How do you write? A writers' workshop for new and established writ

[BeaStKid]

Thank you for a lot more than 5 cents worth. Your notion of using an outline to help overcome writers block is going to be a big help to me. I have a lot of vignettes I need to tie together in some sort of plot, and will give this a try.

 

The "go with the flow" seems to work for vignettes...4--8 hand-written pages...but, for me, breaks down beyone that.

 

Thanks!

You're welcome, mate. Always feels great to help out a fellow writer. After all, we're here to exactly that thing...

 

Usually when I get an idea, or a premise of a story, I'll play it in my mind like an internal movie (thus causing me to zone out for an hour or so). I see the start, the middle, and the ending.

That reminds me that I missed out on another important aspect of how I write. You see, I like to work on only one novel at a time. That means that I have approximately (at last count) nine more novels/novella and four short stories that I may work on in the future.

 

With so many story ideas in my fickle little mind, it gets a bit overwhelming. And what I have quoted from Verm is exactly what I do. I play the ideas in my mind, write down a basic outline, play those ideas as though I were a reader and pick them apart (critique them, find out their flaws/loopholes in plot and remove them).

 

I write down those ideas with an outline of what I want. And when my mind wanders back to that story, play out more scenarios, I write those down as well....the end result is that by the time I am ready to start on that story, I have half the work done already...

 

I would then try to make a detailed outline. Then, I would begin, and try to follow the outline. In this, I was usually not sucessfull, as the plot tended to change and evolve as I wrote. I then began using the outline only as a guide, and also as a convenient place to make notes. (for example, something happening in the last half of the novel that needs to be set up in chapter two).

Same here with me. As I said, the muse is a very powerful entity and doesn't like to be conformed to petty outlines... Mine, like you, are just guidelines to give a gentle nudge in a direction and more often than not, the outline undergoes some deviation and minor alterations.

 

I do use character sheets, in order to keep track of small details (eye color, for example).

I do that as well. I also keep a track of couples, pairings, nicknames, general traits, etc....in a small file...

 

The real key, in my opinion, is to find what works best for you.

Amen to that, mate!

 

BeaStKid

[kitten]

I've been both amazed and amused by the diversity of ways different people write. Of course there is no such thing as a right way or a wrong way, just the way that works best for each individual. Also, I suppose one individual might use different methods for different genres.

 

Still, although I feel that it it isn't possible to recommend one method over another, I think that this thread is useful for those who are still trying to find or optimise a method which suits them best.

 

Personally, because I usually write with a particular point or theme in mind, I don't even start writing unless I have a general plot line and the ending already sketched out in my head. Although the exact details of the ending may occasionally mutate as the story develops, the theme of the ending will always remain the same as had been planned ab initio. Having decided on the overall direction and ending, I then work on the the finer details of the plot line that will hopefully communicate what I want as it reaches toward that desired ending.

 

The first bit of serious detailed writing I do is the beginning, to which I pay a lot of attention because it not only sets the whole tone of the story but it also (hopefully!) hooks in the reader. Then I write the subsequent sections or scenes, usually in order. However, if I have some key scenes in mind I might write them first, even though they may be intended for much later in the story.

 

If I get stuck on a particular scene I either work on a different story or take a break from writing and do some of the other things I enjoy. Eventually, consciously or subconsciously, my mind finds the solution to the problem scene and I go back to writing that story.

 

Again this is just personal to me, but have have no interest in, and take no pleasure in writing just for the sake of writing. My pleasure is in telling a story and trying to communicate a specific idea or ideas. So I wouldn't write vignettes, mini-scenes or similar jottings unless I had a specific story that I intend them to be part of.

 

Of course I try to use language as well as possible, try to be clever in using the optimum words, and even try to make passages as beautiful as possible, but for me the main thing is the story. Beauty and cleverness are good tools, but when used just for their own sake they are pointless to me. Ideally, I'd like a great story with excellent quality writing, but failing that I'd rather have a good story with poor quality writing than a poor story with excellent writing.

