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 ONETRACKMlNDTopic: How far ahead do you think when it comes to chapters?
I tend to be random. If it's only been two or three days since my last update, then I've been dying to write this part. If it's been a week or two, then I just don't want people to think i've wimped out. |
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Lord-of-FoolsI used to do that. These days, I have more of a plan- it's quite loose, but it gives me an idea of what revelations or events are meant to have happened by a certain point. I die to write parts as well... it can be distracting and sometimes when you reach that bit you want to write the quality is reduced. So I've been thinking- just write what you want to write when it comes, to get it out of your system.| #2 Nov 16th 2006, 11:34pm | |
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 Lord PacificReeel far ahead...50 some chapters... Big fat chapters... |
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Limited EditionWell I have the whole story in my mind, not the details but the basic of the plot. That's a must, isn't it? What's the point of the story otherwise? Just to rant? |
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mesmerised bookcatwell, i carry around a note book, which i jot down ideas for storys; you know, basic plots and such, but i also write in it ideas for chapters, but to tell the truth, i only think about a chapter ahead. |
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Lowell BostonI tend to not think in chapters, but in plot points or beats in the story. In other words in the creation of my story I see moments ahead that are like distant features in a landscape that I try and steer the story towards. This could be a line(s) of dialogue(s), a confrontation, a battle, denouement moment in the story, the death of a character, etc... Some times I make it to these destinations, and sometimes the nature of the story dictates a new path that takes me elsewhere, but I still reach a satisfying destination. I rarely begin a story where I don't have a good idea of how it will end. The exception would be a mystery. Sometimes I do like to wing it when doing a mystery. If I have no idea of what will happen next, than hopefully my readers won't either, and therefore will make the story less predictable. My Dreamwalkers story is a good example of this, or Archaen Steel and Hand of the Emperor on my fanfiction account (sorry, selfish plug there.) |
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Limited EditionAll the stories I've started without knowing the end have ended up unfinished. It really bothers me XD I might really like the story but there is no point in it because there is no end. And if I do know the end, the story gets so annoyingly short. GRRR |
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FreakierThanThouI do that, too. Recently, I've started a new tactic. I'm planning out the story in immense detail the entire way through. Then, I write three chapters and post one. Write another chapter and post one. That way I'm always two chapters ahead of the readers. A few times, I've tried to wing it and get the whole way through. It didn't work so great. I ended up throwing in too many characters. I ended up with... let's see... eleven main characters, plus two cats, and various minor characters. It was supposed to be a trilogy, so I killed off about five of the main characters at the end of the second. But those were the ones with the interesting plotlines. So I didn't write a third. It was probably for the best, considering. The plot made no sense. |
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crimsonbutterfly23it really depends on how much i like the story. some go nowhere and i waste my time. but others i have the entire book planned out after the first chapter. i think waaaay ahead sometimes even into the sequels. but for the most part i hate writing in chapters . |
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Niki DeeI try not to put everything I have in mind for a story online at once unless I'm ending it. The only problem with this is, I've never finished a story that wasn't a one-shot. So ... I guess I'm doomed to be a writre of very short (chapterless) stories.| #10 May 08th 2007, 11:47pm | |
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Mr.M7It depends. sometimes I have a whole plan right up to the end of the story and othertimes I'm just making it up as I go, But I pretty much never acually plan a whole chapter, and it I do it never ends up that way.| #11 May 24th 2007, 2:00pm | |
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FoxyWriterWhen I began writing my novel (book 1's published now o_O) I just winged it - and after 2 years of writing, I had 4 and a half books complete with absolutely no sturdy plot. Then I decided to take the time to pick through the books and take my favorite ideas that I had gotten from each one, and I put them together and just brainstormed for a perfect plot o_O By that time, I didn't really have to think about the chapters for the 1st and 2nd book, but as I got to the 3rd, I needed to think a little more. What I did was I wrote out my plot for each book. Then I listed the individual things that I wanted to happen within the particular book. Then I would imagine the book and try to find the best moments for those events to happen. Then, I just start writing, and I don't really plan the chapters. It just sort of comes to me o.O.. However, on the other hand, I did a different way of plotting for this little short story that I'm writing and posting on this site (Rescue of Princess).. I used chapters. I wrote Chapter One and the events that would take place, then Chapter Two, then Chapter Three, etc etc. It'll be 8 chapters long once it's done. Sometimes this works, but sometimes it doesn't. It truly depends upon the writer and what he/she's thinking of. Oh yeah, and if you're constantly thinking about a part you so badly want to get to - but you still have a ways to go in the book - you can open a new document and just write it and save it for later. Then it's off your mind and you can get back to the book without feeling like you're rushing to that scene. When you finally get there, you may use the scene you already wrote, or tweak it to fit the story (if it changed any in its journey to that point.) It's what I do. Anyway, I hope it helps. :) | #12 Jun 29th 2007, 10:02am | |
