Planning a book

[jeninflorida]

Okay, I did a quick scan but didn’t see a post about this topic.


When you sit down to write, what things to you think about? What notes will you jot down?

Guessing it’s been a couple of months but I was talking with a local author that’s pretty famous, think he has 22 books out. He said the first thing he does is create character outlines and notes. On average, he writes 50 pages about a character (mostly the main characters are this detailed) before he writes one word for a story.

For a character what things are important? Do you have a character sheet you use?

What other things should a writer think about before putting pen (or clicking keys/screen for the ipad writers)?

Thoughts?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I take notes from interesting material I read. You always want extraordinary deeds and action in your tale. You also want clarity, and crisp, brief examples of deeds and action are worth the effort to collect.

I mean, how do you depict complex personality syndromes when whole libraries are filled with books about the subject? What you do is find the perfect depiction that captures your subject, like this: Wilber had a borderline personality, one foot in LaLa Land, the other on a banana peel, and 15 minutes after we met I wanted to stab him thru the heart with my pencil.

Raymond Chandler was the master of characterization.

George V. Higgins was the master of dialog.

And Cormac McCarthy is the master of description.

Sample all of them.

 

[THROBBS]

I am a visual person. I agree with your consultant. I like to map things out, a kind of "staging". And this is a time when you can/should? "tell don't show" (except I would "show" by actually drawing and tell by listing and maybe jotting some speech quirks). You can list attributes of the setting, the characters, relationships, idiosyncrasies.... time lines...


or not.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't do detailed mapping. It limits both plot and characterization and creates flab (details that don't serve the story as it unfolds) that I'd get attached to and have trouble jettisoning.

I start with a general "this is what I want the story to do" concept in my mind. I jot down notes on the setting that I research before starting to write so that I don't have to disconnect from the writing often to go do the research. I also develop a namelist for characters I think are in the book (I often develop a longer contingency namelist so that I can plug in names for new characters to, again, avoid breaking away from the writing to do that).

If it's a long book, I map out what should happen in the first three or four chapters (which invariably become six or seven chapters when I actually write it up)--but I hang loose enough that the whole direction of the book can change without causing me grief or bogging down the writing process. But that's only to get me going. After that, it's all in what I mind delivers as I write.

I write 20+ novella, novel, or anthology titles a year and have done so for more than a decade. At any one time, my mind is working on the next two or three works I want to write.

 

[topace]

All I start out with is an idea on a scenario and ask myself "What happens next?" then write it down as it comes to me. I tried mapping out the last few chapters of a story once and failed to stick to it, so I doubt I'll ever do that again. I generally let people see what my characters are like through their dialogue, actions, and occasionally, their thoughts. It's easier for me because I always write in 3rd person, as I have tried writing from 1st person for a story that I had an idea for and failed to see where the story was going.

Everyone has their own style of writing. Find yours and stick with it, and you will go far.

 

[PapaMIdnite]

I'm in the process of writing a novel right now. There are three main characters, and for each one of them I created a whole life, as complete as I could. I gave them a face (browse for pictures of people that's not famous), I even gave their parents a face. I wrote their stories, since when they were born, detailing life experiences, friends, lovers, family. I created a family tree for each one of them, and I even described, in less detail, the personality of their parents. I still haven't finished with this, so after 6 months writing a book, I haven't written a single word of that book

But I know them by heart. I know what they will say in any circumstance and why. I know their mood changes and I know why they have them. So when I finally start writing the story of their lives, they will be coherent with their own personality, and it will be much easier to predict and develop what will happen next.

 

[PennLady]

I haven't quite figured out what works for me. Sometimes I get the entire idea for a story, more often just a starting point or a few things that will go partway into it. I've tried making outlines or synopses but a lot of the time I just don't know what I want to happen until I start writing. I may know the beginning and end, but not how to get from one point to the other.

As for details on characters or plots or places, I see the advantage of having some notes to refer to so that you don't have to interrupt your writing time for research.

However, I think there's no real rule about it. Some people probably write the whole thing in their heads, and some go in fits and starts. It's just trial and error to find what works for you.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I haven't quite figured out what works for me. Sometimes I get the entire idea for a story, more often just a starting point or a few things that will go partway into it. I've tried making outlines or synopses but a lot of the time I just don't know what I want to happen until I start writing. I may know the beginning and end, but not how to get from one point to the other.

As for details on characters or plots or places, I see the advantage of having some notes to refer to so that you don't have to interrupt your writing time for research.

