How do you start a WIP?

M.P. Furo · Feb 11, 2008

I'm beginning on writing a new WIP, and I'd like to know how others go about starting one. Usually I just go at it, starting at the beginning, once I've got a good enough idea of what I'm doing, but considering how absolutely stuck I am on my other WIP, I don't think that'll work very well. I was considering outlining, but I'd like to know other techniques that might be helpful. Any tips from the more experienced?

lucky8 · Feb 11, 2008

I'm also about to start a new project. So far what I've done is set a start date (3rd March) and have been edging around the story, trying not to over think it, and making a note of anything that jumps into my head and tossing it in a box. I guess when the time comes I'll just jump right in. In the mean time I still write (short stories) every morning to keep myself fresh and hopefully make the transition into big project a lot smoother. Can't really offer you much advice I'm afraid, maybe try working on something else and then going back to it, hopefully that will help you come unstuck.

paprikapink · Feb 11, 2008

Check out the "Learn Writing With Uncle Jim" thread. But don't spend all day there; you've also gotta put in some BIC time.

BlueLucario · Feb 11, 2008

Just write something. Isn't that the point of a WIP?

III · Feb 11, 2008

I think it really depends on the author. Everyone seems to have different approaches. As for me, if I'm starting a longer WIP like a novel I spend weeks outlining, digesting, thinking about the characters, and getting into the mindset before I start writing. If it's a short story, I spend an hour or two just meditating on the points I want to hit or the feel for the story, then I sit down and crank through it. I tend to do my best thinking in the car, so I'll go for a drive and scribble notes until the story is ready to explode, then rush home and type the story (or pull over in a parking lot if I have my laptop with me).

CaroGirl · Feb 11, 2008

I usually have a scene in mind that I write as the first scene. Whether it remains the first depends on how the story progresses. I don't outline, so that's how I start: at the perceived beginning.

ishtar'sgate · Feb 11, 2008

Ugh, beginnings. I hate beginnings. I always have this fabulous opening in my head and when I put it down on paper it sucks pondwater. I usually make several false starts before I'm satisfied. That can take me anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It is impossible for me to go on until I get that right. The only way to get it done is to write and write and write. After that I generally don't have any trouble at all although I slow down near the middle before gathering momentum for the home stretch.
Linnea

Danger Jane · Feb 11, 2008

I figure out everything I need to figure out in order to start, like the setting, some of the characters...and then I start.

ORION · Feb 11, 2008

I start with a killer first sentence and then do the first chapter, the middle and the last and then I fill it in. My novels are fairly plot driven so I know what will happen when I start.
Then again...
others do outlines.
What ever works for you

Claudia Gray · Feb 11, 2008

I think about it, think some more, make some notes, do some research and/or reading, outline some more, figure out if I'm ready -- then, once ready, I start with the first part of the outline and write through it in order. Sometimes I have to back up through those steps and redo a few, but usually, once I'm past chapter four, I'm in the book and going.

Siddow · Feb 11, 2008

I figure out who my main character is, what incident propels them into the story, and start there.

Esopha · Feb 11, 2008

I define characters and figure out one or two main plot points to anchor the story, then I start writing.

icerose · Feb 11, 2008

Usually by the time I start writing I either have the first scene pictured or the story pretty well pictured. Then I start writing what I see, refine it from there.

HeronW · Feb 11, 2008

I write ideas I want to incorporate then just write and expand as I go along.

Lisa F · Feb 11, 2008

This is a quote from a little book called, Conversations with J.K. Rowling: "But with the idea of my life careering round my head, I didn't have a pen that worked! And I never went anywhere without my pen and notebook. So rather trying to write it, I had to think it. And I think that was a very good thing. I was besieged by a mass of detail , and if it didn't survive that journey, it probably wasn't worth remembering." She is talking about being on the train when she came up with the idea for Harry Potter. She jotted her idea down later that night. I am also inferring from some other paragraphs that she did lots and lots of writing about each character (that she didn't use). This reminded me of a YA author, Joan Bauer. She begins by writing about 40 pages on each character. I guess it boils down to finding the process that works best for you. I'm still searching for my process.

sunna · Feb 11, 2008

I write the first scene. Then I do character bios, any necessary research, a list of high points in the plot, and then a chapter outline, which will become the basis for a synopsis when I'm done. Usually by the end of chapter 2 I have a running list of themes, turning points for my characters, and notes on plot twists or problems I'll need to handle.

