Writer's Toolkit

[Alice_Rosaleen]

In addition to loving language, I'm also a very visual person. I often create Pinterest boards for characters (their appearance, style, hobbies, favorite quotations) and settings (city scapes, nature, decor, color palettes) and use them like inspirational writing prompts. And since I can be a little (a lot) OCD, I also use an app called Kanbanchi to make outlines, notes and goals so I stay on top of my project.
What tools do you use to keep you motivated and organized? Do they ever become a distraction?

 

[Tio_Narratore]

In addition to loving language, I'm also a very visual person. I often create Pinterest boards for characters (their appearance, style, hobbies, favorite quotations) and settings (city scapes, nature, decor, color palettes) and use them like inspirational writing prompts. And since I can be a little (a lot) OCD, I also use an app called Kanbanchi to make outlines, notes and goals so I stay on top of my project.
What tools do you use to keep you motivated and organized? Do they ever become a distraction?

Imagination keeps me motivated. Organized? What are you talking about?

 

[SolarRay]

In addition to loving language, I'm also a very visual person. I often create Pinterest boards for characters (their appearance, style, hobbies, favorite quotations) and settings (city scapes, nature, decor, color palettes) and use them like inspirational writing prompts. And since I can be a little (a lot) OCD, I also use an app called Kanbanchi to make outlines, notes and goals so I stay on top of my project.
What tools do you use to keep you motivated and organized? Do they ever become a distraction?

That's really interesting that you do that. How does it operate for you exactly? Is it that the time you spend meditating on Pinterest ends up prepping you for a separate writing session, or do you literally go back and forth to the Pinterest board while writing?

I find that I need to do my character prep up front and then set it aside when I write, because I have a general need to be 100% lost in the alternate reality of the story while writing. Anything that takes me out of that moment is a distraction that I like to block out.

My version of the Pinterest boards are mini writing "sketches." I often write very short throwaway pieces to get into the mindset of a particular character, or a setting, etc. to get the juices flowing and to practice ideas, personalities, styles of dialogue, and so forth. They may have nothing to do with the narrative of my story, but they help develop ideas that I can take back to the main task.

They're especially helpful if I'm stuck with a particular part of the story because I feel less pressure free writing something that I know doesn't have to be publishable or even good. It can be a complete experiment, even a total failure, but it might lead to just one line or paragraph that sparks an "aha" moment that puts me back on track.

Other than that, I definitely put together a bullet list outline and fill in the actual story content as I go. I almost never write chronologically because I always feel more satisfied with the end result if I let the whims of my motivation to focus on this or that scene dictate what parts I skip around to.

 

[KeithD]

I use my imagination and Internet research for backup. I do not outline. I do not create character boards. I make short notes of what I need to remember to maintain consistency through the story.

 

[NotWise]

What tools do you use to keep you motivated and organized? Do they ever become a distraction?

The story itself keeps me motivated. My brain keeps me organized.

I sometimes put a simple outline at the end of a complex story when disparate features need to come together, and delete parts of the outline as the story progresses. Writing from the outline tends to produce disjointed story-telling, so I only use the outline to remind myself what needs to happen, and sometimes that changes with the flow of the story.

I have no need for the tools you describe. For me they would be demotivating distractions.

 

[KindofHere]

..................

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

That's really interesting that you do that. How does it operate for you exactly? Is it that the time you spend meditating on Pinterest ends up prepping you for a separate writing session, or do you literally go back and forth to the Pinterest board while writing?

Tattoo magic is a main element of the novel I'm working on so as part of my research, I collected pictures of tattoo designs (sacred and secular), tools and materials an artist would need, and how parlors are set up and decorated, and magical items/spell ingredients and creatures. And all the characters are tattooed and distinctly styled, so I made "cast" boards to help keep them straight. I did it initially to sort of immerse myself in that world before I started writing, and I only go back to them when I need a reminder on the specifics, or to inspire me when I don't feel like writing (I label them sometimes- like if it's an outfit for a certain scene, I'll note that so later, if I'm stuck on that scene, I'll go back to it and it will often trigger my creativity).
I don't have visual references for every story, but I always have a general outline of plot points and character developments. It's so nice to check off a list as I work on a project!

