tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post4980308987485134037..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Get Up and Get Out: Finding Your Writing ProcessJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-33480680802723426182020-01-24T06:19:06.558-05:002020-01-24T06:19:06.558-05:00niceniceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-27867371219390143592013-03-24T09:33:08.423-04:002013-03-24T09:33:08.423-04:00Linda, that's awesome you found something that...Linda, that's awesome you found something that works for you. I'll have to check out that article. I actually feel bad for my pantser readers because I know I'm such a structure gal, so much of my focus is there. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66076687159482577952013-03-24T07:29:21.659-04:002013-03-24T07:29:21.659-04:00I think I've finally had a major break through...I think I've finally had a major break through. I'm a seat of the pantser -- I learn the story by writing it. But it's been challenging, I think, because so much of the advice is wrapped up in elements that come from the assumption of outlining. There was a great article in Writers Digest this month called "Go Organic," and it had some very different techniques that really clicked for me.Linda Maye Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07203020058437093901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39707414698383727862011-09-03T00:14:25.847-04:002011-09-03T00:14:25.847-04:00And I think I'm a cross between an All-Ducks-i...And I think I'm a cross between an All-Ducks-in-a-Rower and a Let's-Build-a-Houser :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-33821744126186968132011-09-03T00:11:12.076-04:002011-09-03T00:11:12.076-04:00Thank you! This helped me so much!!! :D *bookmarks...Thank you! This helped me so much!!! :D *bookmarks page* Now if I could only pluck up the courage to write till the end of a novel .... (i usually get discouraged half-way through)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1259391331634436902011-08-31T20:07:47.889-04:002011-08-31T20:07:47.889-04:00I have a general idea of where to start and the mi...I have a general idea of where to start and the middle and the Ending is solid. I pantser my way to that solid ending: I don’t know what might happen in between but the awesome ending is what drives me to finish my work… if I know how it “should” end I carry that excitement all the way through, plus it helps me not to get bogged down.<br /><br />I know the light at the end of the tunnel is a train, but I still need to find out if my characters get hit by it.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25595958824794284672011-08-31T19:01:27.715-04:002011-08-31T19:01:27.715-04:00This is such a wonderful post, Janice! I'm a s...This is such a wonderful post, Janice! I'm a seat-of-the-Pantser, but occasionally am a Let's-Build-a-Houser.Diana Juliannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12645346227759177481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36820993358594167222011-08-31T08:28:24.741-04:002011-08-31T08:28:24.741-04:00Carradee, I so agree with that. I tried so many di...Carradee, I so agree with that. I tried so many different things and none of them really worked for me until the paragraph outline. It's important to try different styles if one isn't working for you. Kudos to you for finding yours!<br /><br />DL: Oh, character sheets would be helpful. I used to use my old D&D books to help me there, so that does work :)<br /><br />Natalie, structure really helps me with word count. I can see at a glance how many chapters or scenes and what I'll be aiming for, so I can see a general word count total. What goes into a chapter also lets me know how big a scene will probably be, as if it's an intro scene or a revelation scene. Those tend to run similar sizes, so I can see how much would be left in that chapter.<br /><br />EP, I don't think so. I think we all do a little of everything here. And every book is different. If your idea comes from a really strong character you might write the book one way, but a more plot focused story might be written another way.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-54361567299334038772011-08-30T22:24:39.397-04:002011-08-30T22:24:39.397-04:00Love this post, but is it a cop out to say "a...Love this post, but is it a cop out to say "all the above"?<br /><br />I always think I'm just a pantser, but that's not always the case. I typically know the beginning, and usually have a notion of the end. At some point (usually around page 100, no matter what), I have to go back and outline because I start to forget what I was doing, where I was going with this, etc.<br /><br />But I also have a habit of just getting people together to see what they do. Sometimes, they actually surprise me.<br /><br />So I guess I'm a pantser/builder/peopler/outliner...this explains my uncanny knack for not finishing things.Eva Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855603175280772481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48014648565229154612011-08-30T21:38:24.988-04:002011-08-30T21:38:24.988-04:00I am totally in the middle.