However, I think there's no real rule about it. Some people probably write the whole thing in their heads, and some go in fits and starts. It's just trial and error to find what works for you.

Nonsense. Trial & error is useful for discovering unknown prime numbers, and helpful when you already have a philosophy and fund of knowledge. What youre proposing is to reinvent the wheel every time.

 

[sr71plt]

No, she's saying that different writers have different approaches. She's not saying they start from scratch on their process choices each time.

 

[TxRad]

Nonsense. Trial & error is useful for discovering unknown prime numbers, and helpful when you already have a philosophy and fund of knowledge. What youre proposing is to reinvent the wheel every time.

Sorry JB but you're the one spouting nonsense. You don't have to reinvent anything. It's like riding a bicycle. Once you learn, you always know how and eight novels kind of proves me right.

Is that why you never post any stories? To much research and not enough or any writing.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Sorry JB but you're the one spouting nonsense. You don't have to reinvent anything. It's like riding a bicycle. Once you learn, you always know how and eight novels kind of proves me right.

Is that why you never post any stories? To much research and not enough or any writing.

Go pedal your gibberish where folkses are ignorant enuf to welcome it.

Like PILOT, you dont really know, do you? Kinda shooting in the dark, huh?

 

[sr71plt]

Go pedal your gibberish where folkses are ignorant enuf to welcome it.

Like PILOT, you dont really know, do you? Kinda shooting in the dark, huh?

Well, not really. I know that you have stated (with pride) here that you don't use anything but your real name. And I know that you don't have anything posted to Lit. and never have pointed to anything posted anywhere else. And I know that the only writing at all (beyond discussion board posts) in your name are volunteered book reviews on Amazon.com.

What else needs to be known, since the only original work you've ever posted that you claimed you wrote, Stella quickly found on the Internet as being stolen by you to post here?

All of the balls are in your court. Who do you think you're fooling?

 

[lance gt]

I started writing my first novel alittle while back and the first thing I did, was script out the rough storyline I wanted and then sketched in the characters that would fit the needs of the story. I like to throw in a misfit here and there and 'hero-ise" them, just for flavour.
Once I know the rough character outline I need, I start creating persona's and personalities for them. Give them realistic fears and doubts, strengths and weaknesses, etc. Looks aren't as important to me as the character's personailty, but I like to give a fairly detailed description of them, so the reader can get a good enough idea of size and weight, hair, eyes and such, but leave the fine details to them what they actually look like in their head.
The plot and twists have to be consistent and lead the reader down a direction they didn't see coming. I don't like a straight-forward read, where the ending is predictable.
All the elements get put together in rough form and then I re-read several times as I go, backtracking and making changes, so everything flows right.

 

[lance gt]

Well, not really. I know that you have stated (with pride) here that you don't use anything but your real name. And I know that you don't have anything posted to Lit. and never have pointed to anything posted anywhere else. And I know that the only writing at all (beyond discussion board posts) in your name are volunteered book reviews on Amazon.com.

What else needs to be known, since the only original work you've ever posted that you claimed you wrote, Stella quickly found on the Internet as being stolen by you to post here?

All of the balls are in your court. Who do you think you're fooling?

Gee, maybe he's lying and he's really Royce in disguise. He could be anybody on here as a writer and just post under Jimmy and that's why he laughs at everyone who mocks him. He's just been smart enough not to give himself away. You have nothing but speculative guesses as to anyone's alt or other identity, but you think you know and to you, it's the new reality. Take some advice, stop guessing and think you have everything all figured out. You know shit and we laugh because you prove us right.

 

[sr71plt]

Is this part of your "just stay out of my business" demand concept, lance? If so, you should be following it yourself, shouldn't you?

You apparently didn't read my post. I started off by pointing out that he proudly says he uses no alts. He's stated that quite recently. (http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=807389&page=2, Post #32)

So, who do you think you're fooling?

And as far as you/Royce, perhaps you should do a close review of forum posts in the past on your writing--to see the couple of places you screwed up when you forgot what name you were posting under. But I can see why you'd drift away from Lance--I continue to snigger everytime I see that a gaybasher has picked "Lance" as a posting name.

 

[sr71plt]

Good news, JBJ. You've fooled Lance at least.

 

[THROBBS]

MEANWHILE:

When you sit down to write, what things to you think about? What notes will you jot down?

Guessing it’s been a couple of months but I was talking with a local author that’s pretty famous, think he has 22 books out. He said the first thing he does is create character outlines and notes. On average, he writes 50 pages about a character (mostly the main characters are this detailed) before he writes one word for a story.

