New story help. - Writers Forum

Firewriter23 · 11-29-2006, 09:51 PM

Okay, well I've decided to write a story based upon my life. Although it's not going to be excatly how my life is right now because it will have twists and turns in it that I just randomly make up. Anyways, I was thinking of starting the story at the beginning of the character "Lexi's senior year. BUT then I started thinking that I should start it at the end of her senior year with flashbacks on how she got to where she was...what do you think? First idea or second?

rp_love · 11-29-2006, 09:53 PM

Well it really depends how you would set it up.
Would you be starting it in a Ken Kesey esque Cuckoo Nest flashback?
Or would it be alternating like Kavalier and Clay?

Firewriter23 · 11-29-2006, 10:12 PM

I would probably be alternating.

safari invasion · 11-29-2006, 11:03 PM

Seriously, you just have to go with whatever you want to do. If you don't know what to do, just pick one and see if it works for you. If it doesn't, change it. Gathering feedback is great, but I think it can get a little out of hand. Play with it. Toss stuff around. Go nuts.

Firewriter23 · 11-30-2006, 12:08 AM

Yeha, I think I'll do that, thanks for the advice. My mind has been kind of in a mess lately...this seems like the only way to clear it up, lol.

HarryG · 11-30-2006, 01:52 AM

Don’t prevaricate, go for it. Write it all down, any way you like. After you’ve written the last sentence, put it away for a few days. Then print it out and give it to a couple of friendly strangers to read. And then? Write the next one.

Firewriter23 · 11-30-2006, 01:44 PM

Also, I was wondering...since the story is based around my life...the characters in the story are kind of like the ones in real life, but a lot is chaged, like their names, and some of their background info, and some other info about them...I can't get in trouble for it if I don't tell the people, right?

safari invasion · 11-30-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firewriter23

I can't get in trouble for it if I don't tell the people, right?

Right. You're fine.

Firewriter23 · 11-30-2006, 01:56 PM

Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wouldnt get sued lol.

aspiring · 12-01-2006, 12:37 AM

Huh? You can't get in trouble if you don't tell the people concerned that they're in your book? Huh?

Of course you can. It's called defamation of character. But it's not something for you to worry about unless you get the book published. If you are writing for yourself then there's no problem. If publication is your main aim, then you should know that very few publishers take on a non-famous first-time author on the strength of their autobiography anyway. Unless your name is Dave Peltzer.

Davos · 12-01-2006, 01:27 AM

There is no defamation. Everyone writes what they know. Change the place around

safari invasion · 12-01-2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring

Huh? You can't get in trouble if you don't tell the people concerned that they're in your book? Huh?

Except the people aren't in the book. The characters are loosely based on people. A lot has been changed, as the individual stated. If we didn't have characters based on real people, we would never have convincing characters.

Firewriter23 · 12-01-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring

Huh? You can't get in trouble if you don't tell the people concerned that they're in your book? Huh?

Of course you can. It's called defamation of character. But it's not something for you to worry about unless you get the book published. If you are writing for yourself then there's no problem. If publication is your main aim, then you should know that very few publishers take on a non-famous first-time author on the strength of their autobiography anyway. Unless your name is Dave Peltzer.

I do plan on getting this one published and it's not an autobiography. Let me re-word my story. It has the same events as my life does.
It's not like my characters have the same names as the real people, their backgrounds might have some similar stuff but NO one has the same name or anything. It's just based around my life, not written with everything the same.

nudulina · 12-01-2006, 12:47 PM

If you are unsure of how to write your story - I find it useful to make an "outline" of it before beginning. I usually do something along the lines of "Introductory chaper," followed by "middle chapters," "climax," and then of course, "concluding chapters." Then I jot down the major events that I will write about in each chapter. I've found this to be extremely helpful.

Firewriter23 · 12-01-2006, 11:11 PM

Yeah, also setting deadlines for myself also helps a lot because then I have set time to get it done. If I don't really have a set time or anything I won't work on it, lol.