What System Do You Use When Writing?

[Luce]

Subject - I'm a dreamer so subjects constantly come into my head.
              Sometimes, one of them begins to grow. That's a keeper.

Plot      - When the subject starts its life, the plot does also.
              I write down a flow of events which I try to stick to during the writing.

Characters - Only the main characters are outlined but often too shady, which brings me into
                   trouble later.
                   All characters need to be clearly portrayed, their personality, their plusses and
                   minusses, their life history.
                   I learned to write them down but to me that is still the hardest part of the writing.

Time Table - You need to establish what happens and when - in a structured table.
                   This table shows the events arranged simultaneously. What happens to X when Y
                   is born? At the same moment A marries and B dies. That sort of thing.
                   Very necessary as not to lose the thread and muddle up facts and events.

Chapter Index - Make a list of your chapters and summarize what happens in each chapter.
                        Again, that way you don't lose the thread of the story.

Actual Writing - With my chapter list, I just start writing and normally, inspiration leads me on.


I'd like to hear about your methods, fellow writers!       
             

[Genie]

I'm sure you know my approach and preparation.  None.

But then, unlike you, I am writing to a focused audience that already knows my characters.  No sketching is needed there except a small amount so the story could stand on it's own.

As I've said, I have no route that I follow. I do not know what or where the story will go tomorrow, only where I want it to end.  I have a vague idea of the main plot.

In this book I am writing now, I am finding my old way not good enough.  There plot is weak. I'm thinking my plot may go to a subplot.

Yesterday, I tried writing a storyboard. I found that too difficult, but I am not going to give up this easily. I'm not sure I like having the whole idea laid out before me. I think that might hamper my creativity, but nothing has been proven to me yet.

I don't know how I am going to teach two classes, the ideas that I haven't even done.  If my subject and his/her domain and cannon were not always the same, such as your writing, Luce, I think I would need to do what you do. I could write about John and Magaret all day, but there are only so many things they can do and it still be plausible.  I'm still doing it for the love, so if I have exhausted new ideas with these two, I don't think I'll be disappointed to stop writing.  Although, I do feel like I would like to try another character, just once.

[Luce]

Genie, you know I hadn't written in English before I joined PD.
The idea of writing fan fiction seemed a bit laughable to me at first.
I was drawn to John Thornton from the start - no, scratch that - I was smitten with him!
That made it easy to imagine stories about him. My N&S fan fics were a delight to write.

Then, I brushed up on my other PD, Jane Eyre, Persuasion, P & P. I knew them from TV, of course, but I only enjoyed watching them, that was all.

Suddenly, it became fun to write fan fic about them, also.

Genie, I think you're more than ready to try your hand at some other PD characters.
I'd love to see what you can concoct on Rochester, Wentworth, Darcy or Knightley.

[Genie]

That's kind of you to have that confidence in me.

If I go away from NS, I'm going far away.  I consistently feel like I want to stick something modern in the story, like a cellphone or a plane or whatever.

[blueeyedbookworm]

This is such an interesting question, Luce! I'm going to see if I can quantify this a little...

Like you, I tend to have a few ideas bouncing around in my head, and when I feel passionately enough about one of them and if that idea feels solid enough to work with, I start writing. Until recently, that meant just diving in and hoping for the best, letting my characters do what they would. Lately, I've started doing outlines, and it really seems to be the way to go, at least for me. I tend to get stuck and discouraged if I don't plan it out at least to some extent, and it lets me make better use of foreshadowing and twists if I know where I'm going from the beginning. I'm finding that I need more direction than just a good beginning and a vague idea of an outcome.
So once I'm at that stage, I make a preliminary "cast list" of sorts--I try to plan out the main characters as much as I can (leaving some room for them to develop personalities on their own), and start with a bare-bones plot line, building it up little by little.
Once I feel I have enough to work with, I start writing, and I let any gaps in the plot fill themselves in as they will. I can't go the outlining route entirely, at least not yet--I like to give the plot some breathing room, since a lot of things, especially smaller details, don't occur to me until I actually jump in and start writing.
In short, my process is still developing--but the mixture of structure and freedom that I'm currently using seems to be working out quite well for me at the moment.

