Writing query

G-Money

I will try to keep this short.

I was just wondering when people write books and stories, do they start once they have the entire story, or most of it worked out? Or do they make it up as they go along so to speak?

The reason I'm asking is that I came up with an idea for a story/book last night. I've no idea if it's good or not, or if it's even original, but I only have a very vague outline of the general story. I've no idea where it would start, go to or finish.

What way do people normally approach these things?

pickarooney

Everyone has a different approach. Some will dive in and start writing as soon as they have an opening line, others will micro-plan everything down to individual chapters before writing the first word.

Personally, I find the best approach to be a mixture of both - sketch up a plan and fine-tune it but scribble down everything that comes into my head at the same time then try and drop it into the structure. It doesn't always work out but it's always better to write something and not use it than sit around waiting for inspiration.

azzeretti

G-Money wrote: »

I will try to keep this short.

I was just wondering when people write books and stories, do they start once they have the entire story, or most of it worked out? Or do they make it up as they go along so to speak?

The reason I'm asking is that I came up with an idea for a story/book last night. I've no idea if it's good or not, or if it's even original, but I only have a very vague outline of the general story. I've no idea where it would start, go to or finish.

What way do people normally approach these things?

This is an interesting one for me as I think I might be unique in this regard. I have never, ever planned out a story. I get an idea in my head and toy around with in my head. I usually decide if it's good enough and bounce ideas around internally. Once I have decided its a decent idea I sit down and just let it come out onto the page. Obviously I read it over and edit it but outside the broad idea I never plan or know where the story might go.

For example, the last entry I did for the Total Write Competition was conceived, written and edited within 30-40 minutes (some might say it looks that way too!!). Anyway, I really think this is different for each author. I can't imagine using my technique for a novel though, I would imagine I would need to research a bit more. I will let you know if I get there!

nah azz I'm the same, get a spark and there's the story. Just a spark! Chew on it for a short time, see if I can write it... then it just writes itself. I know that sounds contradictory but there you go :pac:

For a novel however I would have to sit down and certainly plan out a lot of structure and background and everything. Completely different to a short story

CD.

For a short story if I get an idea and I like it (which, ususally, if it surfaces at all I do) I just write it, no planning or anything sometimes it's a few words, sometimes it's more.

For novels, I work pretty much the same way, I just start and see how it develops and incorporate new ideas as they come. I don't really plan anything out, I did try it once, but i found there was no point in writing it because I already knew what happened in the story so there was no need to write it to find out more. It would be like someone telling you what happens in a movie, including the ending, well, what's the point in seeing then?

you could try sitting down and writing, just going for it, and, once you have gotten down the bones of the story, add more to what you have written, or, you could start writing until you have finished your current idea and look over it again to see where the story could go/write down a few ideas for paths that you could follow then narrow them down.

EileenG

Personally, I spend a lot of time developing my characters, and my start and end point, and have a vague outline of how I expect to get from the start to the finish, but I don't fill in the gaps until I'm writing it.

But whatever words for you is fine. There is no right way to write, just stories you want to read.

Antilles

I don't put finger to key until I'm 100% sure of every twist in the plot.

EileenG

Antilles wrote: »

I don't put finger to key until I'm 100% sure of every twist in the plot.

I know this works for a lot of people, but the one time I did it, it was like reading the list of ingredients on a low fat pizza.

Antilles

EileenG wrote: »

I know this works for a lot of people, but the one time I did it, it was like reading the list of ingredients on a low fat pizza.

The first time I wrote a novel length story, I did it "seat of the pants" style, and it was all over the place. Sub-plots appeared and disappeared, characters just vanished because I forgot to come back to them, and there was no overall direction to the story. I enjoyed writing it because I got to be really creative every day, but I hated rereading it and I couldn't finish editing it.

Planning everything out still allows you to be creative in the narrative, but creative in a fixed direction.

That said, if planning everything out beforehand doesn't work for you then it's obviously the wrong choice for you. It's a matter of preference and I think probably of trial and error.

Memnoch

There are advantages to both styles and as has been pointed out, it's a personal choice really.

Personally, I can't plan ahead or construct outlines. I have to write organically.

Antilles

Memnoch wrote: »

Personally, I can't plan ahead or construct outlines. I have to write organically.

What makes planning "non-organic"?

Memnoch

Antilles wrote: »

What makes planning "non-organic"?

I apologise if I offended you by using the term organic, it's just how I see writing spontaneously as opposed to planning ahead.

I simply can't 'create,' in advance. I write the story by 'feel,' rather than pre-determined structure. So to me, this is a more organic process. Not that I don't have any ideas of where the story might go before I write it but if I was to sit out and plot the entire outline before hand, it would be dull and uncreative. But that's just me.

Antilles

Memnoch wrote: »

I apologise if I offended you by using the term organic, it's just how I see writing spontaneously as opposed to planning ahead.

No, just curious!

I simply can't 'create,' in advance. I write the story by 'feel,' rather than pre-determined structure. So to me, this is a more organic process.

I don't think it's fair to say one style is organic and the other isn't. I write my stories by feel as well. I just don't start writing until I'm certain know the texture of the whole piece.

G-Money

Just thought I'd post an update here.

I mentioned last week I got an idea for a story or book. I didn't do anything with it and basically just kept it in my head until this evening. Earlier this evening I was writing some autobiographical/diary stuff about myself to track some things I'm going through. Nothing serious btw! Just chronicling my own journey at the mo.

Then, a short while ago I started to jot down some notes and ideas I had about this story from last week. I don't know if it was because I was writing some stuff about myself earlier but the story just kind of popped into my head as I was laying in bed trying to get to sleep.

Cut to 1.10am and I'm here in bed with the laptop and I've gone from a vague two or three line idea to a 500 word plus synopsis of where I want the story to go with it being spread across 3 books!! It's awful funny the mad/stupid ideas you get at night when you can't sleep.

Anyway I don't have it all fleshed out in detail and I don't even know if I could write one decent book, never mind three, or even have the determination and follow-through to complete one, but sure we'll see how it goes. Thinking about aiming to write 1000 words per day. Let's see if I run out of material!

bigsmokewriting

Good luck with it - hope it goes well!

ThePinkCage

I say, write it while it's fresh. I do believe in sitting on ideas, but only for a little while. If you leave it too long, the idea has gone stale by the time you put it on the page and you run out of momentum.