THE Group for Authors! discussion

Do you have a writing plan before you start writing or just bang away until the steam runs out? I tend not to have a plan beyond the current chapter - and I never write the plan down - how is it for you?

I know the overall storyline for my series and broadly what I want to accomplish in each book. I'm only a plotter to the extent I need to be. While I don't map out each chapter, I do have the historical timeline, species data, etc. worked out and written down. But I need those to prevent inconsistencies in the story.

I always plot it out extensively.

I plan. Sometimes the story will change but I still like a plan. I think it helps prevent procrastination.

For the project that I am working on now, I have planned the direction of the story, what my characters are like, and what I wish to say thematically. I am allowing myself to free-lance during the chapter writing. I know that ideas will come to me over time that will probably cause me to make changes in my plan. Hopefully, what I end up writing will be better than what I planned.

Lee wrote: "I always plot it out extensively."

What is your main reason for plotting extensively?

Alp wrote: "Lee wrote: "I always plot it out extensively."

What is your main reason for plotting extensively?"

Most importantly it's what works best for me. Also if I'm exactly aware of what's coming up, it's easier to put in things that set it up early.

Alp wrote: "Do you have a writing plan before you start writing or just bang away until the steam runs out?"

For the longest time, I would get an idea and just run with it. If it didn't pan out, I left the story to rot away in a folder somewhere. However, when I started seriously trying to write a novel manuscript, I realized that I HAD to plot. Now I tend to have a much better idea of the beginning and end, at least, and it has helped my ability to finish stories tremendously.

I'm an 'into the mist' writer. I get my main characters, theme, setting, and general plot and conflicts worked out in my mind before I begin. Then I let my characters take over and show me the way home. Sometimes I get stuck for awhile, usually when I want them to do something they don't want to do, and sometimes I have to go back and add something when its significance is revealed. I don't do extensive plotting because the 'mist' writing is my 'carrot.' I need the excitement of discovery to motivate me to keep writing.

I have a general idea of the plot arc. I generally visualize scenes and let the characters choose their own directions on the first draft. By the third, I'm in charge and tighten things up.M L Carr

On my first book, I simply started writing. Within me, contained ideas begging to be expressed. It wasn't until at least a third of my way through the finished story, that I had the entire storyline in mind. It just meant me reworking the front end of the story. This story just seemed to write it self. Later in the story, as the ideas came to mind, I'd jot it down and consider it.

I'm currently writing my second manuscript. I've created a simple plot and plan but, am finding it being modified as the story progresses. Cheers. Paul

Helen wrote: "I'm an 'into the mist' writer. I get my main characters, theme, setting, and general plot and conflicts worked out in my mind before I begin. Then I let my characters take over and show me the way ..."

I tend to write much like you describe and though it means the occasional hiccough to fix an inconsistency, I much prefer not to know exactly where the story is going; often not having the end until the epilogue is written. There's an element of deus ex machina about it I suppose.

Thanks

Lee wrote: "Alp wrote: "Lee wrote: "I always plot it out extensively."

What is your main reason for plotting extensively?"

Most importantly it's what works best for me. Also if I'm exactly aware of what's c..."

Set up is a really good point.

I too let the story takes its course, deviate from my pre-established plan. Sometimes doing some research on an item opens up an interesting new path for the characters or the story line to take. You have to be flexible and ready to adapt the story to the direction your characters want to take it - that's when they become flesh and blood!

Fusty wrote: "I write little until my characters start to chat. I tried a plan but the characters wouldn't stick to the script. Seat-of-the-pants writing.
I'm a visual artist. That's how I make my living. I just..."

I couldn't agree more ... there are some I wish mine would not use quiet so often!

I have to plot ahead because I'll wander around and lose focus of the conflict. It helps to also make sure events make some realistic sense.

I plot out everything I write. I do the timeline, plot outline, characters, settings, word count target and research before I ever start writing. I usually have a binder full of info, including Chapter outlines. I write contemporary fiction (Romance and Horror). I have to know where the plot is going and how it's ending, before I start writing.

Fusty wrote: "I tried the snowflake method -sounds like a form of contraception - and it didn't produce ..."

is that the same as the fractal method?

Fusty wrote: "Alp wrote: "Fusty wrote: "I write little until my characters start to chat. I tried a plan but the characters wouldn't stick to the script. Seat-of-the-pants writing.
I'm a visual artist. That's ho..."

2000 words without dialogue - I would have a hernia ... did you introduce them to each other properly - you know what people, especially the British, are like ...

Christine wrote: "I plot out everything I write. I do the timeline, plot outline, characters, settings, word count target and research before I ever start writing. I usually have a binder full of info, including Cha..."

I would do it that way but the story doesn't unfold until I start - then I can't stop writing - it's frantic and prone to risk but it seems, for me, there is no other way. That said, I am having to construct a family tree of the characters in my latest story because there are too many of them - though it wouldn't be the first time that I switched a character around or even had them change genders

I agree. You have to let the characters take over and play out the plot. You do need to however an overall view of where you want to go with your story, but you also have to allow for interesting subplots to develop - which for me only happens as I write, do more research and develop the characters. It is all a lot of fun, I think!

I tend to agree with Christine. For my romance books I use seperate sheets on Excel to prepare the plot, characters, timeline and word count, and then I start writing. This helps to be consistent with peoples' names, ages and simple things like hair colouring. I write seperate chapters until I finish writing, and then I amalgamate into the MS before editing, and rewriting.

There is a general plan and detailed plan, and I think that to continue writing and reading in general is that will help in the development of the detailed plan

Alp wrote: "Helen wrote: "I'm an 'into the mist' writer. I get my main characters, theme, setting, and general plot and conflicts worked out in my mind before I begin. Then I let my characters take over and sh..."

I like that attitude. For me it is often as exciting to create/discover new parts of the plot while writing, as when a reader races through the book.

Although I do have a general plot in mind before starting to write, the plot grows and develops along with the book.

For me, any other way, such as having a very detailed outline prepared ahead of actual writing would dim the excitement and a feeling of discovery.

It's a great feeling to discover the characters and we also write it, it tells about the same time in which we are planning to write ...

I think a lot depends on genre. I write thrillers which usually have a twist or two and you really do have to plan to make that kind of thing work effectively. So yes, I plan. I do a chapter by chapter outline and then set about writing. The concept is something which comes very easily to me and I have a lot of concepts knocking around unwritten. Getting a compelling though line is the difficult bit for me, and until I have it, I don't write a single word.

I think perhaps if I wrote in a different genre such as romance, then I would be more inclined to just run with it and see where it takes me.

I think we all plan or plot the story to a certain extent. We have a start point and we have an idea of the end point, and often we have a similar intention to hit specific events on the way. This is a sort of skeleton version of the path that the story will follow. But then as you write things may veer from the path you expect. And although it does depend on what kind of story you are writing, whether you pull the characters and events back on to your original path, or whether you let them take you where they will is part of the adventure of creativity.

I usually have a vague plot planned, but as soon as I start writing the plot deepens and twists seem to appear. I just roll with the punches and see where my imagination takes me. That's the lovely part about writing; never knowing what your mind comes up with.

I think that the review after the time of the latest type it is a new planning, we fix the text.
Because we may change a lot of things.