...All of which will change as the story progresses, because once I've got well-developed characters with goals, I'm not really in charge of anything but the delete key.

LeeFlower · Feb 11, 2008

I'm a big outliner. I made about a dozen false starts on my first WIP before I sat down and outlined it--after that, the actual writing flew by in a couple of months. For that one, I used a modified version of an academic paper outline, because that's the only kind of outline I was familiar with. It worked well enough, but I doubt it made sense to anyone but me (the outline, that is).

For my current WIP, I'm using a slightly-modified version of the Phase Method. It's going extremely well, and I heartily recommend it to anyone that's trying out outline styles.

~grace~ · Feb 11, 2008

I always come up with brilliant first scenes that never make it to the finished product. The two characters who originally popped into my head and created my current WIP are long gone.

But the story lives on....

So I kind do things by the...with the...what's the phrase I'm looking for? It has something do to with seats and pants.

timewaster · Feb 11, 2008

[ I guess it boils down to finding the process that works best for you. I'm still searching for my process.[/quote]

I write random sentences until I find one that interests me enough to keep writing. If the random sentence is interesting enough to allow me to write 4k without any trouble I stop and work out what the story is about.
The random sentence comes with character, setting and voice/style as a package so I often spend a whole book unpacking the stuff that I first thought of.
I love beginnings because they are so full of possibilities - it's what comes next that's hard.

M.P. Furo · Feb 11, 2008

timewaster said:
I write random sentences until I find one that interests me enough to keep writing. If the random sentence is interesting enough to allow me to write 4k without any trouble I stop and work out what the story is about.
The random sentence comes with character, setting and voice/style as a package so I often spend a whole book unpacking the stuff that I first thought of.
I love beginnings because they are so full of possibilities - it's what comes next that's hard.

That's a good idea- I think through most of the story before I write at all, though- otherwise I would never be able to think of even that one sentence.

DWSTXS · Feb 11, 2008

I outline. Create mini-bios for all my characters. Make a list of 'scenes' that I want to include in the story. Then a synopsis for each chapter. Then I start with the first page of chapter one, scene one.

Straka · Feb 11, 2008

I generally do a lot of reading or thinking about various subjects that interest me. That plants the seed of a WIP and slowly grows in my mind. In a year or tend years time that seed matures and I'll start to write it or more often then not, combine it with other concepts for WIPs to create one stronger WIP. From there its just sitting down and hammering it out on the keyboard.

jenstrikesagain · Feb 11, 2008

For some reason this has always worked for me: I type, "When last we left this sordid saga..." and then continue with something like "Bob had left Lola for Mimi, Mimi was certain Lola had once been a man, Mark, Lola's ex-lover from when she was a man, had an unrequited crush on Bob and Lola was plotting revenge with a pipe bomb." It always ends with, "Confused? You won't be, after this episode. Mimi walks in to Bob's place and says..." and start the dialogue there, or the narrative, or whatever. I think just having some words on the page lessens the intimidation factor.

Incidentally I weave, too, and the first few rows are always the ones that get pulled off later--they're just there to provide stability to the rest of the piece. Coincidence? Probably.

HourglassMemory · Feb 11, 2008

I just write the beginning, which at first is crap and is bound to be modified until the universe collapses at the end of time.
I just write something on a Word file. Even if it's just the title, or a very basic, cloudy, yet uncertain of the deepness, paragraph of what the story is.

Stew21 · Feb 11, 2008

I just start typing. Occasionally along the way I wonder what's happening, make notes of what I need to fix/change/tweak in the next draft, spend some time between writing sessions thinking about what I want or need to happen next, but mostly I just keep writing. Sometimes it ends up a false start and I scrap it - wait for the next story or the same one but differently emerge and then just start typing again.
It's a freefall, baby.
i usually worry about theme, solidifying voice, and filling in the blanks in the second draft.

How do you start a WIP?

Bored fanatic

Blood Elves FTW

rockin the suburbs

Living the dream

living in the past

Sailed away years ago

I'm super! Thanks for asking

bam pow zap.

Lost in School Work

Down Under Fan

Lurker Extraordinaire

the good old days

present

Mr Mojo Risin...

Bored Fanatic