how people write fanfic

[tielan]

Query for those who write with the intent to publish on web platforms ie. AO3, once upon a time DW/LJ, other fic archives.

Do you code the HTML as you go, writing it out on the page? Or do you do the HTML coding only when you post the fic?

edit: Wow, I feel completely odd writer out now. I write everything in a word processor, and copypasta into AO3, hand-coding for DW/LJ...

I mean, I once created an MS Word macro that coded bold and italics and underline based on the formatting but that was back in ye olde dayes of LJ when you'd post the entire story on LJ...

Comments

[tielan]

I find it really difficult to re-read though! Like, my brain has to stop to parse the HTML.

[the_rck]

I've gotten used to the tags and really don't see them when I reread. I compose everything in a basic format and C&P anywhere I want to post. Tags work consistently across platforms and don't get stripped out by C&P. It's much easier than remembering what works for each program or site.

[tielan]

See, I'm only posting to AO3, and then I link there from everywhere else. And AO3, I can C&P in Rich Text Mode and do any additional mods by switching back to HTML view.