Starting Out

[MGM]

Hello everyone,

So I've decided to try my hand at writing my first novel (yay!)

I've always enjoyed writing, and the art of storytelling, although never the most avid reader. My path has always veered to more visual mediums and as a visual artist by trade I guess that makes sense.

But now, having tried my hand in film, I've decided to free myself and run with my imagination. Budget and achievability wont stop me now!

I have an idea and have been working hard to flesh it out. I have found building up the backstory has really helped to drive the main narrative forward in my head.

I'm at the point where I feel like I know my main characters at what drives them. And where they stand in the world when we first meet them.

However, I haven't been able to bring myself to a conclusion.

Is it best to work this out before I begin to write properly so I have a goal to drive towards. Or in this case is it better to let the story develop organically and lead the way as I discover it.

Any advice will be really appreciated.

I have pitched my idea to friends as a collision of Game of Thrones, Stargate, and the graphic novel Outcast.

I'm excited to become part of this community.

M

 

[Vaz]

Hey mgm, welcome to the Chrons.

First off I would recommend reading Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer its a really great guide for anyone who's creative, covering all the technical aspects of writing from POV to narrative structure.

My second piece of advice would be to just write. I know, it doesn't sound like much but that's how you'll find out what kind of writer you are - planner or panster. The story may come to you naturally as you write it, and if it doesn't you can always go back and plan things out to see which approach works out best for you.

v

 

[Jackie Bee]

Welcome to the forum
As for your question, I personally believe it's good to have a general idea of what's going to happen at the end of the book. That way I feel more confident I won't get stuck half way through. But it's a planner/pantser thing, so you'll need to figure out what works for you...

 

[Venusian Broon]

Is it best to work this out before I begin to write properly so I have a goal to drive towards. Or in this case is it better to let the story develop organically and lead the way as I discover it.

Hi mgmstudios!

Good to see you are excited and full of energy about getting that novel written - be warned you'll need loads of the stuff to get to the end!

As for being a plotter or a pantser - the eternal debate on writer's forums - it is purely an individual choice. That you seem to be procrastinating a bit after you have all the background material, might suggest you would be more comfortable with a conclusion. So perhaps you are a plotter. Try and tie up the whole book with a plot and a conclusion with a bit more thought...but remember, the story is not set in stone and you can change anything at any time (even after it's been published, I suppose).

On the other hand maybe just getting started and cracking out a first draft by the seat of your pants will make you, as part of the process, develop an end?

I'd suggest pick the way or method that you feel most comfortable with, then get started ASAP!

Personally I need an end of some sort, then I plot out each scene I think I need, which then either mutate into chapters or bits of chapters when I expand them out. Sort of a plot skeleton of sorts.

 

[tinkerdan]

Welcome to Chrons.

As I've always said (and to some I might sound like a broken record) having a great idea is okay; but it won't pan out well without well fleshed out characters that will drive the story.

I don't think it hurts to have a notion of how things should end. But going back up to my first declaration you want to follow the advice already given and start writing; because you just don't know where a well fleshed out and believable character is going to drive the story. Expect some surprises.

There are a lot of pantsers and there might be an equal number of planners. However if you have a lot of this in your head, even if you look like a pantser you are likely a planner whether you like it or not. And it sounds like you do have a lot in your head.

You really need to start getting it on paper and even then you could end up like me; writing 400 pages of narrative and then putting it aside for twenty years. So yes get to work. But listen to the characters as they get fleshed out and respect what they have to say about that great idea you have.

Keep writing.

 

[BionicGriff]

Personally I need an end of some sort, then I plot out each scene I think I need, which then either mutate into chapters or bits of chapters when I expand them out. Sort of a plot skeleton of sorts.

This is basically the route I found myself taking as I've just started toying around with writing, glad I've stumbled upon a somewhat established method, rather then charging into what could ultimately be a chaotic mess.

 

[MGM]

Thank you all for your words of wisdom.

I'm realising there is no right or wrong way to go about this but learning from others experience is always helpful.

Looking forward to a writing session over the weekend

 

[Stephen Palmer]

There is no right or wrong way, but the wrong way can sometimes be right.

 

[goldhawk]

Welcome to Chrons.

Part of learning to write is learning what works for you and what doesn't. You're going to get a lot of advice and some of it will not work out for you. Keep experimenting until you find your style.

Stories can be roughly divide into two categories: action oriented and character oriented (although good stories have both). If your storytelling is action oriented, I would recommend plotting it first (plotter). If you're character oriented, then try write-as-you-go (pantser).

 

[Brian G Turner]

Is it best to work this out before I begin to write properly

Welcome to the chrons forums - and don't worry about this part, as the writing process can reveal hidden directions and depths to a story. I doubt many here have completed a major writing project without having had surprises thrown up at them during that process.

One thing, though - your username belongs to an established company, and is probably trademarked. Better if we get your username changed to something that won't invite letters from corporate brand-protection laywers. PM me here: https://www.sffchronicles.com/conversations/add

 

[MemoryTale]

Hi MGM, and welcome to the Chrons.

