Poll: Story writing methods

[EAS_Suit]

Ok, so I don't know if anyone will look at this, let alone care, but...

I have planned four seccessive stories in a series and I haven't written a single sentence that is intented for the actual stories yet. What i was wondering is whether this is normal for writing. If you, were to/are writing a series of stories, would you; Preplan all the stories or write one and move onto the next afterwards?

And although there is a poll, i'd like to here anything you have to say.

 

[Dark Knifer]

My suggestion, get the basic idea of all of them down on paper, so you don't forget. If you think of something new to a particular story then add to it. It may be easier to do them one at a time. You ca focus on one, but always add a little something to the others. That's just my advice though, feel free to do whatever you feel best.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I have so far taken a different approach with every book I write. Once I planned everything in minute detail, then wrote it out, and once I just sat down and wrote it, and made not one word of notes about the story.

Both have their merits, but especially in the case of a long series, it is always good to have some foreknowledge of events, at the very least so you can foreshadow things. Also, I often in the case of series have a general picture of the way the series is going to go, but only actually plan book by book.
(Say for a four book series, I know how it starts, I know how it ends, but each time I plan one book, write it and then plan the next one, write etc.)

 

[Eagle Est1986]

It's easier for me to have a very rough idea of what I want to happen, then just start writing and let my imagination do the rest. Then I can go back over it a few times and smooth out the rough edges.
I struggle to plan too much because I end up feeling forced to get to certain points that don't end up feeling natural enough.

 

[Kaymish]

well everyone writes in their own way however ive found that there are less plot holes and less need for fudge factors if you preplan all the stories then write them plus you can do all sorts of interesting things if you preplan them all

 

[Beldaros]

Don't plan a single thing. Create a character and let them take you where they want to go. Character development makes or breaks a story, if you preplan a story and then the character doesn't fit in the scenario the story won't work. I am an author www.absoluteimmersion.com Aaron Dodd

Edit: Everyone is different though, a good friend of mine also an author will tell you to plan every detail. I find it's best if you try both and see which turns out better. If you do plan though always be prepared to back up and edit the story.

 

[Trivun]

well everyone writes in their own way however ive found that there are less plot holes and less need for fudge factors if you preplan all the stories then write them plus you can do all sorts of interesting things if you preplan them all

This, pretty much. I'm writing a series myself and I'm on the second story now, but I didn't start writing until I had a good idea of what to include. Since I intend to write an overreaching story arc though, I won't even bother starting parts three and four (which I only have a rough idea of now) until I'm certain I have an entire plan set out in my head.

 

[Beartrucci]

I would probably pre-plan a lot of the story beforehand, and add some parts while writing the story if I thought they were good ideas.

 

[EAS_Suit]

two things:
1. You people are really fast to respond to things o.o
2. I can see a trend already and i'll consider the method, though I can already relate the way I do things with "Eagle Est1986" (odd name :3) as I am in the early stages of his process

 

[DethVanXan]

What I do is write about two pages that basicly outlines the plot of the entire story. Using this outline as a map to follow, adding bits on as I go along to stretch out the story or add small subplots. Then I write the story, going into far greater detail on everything, i.e in the outline you would say "a desert" in the story you say "a desolate, barren plain. Drained of life many ages ago, leaving only the withered husk of what it once was."

Apply that to the entire story and you can turn a paragraph of outline into about five pages of story. Then you go through it again, fixing any mistakes and adding or removing bits to smoothen the story out. You can go through it several times until your five pages have been stretched into twice that.

 

[Axeli]

Few things as cool as noticing that the writer foreshadowed the ending of a several novels long book series in the first chapters of the first book.

Well planned stories also tend to avoid relying on cheap and bad plot gimmicks.

 

[DethVanXan]

I have a question: Has anyone had a book published?

 

[Beldaros]

I'm working on it. If you include published onine, then yes

 

[EAS_Suit]

@DethVanXan: Judging by what you just said and the example you gave. You have

 

[DethVanXan]

@DethVanXan: Judging by what you just said and the example you gave. You have

I wish.
I've published online, but not properly to the real world. My online story is about 60,000 words long at the moment, I want to finish it up at around 100,000. Then I can move on to the story I hope to get to get published.

 

[Beldaros]

I'd also suggest talking to friends or family about your ideas. Sometimes conversation can lead to key plot ideas that you hadn't even thought of. It's also good for making sure your story makes sense and has enough detail. This is a good cure for writers block.

 

[Beldaros]

@DethVanXan: Judging by what you just said and the example you gave. You have

I wish.
I've published online, but not properly to the real world. My online story is about 60,000 words long at the moment, I want to finish it up at around 100,000. Then I can move on to the story I hope to get to get published.

Where would I find your work?

 

[Kaymish]

i had some things published but only in a compilation book and even then the editor had me bastardise it

 

[Beldaros]

i had some things published but only in a compilation book and even then the editor had me bastardise it

It's an editors job to bastardise. So long as they do not change the premise of the story or change a character, but editors must help you to make those tough decisions.

 

[DethVanXan]

I tried that, my brothers aren't the most supportive people around.
The 60K story is a Fanfic, I'm embarrassed to say. I was using it to hone my skills and it has definatly worked well, what I'm writing now is way better than what it began as. The problem though is that with fanfics you have to follow someone elses rules and aren't allowed to break character too much or everyone will complain.
The story I want published is completely original however, Charcaters, plot, setting.