I have been trying to get a new story started for some time now, but not sure exactly...uh lol...how or where to start. The basis of my story is a Vampire story, but I don't want it to be cliche..I want it to be, well, Unique. What are some ways I could get this started? Should I plan it out before I write, or should I take a hint from Dent in "The Dark Knight" and flip a coin as I'm writing?
Ways of getting started?
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Sounds like a good place to start.
My advice would be just to write whatever is in your mind. Most ideas have been taken anyway. It's what you do with them that makes them unique. Write something down and see if you like where it's going. Once you do, continue until you're finished.
One thing is for certain, you'll never get done if you don't start =D
Some people must plan first. I can't write that way. As Elidibus says, write what you have in our mind. Don't worry now about how good it sounds, there'll be plenty of time for that later. If you find you can't do this, try planning first. Do it the way you find best for you.
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If it's a short story, planning things out in your head might be enough. If it's a longer novel-ish piece, an outline might help you find your way. A good way to decide where to begin any story? Think about what changes. What aspect of a character's life just got turned on its head, forcing them to go in a new direction, face a new challenge or dilemma, etc.
Check out the recent vampire thread in our Roundtable discussion forum, which explores clichés that work and don't work:
Vampire Lore: Must have, cliche', etc. for a Reader
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122476
-Derek
Check out the recent vampire thread in our Roundtable discussion forum, which explores clichés that work and don't work:
Vampire Lore: Must have, cliche', etc. for a Reader
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122476
-Derek
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Sometimes I think, if my story was a movie, what would be the opening scene, what do I see? I do have a strong imagination though! 
Sorry I'm not much help.
Sorry I'm not much help.
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Do you have any idea what the premise of your story is? Sure it's about a vampire, but what's the plot? What's going to happen? What's at stake? (ETA--pun not intended.)
I honestly can't write a story unless I have at least a vague idea what's at stake, otherwise, it's just a meandering bunch of nothing. People talking, nothing really important happening. I think this is the problem with a lot of people new to writing longer stories. They get started, then, realizing that the story has nowhere to go, fizzle out. They don't know what their story is about.
You don't have to plan the whole thing out ahead of time--I know I don't, and I write VERY LONG stories--but it's best to have some idea where you want it to go.
Don't worry about it being cliched for now, just pick a premise and run with it.
I honestly can't write a story unless I have at least a vague idea what's at stake, otherwise, it's just a meandering bunch of nothing. People talking, nothing really important happening. I think this is the problem with a lot of people new to writing longer stories. They get started, then, realizing that the story has nowhere to go, fizzle out. They don't know what their story is about.
You don't have to plan the whole thing out ahead of time--I know I don't, and I write VERY LONG stories--but it's best to have some idea where you want it to go.
Don't worry about it being cliched for now, just pick a premise and run with it.
First of all, figure out how your vampires work. You can borrow from lore or start from scratch. Work it all out in detail: origins, strengths, weaknesses, society, habits, natural (supernatural) history. Then figure out what an intelligent being with all these attributes and all this background would really act like, would really desire.
The more you differentiate your vampires from the stock models, the fresher yours will be. As some suggested in the thread noted above, you might want to check out vampire lore from other cultures to get ideas.
Just...don't make them sparkle. Well, unless they're urban, transvestite glam vampires in glitter eyeshadow.
The more you differentiate your vampires from the stock models, the fresher yours will be. As some suggested in the thread noted above, you might want to check out vampire lore from other cultures to get ideas.
Just...don't make them sparkle. Well, unless they're urban, transvestite glam vampires in glitter eyeshadow.
You might want to start by figuring out who your main character is. Ask yourself questions about him? What does he eat, for example? What clothes does he wear? What does he want? I find the more questions I answer, the better an idea I have of where to go. Good luck!
Don't focus on making the story unique and perfect. Focus on getting it out of your head and on paper (or screen, whatever) from start to finish. That last bit is the important part....finish the story. If you don't actually write the whole story out, you can't properly edit it. Too many writers get caught up in polishing the opening of a story for years and years, but never finish it. (Ask me how I know this one!)