 

[Hypoxia]

When I write, it's variously. I may have a quick idea to knock off, or a journal entry or script to follow, or a bunch of stuff to throw together. I may visualize an ending and figure how to get there. Very rarely do I use cheat sheets for players, but timelines can be handy in extended-period tales.

I haven't outlined. I may noodle a brief overview sketch of plot points I don't want to miss. Everything else emerges on its own. The voices in my head control everything. I need only awaken them.

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

I appreciate everyone chiming in, by the way. It helps me to see other people's methods even if I won't necessarily follow them to the letter. You never know when a tool (or lack thereof) might come in handy.
The novel I'm writing is my attempt to rework and expand the incest series I published on Lit. Since I'm taking out the incest, it's been helpful to use my character boards because several of them are shifting roles and one is the main character's new father. If my imagination can play the story out, my hands can transcribe it, and for some reason having references, visual or otherwise, help keep me focused enough to work on a project rather than just thinking about or planning it.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I used https://www.familyecho.com to make family trees for my characters, so I could keep track of their relationships and all the characters comparative ages.

 

[KeithD]

I appreciate everyone chiming in, by the way. It helps me to see other people's methods even if I won't necessarily follow them to the letter. You never know when a tool (or lack thereof) might come in handy.
The novel I'm writing is my attempt to rework and expand the incest series I published on Lit. Since I'm taking out the incest, it's been helpful to use my character boards because several of them are shifting roles and one is the main character's new father. If my imagination can play the story out, my hands can transcribe it, and for some reason having references, visual or otherwise, help keep me focused enough to work on a project rather than just thinking about or planning it.

That indeed is a good reason for having more extensive notes on characters/events--either when you rewrite later or if it becomes a multiple-work series. I have a series going in the mainstream that is now up to the tenth book, and along about book five I realized I had to have more extensive background notes to continue that than I usually use in writing.

 

[Jada59]

I think my only tools are a dictionary and a thesaurus and I only need those occasionally. Once in a while, I might refer to a list of names if I have a character who comes from a certain region.

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

I have a series going in the mainstream that is now up to the tenth book, and along about book five I realized I had to have more extensive background notes to continue that than I usually use in writing.

Nice!
Going mainstream fiction-wise is something I'm still working on. And the fight scenes and magical elements of Ink are aspects I didn't fully flesh out in favor of fleshing out other things, and now I'm toning down the sex and amping up the plot complexities. But I think I've finally worked out the logistics and that was half the battle (the other half was knowing ).

 

[TxRad]

I try to keep it simple. If I have a picture that motivated the story or provided a character or characters, I use it as a screen saver or on my desktop.

Usually, I start writing and then a page below where i stop the first time, I start a set of notes and character descriptions and characteristics so i can keep things consistent. Below that are plot points and a general arc for the story. These stay with the story until I'm finished. Then they go in a file for that story.

My mainstream editor loves this because it allows her a look into what I have in mind for the story and allows her to check details more closely. I have one ten book series in mainstream that I did this for all the way through. At the end of one book, I would pull what i didn't need for the next after i got the next one started. It kept transitions simple and straight forward.

Keeping it simple is best for me.

 

[Handley_Page]

In addition to loving language,
. And since I can be a little (a lot) OCD, I also use an app called Kanbanchi to make outlines, notes and goals so I stay on top of my project.

OCD?.. There are friends round the AH who have an interest . . . .

 

[Hypoxia]

The voices in my head just awoke enough to make me pencil the plot of a 3- or 4-part series. That sketch and my imagination and memory should prompt the writing.

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

OCD?.. There are friends round the AH who have an interest . . . .

I wish it was more interesting. I'm not into hand washing or afraid of germs or anything, but I'm very orderly and meticulous in specific ways that can control me if I don't control them. It can make certain tasks that others would find repetitive, like coding or knitting, very zenlike to me and certain creative endeavors, like painting or even writing, more tedious.

 

[JugheadJane]

100% off the cuff. I just make it up as I go along. Much like my life in general! This technique hasn’t failed me yet.
I like your idea of mood boards etc, OP, but I can barely find time to sit and write as it is. I definitely don’t have time for scrolling Pinterest.

