomorrow!! 🤞thank you so much everyone for following along!! Your support means more than you know 🥹

Until next time!!! 🤍

LM Wren

[lmwrenwrites]

The thing about writing I’ve realized is the more I write the better I get at writing, so now after over a month of writing everyday I’m now noticing the first few chapters of my story are written so poorly they’re driving me crazy and I’ll have to rewrite them 😭

[lmwrenwrites]

What I notice in a lot of modern books I read (and DNF) is the lack of attention to small details.

Before smartphones and social media, authors were more attentive. That’s why their worlds and characters felt real, because they were watching the real world around them.

Authors—put your phone down. Sit still. Watch.

Watch the shadow of a bird sweep across a building as it flies past. The way a beam of light bends into perfect circles on the glass. The dried splatter of a drink on the floor.

And then write. Because the world is already writing poetry, you just have to listen.

[lmwrenwrites]

Clone trooper names be like

-Ryan

-Baseball

-Explosive

-Shotgun

-Bill

-Chernobyl

-Oats

-Hamster

-Hellfire

-Liam

-Corduroy

-Plutonium

[lmwrenwrites]

I love getting past the first couple of chapters of a writing a fic when I can really start hitting the themes home.

Like yes I’ve established my characters and setting in full, now I can emphasize the complete weight of the character arcs and my themes.

You’re about to see these characters go through some wild personal transformation and confront their deepest fears and beliefs now.

I’m having so much fun lol

[lmwrenwrites]

A little over a month ago I realized I wanted to try writing again. I’ve been constantly writing my whole life but I got too busy for it.

I missed it a lot, and this summer I realized I wanted to start writing again, except this time I would fully commit to writing a full book.

Before writing something to publish, I wanted to plot, write, and edit a practice novel to improve my writing abilities. But I didn’t want to write an original work just to never post it.

I decided to pick up an old fic I’d been working on a few years ago. I posted 2 chapters on wattpad and then abandoned it. I completely reworked it, plotted it in full, mapped my character arcs, changed the tone and themes, and researched a TON.

Now the Star Wars fic I’m working on has become the work I’m most proud of. I can’t wait to share it with everyone once it’s fully written.

Traitors of the Republic- a character driven Clone Wars fanfiction grounded in the reality of war and how it changes who you are.

Coming to an AO3 and Wattpad near you, November 15th

[lmwrenwrites]

Pretty much my fic so far:

Ademia: *runs off to do something dangerous and stupid*

Wolffe: Ademia, no! *runs after her*

Master Plo: *concerned dad noises*

[lmwrenwrites]

These past few days I’ve been switching back and forth between my oc art I’m working on and my fic that I’m currently writing/ editing. This better be my best work yet cause it sure is taking a lot out of me 😭

[lmwrenwrites]

Whenever people ask me what I’m writing (since that’s all I do atp besides work) I usually avoid the question because writing a fanfiction when you’re a young adult is unfortunately not considered cool.

It’s always nice to think about what high school me would think. She didn’t have the discipline or focus to write more than three chapters of a fic. She’d be shocked that I’m 42,000 words into my fic rn. She’d think I’m sooo cool.

I think honestly doing things to impress high school me is way more fun than doing things to impress other people. 🤍

[lmwrenwrites]

Weekly update on Traitors of the Republic 🤍

Word count: 40,200 (I think ??)

Page count: 170

Days spent: 38

Current chapter I’m writing: 12

Progress was abysmal this week. I rewrote Chapter 11 three times (I wish I was kidding). Overall I wrote around 8k words this week but I ended up cutting most of the material.

Other than that I’ve been editing chapters and researching. I’m reading All Quiet on the Western Front for the war realism and Skyward by Brandon Sanderson to improve my writing style

I’ve also taken up digital art for the first time ever. I bought a stylus and I’m almost done with my first drawing of my OC Ademia which I’ll be posting soon.

I’m gonna lock in this week to make up for lost time. My goal is to write a minimum of 4 chapters since my deadline is in November. Usually it takes me about 2 days to write a full chapter since they’re about 4k-5k words each.

Thank you so much for all the love on my posts about my fic!! I can’t wait to share it with you!!!

XO 🤍

-LM Wren

[lmwrenwrites]

“Authors love killing off characters!”

*me, sitting at my desk with shaky hands*:

[lmwrenwrites]

“I’m no good at this,” I said, scowling. “I’m not a soldier.” I turned to Wolffe.

“All due respect, sir,” he said, tearing his gaze away from the lightsaber. “You don’t really have that choice anymore. We all have to be soldiers.”

-Traitors of the Republic (coming soon)

(Ademia)