Thread: Thoughts & Processes...

I love to write but one of the things that frustrates me is my lack of skill lol. I have a great idea for a story (in my mind anyways) but what are the immediate processes i should go through before i actually put pen to paper, or fingers to keys in this case?.

Is there a certain process everyone follows?, like brainstorming ect?, if so i would love to know the secret and maybe get a little further with my writing, any help is appreciated. Thanks!

There are no processes between thoughts and writing, especially for a beginner. Just write. It's the only way to improve.

I've been around here for a few days now and one fact has been made clear. No two people function the same way as writers. Everyone has a different idea about the best way of going about putting down words one after another.

My suggestion, for what it's worth, and I've been writing for a while now, is that the best way for you to start writing is to sit down and start writing. Put words about your story idea on paper or into the computer. Writing, by itself, inspires writing.

The other exercise you need to follow is to read a great deal. Read the kind of books you like, but also read the kind of books you don't like. Read fiction and non-fiction. Read articles about restoring antique automobiles. Read the labels on soup cans. If you see words printed on something, read them. Get to understand, on a very basic level, how words work together and how they affect our thoughts. Apply that understanding to your writing.

Read everything you see, and write every day. Don't worry about any 'process'. Just put one word after another and your writing will develop.

Thank you both!, I have just written a short summary of what my story is going to be about, and now i am just thinking about the character i want to have as the main focus, i shall be starting actual writing here soon, i get so excited at this point, but my writing skills and my lack of grammar skills always let me down and i give up. I will not quit this time!.

When I was new to writing, I mostly just dove right into the thick of things, with no idea where I was going. It was wild, it was reckless, and it was fun. Overtime I learned to hone the technicalities of my writing, through feedback, critiques, and self-editing. This strengthened my ability to craft solid sentences, through better understanding of description, imagery, and succintness.

What this approach didn't do for me, however, was help me learn the dynamics of a plot structure. I grasped, at times, little glimpses of the bigger picture, when wiser writers than myself would mention things like "character arc" and "foreshadowing". I knew these terms meant something, but their deeper meanings eluded me.

Now I am actively teaching myself the dynamics of plot structure, and how good writers utilize plot to propel their stories forward. There's alot to it, but the basic premise is that this type of writing requires active planning before putting pen to paper, or fingers to keys, as you so accurately described it.

So, in my summary of sorts, there are two processes to follow.. One of free writing, and one of calculated planning. Both have their merits and ideally you'll want a solid combination of the two.

For brainstorming, it helps to understand what the critical components of a good story are. These are:

Protagonist (or hero)
Antagonist (or villain)
Interesting Setting

Then, the plot itself is a series of conflicts between the protagonist and antagonist, preferrably escalating as the book progresses. Think Harry Potter versus Voldemort. Think Dr. Grant, Lex, and Timmy versus the Dinosaurs. Think Jeff Bridges' character in the movie "Crazy Heart" battling his alcoholism.

Then, if you're still feeling analytical, you can plan each conflict, where the hero faces difficult choices, or scary choices, or choices that alter the character in some way. The character must then fail, or prevail, either way it moves the story forward towards new situations. These individually are called "scenes".

Now there's a hole gammut of theory out there on how a Scene itself should be "correctly" done, with catch phrases like "goal, conflict, disaster, reaction, decision" etc.. etc.. But I don't like to think that hard about things. I consider a scene to be something "memorable" that happens in the story. Something "different". And I trust in myself to have the common sense to be able to know what that is.

So here I am, blabbling on. I'll cut this short before I scare you off. Hopefully something in my ramblings was helpful to you. Cheers!

Originally Posted by KyleColorado

When I was new to writing, I mostly just dove right into the thick of things, with no idea where I was going. It was wild, it was reckless, and it was fun. Overtime I learned to hone the technicalities of my writing, through feedback, critiques, and self-editing. This strengthened my ability to craft solid sentences, through better understanding of description, imagery, and succintness.

What this approach didn't do for me, however, was help me learn the dynamics of a plot structure. I grasped, at times, little glimpses of the bigger picture, when wiser writers than myself would mention things like "character arc" and "foreshadowing". I knew these terms meant something, but their deeper meanings eluded me.

Now I am actively teaching myself the dynamics of plot structure, and how good writers utilize plot to propel their stories forward. There's alot to it, but the basic premise is that this type of writing requires active planning before putting pen to paper, or fingers to keys, as you so accurately described it.

So, in my summary of sorts, there are two processes to follow.. One of free writing, and one of calculated planning. Both have their merits and ideally you'll want a solid combination of the two.