 

Kit

[hh5]

Of course I try to use language as well as possible, try to be clever in using the optimum words, and even try to make passages as beautiful as possible, but for me the main thing is the story. Beauty and cleverness are good tools, but when used just for their own sake they are pointless to me. Ideally, I'd like a great story with excellent quality writing, but failing that I'd rather have a good story with poor quality writing than a poor story with excellent writing.

 

Kit

 

A long time ago, my friends father knows his english is poor. But, I know he tells good stories because I notice how much his father's older brothers listens. Well my friend at the time wasn't getting along with his father. I decided to see whats wrong. His father tells me the story of a king that build up his kingdom. But when he dies, he assures the people he will take away nothing .

 

I encourage his father to keep on telling the story despite his poor english.

It was a good story to listen to.

I spoke to my friend to encourage him to listen to fathers stories.

I think over the years - he finally did.

[Dolores Esteban]

What do you prefer? Write your own story or address a given theme (writing prompts, contests, GA anthology etc.)?

 

I find it hard to address a theme. It's quite a challenge to me. But it can be fun also. I loved writing the play I submitted to the GA Anthology, for instance.

[kitten]

What do you prefer? Write your own story or address a given theme (writing prompts, contests, GA anthology etc.)?

 

I find it hard to address a theme. It's quite a challenge to me. But it can be fun also. I loved writing the play I submitted to the GA Anthology, for instance.

 

I don't like writing to a particular theme, so I don't do it. That's too much like doing an exercise in school. I write about what interests me and for my own pleasure, not to jump through hoops or to show how clever I am. I already know I'm clever, so I feel no need to prove it to myself or to anyone else.

 

My two anthology entries (Ghosts & Anniversary) were based on ideas I already had for stories, and those ideas just happened to fit the themes.

 

Kit

[David McLeod]

You're welcome, mate. Always feels great to help out a fellow writer. After all, we're here to exactly that thing...I like to work on only one novel at a time. That means that I have approximately (at last count) nine more novels/novella and four short stories that I may work on in the future...

BeaStKid

 

Hey, Good to hear from BeaStKid...and appreciate your sharing your ideas. I guess you have a lot more mental discipline than I...there's no way I could stick to one story at a time! Glad to hear you've so many things waiting for your attention...I really enjoy your stories.

[BeaStKid]

Hey, Good to hear from BeaStKid...and appreciate your sharing your ideas. I guess you have a lot more mental discipline than I...there's no way I could stick to one story at a time! Glad to hear you've so many things waiting for your attention...I really enjoy your stories.

Thanks David. I don't know about mental discipline, though....my 'rents keep pestering me that I have the attention span of a goldfish's egg...

 

No, really, writing down future ideas helps a lot in the...umm...future?

[S.L. Lewis]

And once more, I'm late in answering, but I figured, what the hey.

 

Uh, it depends on the story. (Gee, doesn't that sound familiar?)

 

With 'A Butterfly's Dream' it was an idea that niggled and so I sat down one day and tapped out the chapter. Sent it to my betas at the time, and chatted with them. Got some advice, fixed a few things, sent it off again, fixed a few more things, and then worked on chapter 2 while it stewed.

 

I knew what I wanted to do with it, how I wanted to do it and have pretty much stuck with it, even though I've been...busy with other stories.

 

Another story, one I'm trying to get published, is being written a bit differently. I have a plot laid out. I know how it will go. I know two of the characters I need. I know each of them closely and a friend is being a doll and drawing them for me.

 

I know how the beginning, the middle and the end will go. I don't know how many chapters there will be since my chapters tend to be around 3,000 to 4,000 words long with this one.

 

I have a basic set up so far for the first chapter. I've been playing with wording and the characters.

 

By the time I actually get down to writing it, I will know everything about the story I need to. It will be clearly set up.

 

Another one, a fanfiction called 'To Catch a Kitten', has a very specific set up it's self. I know what each chapter will contain. I just don't know what order those chapters will be written in. I don't know how they will turn out.

 

Personally, it's more of a 'sit down, turn the computer on, have paper nearby for the odd idea floating by, and type' situation.

 

But that's just me.

 

Rose