As everyone has said, whether to plot or pants your way through has been the eternal debate. It sounds from your opening post that you're more suited to plotting, so here's a couple of ideas to find your conclusion:

Think of your main character(s). What do they want to achieve? What sort of things will they have to go through in the course of your plot to achieve them? Will they ultimately succeed, and what will it cost them?

Second bit of planning I find helpful is to write summaries of what I want to happen in each chapter. It plots out a more defined course from a to b, and as a bonus lets me know roughly how long the thing will be. Of course details are always subject to change once the pants kick in.

And finally good luck with your writing!

 

[The Big Peat]

I think the correct answer to plotting or pantsing is whatever helps you find out whatever the story is really truly about at its heart the quickest. Some authors talk about writing the first 10-20k as quick as possible to get a feel for the story. Others recommend really rigorous planning. Me... so far I've found I work best when pantsing those 10-20k and then plotting, but we'll see how it works out long term.

The real best thing though is talking about the idea with someone. The more you talk to people, the more you learn which of your ideas needs explaining, which ones they pick up on straight away, which ones they want to hear more and more about. I guess most writers get that from their beta readers after the first draft but I think there's something to be said for doing it before you even start writing.

 

[zmunkz]

Welcome, both to the forum and to the adventure

As others have said, much of this is personal and changes from person to person. You will quickly learn there are no rules, and what works for one person is creative quicksand to another. The best thing to do is try a few styles and see what keeps you most excited.

I highly suggest checking out Brandon Sanderson's YouTube lectures (recorded from his writing class at BYU) -- or in particular, this longer one from a session at JordonCon where he goes over different methods of plotting. Really helpful stuff.

 

[Vladd67]

There is no right or wrong way, but the wrong way can sometimes be right.

Do you moonlight writing for fortune cookies?

 

[Susan Boulton]

Welcome;
Just write. Get what is in your head down. If you feel you need to plot something out, do it. If you don't, don't. Research or don't research. Just get the words down. That is the most important thing. Don't worry about doing it, "right", just tell your story to begin with.
It was one of the worst things to happen to me. I got to a stage where I allowed others to tell me what I needed to do in the first part of writing a story. It killed my imagination dead. It has taken me a long time to regain the confidence that I should at first just write it out, warts and all.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Do you moonlight writing for fortune cookies?

Moonlight is sunlight without the bluster.

 

[TWErvin2]

I try to have an idea of an ending, but through the process of writing the novel, it can alter. That said, there isn't a single 'right' way to write a novel. There are many who sit down and just write without having a specific ending in mind.

You can always start and the ending may come to you early on as you put your imagined story to words.

 

[K.S. Crooks]

For myself there are five key things I have found that help me create an outline.

1) What is the goal. Am I creating a new world, new scenario. What about the situation I’m writing about needs to be explained.

2) Describing characters appearances, showing their personalities, the relationships they have with each other, what do they do for a living, etc. Comparable to a how a real person gets introduced to a different family or the first few times.

3) Where are the characters mentally, emotionally and physically (their location) at the beginning of the story. Where do you want them to be in all of these areas at the end of the story? How will they make it to where you want them to go and how long should it take?

4) What are the obstacles you want the characters to have, whether they be physical, mental or emotional.

5) Using a map. When I create a new fantasy world, I need to know where places are located. For this I make my own map of that world. If my story is set in the real world then I would use a real map. If a character lives in Paris France and is travelling by horse or car to Madrid Spain then the map tells you what to write in terms of the route they take, places they may visit or location to have encounters. A map helps the story write itself.

I set these up in one or two tables. I then state what I want to happen in the first 4 or 5 chapters to start. As needed I add what I want the following chapters to involve.

I see writing a story like going on a road trip. I need to know where I'm (or my characters) are starting, where they will end up and some things they will do during the trip. I like to know the major events of my story, but the times between or what happens while the characters go from one location to another are written in the moment. Writing this way for me prevents writer's block. There is still the occasion where I don't know what to write for a section of the story, but I have the option to leave it and write the next section and go back after because I know where the story is going. I never have weeks of not knowing what to write. I often have the opposite feeling, like I'm holding my characters back because I don't write fast enough or set aside enough time for my story. The point is to figure out what works for you and keep the writing fun. Hope you have a wonderful time creating your world.

 

[Steven Sorrels]

Greetings, MGM!

I would say how you choose to go about it is entirely up to you (I know, super helpful, yes?) But I agree with most of what has been said above. Consider your options (planner vs. panster) and go with what feels intuitively more comfortable. If you start writing by the pants and discover you quickly lose the thread, then go back and add more structure to your guide. Write out mini-monologues of your main characters speaking as if they were alone. Dive into their minds and allow them to establish and reinforce your understanding of their various character quirks and flaws. A well-written story with boring characters is and will forever be a boring story, sad to say.

If the very thought of simply diving in headfirst makes you queasy, then I would suggest that you are most likely a planner by nature. That's a-ok as well. Build your plot framework as much as you need and build off of that scaffolding, but don't be afraid to let the story grow organically. Some of the best developments in tales are the ones we don't see coming, but know in our hearts make perfect sense when we see them.

Either path has their own benefits and pitfalls. It's up to you to decide which path is the easier to pursue. Good luck!

 

[Stable]

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your writing! I'm interested in how well your film experience translates to stories on the page.