|
|
Post by James on Sept 23, 2015 3:40:38 GMT -5
One of the reasons why I got the main thread up so early is I figure some people might like to chat and discuss what they've got planned.
I know Pete and I are outlining, at the very least. As I said on Inklings last week, I'm in this weird place right now. I feel like the concept is incredibly strong, the characters look good, the plot seems solid. Everything is looking good...
... but I'm not quite excited yet. I'm not dying to get writing, wishing it was November already. But maybe that's not the worst thing? I'm certainly not, not looking forward to writing. I want to write it, I'm just not falling over myself to do so. Maybe that's good? It seems like a more measured approach to novel writing. It's making sure I'm spending time on the outline. And my favourite books this year have not been books that I've gone into incredibly excited to read. They've snuck up on me. I hope my own attempt might do the same thing.
What do people think? Anyone experienced something similar?
Beyond that, anyone else already in the planning stages? Or at least have an idea of what they're writing?
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Sept 23, 2015 3:54:11 GMT -5
Also, it might be interesting to see/discuss -how- people plan or outline.
|
|
Allya
Senior Scribe
My Little Monster!
Posts: 2,271
|
Post by Allya on Sept 24, 2015 11:22:28 GMT -5
DO lots of people plan? I don't really. I have a basic idea in my head and I just go.
|
|
|
|
Post by ASGetty ((Zovo)) on Sept 24, 2015 15:08:01 GMT -5
DO lots of people plan? I don't really. I have a basic idea in my head and I just go. I've tried that a couple times; tends to result in short stories. I think it's because I have ideas for the good parts, but not the stuff between, so I end up just writing a short story about the good parts and ignoring the larger story. I think if I do like chapter summaries or something ahead of time I might be able to create a framework on which to mount the good parts and get a more robust story out of it. |
|
|
|
Post by Ad Absurdum on Sept 24, 2015 15:27:32 GMT -5
I will probably have no idea what I'm doing until October 26th at 2:17am.
NaNo...I hate it...
But I love it.
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Sept 24, 2015 18:49:03 GMT -5
DO lots of people plan? I don't really. I have a basic idea in my head and I just go. I'm with Zovo, if I don't plan, then the story is going to be short. I always have the basic arc of the main plot, but without planning, trying to manage a whole bunch of subplots on the cuff would get messy. Planning this time has involved: - the basic direction of the main plot, led by protagonists actions; - subplots that could filter in and out; - character "portraits"; and - chapter by chapter summary. I'm only up to Chapter Five, though. And they're pretty brief at the moment. I usually do them in more detail. |
|
|
|
Post by Kaez on Sept 24, 2015 21:37:49 GMT -5
DO lots of people plan? I don't really. I have a basic idea in my head and I just go. I've tried that a couple times; tends to result in short stories. I think it's because I have ideas for the good parts, but not the stuff between, so I end up just writing a short story about the good parts and ignoring the larger story. I think if I do like chapter summaries or something ahead of time I might be able to create a framework on which to mount the good parts and get a more robust story out of it. Yeah. For me, after establishing characters (which always come first for me when planning any writing since mine is usually dialogue-heavy and character-driven), my outlining looks something like: 1. I have four cool scenes in mind that tell a larger story. 2. I stuff basic filler around/between those four scenes just to connect the dots. 3. I try to come up with one new cool scene for the middle of each bit of filler (inventing subplots in the process). 4. Repeat 3. And by the end I've got 30 cool scenes instead of 4, which turn into chapters. |
|
|
|
Post by The Counter Cultist(Sawyer) on Sept 24, 2015 22:37:45 GMT -5
I've got three ideas for NaNo this year. Decided not to go with my fantasy story. Instead, we've got;
Idea 1
A mixed literary fiction/fantasy about a artist who, after a series of unfortunate events, including a failed suicide attempt, tricks his/her old tabletop gaming buddies together to run a game just like the old days, even preparing a story and world for them. The rest of the novel after they get together is split between the interactions of the players and the storyline they're playing through. Most of the drama comes from the game's storyline mirroring some aspects of their lives, causing old arguments to reignite and new ones to form.
