Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

Planning stories: is it encouraging or blocking?

Does it help you finish your story or does it just stump you?
Personally it stumps me, I like just to write what comes to mind on a story.
You see a friend and I are writing a story and she plans ahead and we already planned
the plot and I started writing, but I don't know how to fill in the rest.

So planning how does that work for you?

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Permalink Reply by Viviana Arteaga on October 22, 2009 at 9:56am

She's loved writing with me. We've done it before and each time I end up finishing or writing the most so its more my story then hers. Am I right or am I being selfish? But she does concept drawings of the characters and what not and gives lil points to help me continue.

scribbler said:

Vivi, did you see the video Sandra posted about writing first drafts by Robin Rice? I think it might help you see that even published authors go through similar things.

How's your friend finding the collaboration? Is it difficult for her as well? It could be you guys need to talk through some more how it's going to work in practical terms to find a compromise.

Viviana Arteaga said:
Oh yes I like to just write concepts out of thin air. I like the idea of planning but it does like Andrew says lose interest in the story. I like to have an idea of the story but not to plan the main points. The one thing I do plan are the characters. I have a notebook filled with characters with their basics like their hair eyes skin height and what not and add in the rest of the info as soon as I use them in a story.

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Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on June 14, 2010 at 4:12am

Viviana, I was thinking about your collaboration today and wondered how it all worked out in the end. Give us an update please! :)

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Permalink Reply by Viviana Arteaga on June 16, 2010 at 10:02am

I actually let her take over! I was actually slowing down the writing. Since she had a lot coming to mind I told her it was mostly her's and it would not be fair to have my name on it if I hardly do anything.

scribbler said:

Vivi, did you see the video Sandra posted about writing first drafts by Robin Rice? I think it might help you see that even published authors go through similar things.

How's your friend finding the collaboration? Is it difficult for her as well? It could be you guys need to talk through some more how it's going to work in practical terms to find a compromise.

Viviana Arteaga said:
Oh yes I like to just write concepts out of thin air. I like the idea of planning but it does like Andrew says lose interest in the story. I like to have an idea of the story but not to plan the main points. The one thing I do plan are the characters. I have a notebook filled with characters with their basics like their hair eyes skin height and what not and add in the rest of the info as soon as I use them in a story.

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Permalink Reply by Dairenna VonRavenstone on June 17, 2010 at 2:23am

On planning: I do a bit of both, depending on the story. Sometimes I just write what comes to mind, other times I outline the whole thing. Most of the time I just write a basic idea, the characters and the ending then go from there leaving notes as I need.

On collaboration: I don't think I could ever collaborate on a story. I'm too....random when it comes to when I want to write and what I want to write. I could see my collaborating partner getting really angry with me...lol

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Permalink Reply by Viviana Arteaga on June 18, 2010 at 9:05am

lol Thats how I used to write I loved it!!! And it was hard to write with others lol!!!

Dairenna VonRavenstone said:

On planning: I do a bit of both, depending on the story. Sometimes I just write what comes to mind, other times I outline the whole thing. Most of the time I just write a basic idea, the characters and the ending then go from there leaving notes as I need.

On collaboration: I don't think I could ever collaborate on a story. I'm too....random when it comes to when I want to write and what I want to write. I could see my collaborating partner getting really angry with me...lol

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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on June 20, 2010 at 4:53pm

For me, with stories, as in life, we either have goals or we are meandering. I personally like to have goals. So will take time before I write to clear my mind and visualize where I want to be with my story before I commit to the written word (computer, as my handwriting SUCKS!) The exact content is not defined, but I let the goals and the characters decide how the story unfolds with a clear focus on my end goals.

I also am clear about what emotions I want in the text. Sometimes I get surprises as I write though, as the characters do play their part and an eddy can occur that is very necessary for the story and the 'feel' of the flow.

But here I am sounding like a true pro when I have in fact only began to scratch the surface of this artform.

I am sure everyone is different and all I know is what works for me.

Always have FUN and follow your dreams. Writing stories is a pleasure: never a chore.

Cheers
Sean