When You Begin A New Story...

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

Just because I'm curious about how other writer brainnnnsssss work...

1. When you start a new book what comes to you first? For example: plot, character(s), a snippet scene, the ending...?

2. When you start the new book how much of the story have you figured out?

3. When do you figure out the ending? Do you figure it out right off, as you go along or when you get to it?

4. Aside from Butt-in-Chair(tm) what is/are the most helpful things that get you from the beginning to the end of your book? Something like knowing the end or knowing one or more major points?

Comments

[yumenohogosha.livejournal.com]

1. I often come up with a scenario or a snippet and then build up around that.

2. VERY little.

3. I rarely get as far as the ending. I know, I'm terrible! But, when I'm getting towards the end I start thinking about possible endings. Sadly, most of my stories decide to become one in a series and so the endings I write are usually 'false'.

4. A time limit? That usually works for me...okay, I lie but it does get me writing a little bit. I also like to surround myself with mixed media-drawings, films, music, etc-to inspire me.

[demonlord-lover.livejournal.com]

Pictures help me too. I scoured the net and found lots of dragon pictures to give me inspiration for my recent story.

I've discovered I'm a plotter

[artsyprincess.livejournal.com]

1. It's been different for each manuscript I've worked on so far, sometimes plot, sometimes scene snippets, sometimes character...

2. On the first two manuscripts, I was basically a pantser and they both failed miserable. On my current WIP, I started with a detailed 22,000 word outline that went from beginning to end. This one's working for me. I think I've finally found my writing method.

3. For my WIP I figured it out before I started actually writing out chapter I. For my other two manuscripts...the ending still isn't figured out...and they're collecting dust.

4. I love the progress charts on NaNo, and someone sent me an excel spreadsheet that will chart your daily progress. All you have to do is type in how long you wrote, how many words you wrote, etc. and it charts your productivity and compares it to previous days. There's something about seeing that bar graph increase that keeps me going. As far as plotting the whole thing, I tried to have three to four major plot points to work toward and build the story around...it's a romantic suspense novel, so those were the big surprises.

Re: I've discovered I'm a plotter

[demonlord-lover.livejournal.com]

I admire the dedication it takes to write out an outline and actually stick to it. I tried it for three stories, but I ended up hating it and reverted to being a 'pantser.' I think a lot of it has to do with how your mind works. I tend to be scatterbrained. :)

Re: I've discovered I'm a plotter

[artsyprincess.livejournal.com]

It definitely varies from person to person. You just have to do what works for you.

[demonlord-lover.livejournal.com]

1. Characters come to me first. I build stories around characters, with the plot driven by characterization. I enjoy interaction and dialogue much more than in-depth descriptions of scenery or the like.

2. Dreams fuel my stories from start to finish. Whether they be nocturnal or daydreams, I 'see' the story I want to tell. More often than not, after I begin a story, I even begin to see the words in my mind's eye, scrolling across my consiousness until I get them down. I've usually got the beginning figured out and also know where I want the characters to be at the end. Aside from that, I just let it come to me scene to scene.

3. I know in what state-of-being I want the characters to exist, but let the ending figure itself out after the story.

4. Loving the characters.

[mythrana.livejournal.com]

1. I start with a character.

2. The start of my book usually starts with the history of the character and a tragedy.

3. I figure out the ending when my character tells me. ;-) Actually it is always a work in progress with me. Sometimes I have a faint idea of the ending but when my characters run away with the story the endings tend to change.

4. Brainstorming with friends. A lot of times while I am writing on one section I will be discussing plot ideas by instant messaging with friends.