Idea 2
A fantasy western set in a world that mirrors our own. Essentially set in the equivalent of the American Old West, follows the story of a gunslinger gunning for the men who killed his father and mother. Includes Native American inspired elves, Russian inspired dwarves, and Canadians
Idea 3: (Not a)War Game
A young girl, having recently been relocated to strange planet to live with her father. She stows away on a shipping container to get back to Earth, but ends up on a military transport carrying a special forces crew to a nearby moon for a war game. Before they can cancel the game and take her back, they are attacked and the transport and long range communications are destroyed. Now they must survive with minimal supplies, and try to get a message out, before they killed by an unknown enemy that shows no mercy.
|
|
|
|
Post by ASGetty ((Zovo)) on Sept 24, 2015 22:52:18 GMT -5
Anyone else started planning/outlining at all? Anyone -not- know what their story's going to be about yet? Anyone not planning on outlining/planning at all? Talk to me, guys. Whatcha thinkin 'bout? I'm thinking to revisit the story I write for the world building competition. I want to refine it to be more consistent in it's format. I want to explore some of the other characters and other points of view, see if that can add some context. I've got some loose ideas about what might occur after the existing end point. I think Mauwale's story provides a solid foundation on which to build. I intend to incorporate ideas I played with a few years ago in one of the challenge threads. I dunno. I've got a real bad habit of talking like I'm some veteran author and that I know shit, but fact is I haven't written that much and I don't get the itch to write that often. I want to continue to play in this world because I actually got jazzed about it and it grabbed me and got me writing more than I expected. If I can maintain that enthusiasm I might actually be able to crank out a novel length story. |
|
|
|
Post by ASGetty ((Zovo)) on Sept 24, 2015 22:55:19 GMT -5
Sawyer, go with idea one. That's the best one of the three.
That's a really solid idea. Kinda bummed I didn't think of it.
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Sept 24, 2015 23:09:55 GMT -5
Anyone else started planning/outlining at all? Anyone -not- know what their story's going to be about yet? Anyone not planning on outlining/planning at all? Talk to me, guys. Whatcha thinkin 'bout? I'm thinking to revisit the story I write for the world building competition. I want to refine it to be more consistent in it's format. I want to explore some of the other characters and other points of view, see if that can add some context. I've got some loose ideas about what might occur after the existing end point. I think Mauwale's story provides a solid foundation on which to build. I intend to incorporate ideas I played with a few years ago in one of the challenge threads. I really liked those stories in the world building competition so I approve of this 100%. I'm pumped just to read it. |
|
Inkdrinker
Scribe
Sepulcher: a stage enlived by ghosts.
Posts: 908
|
Post by Inkdrinker on Sept 24, 2015 23:37:15 GMT -5
Anyone else started planning/outlining at all? Anyone -not- know what their story's going to be about yet? Anyone not planning on outlining/planning at all? Talk to me, guys. Whatcha thinkin 'bout? I'm thinking to revisit the story I write for the world building competition. I want to refine it to be more consistent in it's format. I want to explore some of the other characters and other points of view, see if that can add some context. I've got some loose ideas about what might occur after the existing end point. I think Mauwale's story provides a solid foundation on which to build. I intend to incorporate ideas I played with a few years ago in one of the challenge threads. I dunno. I've got a real bad habit of talking like I'm some veteran author and that I know shit, but fact is I haven't written that much and I don't get the itch to write that often. I want to continue to play in this world because I actually got jazzed about it and it grabbed me and got me writing more than I expected. If I can maintain that enthusiasm I might actually be able to crank out a novel length story. That's exactly what I was thinking. Well, not exactly, obviously, not your world, but you know what I mean. Possibly it's because I don't have any better ideas. Possibly it's because I had a tremendous amount of fun with that arc. |
|
|
|
Post by The Counter Cultist(Sawyer) on Sept 25, 2015 0:41:46 GMT -5
Sawyer, go with idea one. That's the best one of the three. That's a really solid idea. Kinda bummed I didn't think of it. Honestly was the one I was leaning towards, just because it seems like it'd be the most fun to write. |
|
|
|
Post by James on Sept 25, 2015 1:00:03 GMT -5
Idea One is also going to be the toughest to write -well-. Which I think is good; it gives you more room to improve.
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Sept 25, 2015 20:02:50 GMT -5
I'm doing some worldbuilding at the moment, because I thought it might help flesh out some plot ideas.
... oh man, starting to get excited now. I just had some cool ideas about how a shifting city could work. Got a rundown building? Just shift it to the graveyard where all the other dilapidated structures are stored.
|
|