Genie, I agree with Luce--I think you won't have any problems branching out in the future. You should try your hand at a modern romance--you'd do a wonderful job; I have no doubt!

[Genie]

Kat, I liked the way you plan yours out.  Yes, you have to have that breathing room, as you cannot have the whole novel in your head.  As you write, other things come to you that would fit well in particular areas.  If I get away from J & M (I still have an idea or two left), I will find I have to develop some plan of attack.  I've just always been able to FEEL John and Margaret - but with anything else, it will be entirely different away from them.

[blueeyedbookworm]

Thanks! Like I say, it's a process, but it's a fun one, at least to me 

I think I know what you mean about being able to get a good feel for J and M. It's easy to get a good sense of who they are via the N&S movie, and it's lots of fun to take that knowledge and imagine more possibilities for them. Do you think that, in the future, you'll be able to achieve that sense of familiarity and closeness with characters completely of your own making? Or would you take a different approach to it?

[Genie]

Do you think that, in the future, you'll be able to achieve that sense of familiarity and closeness with characters completely of your own making? Or would you take a different approach to it?

That's a good question.

It would be my belief that once I achieved a good character, I would probably stick with that one - at least run it to ground. I would get inside their skin and know them well enough to continue for a few books.

How about you?  What are you working on that you haven't mentioned? 

[blueeyedbookworm]

That seems like a good plan - it would be really interesting to develop a character as much as possible and take them to their full potential! I ought to try that at some point--I tend to bounce around a lot.

I'm actually working on a Regency-era romance at the moment, with my own characters this time. I liked the idea of a main character who fights against society's expectations of her, since that seems rare for that time period, at least to the extent I want to take it. She knows how to fence and do all sorts of "boyish" things, thanks to her male best friend. The main thrust of the story will be that she chooses to masquerade as a boy and goes to London for a while with her friend in order to keep her father from marrying her off. I'm trying not to make it too farfetched...we'll see how that works out  I like the idea, though, so I'm going with it for now and seeing what happens.

[Luce]

That seems like a good plan - it would be really interesting to develop a character as much as possible and take them to their full potential! I ought to try that at some point--I tend to bounce around a lot.

I'm actually working on a Regency-era romance at the moment, with my own characters this time. I liked the idea of a main character who fights against society's expectations of her, since that seems rare for that time period, at least to the extent I want to take it. She knows how to fence and do all sorts of "boyish" things, thanks to her male best friend. The main thrust of the story will be that she chooses to masquerade as a boy and goes to London for a while with her friend in order to keep her father from marrying her off. I'm trying not to make it too farfetched...we'll see how that works out  I like the idea, though, so I'm going with it for now and seeing what happens.

Oooohhh! Kat, I'm very curious about that, sound's great. I'd like to read, please?

[blueeyedbookworm]

Thanks, Luce! And I'd love to have you read it, of course! I only have about ten pages' worth at this point, but if you want, I'll send you an excerpt when I have more done :D

[Luce]

Thanks, Luce! And I'd love to have you read it, of course! I only have about ten pages' worth at this point, but if you want, I'll send you an excerpt when I have more done :D

Oh, please, do! I'll send you my personal email address in a PM.

[Genie]

Kat, I love the idea of the story, already.

To keep from being married off, is an excellent angle.

I'll read, too, if you want another opinion.

[blueeyedbookworm]

Kat, I love the idea of the story, already.

To keep from being married off, is an excellent angle.

I'll read, too, if you want another opinion.

Thanks, Genie! I'd be happy to send you the story as well, if you'd like, once I have something worth sending. I've just started the actual writing process (I've outlined it...mostly.  ), and I'm already having a great time with it!

[Genie]

Kat, I love the idea of the story, already.

To keep from being married off, is an excellent angle.

I'll read, too, if you want another opinion.

Thanks, Genie! I'd be happy to send you the story as well, if you'd like, once I have something worth sending. I've just started the actual writing process (I've outlined it...mostly.  ), and I'm already having a great time with it!

We'll be here.