How To Plan Writing And Other Projects

[RyanCruzParker]

I want ask how to improve my writing and planning for stories. I like tips for better ideas and organizing chapters. Also, sometimes I plan other projects like home work, and I use small tools like masonry takeoff to calculate materials. How you plan your writing or small projects? Please share advice.

 

[StillStunned]

You'll probably get more replies asking this in the Authors' Hangout.

For ideas... either you get them or you don't. I get too many. You might find inspiration on the Story Ideas forum, or in the Writing Exercises in the AH.

For planning your stories, look up "Save the Cat", and things like story beats, acts and arcs, the Freytag Pyramid and so on.

Speaking for myself, I rarely plan. I start with a notion, or a scene in my head, and just write. After a while, if I'm lucky, something clicks in my mind and I know where I want to go. Then I go through what I've already written and revise it accordingly.

But essentially there's no single answer. It varies from one individual to the next, and most of us change over time as well.

 

[MrPimms]

Better ideas:

If you mean better ideas for stories, this is down to your own mind and creative resources. There are a shedload of resources out there for generating ideas, these range from prompt books (some of the cheap ones on kindle), some of the good writing guides have sections that prompt your writing. There are other things out there designed to prompt your imagination that are good to have in your toolbox.