Eiji Tunsinagi

No matter how long or short, I must write some sort of synopsis or outline of my story. Do you, and how do you prepare before writing something lengthy?

thanks

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desired_destiny

I planned my story by making a "basic information" page. On this page I include the genre, age group, main characters and summary of my story. I also have a "notes" page tucked away in my file folder. I can quickly jot down ideas. My last page is called "character hunting." I wrote down the names of some characters and who their personalities were based on. (In this particular case, they were based on my dogs. )

Teachers/professors always say to make an outline or web. That does help much for those who need to see their ideas.

I don't know if I was much of a help...

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Eiji Tunsinagi

Lots of help, indeed. Thanks! Just trying to understand how others approach things.

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"nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished."

"how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?"

Nazareth

I didn't write one & I regret it. I am always forgetting character's last names, store names, locations etc. & have to go back through my story each time- I wish I had taken the time do all this in the beginning & have a quick reference notepage to look at

Chris

I'm writing a script at the moment, but I outline scripts similarly to how I outline novels. First I get a notebook and then just start writing ideas, characters, key events etc. Then I try to organize these ideas into a coherent narrative (usually taking one or two overhauls). When I'm happy with a brief structure (ie how I want to start, how I want to finish and a couple of key points in the middle) I flesh it out with index cards.

For my script I have one scene representing one index card, if I were writing a novel, I'd probably have one chapter per index card (or one A4 page). On each card I briefly describe what happens, and then stick it on a board. Now I have a cool story board that will give me a good idea on whether the story works structurally.

Then I write a treatment (like 2 or 3 pages summarizing the story), flesh out events, characters and then finally begin writing. But by the time you begin writing most of the hard work is done, and you won't run into as many writing blocks or plot holes. It's good fun!

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demonic_harmonic

I just write down a few sentences of what i want in the story. Or else I might get off track or make it way too long. I have one sentence for every chapter. And I also have a few pages of random ideas that I check off after I include them so I dont forget those, either.

bobothegoat

First I scribble down the basic idea. Then I scribble down references such as character names, cities, etc. so I don't forget them.

When teachers demand that I pre-write for something really short (1-2 pages short), I simply make a post-write "pre-write." Never saw the logic in having a page of pre-write when the whole story is the same length .

Edit: the two smileys rolling their eyes in sychronism was creeping me out

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elizabeth_472

Hey! I always just get my ideas on paper as soon as possible. I don't really organize them. I just write down what I need to remember. Just do whatever works for you!

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Darkhaven80

I always plan. I know of writers who can just sit and write with hardly a thought in their brain but I don't see how. Many times doing this can end you up stuck in the middle; kind of like driving a car without much gas in it besides a small smidgen of an idea, and running out in the middle of the highway when the inspiration has burned itself out. Or, you just write and write and when it comes to the editing process, more needs to be skimmed out, changed, rearranged, etc. I think planning speeds the process up myself, prevents as many errors in the pacing and scenes, helps from keeping the writer stuck with the much feared 'block', etc. I also think, although I could be wrong, that planning beforehand can speed up the process of writing itself because you already know where you're going.

pgoroncy

Much like the rest of my life I rarely plan anything before writing it. I have the idea in my head and I just start jotting down the words.

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lisajane

I rarely plan an outline for anything I write. For my novel, I started with very little for an outline. I have the outline now - but it's all in my head, only character notes are written down. My memory's extremely good in remembering these sorts of things - I can remember unwritten plot outlines I created mentally when I was 12 or 13 (now 19).

Scripts are my downfall here - once again, I don't plan it before I write, which gets me into trouble later...

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malvo4

well i guess i plan kinda. i just get ideas and sometimes i write out the scenes in my head or something brief on my idea. most of the time i just remebe it... i think. but when i am writing my story i just let it flow. and sometimes i come to a point where i'm like "that would be awesome here!" and so i put it there. so basically i just plan out what i want in the story for sure, but i just haven't decided where to put it yet.

Pats

I keep all the seperate chapters in one file in Word. This file also contains a document I usually call something clever like "notes." That document contains all the facts I can't affoard to forget, for easy referance, like ages of characters, important days, proper names of things I've created, a very short bio of each character as important details come to mind like their age.

I make it as I go along writing the story.

I usually have some idea of where the story is going very early in its creation, but it's not set in stone and it's subject to change as I write.

I also keep a document in there for "scraps" that I've cut out for now but may want to include later.

I also save past versions of each chapter and change them as needed as the story evolves. I keep a copy of the most recent version of each chapter in one "Master" document.

One time I wrote out a very brief version of the story, about one sentance per chapter as DH said. I colored this version of the story in red font. Then I wrote the "real story" in black in between the red font.

Sometimes I add little "brainstorms" as they come to mind at the end of chapters. I usually change the color of that font too.

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CrimsonMoon

I do plan, but very little. I generally try to write down the names of things, such as stores, towns, people, etc. Then while I'm doing the actual writing I keep my "planning chart" with me and write down what pages I have made reference to them on. This way I can find just about anything I need in a relatively easy fashion.

Finlander

Generally I write more notes and general ruminations regarding different topics and ideas. I converse with myself, presenting the pros and cons. Ever the architect, oh yes. With actual and serious stories I begin the planning with creating something of a holy trinity, consisting of a Beginning, Middle, and End parts. Generally I need to have frames for my painting, so to say.

Some people consider planning this far ahead a bad idea, but I think that it is a good way to set some guidelines and notes for your writing, and perhaps ease out the process of revising. The concept of Beginnings, Middle parts and Ends is a very universal one, since most things that exist, do so within these three rules - consider a instrument.. a violin perhaps - it's story has a Beginning with it's creation, a middle part which consists of it's career as an instrument and possible journeys from different countries, halls of play and of possessions of different owners. Finally, the instrument has an Ending - perhaps it is destroyed in a fire? Or maybe a loving musician ages alongside his beloved violin?

All things abide to these three rulers, and for me this is the easiest way to have a map of your scribblings.

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