bearlily

When writing a story, do you do alot of preparation first? I was thinking I need to get an outline with start, middle and end, character profiles, location profiles and anythng else I haven't thought of.
Or do you jump in with a general idea and first line?

Or something in between??

Please give me advice on where to start!

Many thanks
Bearlily

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'And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.'
Bob Dylan~genius~

Hodge

I come up with a general idea and usually how the piece is going to end, and then I let everything else develop naturally as I progress.

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Science

bearlily

Thank you for your reply. That sounds like a good way to do it. I think I am just putting off actually writing down all the stuff in my head

Thanks again
BL XX

__________________
'And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.'
Bob Dylan~genius~

silverwriter

Just dive in. Chances are you'll end up with a completely different beginning anyway.

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Oracle

It depends on what kind of book you want to write.

Since I write fantasy, I plan out my world, characters, and a basic idea of the events, then jump in and see what happens.

But if you're writing something else, just come up with a basic concept (A plot idea, a theme, a character, a scenario, etc) and just write what comes to mind.

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GD

I usually think of scenes, then try and fit them into some kind of structure.

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mswietek

Lily,

I assume you have some germ of an idea of what you are writing? Write that out, and take it from there. I tend to outline and write simultaneously, although I often find that if I write too much, I need to go back and fill in my outline, and outline some more.

If you have the basic ideas, I am sure you have at least imagined a scene or two. A snippet of dialogue, perhaps? Write those out, and try to make scenes of them. This can help you outline.

For me, the outlines and writing are done hand in hand. As I have found out myself, outlines will be thrown away as your characters take over your story. I would find it nearly impossible to put together a complete outline up front and then just write it all out.

Michael

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Kikster

usually I just start writing... the good thing about writing with a computer is that you can always go back and add/delete parts of it... if I plan too much eventually I get bored with the story or I see too many plotholes and weaknesses in it, and I loose interest in it... but I'm weird like that.

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Robgb

You have to find your own way of working. Some use outlines, some don't. What's essential, I believe, is that you know your basic structure, your beginning, middle and end.

Once you have an idea that you want to work with, create some characters and see how they might react to that idea. What will the characters do to push the story forward? Because different characters will react in different ways and move the story in a different direction.

If you know your ending, then you at least have something to work toward.

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Anatomy of a Book Deal
http://www.robertgregorybrowne.com
A Measure of Darkness
St. Martin's Press, 2007