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Niki DeeI also will write out parts I have in my mind and save them for later. Sometimes The story changes so much I never find place to incorporate them though. Most of the stories I've written I didn't feel like sharing. I often find myself writing down descriptions of sights sounds or events hoping one day they'll become useful. One day I was sitting on a bench, a building and bushes behind me, a small landscaped lawn in front of me with the american flag flying over the desert sunset. It was gorgeous, i spent 15 minutes writing down the description of everything i saw and heard and smelled. I wanted to capture that moment in time... unfortunately I have no Idea where that description went. I need to make myself a binder of descriptions and scenes and have ti all sorted out so it will be more useful =)| #13 Jul 19th 2007, 8:53am | |
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Fractured IllusionI lay out what I want to happen, and then organize what is to happen in each chapter (which scenes to include, etc). I find this to be more efficient. I plan in more detailed ways for chapters closer that I soon have to write, but only have loose ideas of what the rest is to (the ending, character deaths, twists of event. you know, the major stuff happening). I used to not plan, and let me tell you, that was a dead end way for me. I only ended up with crap. Planning (and writing it down!) has proven most important. | #14 Jul 25th 2007, 5:34pm | |
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Penn SullivanI dont think ahead WHOLE chapters....Okay maybe like..1| #15 Jul 29th 2007, 7:57pm | |
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XxAsianWriterxXI write the story on in a notebook. I keep the notebook with me wherever I go, so when I feel like writing I just write. I don't have a specific time I have to write the story. Then when I have time to go on the computer I type up the story from my notebook to my computer. Then I post it...So my story is basically already ready. All it needs is to be posted online! | #16 Aug 03rd 2007, 3:05pm | |
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concerto49I usually do sketches. Say like I have certain plots, storylines that I roughly have going - like more major things. I leave the minor details to fill in as I go, which I often change even if I planned, so no use. For example, if I had a story about a war, and the main character tried to restore peace, and he was travelling from town to town, then there would be some sort of a rough journey I could plan. I just try to have hints. Mainly when I think of cool scenes and ideas I try to remember them and fit them in - if that counts as planning :) | #17 Aug 07th 2007, 6:16am | |
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Jordan A. MastersHonestly...I have at least 14 full-length novels planned out. Whether or not they'll all get written...that's another matter entirely. I know for certain that 3 will be - I'm working on them now. Speaking of which, I should get back to editing. :) | #18 Aug 24th 2007, 10:03pm | |
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 Takiyanaugh, planning is a **! the first volume came easily, i had planned out the entire thing for quite some time. But now that i'm on volume two, it's a bit more difficult. to be honest i never thought id get as far as i have! it's a bit difficult for me with dialogue, touching moments, good advice and quotes and all that stuff. that and i got a big problem with making the unexpected and small hints to big things in my stories. i need a long time to think things over. ideas are also my issue. they come and they go, some stay and some vanish. but you know, i manage alright. the people who read my stuff either end up horrified by what happens, cry, or laugh their rotten asses off. |
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Otseis RagnarokI rarely plan out much. When I do, I wind up getting bored in my own fantasy world... Isn't that sad...? Instead, I like to get a baseline for what I want to happen, and make everything else up as I go. Sometimes it's good, other times, I wind up frustrating my readers by not posting for months on end. However, I do usually write out on paper first. Does tht count as planning? |
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Takiyanai'd say so. youtr plotting out a first draft of what you expect to be something great in the near future. that sure as hell sounds like planning to me. |
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MySunshine way to far xD i usually think or dream of a particular scene and then make a story out of it. so far, i know how my stories will end, i just have to manage to write until i get there ... a while ago, i started jotting down notes on the plot and everything. so far, it kind of helped :) |
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blackbird follows sparrow With my first story I planned every chapter out before I even started writing it. Doing this meant I got the whole story written quite fast- but having the strict plan I didn't have much room to move around with the plot. With my second story, although I have the basics of the plot in my head I don't really have a plan, I just focus on the current chapter before deciding what to do with the next. It takes me a lot longer to get each chapter finished but I feel like I have room to breathe as I can change from the original ideas that I had- I also find it more enjoyable to write this way. Both ways have their pros and cons. |
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xLinkinPark94x Well, with the story I'm getting beta'd now I have a lot of it figured out but not all of it. I have the basic idea of what I want for it but I'm basically clueless as to where I'm going with it. I'm usually not like that lol. Usually, I really plan it and have what I want in my mind but this is kind of an impulse story, really. I'll most likely have it posted some time if I get a beta. -Kelli |
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 Ten ways to spoil dinnerI like to surprise myself so I don't get bored of the story and quit, but I do envision the story like a movie in my head, then I describe as the story. It works, for the most part. |
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