Name Your Tool.

[Catharyn]

Do you outline, or do you sit down to write with perhaps only a vague sense of where you're going with a story?

 

[sr71plt]

I make a few notes on what I'd have to stop in writing and look up, and then I just key what my mind has already set up.

 

[MrFoxwood]

I tend to have an idea for a scene, which I then can write completely without needing much else. I usually come completely unravelled in chapter two.

 

[MayorReynolds]

A little of everything.

I always start with a one sentence idea. Then I go through my collection of nude photos to pick models for my female characters. I have a flash drive dedicated to an extensive catalog I've built for this purpose.

After that, I'll either stream-of-consciousness write the first few paragraphs/scenes or sketch out summaries and outlines. I don't like to get too far ahead without stopping to plan, lest I have a 17,000 word mess on my hands.

 

[SamScribble]

When I’m writing non-fiction, I generally make a list of the key points I want to cover, and then look for a way to start telling ‘the story’. What’s the opening sentence, the opening paragraph?

When I’m writing fiction, I start with a character or two, and then, again, look for a way to start telling the story. What’s the opening sentence, the opening paragraph? And then, once I’ve started, I usually let the characters do the work. My job is just to report what they’re doing, what they’re saying, maybe what they’re thinking. The story belongs to the characters. I’m just the scrivener.

 

[lovecraft68]

I start with an image of the characters and what the category is. Then I just start typing and let the story tell itself to me.

 

[Catharyn]

I tend to have an idea for a scene, which I then can write completely without needing much else. I usually come completely unravelled in chapter two.

Lol. You're not alone.

Thanks!

 

[patientlee]

I get some elements (mermaids, loneliness and a tarantula, for example) in my head, and I start weaving them. I'm often surprised where we end up.

 

[Catharyn]

Thanks everyone. Interesting to learn what others do to prepare.

I too usually fly by the seat of my pants, once that first sentence rears its head.

Have given outlining a chance, just not much success that way.

 

[3113]

I envy those who can write with from an outline; authors I've talked to who use outlines have a much easier time of it. Less "blocks" where they stop and don't know where to go next in the story or how to keep things on a roll. I, myself, can't write with an outline (they stop me dead). Not even an essay. In fact, I remember one professor in college who insisted on seeing an outline of the big, final essay I was working on. I wrote up the complete essay and then wrote the outline from that and showed it to him

I start with an idea. Then I come up with characters and settings that interest me and I "audition" them (try to write them up) with the idea. If they don't get along, it's pretty obvious...I sometimes go through a lot of false starts. When they do connect, the story catches fire and I end up typing as fast and as long as I can as it burns its way, sometimes, if I'm lucky and the story is short, all the way to the end

J.R.R. Tolkien had this to say about the character of Strider (Aragorn), 'Strider sitting in the comer at the inn was a shock, and I had no more idea who he was than had Frodo. ' I'm definitely in that camp. I may have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen and all, but I can still surprise myself and end up going "WTF? Who is this and what's going to happen?" as I write the story.

 

[Handley_Page]

I'm having a scene (I've lost the original text), so I'm having to start all over again. But I know roughly what's going to happen; it's just a question of when.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I call my tool "Woody".

As far as writing goes, I get a idea and usually within ten minutes or so I have fleshed out the entire story. However, when I start typing, sometimes the characters take over and the story sometimes goes awry.

 

[RichardBacula]

Do you outline, or do you sit down to write with perhaps only a vague sense of where you're going with a story?

With erotica, I generally only have one to three scenes in the story.
For my first Kindle Book, An Innocent Haircut*, I just sat down with a scene in mind (a naive guy at the barbershop gets seduced by his female barber), trying for something short and sweet.
Just one sex scene, with very, very little in the way of introduction or aftermath.
And that's what I wrote.
It came out to 9,200 words.

Apparently my writing style tends to include a high enough level of physical and emotional detail that I can't get TOO elaborate with my plots.

My next Kindle story, Moonheat, has three scenes:
-A man is hiking with his girlfriend. They have sex at a lake.
-That night, a female werewolf in heat attacks, chases off the girlfriend, and has her way with the man.
-The next morning, the werewolf has returned to human form, but is still in heat. She and the man have sex again.

That one came out to be 13,300+ words.
I didn't bother with an outline, even though I wasn't entirely sure where it was going to go. I just had the basic concept in mind when I started: "A female werewolf goes into heat, and attacks a guy."
Then I sat down at the keyboard, and started writing, not sure where it would take me. I had to pause a few times to figure out the next step, especially when it came to the very end of the story (deciding how exactly to end it).

And that's how I tend to do thing- I come up with a SIMPLE idea for a short plot, and just go from there.
That way, I don't bite off more than I can chew, and I don't write myself into a corner.

