I have a question for those of you who write fiction. Do you know who your characters are, what your story’s about, and how it’s going to unfold before you start writing it? Or do you just dive in blindly, start writing, and see what happens? In other words, do you write because there’s a story you want to tell, or do you come up with a story because you want to write?
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How much do you know before you start writing?13 comments to How much do you know before you start writing? |
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It depends. I don’t have a set approach to writing. And I never outline.
Sometimes I have just one character and develop a story around him or her.
Other times I have a story in mind and characters populate it as I write.
I never dive in blindly, but I’ve known those who do. For me, it seems too much writing (and time) gone to waste.
The best characters and stories (and parts of stories) are those which truly take on a life of their own. I know it’s a cliche, but the story really writes itself. You know it when it happens. Some people never get to that point with their writing, and it’s a shame.
For the most part, my writing is a stream of consciousness exercise that just starts with a title or subject. It keeps it interesting. For longer works, I’ll have a general outline and fill in the intervening verbiage as I go along. I save the minute planning for the day job (computer programming).
I usually have a small idea – a character, a basic plot or concept then I just dive in. Quite often I’m taken places I would never had thought had I sat down and plot it out
Sounds like you could use NaNoWriMo…at least if you want to wait for next November. http://www.nanowrimo.org/
I have a story and characters before I start writing, but nothing as specific as an outline. Once I start writing and have enough material to piece together, I might create a plot outline for myself just to see how to piece things together (I have, in the past few years, trained myself out of writing linearly). This is, of course subject to change. And inevitably, the story takes on a life of its own and things can change really rapidly.
I usually have a few scenes in my head. The characters just arrive fully formed. It’s weird.
A single phrase or sentence will pop to mind and form the kernel. It rolls around awhile, it gathers either moss or mass, and characters and situations evolve around it as it rolls. Usually as they’re being written. Eventually they begin to describe some sort of rudimentary arc, and things fall into place from there. It’s usually a surprise. I like surprises.
Most people have answered as I would. I create an outline after the fact adding to it as I finish each chapter. And like some of your other writer-readers I am often surprised by what the story and the characters create.
I have characters and see how they play together. Plot comes out of the people as they tell me who they are. Once they and I know what they’re about I can do the more detailed character profiles and the outline and timeline and bring all the research notes together. Write until I need to go back to storyframe or character and do tweaks or overhauls.
BOTH:)
i write a lot of ‘faction.’ Fiction based on non-fiction. Write what you know and then get creative….:)
Mostly everything I write – fiction and non-fiction is already fully formed in my head before I ever get to the keyboard. Then I just type it out. Then I go back and edit a few times to make things flow better or sound crisper or whatever. Are you planning a book?
Thanks for sharing this with me.
I love when I get to that place where my writing gathers momentum and the story writes itself. I find it more elusive with fiction though. I have a hard time starting and finishing.
I’m not planning a book or any piece of writing in particular. I just want to be a little more productive, writing wise, and I’m not sure how to go about it without a concrete idea to start with.
Ya, writing without ideas is tough. I would take the word “concrete” out of the equation, though — those kind of ideas don’t lend themselves well to writing. Go with more nebulous, fluid ideas and see what develops. And is there any reason you particularly want to write fiction if it’s not working right now? You’re very good at the non-fiction and/or opinion stuff, why not branch out in that area? And whatever happened to that short story contest you entered, speaking of fiction?