My Method - Painting the Picture - Writers Forum

Graff · 07-25-2005, 03:52 PM

This is my first post since I introduced myself, and I wanted to share my method of writing short fiction. I have dubbed it "Painting the Picture" as you likely gathered from the subject line

Anyway, here it is:

This process starts once I have already come up with the basic idea of what I want my story to be. I never have a beginning, a middle and an end in mind. I like to be as excited writing my story as I want my reader to be reading it. (Sounds unstable, but it's what works for me)

So after I have this idea, I sit down at my computer and begin to type. Then I realize I have no word processor open, and open one.

Sorry, couldn't resist...

I quickly type out the first portion of my story. Hardly any descriptions, no detail, just the absolute basic idea.

I then go back to the start and slowly put in some description and detail. Not a lot, just some. I repeat this step however many times it takes to paint the picture i want.

Now comes character development. I go back and insert some sentences or dialogue that might give the reader hints about who the character is or their coming from. Just some basic background.

Now I just repeat this series of steps until my story is complete. After the whole story is written, I will go over it one more time to insert some details I might have missed.

Now I have a complete story ^^

I'm making this sound a bit more simple than it actually is, but I hope you get the idea.

In addition, I am not claiming this is my idea and mine only, I'm sure there are several writers who do this, or something close to it.

Well, thank you for reading this, and please post any comments or changes you would make to this method. It is most definitlely not perfected and I would love to hear some criticism. thanks

jta_8888 · 07-25-2005, 08:17 PM

Hm.

I like this method, although it's not one I could see myself using.

The thought of writing my story basically 6+ times (one for the first shell, second for small details, third for small dialogue, etc.) seems a bit scary!

I'd think most people would like to "Paint the Picture" chapter by chapter.

Where they DO the steps you listed, just, not for the ENTIRE story; just chapter by chapter.

C-by-C seems a bit less daunting.

:3 Good idea, though!

Nemo · 07-25-2005, 09:47 PM

Ive heard that it is best to start with the character. Getting to know him/her/it, afterall, it's their story you are telling. And Ive tried this, and came up witha character, everything from physical features to personality, to etc etc. From there the story just told itself, from the characters POV. I don't know that just what Ive done before, and it works.

Wizard · 07-26-2005, 02:09 AM

Of course, there is no right or wrong way . . .

For some reason, I can never finish a story that I don't know the ending to. I've tried countless times, but I always get lost.

However, I do use a similar method of starting small and then adding details. I just keep the beginning and end in sight at all times, as I believe they are the most important parts. The beginning must hook your readers, and the ending must satisfy them as they leave your world.

Destany · 07-26-2005, 09:37 AM

I used to do it that way. It worked great for a while, but then as my story got longer and longer (I don't know that your method would work in novels- I would go by chapter), I found the first chapters looking great and the later chapters would be so boring, it was off putting and I would lose interest in writing.
I think your method would work great for short stories. As it is, with this novel, I'm intentionally forcing myself not to go that route so I do'nt lose intrest down the road.

mammamaia · 07-26-2005, 10:17 AM

i can't imagine writing by steps, going over the same thing over and over again...

i just get an idea for a story/essay/poem and write it from beginning to end... then, all i have to do is a thorough roofread and maybe fiddle a bit with things i find while proofing, that i want to do differently... no 'process'... just writing...

for major things like screenplays and books, of course more pre-writing work is needed [outlining and such], but again, once the plot's laid out, i just start writing and keep going till it's finished...

there's definitely no all-encompassing 'right' way, just what works for each of us... the 'best' way is whatever works...