Thread: Getting started....

Hello all,

I've been a member of the forum for a while, and love to read everyone's posts. I've found a lot of the advice on here incredibly useful, but haven't yet started a thread myself (apart from an introduction when I joined). If this is covered in another thread, I do apologise, and hope to be pointed in the right direction.

At the moment, all of the prose I write is very disjointed. I don't have a lot of confidence in my own writing, so am always reluctant to let anyone read it (not very constructive, I know), but I'm building up to writing something longer, and hopefully with a lot more structure than I have managed so far. I wouldn't be so bold as to say that I'm going to attempt a novel just yet (although I hope to one day), but, at the moment, am simply aiming for something with a narrative stretching over the 1,000 word mark before I dry up and lose all faith.

My question is this: what methods of planning do you employ, if any, prior to the actual writing? I've heard of people using cue cards to cover all aspects of plot, characterisation etc., and having them mapped out in detail first of all. I know someone who uses this technique and who covers one wall of their study with the cards and uses them as a framework to prompt them as they write, attributing approximately 1,000 words per card. I'm wondering whether this kind of meticulous and disciplined planning might help me.

Does anyone have any similar suggestions, or thoughts on the effectiveness of this kind of planning? I know it's an entirely personal thing, and that I really should just get on with the writing, but I'm really hoping to find my own way of keeping momentum...

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

What I'm trying on my current writing project is to plot none of the plot but the beginning point and the end point. Then, create the world in depth, and create characters that I think will allow the plot to reach the end point. My goal is to make the details of the world as in depth as possible before I begin writing. The theory is that if I define the character's enough, all I'll have to do is think "what would ___ do?" before plotting out and writing what they do, which should create an intriguing story, and a unique writing style based on character actions-allowing them to do whatever they want as long as they reach the end point of the story, if this makes sense...

You hit the nail on the head when you said "I know it's an entirely personal thing..."
It is a subject that has been covered many times and everyone has their own preference. If it works for the person then no answer is wrong - at least for them.
Some people just "flow", getting idea after idea that continues the flow of a draft to completion.
Others just sit staring numbly at the screen wondering if they will get anything down at all. I have both types of days.

I used to want to be published and that is what I had in mind when I wrote but found out it was the wrong motivation.
What I wrote was junk, about subjects that didn't interest me in the slightest.
I found that when I rediscovered my love for words and writing, things began to flow.
If you don't write for trends in the market and instead write about subjects you love and care about, it is enough to see you to the end of any project you set out to do.
That is the only advice I can give - to actually write about things that affect you.

I have books that I just write into without any planning. They just seem to flow and new ideas come. You can catch any plot holes or anything you forgot at the editing stage.
Other times, I actually outline, not for any other reason except that I think that particular book needs it maybe through complexity.
I call any book I write "NAME - Rough Draft". It allows me to write anything down to get the flow going without worrying about getting things right first time. That is after all I believe the main thing, getting the words onto paper.

I forget who it was but some writer once said "You get about 6 - 12 months to get from idea to finished draft, after that the mind wanders to another project and it is gone."
It might be different for other people, but I have found it to be true.

Find something that works for you, everyone is different and just get the words down.
You will probably find yourself using different systems for different things.

For me, the fun is all in the writing. I'd suggest not getting too caught up with the planning, especially if you're feeling any amount of trepidation. You might find that you're unconsciously postponing the act of writing your book or story.

I'm working on my very first book. At first, I didn't know how to get started, but finally realized that I had to take off my shoes and just jump in. I gained more confidence as I continued writing for a bit, and then stopped to take inventory and plan out the book. As it turned out, where I started writing is now the middle of Chapter 3!

So I guess I'm saying that you should start at a good point—write out a scene you have in your head, and don't worry how the story ultimately starts and ends. You'll figure it out once you stop to study what you've written. Don't keep putting off—jump in! (Splash!)

Hi Megaphonic

I don't have a lot of confidence in my own writing, so am always reluctant to let anyone read it

To begin with I think your writing (given this short example here) is technically sound. Spelling, punctuation, grammar; there's even a correct use of a colon in there.

It's always difficult to let go of your work for the first time, expecting it to be ripped apart and being unsure about whether you'll handle the criticism. My advice is just go for it. Take the plunge, because otherwise you'll never know. The criticism you'll receive on this site will be constructive, though at times it may be blunt, or contradict that of others. You'll get a feel for which pieces of advice to heed, and which to ignore. But remember the critiques are the thoughts of the most important people: your readers.

