Have an idea for my novel. What next?

NewB · Oct 20, 2005

Hi all,

I stressed my poor brain enough and have come up with an idea about my first novel. (Note: first novel). Now, I am clueless about what to do next?

I have the main character and three primary characters. I don’t have names for them yet. What do I next?

-Should I add in all the other characters that I am going to need?

-Should I break down the whole story into chapters and make an outline of each of the chapters?

-Should I just write what I have in mind and later fill in the gaps (Worst idea of all the three, IMO)

I looked at the Snowflake method, but I don’t know whether it will be helpful for me. Since this is my first time, I am all jittery!

Any help is appreciated,
Sanyuja

brinkett · Oct 20, 2005

sanyuja said:
-Should I just write what I have in mind and later fill in the gaps (Worst idea of all the three, IMO)

Actually, if you've got the main characters and an idea of what the story is, I'd start writing--the gaps will (should) naturally fill in as you go. But that's me. You have to figure out what works for you. Some people like a detailed outline and/or character sketches before they start. There isn't a one size fits all answer.

jules · Oct 20, 2005

This is one of those things that I'm afraid you'll have to find your own way in. I like to have an idea of what my characters are going to do, and a good idea about how the book is going to end, maybe about 200-400 words worth of notes on things that will happen before I start writing. I also like to write brief interviews with my characters to find out more about them first. Other writers like to know more about their story; others find they can't work with as much as I do, they just want to sit down and write from start to finish.

-- Jules, just about to start work on his fourth novel, so not exactly an expert...

NewB · Oct 20, 2005

Thanks for the reply guys.

I guess you are right brinkett. I will have to find out what suits me.

Jules - Four novels and you say not an expert? Not good!

Thanks once again,
Sanyuja

Jamesaritchie · Oct 20, 2005

Next

What you should do next depends on what you want to do next. I have no ideas and no characters when I sit down to write a novel. I just place what I hope is an interesting character in an interesting situation and go from there. I have no clue what characters will be in a novel until they show up on the page and introduce themselves.

Other writers plot, outline, do character charts, and you name it before writing word one.

Just remember that at some point you have to face the blank page and start writing. This is what makes a novel. A new writer may have to sit down and write five or ten or twenty thousand words, then throw it all away and start over once they see what works and what doesn't.

One thing I do believe in doing is to look at your two or three favorites writers and see what they do and how they do it. If you like the books they write a great deal, then using the same method they use may work for you, as well.

But right now you're at the experimentation stage, so experiment. Try different things. But whatever you try, write. It's often impossible to get anything right until you first get it wrong several times, so don't be afraid to tackle the blank page.

Eldo · Oct 20, 2005

sanyuja said:
Hi all,

I stressed my poor brain enough and have come up with an idea about my first novel. (Note: first novel).

How developed is your idea? If you were to write a synopsis on it right now - just a quickie rough draft - how long would it be and does it have an ending/climax? I'm esp curious about the latter.

In the middle of writing my manuscripts, I've always told myself I would do more outlining beforehand, but the truth of the matter for me is that I just don't like to. Not because I'm necessarily lazy, but that I feel it takes away from the organic nature of the story. (i.e., I just place the characters in the situation and let them act out based on who they are and what they want to accomplish.) Over-outlining becomes a little too much like "connect the dots" to me, and it causes me to rush through it.

So you have "an idea", you have your primiary characters, which I assume means that you have some sense of their motivations and background. The only other thing I would want before starting is a fairly good idea of where you want to end up (or roughly how your climax would play out). If you have all that, then write write write. oh, and try to have a little fun doing it!

veinglory · Oct 20, 2005

The slang I hear a lot are that some writers are 'planners' and some are 'pantzers'. I have basic characters, plot climax and plot resolution in mind when I start but nothing written down and the details sort themselves out as I go. Detailed stuff like the damn snowflake thing drive me batty and mean I hate the story before I've even written a word. For me the chance to 'discover' the nuances of the story is the main thing that gets me writing.

Niesta · Oct 20, 2005

What is this "snowflake" of which y'all speak?