Then I would give it a little time out (at least a week, month is better) before reading it again. THEN you can work on perfecting it and making it unique.
Meanwhile, read up on the genre you're writing in (and the thread suggested above with vampire cliches) so you know what has already been done, and write the first draft of your next story.
Good luck!
Then I would give it a little time out (at least a week, month is better) before reading it again. THEN you can work on perfecting it and making it unique.
Meanwhile, read up on the genre you're writing in (and the thread suggested above with vampire cliches) so you know what has already been done, and write the first draft of your next story.
Good luck!
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Just...don't make them sparkle. Well, unless they're urban, transvestite glam vampires in glitter eyeshadow.
You beat me to it!
Start it the same way you started your previous stories.
Good luck, and welcome.
Good luck, and welcome.
Say out loud "What if this vampire...." then keep talking. Transfer that to paper.
I outline to get my thoughts organized and to keep me on track, especially the timeline. My WIP takes place 1555-1574 with an epilogue in 1604. Without my timeline I'd screw up English history!
If I re-read my outline and see a better beginning in chapter 4 than chapter 1, it's easy to flex the outline to see if the new idea works.
After that, use what works for you as you go. I got blocked by logistical trouble with the cottage where my MC lives and how to make some vital scenes work, until I drew a floor plan on graph paper. Now I can 'see' the interior of the house, which makes it easier for the characters to move about and for me to write it.
Good luck.
I outline to get my thoughts organized and to keep me on track, especially the timeline. My WIP takes place 1555-1574 with an epilogue in 1604. Without my timeline I'd screw up English history!
If I re-read my outline and see a better beginning in chapter 4 than chapter 1, it's easy to flex the outline to see if the new idea works.
After that, use what works for you as you go. I got blocked by logistical trouble with the cottage where my MC lives and how to make some vital scenes work, until I drew a floor plan on graph paper. Now I can 'see' the interior of the house, which makes it easier for the characters to move about and for me to write it.
Good luck.
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It was a dark and stormy night.
Usually what I do is I sit down and the first phrase that comes into my head, I'll throw it onto the page. As soon as I get my fingers moving, the rest just tends to come along for the ride.
Usually what I do is I sit down and the first phrase that comes into my head, I'll throw it onto the page. As soon as I get my fingers moving, the rest just tends to come along for the ride.
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It's funny. Back in April I challenged myself to my own personal NaNo. I spent the week before outlining, creating characters, etc. When the time to start came along I never felt so prepared for a book in my life.
I got out my laptop. Get comfy in my chair. Pulled out my outline and set it next to me. I was ready. It was going to be a sci-fi book about aliens (don't worry, I had a different twist that I don't think anybody had ever approached before).
I put my fingers on the keys....and as soon as I did that, the phrase "Santa Claus is dead." rolled off my fingertips and it spiralled into 60,000 words that had absolutely nothing to do with what I had outlined.
I got out my laptop. Get comfy in my chair. Pulled out my outline and set it next to me. I was ready. It was going to be a sci-fi book about aliens (don't worry, I had a different twist that I don't think anybody had ever approached before).
I put my fingers on the keys....and as soon as I did that, the phrase "Santa Claus is dead." rolled off my fingertips and it spiralled into 60,000 words that had absolutely nothing to do with what I had outlined.
Perhaps you are trying to put the cart before the horse. Isn't the first thing to do before writing to at least know what you want to write about -- at least have a good idea --? A story about vampires is at this point only a subject, not THE idea for a book. Unique vampire story? Only you can really determine what that means.
Once you get your direction figured out, with or without any type of outline, do as you did before. Research, or just start writing something until it starts to gain a direction.
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This is exactly what I was going to suggest. If I'm stuck, I just get a blank piece of paper out and spill ideas out onto the page. I don't worry about actually writing the story at that point, just getting the ideas flowing. The "What if?" game is very helpful to me in these free writes.
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