On the other hand, I do have a number of more complex story ideas in my head, and my mind keeps working on those as I go about my normal work day.
While I don't actually write anything down to outline those, I am mentally doing the equivalent.
Again, though, I'm trying to keep them simple enough that I don't need to do anything really fancy in the way of prep-work.




*An Innocent Haircut goes FREE at midnight tonight, for the next 5 days!
So now's a good chance to check it out without paying anything.

 

[RichardBacula]

I envy those who can write with from an outline; authors I've talked to who use outlines have a much easier time of it. Less "blocks" where they stop and don't know where to go next in the story or how to keep things on a roll. I, myself, can't write with an outline (they stop me dead). Not even an essay. In fact, I remember one professor in college who insisted on seeing an outline of the big, final essay I was working on. I wrote up the complete essay and then wrote the outline from that and showed it to him

lol
Yeah, I always had to do that in school too.
I'd write the paper, THEN write the outline.

J.R.R. Tolkien had this to say about the character of Strider (Aragorn), 'Strider sitting in the comer at the inn was a shock, and I had no more idea who he was than had Frodo. ' I'm definitely in that camp. I may have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen and all, but I can still surprise myself and end up going "WTF? Who is this and what's going to happen?" as I write the story.

Nice!
I didn't know that bit of trivia.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'm with 3. I'll begin with a 'something' and start writing. Then people will show up and do stuff. Eventually I reach a point where either I have a story or I have a pile of complete drivel that I toss and go onto something else.

And it's kind of sad because a couple of my 'drivels' had such promise, too.

 

[StrangeLife]

My creative process?

First I draw a circled triqueta on the floor using a mixture of blood from a black goat slaughtered at midnight on Halloween and ashes from seven executed child murderers. In each locus I place a black candle made from tallow of defiled virgins and light them.

Then I strip naked and drink a cursed concoction of good single-malt Whiskey, frankincense tears, myrrh and dragon semen (and trust me; good single-malt Whiskey isn't easy to get hold of) while chanting infernal limericks in aramaic.

Then I'm ready to write...

 

[UhlBWett]

Do you outline, or do you sit down to write with perhaps only a vague sense of where you're going with a story?

I usually choose a setting first, determine the dynamics of the characters, then the specifics of the characters (descriptions, fetishes and sexual talents), then set off without a compass. The sexual depictions are the last thing I focus on. I prefer my stories must be believable, descriptive and creative. I love a subtle twist and a surprise ending................

You can PM me for more specifics.

 

[Neonurotic]

Scrivner is helpful for outlining and other research for a story. Then it's all right there in the same file and quick access.

 

[Catharyn]

My creative process?

First I draw a circled triqueta on the floor using a mixture of blood from a black goat slaughtered at midnight on Halloween and ashes from seven executed child murderers. In each locus I place a black candle made from tallow of defiled virgins and light them.

Then I strip naked and drink a cursed concoction of good single-malt Whiskey, frankincense tears, myrrh and dragon semen (and trust me; good single-malt Whiskey isn't easy to get hold of) while chanting infernal limericks in aramaic.

Then I'm ready to write...

Make it Glenlivet, and I'm right there with ya.

Well. Except for the goat blood and bloodthirsty bad guys.

 

[Catharyn]

Thanks all. Appreciate reading everyone's input and approaches.

 

[patientlee]

My creative process?

First I draw a circled triqueta on the floor using a mixture of blood from a black goat slaughtered at midnight on Halloween and ashes from seven executed child murderers. In each locus I place a black candle made from tallow of defiled virgins and light them.

Then I strip naked and drink a cursed concoction of good single-malt Whiskey, frankincense tears, myrrh and dragon semen (and trust me; good single-malt Whiskey isn't easy to get hold of) while chanting infernal limericks in aramaic.

Then I'm ready to write...

You are very funny. Why no Humor and Satire stories?

 

[Hypoxia]

My creative process?

First I draw a circled triqueta on the floor using a mixture of blood from a black goat slaughtered at midnight on Halloween and ashes from seven executed child murderers. In each locus I place a black candle made from tallow of defiled virgins and light them.

Then I strip naked and drink a cursed concoction of good single-malt Whiskey, frankincense tears, myrrh and dragon semen (and trust me; good single-malt Whiskey isn't easy to get hold of) while chanting infernal limericks in aramaic.

Then I'm ready to write...

That works for me too.

My favorite tool is a Leatherman. I call it "Fuck-Fuck" because that's what I usually say when I need to use it. But I digress.

