The Joy of getting past that “I dunno” stage of a new story!

[Smuttyandfun]

I'm not much of a plotter and usually just write as I go. But I love it when I get an idea for a twist in the story, even if I have to get out of bed to get it down before I forget it. It happens to me a lot, where it just comes out of nowhere, and of course, I can't sleep till I get it done.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Oh yes, yes I do, and I love that option in most cases. Buuut that isn't my go to for every story I write, usually only the questionably dark ones. That option always depends entirely on the theme and setting. -chuckles-

Usually I try reasoning with them, because hey, if my character wants to take the moral high ground on some hot filth I'm trying to get them into, who am I to stand in their way? It just means I've gotta get more creative and add in more build up...

I've only killed off one character, in an accident - based on a real-life one. That was the whole point of the story. Otherwise, I've yet to have a need to whack any of them.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Damn glad I got clean before that shit started showing up everywhere.

There is something worse now - Xylazine, or "tranq," developed a an animal tranquilizer. I'm not going to continue hijacking the thread, but here is plenty of info about it.

 

[MajorRewrite]

often when I’m doing a new story I’ll regularly go back and forward, writing, deleting, writing, deleting, just trying to figure if I even have a story and then BAM!

True to my pen name, my story ideas get thoroughly thrashed, chopped up and redirected before a satisfactory finished product is created. The lightbulb moment when it all goes from “meh” to “yeah” is very satisfying.

I recently experienced it for the Hammered event story I’m writing. I realized that one central character wasn’t necessary, so he got the ax and the action finally has the bite I was looking for.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

True to my pen name, my story ideas get thoroughly thrashed, chopped up and redirected before a satisfactory finished product is created. The lightbulb moment when it all goes from “meh” to “yeah” is very satisfying.

I recently experienced it for the Hammered event story I’m writing. I realized that one central character wasn’t necessary, so he got the ax and the action finally has the bite I was looking for.

Yeah, it’s nice when you make a realisation like that.

In HOT AND FUZZY it occurred when I realised that Dani and the Sarge NOT having sex made the story work far better.

That said, major rewrites aren’t something I do a lot of. The characters tend to push me where they want to go, and if they don’t they tell me.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I've only killed off one character, in an accident - based on a real-life one. That was the whole point of the story. Otherwise, I've yet to have a need to whack any of them.

In ATDAH there was one death and six in HAF.

I don’t know the body count for the new one, but based on the escalation between the last two I’m not gonna get attached to the characters in THE PROCESS.

 

[gunhilltrain]

In ATDAH there was one death and six in HAF.

I don’t know the body count for the new one, but based on the escalation between the last two I’m not gonna get attached to the characters in THE PROCESS.

Did they die from natural causes, accidents, or violence - or did it vary for all seven of them? Reminds me a bit of Six Feet Under.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

I've only killed off one character, in an accident - based on a real-life one. That was the whole point of the story. Otherwise, I've yet to have a need to whack any of them.

In ATDAH there was one death and six in HAF.

I don’t know the body count for the new one, but based on the escalation between the last two I’m not gonna get attached to the characters in THE PROCESS.

How do you keep yourself from getting attached to characters that might possibly not make it later on?

I’ve whacked my unapologetic villains, and I’ll do so with no qualms… but I’m also not against killing a crowd favorite, or main character, either. I’ll write terminally ill or suicidal characters, but their inevitable deaths are mostly expected, so I feel like it’s not quite the same.

I’ve got a bit of a body count on my other writing website. I have yet to off anyone while publishing on Lit, but I don’t doubt it’s going to happen at some point.

Also let me commend you on an excellent AH topic, EmilyMcP. I love the insight to many different writers styles and processes.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

How do you keep yourself from getting attached to characters that might possibly not make it later on?

I’ve whacked my unapologetic villains, and I’ll do so with no qualms… but I’m also not against killing a crowd favorite, or main character, either. I’ll write terminally ill or suicidal characters, but their inevitable deaths are mostly expected, so I feel like it’s not quite the same.

I’ve got a bit of a body count on my other writing website. I have yet to off anyone while publishing on Lit, but I don’t doubt it’s going to happen at some point.

Also let me commend you on an excellent AH topic, EmilyMcP. I love the insight to many different writers styles and processes.

