Blood_Writer

Ive asked many people for many ways to plan a story. There solutions are good but just dont go well with me. If you know any layouts for planning locations, characters, the storyline etc. please share them with me, Im desperate for a good plan.

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valeca

WF's Online Resource Guide

Under 'S'

The Scriptorium

On their site--Toolbox.

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"...make your own nature, not the advice of others, your guide in life." --Pythia, Oracle of Apollo at Delphi

Midknight

Jesus.

I wrote two novels and a few short stories and I never knew about this.

Thanks again...

Rob

Don't sound so surprised. Hundreds of thousands of novels and short stories have been written without it.

Cheers,
Rob

Chop Logic

When I start a story, its usually without a plan, hoping that it will take on a life of its own, or if I do have a plan, I usually find strictly adhering to it to be detremental to the story, and I abandon it.

Stardog

I don't plan too much. What I do is bullet-point the story as I go along. Almost like writing a movie script, but without dialogue; just using basic English.

• Chapter 1
• Wakes up, does this and that.
• Blah blah blah.
• Chapter 2
• Arrives at work.
• Blah blah blah.

When I do this, I never know what the exact ending will be. I just keep asking myself "what could happen next?".

I only outline 5/6 chapters ahead of the chapter I'm writing.

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FICTIONFANS

Slartibartfast

I usually don't plan much either. I will have a general idea, perhaps some important plot points, and then I sit down to write. I sit there with my eyes closed watching the inner-movie in my head. I pay close attention to the movie, using all of my five-senses. I watch the movie for a bit, sometimes oveer and over again...and then I write!

Did you see the movie "Stranger than Fiction" yet? With Emma Thompson and Will Ferral? She plays a brilliant--albeit a little looney--writer with a unique style. Let's say she wants to know what a suicide candidate, standing on the top of a building feels...she stands on the edge of her table, eyes closed, picturing the scene as if she is the character.

She does this in several different manners. It's very interesting, and it shows true dedication.

crazed scribe

Why not create your own way of planning, however detailed, that suits you. That way it fits your style rather than someone else's and gives you freedom.

Crazed scribe

Charlie_Eleanor

I have also been thinking of better ways to plan my stories, but it is difficult to be organized when you have so many thoughts going through your mind.

I usually write down names of people, places, small facts about the primary culture on a scrap piece of paper. It is nice to refer to this as I write. It allows me to review small ideas I had when brainstorming. Also, and I don't know if anyone else did this, but when i was in elementary school the teachers taught us to use bubble charts (I'm sure there is a better word for them, but for lack of knowing it I will use that term.) You make a primary bubble in the center of the chart, put your main plot there, and connect this bubble to other bubbles putting chapters or character descriptions in them. These can get pretty complex if you follow through with it, but sometimes it helps to be able to refer back to them. It also helps me to think through how exactly I want to organize the story.


Hope that is what you were asking for! Good Luck!

Blood_Writer

Thanks to everyone!

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