paaerduag

I'm very new to this whole writing business, and I've got a basic beginning and end of my story in mind. If you've read my other post you'll know what it's about, but that isn't really the point. I've got so many ideas flying around in my head I don't know where to start planning. Should I do chapter by chapter summaries? Although i don't very much like that idea. I'd just like to know some of your planning strategies, because it is my personal belief that planning is one of the hardest stages of writing a novel.

Janeka

When I first started planning mine, I wrote the introduction and a couple of scenes that I had in my head, then I wrote a brief synopsis of the story (this has changed fairly dramatically since, so don't worry about setting things in stone - you need to allow your story to develop as you write too). Over time, this has expanded as other ideas have appeared, sub plots have developed and more characters have been introduced. Once I had the basics down and had started to expand the ideas into prose I split the work into logical chapters and sections, each dealing with specific chunks of the story. For each of these I have a set of notes with plot ideas, notes, questions (these are questions that have either been raised by me or by people reading through my work so far. Including them and the answers is quite useful for ensuring that your tale isn't ambiguous and actually gives the intended impression. It also helps to make sure you haven't left any glaringly obvious plot holes or anything), key elements and requirements. The requirements are things that must happen by the end of the chapter - e.g. the main character may have to be in a particular place for the next chapter or may have to have done something / met someone etc. The key elements should be self explanatory.

I know that some people work without planning and I dare say that many people will think that my approach is overkill, but, hey, it works for me...

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Mike C

If you don't want to plan, don't plan. Some do, some don't. Just sit down and write. You can worry about small details like chapters when you rewrite.

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imrhati

i usually just get an idea of what i want to happen in semi detail and write and plan at the same time.

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Straylight

Well, when you're trying to get a first draft out, quantity > quality by far. The farther you can press -- wordcount-wise -- during that period of inspiration or motivation, the better. Just sit down and start writing -- focus on as many words a day as you can do. Just go with the story and don't worry too much about outlines.

Then, after 1-100 months, you'll have something that resembles a bad novel. Now comes the fun part of going back and turning it something that resembles a great novel. But revision is easier -- It's done in chunks and it has a sense of the story's overall arc behind it.

That's how I do it anyway ;p.

~SL

cabbageguy

I'm planning on writing mine from the middle outwards, and I am just going to write scenes as they are needed. If I write this from beginning to end, I'll have to constantly revise to add stuff.

paaerduag

so I'm getting the picture that a lot of you like to not use plans? I tried one novel where i didn't use a plan, and it just branched out wildly and I lost control and quit. This one I know where I'm going, but I always worry that if you don't plan you are going to fail. And if I overkill, i loose interest in the story and get writers' block. so, this time i'm gonna have a very vague idea of what's going to happen, pump out words as straylight said, but always get closer to that end goal. I guess i can always revise later.

Oh, and this is just coming from me personally, but never EVER revise a novel when you haven't finished yet. I did that and I didn't write for a year, because i felt that everything i was writing was crap. I lost inspiration to continue to the end and revise after finishing. Just from my personal experience. Thanks for the pointers as well.

Buddhapants

Paaerduag - I've also experienced the dread, "this is crap" syndrome. Not only have I stopped editing any of my writing before I finish a complete rough draft, I don't even look at it. If I forget something that happened earlier in a piece, I just guess at it and keep going, if I'm wrong I can always change things later.

My rough drafts ALWAYS stink! But that's OK, because that's what editing is for.

I usually start with a very loose outline, maybe one or two sentences for each scene. I also like to have an ending in mind so when the story takes off in its own unruly direction I can reign it back in enough to stay on track.

Also, for me, and I imagine this is different for everyone too, losing interest is a constant battle. After years of allowing this problem to keep me from finishing everything, I finally learned to just push through the lack of interest. I write for a set time period every day on whatever my current project is. Whether I'm interested at the moment or not. Quitting whenever interest wanes temporarily is like whining because life is not fair. The only thing it does is destroy confidence.

harishankar

I personally write when I get the "flow". Sometimes words just come out naturally into sentences and I feel excited about what I'm writing about. Sometimes I have an idea of the plot but feel bored by writing it. Sometimes I feel excited by the writing and the plot's just not there.

The one thing I find that it's always better to know what you're building up to. You can always adjust the tempo later but it's important to work up to it otherwise you're not going to finish the work. Whether you write this down somewhere or whether you just keep it in your head, I think the basic plot, the beginning and the end is a must. Characters can always be developed later. Being tied down to too much detail in the first attempt can lead to frustration and failure.

I've not tried the non-linear approach though. To me I just write from chapter 1 onwards to the end.

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Janeka

Keeping interest in my work is one of the reasons that I work the way I do. I don't write from start to finish, I pick and choose which bits I work on depending on what ideas are running around in my head and what inspiration I have at the time. Without a plan in place to guide me as to what needs to happen at what stage (at least in general terms) this would be almost impossible to achieve with any degree of coherence. My notes / plans change and develop constantly as the story is written, but in order to maintain my interest, I try to make it as easy as possible for me to keep writing something to keep the story moving and developing at least...

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paaerduag

I've found a method I really think will work, and maybe you may want to give it a try. It's called storyboarding, and it's used in films and that sort of stuff. I'm up at 11:21p.m. right now, and I've finished my storyboarding session for today. I found that it really helped me to focus on plot holes, and areas which needed expansion, and everything is kept nicely in order. Just get a whole bunch of index cards, and write on them scenes of your idea which seem to want to come out. arrange these scences chronologically, and focus on filling in the gaps. that's what i'm doing, and while it may not appeal to some, the ease of adjusting plot and changing things at ease is what appeals to me. I don't feel restricted, and i feel like i can change what i want when i want and how i want. hope this helps.

Mr. Blix

This thread is pretty handy for someone like me who suffers from the "this is crap" to losing interest like everyone else. It helps to know that I'm not the only one who goes through this.

The current method I try to do is to get a rough outline in my head, then write down some scenes. If it really starts to click then I can build out a story in my head and try to get as much as I can down. Sometimes, I'm not even sure what the ending will be. I'll try working it out as I go along hoping the story will find itself.

As a newbie though, I'm never sure what way is the best way. Right now, it seems to be working though.

Glen1

My own way of planning a novel is through writing of a chapter by just sitting down and writing. I have talked with writing counselors about it and they say to just write your chapters from scratch. Then after you get the rough draft done, you can revise it. I've had three times tried writing a novel but in my current effort I'm in my 23rd chapter. But I've developed Novel Writer's Block. I just cannot get down to writing another chapter.

I also suggest taking a writer's conference whereby you can get some of your work critiqued.I do and it is a big help.

I have other ideas too but I don't have the time right now to write about them.
Glen1

cbrmale

I am a professional technical writer, and I have gotten into the habit of planning my writing. For creative writing, I take my initial idea and develop a fairly detailed plan. This has a number of advantages including keeping the story focussed, enabling me to foreshadow events and to ensure that the plot points are happening at the right points in the MS.

At the moment, I have an idea for something new, and I have written a scene which is key to making this idea work. If I am happy with this scene, I will then plan around it to full novel length.

While writing, I allow myself latitude with the plan. Inspiration can come out of anywhere, so the plan evolves over the course of my writing. I actually keep the plan up to date, as it help me develop the synopsis and plot summary for when the work gets circulated to publishers.