Okay, so here’s the deal…

In ATDAH Jessie was the villain and he deserved the fate he got (being framed for drug-dealing and then getting stabbed in prison).

In HAF many characters were fools or just unlucky but they weren’t anyone were you’d think “oh no! What a shame!”

In THE PROCESS however…people will feel that way. I’m going to fuck-up people’s emotions…and not in a good way.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

Okay, so here’s the deal…

In ATDAH Jessie was the villain and he deserved the fate he got (being framed for drug-dealing and then getting stabbed in prison).

In HAF many characters were fools or just unlucky but they weren’t anyone were you’d think “oh no! What a shame!”

In THE PROCESS however…people will feel that way. I’m going to fuck-up people’s emotions…and not in a good way.

I'll definitely check out The Process when you go live with it... I've a morbid curiosity.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I'll definitely check out The Process when you go live with it... I've a morbid curiosity.

Well, it will take ages just so you know. I literally write anywhere whenever I have a spare five or ten minutes, and whilst I’ll be touching 6,000 words this week, that’s probably only gonna be less than half of part one.

Don’t know where the Hell I’ll put it, though. Erotic Horror gets no views so sci-fi seems to be the next best option.

 

[Bazzle]

I have about three or four stories in the I dunno stage.
So I distract myself with another story or editing someone else's work.

I get so many ideas when it's another authors work...mine nope not a scoobys.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I have about three or four stories in the I dunno stage.
So I distract myself with another story or editing someone else's work.

I get so many ideas when it's another authors work...mine nope not a scoobys.

It’s funny how I go back and forth awhile, usually out of worry that the intro isn’t strong enough, but once I’ve got those first few paras out I tend to then get into the process of finding out the story myself.

Ooh, what’s this guy gonna say?

How are they gonna respond to that?

What’s the next big plot point.

I love all of that and it then goes from being intrigued to being addicted (no offence to those who posted above about actual addiction. Respect for your struggles and continued recovery and wellbeing).

 

[MajorRewrite]

I get so many ideas when it's another authors work...

That’s why I enjoyed writing my own takes on classic stories (Oedipus Rex and Pygmalion). Having a constrained framework focuses creativity.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

That’s why I enjoyed writing my own takes on classic stories (Oedipus Rex and Pygmalion). Having a constrained framework focuses creativity.

A popular version of this is of course Bridget Jones Diary which as everyone knows is based on Moby Dick.

 

[gunhilltrain]

How do you keep yourself from getting attached to characters that might possibly not make it later on?

I’ve whacked my unapologetic villains, and I’ll do so with no qualms… but I’m also not against killing a crowd favorite, or main character, either. I’ll write terminally ill or suicidal characters, but their inevitable deaths are mostly expected, so I feel like it’s not quite the same.

I’ve got a bit of a body count on my other writing website. I have yet to off anyone while publishing on Lit, but I don’t doubt it’s going to happen at some point.

Also let me commend you on an excellent AH topic, EmilyMcP. I love the insight to many different writers styles and processes.

So far, I don't think I've had any true villains. I've had a couple who broke up other people's relationships because of grudges. Not a good thing to do, but there are far worse acts in this world.

 

[gunhilltrain]

A popular version of this is of course Bridget Jones Diary which as everyone knows is based on Moby Dick.

It was quite a challenge to do a version of Moby Dick without any ships in it.

 

[dasgoodshit]

The things that trip me up more than anything (aside from my procrastination) are my characters and how they develop through the story. Sometimes, even if I have it plotted, their personalities take hold... and they don't want to go with what I've plotted.

My inspiration is almost always just a premise.

From there I think about who's involved in said premise, why, and how to get them there.

G damn wild is what it is. I've literally felt like being told NO by a character and had the "am I... crazy" questions crop up after.

The characters tend to push me where they want to go, and if they don’t they tell me.

Yes, agreed, true, absolutely. That's the only way to write, imo.

 

[Djmac1031]

My newest story, Pornville, was one of the first in some time where I knew exactly what I wanted out of it before I started writing.

Not that I had EVERY detail in mind, of course. Those come as I write.

But I had a plot. I knew what my concept was. Knew exactly what the conflict would be, and how I'd resolve it, and my conclusion from there.

Most times I have just a concept and maybe the bare bones of the plot. The rest I gotta work out on the fly and if I can't, it either sits until I do..
Or just sits unfinished.