For a character what things are important? Do you have a character sheet you use?

What other things should a writer think about before putting pen (or clicking keys/screen for the ipad writers)?

Thoughts?

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, well, I responded to that. I had half a notion to respond to the "I do a lot of research and plotting; so much so that I haven't written anything" post too. But that, too, would have drifted off into something else.

 

[THROBBS]

Yes, well, I responded to that. I had half a notion to respond to the "I do a lot of research and plotting; so much so that I haven't written anything" post too. But that, too, would have drifted off into something else.

I saw. I read.

as they said in Star Wars Episode:firstmobvie4thin series or something
"Stay on Target! Stay on Target!"

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Gee, maybe he's lying and he's really Royce in disguise. He could be anybody on here as a writer and just post under Jimmy and that's why he laughs at everyone who mocks him. He's just been smart enough not to give himself away. You have nothing but speculative guesses as to anyone's alt or other identity, but you think you know and to you, it's the new reality. Take some advice, stop guessing and think you have everything all figured out. You know shit and we laugh because you prove us right.

The balls in my court, for what? To warrant PILOTs approval? Please...

My comments have merit or they dont. If folkses wanna assay the value of my comments contingent on my celebrity they prolly shouldnt waste their time writing.

 

[PapaMIdnite]

The balls in my court, for what? To warrant PILOTs approval? Please...

My comments have merit or they dont. If folkses wanna assay the value of my comments contingent on my celebrity they prolly shouldnt waste their time writing.

nothing against you, guys, but.. why don't you go to trade blows somewhere else?

 

[lovecraft68]

My Sibs series is 900k plus roughly the equal to 4 500 page novels

I wrote the entire thing on the fly with a general idea of where it would start, how it would end and the half dozen major events I wanted to feature.

I don't outline at all other than writing down a couple of good lines if they came to me at work. I meditate every day and every day let the next chapter come to me.

Different things work for different people, I know an author here who spent six months painstakingly outlining a 100k book to me those six months could have been spent writing, but that's me.

I'm sure there's a good medium, but in my last chapter I pulled every thing together from beginning to end as well as I could have if I wasted months planning it.

So my short answer is get your "bunny" think about your characters and let it rip.

 

[lovecraft68]

The balls in my court, for what? To warrant PILOTs approval? Please...

My comments have merit or they dont. If folkses wanna assay the value of my comments contingent on my celebrity they prolly shouldnt waste their time writing.

Well said James. No one is forcing anyone here to drink their kool aid.

 

[PapaMIdnite]

My Sibs series is 900k plus roughly the equal to 4 500 page novels

I wrote the entire thing on the fly with a general idea of where it would start, how it would end and the half dozen major events I wanted to feature.

I don't outline at all other than writing down a couple of good lines if they came to me at work. I meditate every day and every day let the next chapter come to me.

Different things work for different people, I know an author here who spent six months painstakingly outlining a 100k book to me those six months could have been spent writing, but that's me.

I'm sure there's a good medium, but in my last chapter I pulled every thing together from beginning to end as well as I could have if I wasted months planning it.

So my short answer is get your "bunny" think about your characters and let it rip.

I think the end result should be the same, which for me it'd be giving the characters a coherence, a consistency that makes them credible, which in turn will make the story credible. There are people out there who can achieve that on the fly, like yourself, and other like me need the six months outlining of the characters.

There's no a standard procedure to write.. and whatever it takes to get there through the most enjoyable way, that's the way to go. At least that's how I see it.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think the end result should be the same, which for me it'd be giving the characters a coherence, a consistency that makes them credible, which in turn will make the story credible. There are people out there who can achieve that on the fly, like yourself, and other like me need the six months outlining of the characters.

There's no a standard procedure to write.. and whatever it takes to get there through the most enjoyable way, that's the way to go. At least that's how I see it.

That's why I made sure to say different things for different people.

I am totally disorganized. I work best in total chaos and tend to stress when things are organized. I'm the guy whose desk is a nightmare, but I know where everything is then flip out when someone decides to try to organize it for me.

I also have a tunnel vision mentality and live by the slogan "always forward, never sideways, never backwards," To me-and I stress me- spending all that time spinning wheels thinking and lining up what I want is a waste when I could be achieving where the story goes by writing it.

I guess, I'm very superstitious and literally believe in a muse and that they can be channeled I let the story take me.