Situation! - Writers Forum

sjp1966 · 11-09-2004, 10:59 AM

Ok, imagine this situation. You know you want to write something, you even know the kind of story that you want to write, however you don't really have much of an idea of a storyline, nor have you got any characters in mind. What do you do? when all you have is the `want` of writing a novel, but nothing else, what do you do to get started/organised?

thanks

Rob · 11-09-2004, 11:17 AM

That's what your brain is for, try thinking

Good luck,
Omni

mammamaia · 11-09-2004, 11:19 AM

post deleted due to stupidity [mine!]

Nazareth · 11-09-2004, 11:19 AM

start by working this out:

The character's name

A one-sentence summary of the character's storyline

The character's motivation (what does he/she want abstractly? What do they want to accomplish for themselves ie: To overcome fear, or to conquere some type of insecurity, or to want to show others they can be depended on or whatever)

The character's goal (what does he/she want concretely? What will the story goal be? ie: will the character save the day/solve the murder/find the missing piece of puzzle etc.)

The character's conflict (what prevents him/her from reaching this goal? Who or what will oppose the character as they set off on solving the main conflict or rather story conflict)

The character's epiphany (what will he/she learn, how will he/she change?)

There's quite a few other things to take into account, but sit down and try to come up with answers to these questions as a starting point- I think once you start piecing a coherant story together you'll get the bug to write it

It can be fun trying all sorts of scenarios in the beginning- Give yourself a few days, and work at your leisure- the more you add, the more possibilities that will pop up- You'll see the story grow before your eyes in this manner

Anonymous · 11-09-2004, 11:34 AM

I completely understand where you are coming from.

I would suggest doing some observation. Characters and plot situations are all around you. One of my father's favorite exercises is to sit in a mall or restaurant or other public place and just watch people. He would then speculate about them and then develop that speculation into a character.

I do suggest reading whatever you can get your hands on. Reading tends to inspire my right brain and I will pull story ideas out of the most bizarre places. I used to clip articles out of the newspaper that seemed story worthy. It served to provide a point of reference. Either the story would begin with the article or it could end with the article.

ex. A story I came up with had to do with an article I read about a woman who got pregnant while in coma. It turns out an intern was taking advantage of her. She wasn't going to wake up and the family had to decide whether to abort the baby or let the pregnancy go to term.
The story I derived from that started with the pregnancy but in my story the woman wakes up and becomes stuck in the middle of a fight between her family who wants her to get rid of the baby and his family who wants to adopt it.

Inspiration comes from all around you. You just have to put your antenna up and tune into it.

Queasy Dillo · 11-09-2004, 12:11 PM

I would suggest you write an opening page, chapter...whatever. Then sit back and let it stew for a day or so. You'll come up with more useable ideas in the first couple of days. When you have a rough idea of where this whole thing is headed, then continue.

DawnMorningStar · 11-09-2004, 01:03 PM

Sometimes the best thing to do in this sort of situation is instead of trying to plan it all out first, just sit down and write whatever comes to you. If you can't think up ideas for the story easily, allowing ideas to flow onto paper will come easier than trying to force your brain to think. Then, once you have some ideas you can use, you can build around that with characters, etc.

Good luck!

Nazareth · 11-09-2004, 02:38 PM

Don't forget to keep these points in mind though:

What is the major conflict? Ie: what problem will the main character face

What inner conflict will the character face throughout the story?

Who or what will oppose the character as they try to resolve the major conflict?

How will the major conflict be solved? (Thouhg this one can be left for now- some writers don't like knowing how a story will end until they get to the end- this I think leaves the door open for exploration and change as needed

Basically, if You're writing an 800,000 page novel, which will break down into roughly 20 chapters- depending on your chapter length, try to break the story down into 4 sections

The prologue, wehich will set the scene for the novel and introduce the main dynamic conflict

then around chapter 7 or thereabouts, introduce the first BIG obstacle scene (Perhaps this is where the murderer will try to prevent the detective from investigating any further)

Then around chapter 14 or so, show an escalted BIG SCENE where the character is almost defeated & gives up, or has to call for help toward chapter 18 or so, have the main character overcome both their adversary, and their internal conflicts-

18-20 should be used to tie up all the loose ends throuhgout the story

Plkease don't be afraid that this is too 'formulaic' Almost every great writer depends on this basic set up for their novels, and if you'll observe, each story is still unique and exciting.

Hemmingway used it, The writer of Lord of the wrings asnd the witer of Harry Potter used something similiar, Scott, King, Agatha Christy, etc. So you're not locked into just a static boring formulaic story- But the founding jist of the story should have some of these basics anyways-

It will hold your story together better if you know these things in advance, or at least stop somewhere along the line, go back, and work these basics into the story

Basically try to remember- to keep story coherent, go for a focused goal- everything else that is introduced should all point toward the goal- Don't introduce things that have absolutely nothing to do with the main conflict goal. If the hero Pete goes out to lunch, that's fine, but make it a lunch were he either discusses his main problem, or thinks about it. Don't have Pete stop over someone's house just because he wants to visit & then never mention the person he visitted again, unless the person he visits can shed some light on the main problem- for instance- the person might be a forensic pathologist & be able to gi ve Pete sound advice.

Ralizah · 11-09-2004, 04:26 PM

A theme without a plot is useless.
Meditate on what your central theme is, then construct a conflict (plot) to personify that theme.

whiz_bang · 11-10-2004, 06:46 PM

I'm also in the very beginning stages of writing my story. I have an idea as to what it's about, but I'm having a problem as to what the outcome should be once my main character gets to the point of crisis--ie, which is the "best" way that it should be resolved. I've come up with a few resolutions, but I've also been trying to put myself in the position of the reader, meaning, what other plausible outcomes might a reader think of for my character to resolve her crisis? I tend to suck at brainstorming...just kind of letting my brain go and write, and see what transpires. Perhaps I should be posting on here the ideas I already have...

Nazareth · 11-10-2004, 06:50 PM

Yeah post it- maybe someone can suggest something or at least give you an idea of where to go with it

Bluenoseuk · 11-15-2004, 06:09 AM

I've been in the same situation. What I try to do is have "Scenes" in whichI want the novel to involve, and what I want to write. because when you write a NOVEL, you write it for YOURSELF before you write it for anyone else. So, it has to please you before it does someone else. These might be dark scenes, lighter scenes, or anything really!