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One of the biggest problems I run into when I write is ideas: I know what I want, I'll have basic plot and characters worked out in my head, but I won't know how to work out the kinks, let it roll about in the old noggin-oley until smooth and workable. I try to get it down on paper, sometimes do some story-boarding, but usually whata happens is an icky mess of semi-related scenes.
Does anyone else go through this? And even if you don't, do you know any ways of turning raw material into literary gold?
posted
Ah, this is the single reason why I think about a story longer than I actually write it. For me, it just takes time and patience, putting myself in the heads of other characters. If I can't put my mind in there, then they aren't proper characters. Then, see how they solve things for themselves.
Posts: 58 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Do you mean that your problem is getting ideas to fit into a regular plot structure, or that you have trouble thinking of story ideas, or what?
Posts: 8322 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Hi! I have the same problem sometimes... For my novel, it's been particularly difficult because I'm not outlining the whole thing. I've gone through the world creation process (30 pages of notes!) and have really worked through the central conflict. I also have worked through some key points/scenes. But all the scenes that link up to those Key events are TBA.
The flip of that though, is that heavy outlining kills my interest. Part of the fun for me in writing is discovering, like the reader, what happens next. So with keeping my eye on Key events, I just let the story flow. I've put a lot of effort into understanding the conflict and have thrown my characters (equally fleshed out) at the conflict. I'm discovering how the characters react to the conflict, even as I subtly manuever them towards my Key events.
Hope that helps some... and if not, that it at least makes sense!
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Depending on how long the story is dictates how involved my outline is. With a very short story I just have a beginning, middle and end. I put down a few points in each that I think are important to the plot development and away I go. With a longer story there are more points to make so my outline is more involved. I also have found out that my characters tend to change the outline a bit when they take over the direction of the action. I think I want them to so one thing and they say "Hey let's go do this!!" Thank God for cut and paste
As I work on my novel I have an overall view in my head but I only outline a few chapters at a time and this actually helps me come up with the ideas themselves. I was pleasantly surprised when this happened.
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If you REALLY want to make it easy, find a writing buddy that you work well with and try creating a world together. Through arguments and tons of shooting ideas at point blank, you'll create some amazing stuff.
Posts: 58 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
the easist way for me is to do all my smaller scenes and then figure out a way to transition from one scene to another. The isn't always an easy way to, but I have found that if I worry too much on the writing about how we started in Bob's living room and the next scene he is at work, then I end up putting the story down indefinately, becuase I can't always come up with convincing scenes to make the two connect.
I have noticed with authors who are published and who I enjoy reading, that they don't always show scenes with bob going from his living room to the office either.
On the other hand, it is important to make sure that you tell the reader what happened if the reason he was standing in his apartment was because he was waiting for someone, and the person wasn't part of the transition.. maybe in someone asking him how it went or some such.
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