 

[nosebone]

I have a spreadsheet where I keep my characters for each story listed along with their personal details and attributes. I also build spreadsheet timelines for my stories so that I remain consistent as much as possible.


I tried outlines, but I find I do better with a skeleton (characters and time) and then use my imagination as I go.

 

[nosebone]

I used https://www.familyecho.com to make family trees for my characters, so I could keep track of their relationships and all the characters comparative ages.

This seems like it will be damn handy. Thank you!!!

 

[ElectricBlue]

I used https://www.familyecho.com to make family trees for my characters, so I could keep track of their relationships and all the characters comparative ages.

For my current WIP I knocked together a simple spreadsheet so I could calculate and keep track of ages across three generations, and then work out ways to get key characters to at least their Lit friendly eighteenth birthday without too much narrative disconnect. "Time passes..."

Other than that, my only tool is my subconscious, and the knowledge that, if a chapter is slow to start, it's because the story line is still being mulled over. Then, like Hypoxia, I just write, and there it is. I reckon 98% of my final text is there in the first raw version, which then gets minimal rework. I'd die in a ditch if I had plotlines and character sheets; I just go blurt, and there it is. It probably shows, but hey, no-one's paying.

 

[NotWise]

I'd die in a ditch if I had plotlines and character sheets; I just go blurt, and there it is. It probably shows, but hey, no-one's paying.

No offence to the OP, but I snickered at the idea of plotting style, hobbies and color palettes for male characters. Style; might have two, comfortable or work. Hobbies; hobbies? Mostly if a male character has a hobby they might be geriatric. Jobs define the man. Color palette? Blue or brown. Maybe add a power tie if the character's in the right social sphere.

Personally, I break a lot of those generalizations myself but I probably wouldn't make a very good character.

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

Other than that, my only tool is my subconscious, and the knowledge that, if a chapter is slow to start, it's because the story line is still being mulled over. Then, like Hypoxia, I just write, and there it is. I reckon 98% of my final text is there in the first raw version, which then gets minimal rework. I'd die in a ditch if I had plotlines and character sheets; I just go blurt, and there it is. It probably shows, but hey, no-one's paying.

This is often my approach to stories too. Angel, Devil, Phantom, Fool flowed fairly organically for me. It helped that I didn't have to research main elements like Theater/Commedia del arte or sex parties and that I know the area it's set in, and the character was in effect me, so it allowed me to have fun with designing all the sexy games. Most of the twists (like clown bukkake) came to me as I wrote, and it was just a matter of gradually upping the stakes as the story went on.
I envy people who can do things off the cuff and keep it all in their head. I think a lot of my tools keep me from obsessing over my writing when I'm obsessing over other stuff. I've read one story by Hypoxia and several by EB, KindofHere and Loqui- and by others on the AH- and I can see the ease of your thought process come through your writing.
Thanks for the inspiration, AH

 

[TANSTAAFL58]

Whisky. A nice Islay malt, Aged Canadian Rye or Texas Mesquite. Just one, to sip to open my mind a bit. Whiskey as a last resort (Bourbon or Irish).

Dramatis Personae. It was good enough for Shakespeare. I write a short physical description and a brief history of each character as they appear. It promotes continuity. I can't describe a character a having pale milky skin in one place and the give her a mocha complexion later. Or describe a man as over six feet tall and not give him trouble get into a Fiat 500.

I'm re-using characters from my short work in longer stories. Bill and Emma from my 3rd story have two kids and are adventurous (the story has them having sex in a changing tent at the local Scottish Festival). So, for them to appear at a Resort I need to ditch the kids, but they might be expected to hook up under the poolside bar at dawn.

Reddit NSFW. If I'm writing about someone I know, I likely have a decent description fully clothed. Beyond the that NSFW pages at Reddit have people of every conceivable description in various stages of undress. I gave the female lead of the long story I'm working on Nina Hartley's ass. (Nina didn't object).

Amazon, Shoespie, REI / Mountain Equipment Co-op, Stag Shop websites for women's clothes, shoes, outdoor clothes and lingerie.

I'm just starting; three stories published, another dozen in progress. But I figure a little planning goes a long way.


But mostly its the whisky.

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

But mostly its the whisky.

I can't for the life of me write when I'm drunk! Alcohol makes me want to do other things but never sit down and write.