Like you I would ju...I am totally in the middle. <br /><br />Like you I would just write. And write. And write. <br /><br />What would happen is that I'd end up with so many scenes, and so many things crossing each other, I had a hard time following things. <br /><br />So I started to outline... a little.<br /><br /><br />I'm not a fan of a full outline, writing things in detail. But I do believe you need some sort of plan on where the story is going. The big moments, the setting, the flow. And even some of the smaller things. I really like character writing.. I'll take a notebook and write out all my characters. It gets me to get to know them!<br /><br />Great post here, with great advice.<br /><br />-JimJim Bronyaurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634054657700089093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-44327293623419636972011-08-30T17:39:47.847-04:002011-08-30T17:39:47.847-04:00Definitely a Houser and followed the same path of ...Definitely a Houser and followed the same path of destruction as you to get there. I find that giving the kids (characters) a defined but free playground (structure with open space) brings the best results.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61383500467112975042011-08-30T17:38:58.806-04:002011-08-30T17:38:58.806-04:00I have outlined as I go in the past . Next time I&...I have outlined as I go in the past . Next time I'm going to have a basic outline of the key plot points. I'm hoping the structure will help with my word count too.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-90906338172978564262011-08-30T15:46:13.282-04:002011-08-30T15:46:13.282-04:00One thing I've found that really helps me a lo...One thing I've found that really helps me a lot is to have (and maintain) reference sheets for characters, settings, items (magic or high-tech as applicable), and culture (including the political and religious systems in your fictional world). I used such things for role playing games when younger and they are really a great help when building scenes for my novels.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47994410204635652692011-08-30T12:01:46.183-04:002011-08-30T12:01:46.183-04:00Just a note on planning/outline: I've discover...Just a note on planning/outline: I've discovered that the means used to do it makes a lot of difference.<br /><br />For example, I never could work with a numbered outline. Once I had things numbered, I couldn't envision it any other way. Even with my school essays, I always worked better with bullet lists…<br /><br />But I worked <em>best</em> with 3x5 cards. Even bullet lists, I could easily get locked into the points and not be able to add or remove anything. With 3x5 cards, my brain more readily accepts them as temporary. I can rearrange, remove, and add easily.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, Scrivener's "Outline" function acts the same way for my brain, too. Not so much it's 3x5 card function—and I can't work with a more conventional computer outline, either.<br /><br />I've heard of other writers who need sticky notes, dry erase boards, mind mapping software—all sorts of things. So that's something to test out, too, if you feel like you need a plan but are sick of banging your head against an invisible wall.<br /><br />(Personally, I favor sticky notes for to-do lists.)<br /><br />As far as my personal type, I'm probably a People-r/House-r. I generally start out with a situation/purpose/theme, then figure out my primary characters (less knowing all the details about them and more getting an emotional/personality "read"). From there, I add on structure as I need it.Carradeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431561739001270522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17906349153715773822011-08-30T09:50:16.603-04:002011-08-30T09:50:16.603-04:00I'm mostly a pantser, at least when I start a ...I'm mostly a pantser, at least when I start a new book, but then the scene ideas start popping into my head as I work. I can't help it. I've already worked out how the 5 sequels to my first novel are going to go, more or less, and hardly written any of it down. It's mostly just ideas rumbling around in my head.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-14667169449876071192011-08-30T09:12:00.879-04:002011-08-30T09:12:00.879-04:00Used to be strictly a pantser. I just had an idea ...Used to be strictly a pantser. I just had an idea in mind of where I wanted to end up. How I got there was an adventure. <br /><br />The more I write, the more I need to prep! I've become a Build-a-house-er more than anything. I just need some kind of structure without planning out every minute detail.DL Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04413064407300936538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72355254591341823792010-01-27T15:46:46.378-05:002010-01-27T15:46:46.378-05:00I'm a combo, a People-Who-Need-Peopler who lik...I'm a combo, a People-Who-Need-Peopler who likes the seat of her pants and sometimes has to sit in concrete. I also need people (friends) who I can bounce ideas off of. Their questions and (lack of) interest can help me navigate problems before I get to 'em.Carradeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431561739001270522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-90105079967004399642009-10-18T07:56:02.636-04:002009-10-18T07:56:02.636-04:00Thanks! I do try, LOL. Outlines definitely resonat...Thanks! I do try, LOL. Outlines definitely resonated with folks, so I'll have to do some more posts on it.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-11539598864436491392009-10-16T01:04:45.149-04:002009-10-16T01:04:45.149-04:00You are pure awesomeness!!!You are pure awesomeness!!!Tina Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05914428134837892539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48767392995902999282009-10-14T11:53:06.855-04:002009-10-14T11:53:06.855-04:00I'm definitely a Let's-Build-a-Houser. And...I'm definitely a Let's-Build-a-Houser. And I agree with Lydia: it's nice to have names for the people in the middle of the two extremes. I feel so...identified. ;)Dawn Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05667675689038435581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78840552639406096952009-10-14T10:13:16.600-04:002009-10-14T10:13:16.600-04:00Those are some great names.
I think I vary depen...Those are some great names. <br /><br />I think I vary depending on the story. My YA novel started out as a variety of pantsed, scene sewn, and peopler, but what it really needs is to be housed. But my SF short-story-turning-novella is essentially a peopler, having started with a character and a destination and then running along from there with a vague ending in mind. <br /><br />One thing I am not at all is the Ducks-in-a-row. I can't stand formal outlining, noting every detail in advance. Let's Build a House is as close to outlining as I get.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-28161067049709913332009-10-14T07:58:08.387-04:002009-10-14T07:58:08.387-04:00Tina, I can't believe I forget the Scene Sewer...Tina, I can't believe I forget the Scene Sewer (great name). A good friend of mine does that too. All fixed now! I'd outline same as you write. Just list out/summarize (however you like to do it) the scenes as you see them. You might think about putting them on index cards, that way you can shuffle them around and put them in order when you're ready.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-28730956754238695922009-10-14T07:44:17.048-04:002009-10-14T07:44:17.048-04:00That's "kind" not "king".....That's "kind" not "king"...although, I guess "king" kinda works, too. :) Sorry, it's early for me. My fingers aren't quite warmed up yet.Lydia Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328254761920829040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-86691341670487169602009-10-14T07:41:00.727-04:002009-10-14T07:41:00.727-04:00I'm a Let's-Build-A-Houser for sure. Thank...I'm a Let's-Build-A-Houser for sure. Thank you for giving us a couple more options here. I've only ever seen the two extremes, and had to always say, "Well, I'm king of just in between those two." Now I have a REAL label! Haha.<br /><br />And I agree, character goals are what make up the plot. Excellent post! :)Lydia Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328254761920829040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22525803804429683342009-10-14T01:25:30.978-04:002009-10-14T01:25:30.978-04:00You forgot me! I'm a scene-sewer. I'm very...You forgot me! I'm a scene-sewer. I'm very character driven, so I could be a People-Who-Need-Peopler. However, I find that scenes come to me (whether they be at the beginning, middle, or end) and I write them down right away. Then I sew them all together. Sometimes a scene comes to me that I hashed out to connect two other scenes. I quickly replace that section, because the scenes that come to me are so much better than the writing that sews them all together. How do I outline for that?Tina Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05914428134837892539noreply@blogger.com