Personally, I do some of both (taking notes and plowing ahead). I do find, personally, that if I'm really really obsessing over some detail of planning, that's actually a procrastination technique of mine. I can't possibly move forward until I have everything worked out just right!

Well, yes I can, and I should. My very best, most insightful ideas come after I've got SOMETHING down on paper. It's a lot easier to look at something I've written and see what needs to be fixed than it is to have it all "in my head" (or in my notes!) and still have to put it down on paper.

KelseyF · Oct 20, 2005

With screenwriting, I plan out every scene carefully. As I've started my novel, I just write. Hopefully it works out for me. Thanks for asking this question...it's helped me as well.

Bufty · Oct 20, 2005

Sanyuja,

Forgive me, but until you type 'Chapter One' and start writing, you are just thinking about writing a novel - you are creating road-blocks by wondering what to do next. What do you do when you have an idea for a poem? My guess is you start to write and see what the muse tells you. What do you do when you have an idea for a short story? My guess is you write and see where your muse takes you. What do you do in your Blog site? You write, probably without thinking too much about it.

What do you do when you have an idea for a Novel? You got it. Go for it. :banana:

You'll have to leap in without procrastinating if you want to cope with NINAMO or whatever.

StoryG27 · Oct 20, 2005

Have an idea for my novel. What next?

Write it.

However you want, but stop thinking and write. Sound wierd? Nope...soon your characters will probably start thinking for themselves and you're just the person who puts it on the page for them.

Sage · Oct 20, 2005

Sanyuja,

I think everyone comes to this differently, & I can't tell you how many people make suggestions to others on here that make me think I'm doing it wrong, but I've come to learn that there's no one way to go about actually putting the story on paper.

I was a mix of planning ahead & just sitting down & writing. First all I had was just a little short story about these twins w/ psychic powers. Then I got to thinking (my job consists of counting organisms most of the time. I have lots of time to think) about what the twins would be like when they reached their teens. That seemed more interesting to me... but what could they be doing? I started adding little bits: well, it could be a quest... and one of them could have a romance going on... oh, but what if the romantic interest was playing him... & so on. At some point, I came up with a scene that I knew I just had to sit down and write right then. Then I just sort of worked on the scenes I was interested in, or started from the beginning if nothing was calling to me. But when the story really got moving was when I realized what was going to happen in the climax. I spent the next week writing furiously, even though very little of the beginning & middle had been written up to that point. And the whole time I was thinking up what else was going to happen in the story.

I also have a friend that I brainstorm w/ on IM, & say, "Hey, does this sound good/interesting/plausible?" and half the time come up w/ a more organized plan while IMing her. So I save those conversations, which would be the closest thing I have to an outline. They've come in handy several times when I revisit scenes I planned months ago.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that you should just do whatever works best for you. If you know you like planning things before hand (itineraries for trips, writing shopping or "to do" lists), you'll probably want an outline. If you want to dive in, do it. If you're like me, you'll want to start as soon as you have an idea of where you're going, but still will want something to refer to if you have ideas that you can't get to yet.

Hope this helps!

NewB · Oct 20, 2005

I am not a good planner. I am more of an impulsive kind of a person. I would like an unplanned adventurous trip than a meticulously planned one. So, I guess, I just have to start writing.

I never plan for my short stories. I have an idea, I pull out a paper and start writing. The characters start evolving and the story takes an unexpected turn as I am writing. In fact, for one story, I completely turned the climax because I just felt it was right. I write short stories this way and I am happy with the outcome so far. So, I will use the same method for my novel also.

The reason why I started thinking about ways of writing a novel was that I was intimidated by the size of the novel. I wondered whether I can sustain the interest/story for 200 pages! That is the reason why I thought I might need an outline. But, I forgot that I can always re-read and edit the novel once it’s done.

I know how my novel begins and I know how it ends. I have the major characters who will twist or turn the story. What I do not have are the ‘side’ characters that will add the outer covering to the meat.

So, as Bufty said, I'll just go for it.

