Thread: Question about plot development.

This always happens to me every time I try to write out an outline of the plot and characters. I'm so excited about the story idea I have at the time. I end up writing pages and pages of random things that are going to happen. But soon I get bored with it and forget about it for months never finishing it. But it completely different when I write what ever comes to mind. No planning or organizing involved. And it turns out really good.

Why can't I keep a story going once I plan it out?

For me, planning stilts my imagination. If I know where a story is going, I can't motivate myself to write it. It's let getting up in the morning and having your entire day planned out with no room for spontaneity. Try doing that for four hundred pages -- it's bound to get boring after awhile. When you don't plan and let the story go where it wants to, it feels more natural and less forced. I would advise you to continue writing without a plan. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You're getting good quality when you don't plan, so why would you worry about planning?

You sound exactly like me, I do the same thing. People say its better to plan because you can give your story direction and not let it veer off track. But when I write I find that my characters tell the story for me, so if I plan it I get bored, it sounds strange but my characters often surprise me and if I plan it then they can't do that. I mean obviously you have to have some idea in mind as to where the story is going. I find that if you give your characters a dilemma and a goal then they generally sort things out for you.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

x

When I was growing up all my teachers and family told me I'd be a better writer if I took my time and planned it out. And not just jump into it because I'd get confused and not keep it straight. Well when it's done (or think it's done) you can go through and rewrite the parts that don't make sense. Thanks. I feel better now.

It's the same thing regarding relationships. Some people date for ten years before getting married. Other people date for two weeks. Usually the better story evolves from how you like your adventure - over-easy, sunnyside-up, or scrambled.

I have that same issue and I'm currently testing my antidote:
I opened up a story-blog. I have a general idea for the story as a whole, but I only plan it one chapter at a time so I get to write it while the ideas are still fresh. I'm writing 1-2 pages per day and it's going well so far. Dividing it into blog entries has also helped because it gives me a rhythm that I can easily keep up with despite a busy schedule while forcing me to keep writing to keep updating my readers. I guess it's about creating a habit, like jogging. You stay active and you train your mind so that the flow of new idears and the developing of a story becomes more natural as a constant, instead of an exclusive event that occurs when you feel inspired.

I'd write a chapter and then figure out, "what happens next?" Maybe you already know where it will end up, you just don't know the journey it travels to get there. Then (like someone already said) go back and fix it.

However, you need conflict, characters, resolution...

That is very true. No matter how much or how little structure you have, the most important thing is knowing your characters better then you know your self, and knowing what the conflict of the story is all about. Once you know these you should have a good idea of how it will develop and where you want to end up. After that you can let the story flow on its own.

Characters are often more important to me that plot line. It's my characters that drives the story forward. As long as I have a character I can usually start writing about him/her and end up with a short piece of story.

Originally Posted by Waste.

It's my characters that drives the story forward. As long as I have a character I can usually start writing about him/her and end up with a short piece of story.

Not that I'm one to talk (since I am unpublished in professional markets), but the main characters from my novel also appear in short stories (at an earlier point in their life). It is how I develop their back story. It is also part of marketing (if I ever make a sale).

Originally Posted by Auskar

... the main characters from my novel also appear in short stories (at an earlier point in their life). It is how I develop their back story...

Published or not, who cares, that sounds like an interesting method that I may have to try it sometime. I always have a back story for my characters, but unless it's included in the main story I never write it down beyond occasional notes for personal use.

I plan my stories in my head, but am very open to changes. Thus, I have a problem in which conditions of the stories always change, and I still don't have a solid basis for some parts of it, even though it's been awhile since I started imagining the sequence of events. However, I am still happy with what I have. It's in some ways more intricate and involved than something planned and written down to be elaborated as you write.

Hmm, I actually just benefited from going back to the drawing board and writing some back story on my characters. Doing so helped me invent some new things about them that I think thicken my (currently) thin plot. More plausible reasons to add other characters, increase the action, add some more plotlines. However, I'm new to fiction writing, so preparation is definitely helping me compensate a bit for experience. I'm going to try and do a rough chapter outline, now. I can always change things.

Some of my stories fit in the same subgenre as my novel so it isn't that big a stretch to include the characters as the "hero" of their own stories. Also, it helps because I write stories (as a route to get my novel published) while a lot of others seem to focus on novels.

The story below, One Soldier's Reason, doesn't mention the character by name. However, the rewrite (which I never showed anyone because it sold) does. He is just one character who appears in my (needs to be rewritten) novel. At least four others appear in stories that occur prior to the novel, too. Probably five, once I do the rewrite (because I intend to write one story character into the novel). I intend to write at least three more stories that include the novel's characters, too. Then I'll have eight.

Who am I leaving out? Oh! Make that at least four more stories. I left out the most interesting character of all. Probably because he is the most vivid "other" character in the novel.

It just helps. Characters become more than just someone in the novel.

I apologize to others for not reading your input..

This always happens to me every time I try to write out an outline of the plot and characters. I'm so excited about the story idea I have at the time. I end up writing pages and pages of random things that are going to happen. But soon I get bored with it and forget about it for months never finishing it. But it completely different when I write what ever comes to mind. No planning or organizing involved. And it turns out really good.

Why can't I keep a story going once I plan it out?

rougette2010
When you don't plan I find you roll much easier.
There is less objective and more play. understand?

I however love to play and plan. But never at the same time or mingling efforts...
I think this is your problem.
Displacing an objective makes the text just gush! Woot!

I love story ideas.
lets have i! what idea?!

If you want I'll tell you my entire story plot in exchange if you demand it of me (7 books worth) . I'll go first: just shove.