I have various approaches to writing. Many of my LIT submissions are based on old journals and notes, so I just edit and adapt and spice-up recorded reality. Other pieces are based on existing material -- songs, legends, lies, lore, essays, some of which I even wrote myself. I have so far come up with just one 'creative' series and I don't like the ending. I may try outlining some future pieces.

 

[lovecraft68]

My creative process?

First I draw a circled triqueta on the floor using a mixture of blood from a black goat slaughtered at midnight on Halloween and ashes from seven executed child murderers. In each locus I place a black candle made from tallow of defiled virgins and light them.

Then I strip naked and drink a cursed concoction of good single-malt Whiskey, frankincense tears, myrrh and dragon semen (and trust me; good single-malt Whiskey isn't easy to get hold of) while chanting infernal limericks in aramaic.

Then I'm ready to write...

Useless trivia. In Black masses the communion host was made with menstrual blood and pus along with flour to hold it all together and at the consummation of the mass the cult leader would strip naked and fuck it, adding his semen to the mix.

I'll just stick to Jack Daniels and the several testicles of rapists.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

That works for me too.

My favorite tool is a Leatherman. I call it "Fuck-Fuck" because that's what I usually say when I need to use it. But I digress.

I have various approaches to writing. Many of my LIT submissions are based on old journals and notes, so I just edit and adapt and spice-up recorded reality. Other pieces are based on existing material -- songs, legends, lies, lore, essays, some of which I even wrote myself. I have so far come up with just one 'creative' series and I don't like the ending. I may try outlining some future pieces.

I knew a guy who had a Leatherman. His work was septic tank cleaning. (Not bad work to be in- all one needs is a truck with a tank, a pump, snorkel and flippers.) He turned up at one place where the lady was a little aristocratic and far too superior to be dealing with him. She greeted him at the back door after he'd spent ages knocking on the front door, told him he knew what to do, to be quick and she'd send the cheque in the mail after if he put the account in the letter box before he left.

Apparently the odour wasn't the best, it had the wrong culture in it. So, he got a bucket of the product of some one else's tank and added it to hers with the reasonable belief that it would take over and make the tank smell sweeter. He also cleared the breather pipe so aerobic bacteria could survive in the tank. He just finished adding the sweetener when suddenly he dropped his Leatherman.

He put his arm in, trying to reach it but there was nothing solid there to stop the fall of the knife. So, he presented himself at the "good" lady's door and told her of the terrible culture her tank had picked up and the only thing he could do was pump it out so a fresh start could be made. She apparently turned green, with her nightmare realised, and retreated from the door.

It took a while to empty the tank. The odour was overwhelming. As the truck was already full he couldn't put it in the truck. He decided the garden needed fertiliser any way. The lady stayed inside. It was a big tank and took ages to pump out. He did the right thing and favoured every part of the garden with fertiliser.

As he got to the end of the pumping he saw the leatherman, retrieved it, gave it a quick wash and returned it to his pocket.

The lady was billed for the exercise. He dined out on the story for ages after.

Reminds me of the movie "Kenny". Loved that, it was the favourite movie of a lot of people.



I find if I have a persona to write a story in it's so much easier. I plot it out and am into it. I often find more than I put in the plot too- I think the plot written down challenges to create more. Those bits have to be handled carefully because there is no record and if I leave it I can forget what it was about.

 

[oggbashan]

I tend to start with the ending.

Except for NaNoWriMo, I do not write any notes for the development or the plot. For NaNoWriMo, during October I work out a whole series of plots to develop so I can write continuously. My 12 chapters of Flawed Red Silk were a NaNoWriMo success. I had plotted 36 possible chapters from a premise to an ending. My aim, successfully achieved, was to write 50,000 words in November, with a couple more additional challenges because I knew I could write the quantity. I wanted to write, edit and have the whole 50,000 words POSTED on Literotica by the end of November. I did.

Since that year, I have used NaNoWriMo to produce normal stories. My three entries (one as jeanne) for the Winter Holidays Contest were written as part of NaNoWrimo this year. I had made short notes of stories I wanted to write or complete, with a couple of sentences on plot development. I achieved more than 50,000 words in November.

But for other mainstream stories, I think only of a setting and the main characters and most importantly where I want them to end up. That is usually married happily ever after, but the interest, if any, in the story is how they get there, and what obstacles are in the way. I have no notes. It is all in my head - but there may be masses of detail in my brain including location, era, main characters etc.

For fetish, what is important is not the story but the fetish. Like mainstream stroke scenes, the sex/fetish is the interest, not the plot. Being me, there will be a plot, but that is less important than the fetish and the characters' response to it. The planning is little more than how to introduce the fetish into the story.

I have written a short How-To: http://www.literotica.com/s/how-to-plot-flash-fiction

Some have found that useful even for longer stories.