Niesta, you can read about the snowflake method here. http://www.rsingermanson.com/html/the_snowflake.html

Thanks everyone for replying,
Sanyuja

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P.S: Oh, I feel so light and I am all excited!
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scarletpeaches · Oct 21, 2005

I know this will sound blunt, but do you want to write a book, or do you want to talk about writing a book? Do you want to write, or do you want to have written? Don't think, just grab the pen and paper and do it.

maestrowork · Oct 21, 2005

Start with one word.

Then a sentence.

Then a paragraph.

Fill in the rest later -- outline, character sketches, etc. etc.

Planning is all fun and nice... but until you actually start writing, you haven't written anything (duh!) It's nice to plan a vacation and all that, but until you actually hop in the car and drive or step on the airplane or cruise ship, all you have done is just talk.

Now's the time to walk the walk.

(I know some people talk about "planner" vs. "pantzers"(?) which is true... but your problem seems to be one of "staller" -- you just don't know if you could hang on for 300 pages... you're stalling. It has nothing with whether you're a planner or not. So go ahead and start writing. It happened to me a few years ago when I was "thinking" of writing a novel. I was constantly thinking about it, but not a word of the actual story was written, until one day I decided to write a chapter and show it to a colleague. That got me started and I never looked back. I didn't even use that first chapter in the final ms., but that got me started. Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The Chinese are very smart, you know...

)

arrowqueen · Oct 21, 2005

It's a bit like taking a walk in the woods. You can sit down with all the maps and brochures and spend your time working out where you're going in advance - or you can take a couple of cheese sandwiches, set off and see where the paths lead you.

The choice is yours.

Danger Jane · Oct 22, 2005

The first novel I ever wrote was when I was thirteen. So I have no idea what I did--I didn't think about the technical. I just wrote what felt right.

But I don't count that one. Really my first novel was the one I finished last winter. I let the ideas roll around until they were formed well, and then I just started to write without OMFG THIS LOGIC LEAP ON PAGE TWENTY THREE RUINS THE ENDING inhibitions.

Me personally? I write best when I just jump into a first draft and let it take me to an ending that I know vaguely about (in a very black and white way). Some people work best with an outline, but I'm much better off with a mental map of what I want to happen, but keeping every single word fluid.

And congrats on discovering your story! Now all that's left to do is channel it. Oh-so easy...

:idea:

NewB · Oct 23, 2005

You guys are so right.

scarletpeaches - I know I want to write a novel and I am going to do that now.

arrowqueen, you explain my situation so well! I will be a little adventurous and start on the journey without a route map

maestro, I do have a stalling problem. It's time to STOP thinking and START writing! And I am going to do that RIGHT NOW!

"Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - So true!
Mdlle. Nancy, I agree - deciding upon an idea was the toughest part. Writing should be easier!

I will stop thinking about the story. I will just grab a pen and start writing.

Thanks everybody,
Sanyuja

My-Immortal · Oct 23, 2005

Find a chair that you can sit in for a few hours at a time without killing yourself...comfy, but not something that will put you to sleep.

Introduce your butt to the chair.

Make sure the two are firmly next to each other for a couple of hours each day situated in front of your work in progress.

Keep adding to your work in progress (usually every day).

When you are done with the first draft congratulate yourself and then sit back in your chair and start editing until your book sings.

Repeat...

Repeat...

Repeat...

....repeat.........etc..........

----This was meant to be helpful and humorous - hopefully you understood that.

Good luck with your writing!

NewB · Oct 23, 2005

Thanks My-Immortal! I appreciate your comments

I will carry out the introduction part very soon!

KTC · Oct 24, 2005

Write it.

Have an idea for my novel. What next?

NewB

Super Fast Turtle

brinkett

Elder Scrolls devotee

jules

Bored fanatic

NewB

Super Fast Turtle

Jamesaritchie

Eldo

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Niesta

Canada's sweetheart

KelseyF

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

StoryG27

Miss Behave

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

NewB

Super Fast Turtle

scarletpeaches

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

arrowqueen

RIP, our sarky besom

Danger Jane

NewB

Super Fast Turtle

My-Immortal

Mr. Invisible

NewB

Super Fast Turtle

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live