For brainstorming, it helps to understand what the critical components of a good story are. These are:

Protagonist (or hero)
Antagonist (or villain)
Interesting Setting

Then, the plot itself is a series of conflicts between the protagonist and antagonist, preferrably escalating as the book progresses. Think Harry Potter versus Voldemort. Think Dr. Grant, Lex, and Timmy versus the Dinosaurs. Think Jeff Bridges' character in the movie "Crazy Heart" battling his alcoholism.

Then, if you're still feeling analytical, you can plan each conflict, where the hero faces difficult choices, or scary choices, or choices that alter the character in some way. The character must then fail, or prevail, either way it moves the story forward towards new situations. These individually are called "scenes".

Now there's a hole gammut of theory out there on how a Scene itself should be "correctly" done, with catch phrases like "goal, conflict, disaster, reaction, decision" etc.. etc.. But I don't like to think that hard about things. I consider a scene to be something "memorable" that happens in the story. Something "different". And I trust in myself to have the common sense to be able to know what that is.

So here I am, blabbling on. I'll cut this short before I scare you off. Hopefully something in my ramblings was helpful to you. Cheers!

Very helpful to me thank you, It's the plotting out i think i over think at times, i don't want there to be holes or mistakes in my writing. I know a lot of writers have people they call on for information like a detective for info on police protocol and such. But i am just me and i don't have that so mistakes i guess are guaranteed, i think that it what put's me off, i am my own worst critic.

You put it in words i can understand lol. And i will work on what you have said, i didn't think of it like Harry Potter and Voldemort, i think i am making it harder for myself!.

Originally Posted by EvilAngel

Thank you both!, I have just written a short summary of what my story is going to be about, and now i am just thinking about the character i want to have as the main focus, i shall be starting actual writing here soon, i get so excited at this point, but my writing skills and my lack of grammar skills always let me down and i give up. I will not quit this time!.

Hi

Congrats on finishing your short summary...

Allow me to briefly share the process that helps me to write my novel. Currently, I am writing my 3rd novel, 'The Road to Freedom', military spy thriller type.

Step 1: Like yourself, I finish a short summary of the story. It helps me to focus on the starting and ending and the MAIN STORY LINE.

Step 2: I write the summary (or synopsis) of each chapter. It helps me to see my story builds up, reach a climax and lands according to what I have decided. This is an interesting step because I can itemize scene/action in a chapter. My WIP has 29 chapters + Epilogue.

Step 3: Start writing. My mind is clear on what I need to write. With the chapters more or less set, I know where I am going and how I need to build up. It's like driving a manual car. I engage my first gear (chapter 1), knowing that I will need to engage my second gear (chapter 2) and so forth.

Two other thing that help me as well:

I write to build my readership. Hence, I focus on writing a particular type of novel that attracts a particular type of readers. I don't try to convert readers to enjoy my books but I try to find readers who enjoy my type of books to read them.

To improve your grammar skills, when you are not writing, read and read. From time to time, I go back to study the English Fundamentals! (What is a verb? What is an adjective? What is an Adverbs? etc) You never know you will learn something useful!

I cannot add to all the technical explanations on "how-to" write. You can easily find a plethora of books on the subject.

I would only suggest that, when writing fiction, stay as emotionally attached to your stories as possible.

If your writing is mechanistic and stale, it doesn't matter how well you "followed the rules". Fake characters, contrived plots in cookie cutter words deserve their own ring in Dante's Inferno. If you're not breathing life into your story, it deserves to die.

Write what you like. Write what you love. Learn. Dream. A book without passion is overworked kindling.

Now go forth and create.

Putting your thoughts onto paper, or into a computer is something that everyone may do a little differently. Some may write keywords for topics they want to cover and characters they want to create. I tend to create a sort of family tree - all the characters I want to incorporate go onto it and information about the story branches off in every direction. Since I have never come close to finishing the novel ideas I've had, I am not sure this is the best approach

When it comes to short stories, ideas tend to harvest themselves inside my head. Once I have come up with a plot and the characters, the story becomes a reality as I begin typing. Once I have written all that I can, I go back and edit.

Originally Posted by Winston

I would only suggest that, when writing fiction, stay as emotionally attached to your stories as possible.

If your writing is mechanistic and stale, it doesn't matter how well you "followed the rules". Fake characters, contrived plots in cookie cutter words deserve their own ring in Dante's Inferno. If you're not breathing life into your story, it deserves to die.

Write what you like. Write what you love. Learn. Dream. A book without passion is overworked kindling.

This is where I fall down, and I'd like to know how to acquire this magic feeling that makes one want to write.