Writing: Placeholders.

[caffienekitty]

Random question for writers out there.

When you're writing, do you have things you use as 'placeholders'? Like there's a phrase or scene or line that you haven't got yet, or something is needed to transition from one thing to another and you haven't got it yet, but the next section is jumping up and down for attention, or you're hitting a wall. What do you use in the spot where something is missing?

In the last few things I've worked on today (it's one of those days) I've had:

-Dean or Sam *reactioned* or *expressioned* or *bitchfaced*
-*emo!nutbar Hamlet is emo and nutbar*
-Rows of asterixes blocking out lines or sections that need serious work.
-([character] does [x], [y], and then [z])
-A row of 'ARG!' repeated. Also, one long Aaaaarg.

I noticed this the other day and thought it might be interesting to find out what other people's habits are. I also tend to type straight to text file these days when writing as well, so maybe handwriting the first draft doesn't lend itself to a need for placeholders?

So, what do you do?

Comments

[caffienekitty]

The red font is key, because I can pick it out easily later as "needs fixing".

That would be helpful, yeah. I'm using a straight-up text editor, so color isn't available. I tend to throw in boatloads of extra asterisks instead.

Yay for the ending!

Endings are indeed nifty, although sometimes they'll make it harder for me to keep the bunny hopping, because subconciously, the end's already been written. Plot-as-you-go fic is nerve-wracking though.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

Those rare times when the ending comes, it's usually for a vignette rather than something plotty. In a short piece, the mood/moment usually starts itself and you write forward. Sometimes, midway through, there's this "clarity" regarding where the story's mood will end (and how it will be expressed).

I write that down immediately, knowing exactly what I'm working toward. Wish it happened more often!

[caffienekitty]

Does sound lovely. :-)