Regarding the planning; if you're writing something as short as a thousand words, detailed planning may not be necessary, more an outline of what happens; where you want to end the story, and how to get there from the beginning. I've been writing mainly short stories in the past twelve months and haven't used an outline at all. I'm working on a novella at the moment, which will finish at around 18-20,000 words, and all I've used is a notebook for some notes before starting the thing, and a timeline to help keep track of the sequence of events, as the story is told in a non-linear fashion.

For a novel I've got planned I will use character cards, and outline each chapter, but I think that is all. Fantasy writers will possibly do more planning if their story is set in a different world, but that might be a whole new thread.

Good luck, and be sure to post some of your work.

Scott

Originally Posted by Bilston Blue

Hi Megaphonic




For a novel I've got planned I will use character cards, and outline each chapter, but I think that is all. Fantasy writers will possibly do more planning if their story is set in a different world, but that might be a whole new thread.

Good luck, and be sure to post some of your work.

Scott

Fantasy/sci-fi preparation includes worldbuilding, in which you build a world. somebody here posted a link to a website with links to other websites covering all aspects of World Buiding. It is here in case you want to check it out...hope that clears that thing up?

When you are just starting, write. Most of my early writing was bland most of the time, and nothing I would show anyone today. Still, you have to start, and keep working at it and it will improve. Anything you practice long enough you will gain some skill at. Might not happen in a few days, but over a few months you should see improvements. Do writing challenges that just require writing based on some form of a trigger. There isn't a lot of prep needed, you just come up with something and then write.

Beginning is hard, sticking with it is hard, but the results are highly gratifying.

Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement, everyone. I think the need to just 'jump in' and stop worrying about the planning and the success of the outcome is key here (and when I say success, I mean creative success, which is my main concern, first and foremost).

Hopefully, with a bit more actual writing, and a little less thinking about writing, my confidence will grow and I'll find my rhythm.

Thanks again x

Originally Posted by Megaphonic

At the moment, all of the prose I write is very disjointed. I don't have a lot of confidence in my own writing, so am always reluctant to let anyone read it (not very constructive, I know),

The thought of people reading your work and finding fault with it can be stifling. Understand that what you're writing is just a draft, right up until the point when you consider it finished. It's okay for drafts not to be perfect. Write it first. Perfect it afterwards. You can afford to let people read your second draft, and the feedback may help.

I like to write out a list of the story's scenes with a short description of what is supposed to happen in each. The list is intended to be exhaustive -- I try to think of every necessary scene -- but the descriptions typically are not. I leave room for discovery writing. I find it necessary to at least develop some sort of outline because, especially for longer works, having occasional points of reference (to reorient yourself during the course of writing) is an invaluable time-saver. Longer works of fiction have a habit of sprawling out of control, at least in my experience. So if you do a lot of preparatory work up front, I think it will help your chances of finishing what you start. Because the road ahead is paved with the broken down, abandoned novels of a whole lot of aspiring writers.

I have just recently started writing short 1000 word stories for my blog. For years I had been trying to find ways to fill my blog with news without really doing it myself. Then I just sat down and started writing. Placing it in a fictional setting and using dialogue really helped. During a morning walk I may get an idea for something and then just start writing about it. Usually I don't have any idea what direction it will take or where it will end. The characters just take it over and it goes where it will. At around 1000 words I am done. The next day I write on another subject or maybe follow up with another short story. I will probably never write a novel but I'm sure glad I started writing what I can.

I started writing just to see if I could. I always liked to think about what I would want to write about, but never actually did. One night I just wrote in point form what the main things I wanted to happen. It kind of just went from there. I wrote 5 chapters before long and had my best friend read it, thinking she would love it as much as me. I tried to sit queitly while she went over it. When she was done I asked her "How was it? Did it give you that feeling? You know when he was about to kiss her?" (We're both big on romance books.) Anyway she just looked down at the floor and shook her head. I was a little upset but asked her why. She said I was just telling what was happening. I wasn't writing how my character was feeling. No sweaty palms, racing heartbeat, nervous eye twitches (things like that.) It hurt at first, but it changed how I wrote from then on. I think it's good to let someone look at your work. Don't be scared, don't think you're not good enough. Believe in yourself and if it's not perfect at first, just keep trying... you'll be surprised with what you can do with strong will and determination to make it better.