Writing constellations: comparing the work processes of eleven comtemporary authors

TY - CONF

T1 - Writing constellations: comparing the work processes of eleven comtemporary authors

AU - Buschenhenke, Floor

PY - 2024/5/10

Y1 - 2024/5/10

N2 - Eleven Dutch and Flemish literary writers recently participated in a unique experiment: they documented their digital work processes by using a keystroke logger. Each wrote a short story, some of which were later published. Having this corpus of writers working roughly in the same time span, using the same word processing tool (Word), on the same text genre, allows for a comparative approach to their materials. In order to interpret their work processes, theories about (arche)types and writer strategies from both text genetic studies as well as creative process models have been employed. This combination helps to connect stages of textual development with process characteristics as captured by the keystroke logger. We have assessed the ways in which they have employed planning and revision at various stages in their writing processes, to come to a constellation of their individual strategies. Most of the documented processes comprised of both a pre-writing phase, where ideas were generated and sometimes a design for (parts of) the text was made, as well as a drafting and a post-draft revision phase. However, for most participants, revision and to a lesser extend planning, also was an important part of the drafting phase. This showcases the affordances of a digital writing environment, where the space for rewriting has no limits. Working with the logger allowed us to trace back from the textual evidence during drafting to the underlying work strategies. The diversity in methods showcases both the affordances of the digital workspace as well as the personal preferences of the writers.

AB - Eleven Dutch and Flemish literary writers recently participated in a unique experiment: they documented their digital work processes by using a keystroke logger. Each wrote a short story, some of which were later published. Having this corpus of writers working roughly in the same time span, using the same word processing tool (Word), on the same text genre, allows for a comparative approach to their materials. In order to interpret their work processes, theories about (arche)types and writer strategies from both text genetic studies as well as creative process models have been employed. This combination helps to connect stages of textual development with process characteristics as captured by the keystroke logger. We have assessed the ways in which they have employed planning and revision at various stages in their writing processes, to come to a constellation of their individual strategies. Most of the documented processes comprised of both a pre-writing phase, where ideas were generated and sometimes a design for (parts of) the text was made, as well as a drafting and a post-draft revision phase. However, for most participants, revision and to a lesser extend planning, also was an important part of the drafting phase. This showcases the affordances of a digital writing environment, where the space for rewriting has no limits. Working with the logger allowed us to trace back from the textual evidence during drafting to the underlying work strategies. The diversity in methods showcases both the affordances of the digital workspace as well as the personal preferences of the writers.

KW - revision

KW - writing strategy

KW - writer profile

M3 - Abstract

SP - 1

EP - 1

T2 - Genesis 2024

Y2 - 9 May 2024 through 11 May 2024

ER -