Teens Writing for Teens, the 5th
- Thread starter It's-Magic!
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It was trial and error. I wrote stuff, it sucked, Para was like "sweetie, I love you and all, but this sucks," then I got better. 
ETA: Okay, really, a lot of my knowledge of plotty stuff comes from my knowledge of queries. Generally, people have all these ideas but they aren't connected or poignant enough and that comes up in the query. Thanks to my HUGE knowledge of queries, I know what works.
ETA: Okay, really, a lot of my knowledge of plotty stuff comes from my knowledge of queries. Generally, people have all these ideas but they aren't connected or poignant enough and that comes up in the query. Thanks to my HUGE knowledge of queries, I know what works.
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It was trial and error. I wrote stuff, it sucked, Para was like "sweetie, I love you and all, but this sucks," then I got better.
Plots weren't so much a problem for me, but structure really was. And without Para I still would be floundering around unable to finish novels with a lack of major plot points in mind to help with direction.
I got super far with the newer versions of LS and CMRH thanks to plotting everything out. And I think because I have no direction with TFL or TL yet, I couldn't completely focus on those.
<3 you Para!
I got super far with the newer versions of LS and CMRH thanks to plotting everything out. And I think because I have no direction with TFL or TL yet, I couldn't completely focus on those.
<3 you Para!
I think I have problems with everything. Because I'm a bit of a fail writer.
But I'm getting better.
But I'm getting better.
Here's how I write stories:
A basic premise comes to mind.
Something like: "OOh, I like Gallagher girls, I like girl spies, I like girls doing awesome important stuff, I also like writing about dynamics between high school girls, and I like writing rich people-- HEY Elite."
Then I come up with characters.
Then I worldbuild.
Then I chat with people 'till I have a plot.
Then I kick my ass plotting and have to keep fixing it over and over again.
(of course, I do this by hand. it's easier to cross stuff out and draw cool diagrams)
Then, I start writing!
A basic premise comes to mind.
Something like: "OOh, I like Gallagher girls, I like girl spies, I like girls doing awesome important stuff, I also like writing about dynamics between high school girls, and I like writing rich people-- HEY Elite."
Then I come up with characters.
Then I worldbuild.
Then I chat with people 'till I have a plot.
Then I kick my ass plotting and have to keep fixing it over and over again.
(of course, I do this by hand. it's easier to cross stuff out and draw cool diagrams)
Then, I start writing!
I'm doing summaries of important scenes (though non-important scenes may or may not be plotted) in my notebook. And I may use that in the revising process or to make notes about characters and other stuff. And I may print out pictures and put them if I ever find 'ideal' actors or settings or something crazy.
Yay for notebooks!
My process
Yay for notebooks!
My process
- Come up with an idea
- Mill it over - usually in bed or to music when I'm bored or something
- Come up with an MC/narrator
- Write a blurb
- Come up with a few more characters
- Plot
- Start the musical outline (can be started doing the plotting stage)
- Write (while doing additional plotting if it comes to it).
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For me:
1. Premise
2. General idea of plot I form in my head.
3. Type up a mock query to make the plot more specific. This also adds the character bits.
4. Come up with plot points.
5. Write.
Though sometimes I'll come up with the inciting incident, the first turning point, and the resolution, and then I start writing. While I write, I'll get to know my characters more to see where they are headed for the rest of the plot points.
1. Premise
2. General idea of plot I form in my head.
3. Type up a mock query to make the plot more specific. This also adds the character bits.
4. Come up with plot points.
5. Write.
Though sometimes I'll come up with the inciting incident, the first turning point, and the resolution, and then I start writing. While I write, I'll get to know my characters more to see where they are headed for the rest of the plot points.
hummm my process isnt all that complicated.
1)Idea popped up in head... story line/plot naturally develops in a few days as scenes instantly pop into my head.
2)Figure out where in series the book will fit.
3) Write first chapter or until i get a little stuck.
4) Plot a little and write some more... and i just repeat this step till the books done.
1)Idea popped up in head... story line/plot naturally develops in a few days as scenes instantly pop into my head.
2)Figure out where in series the book will fit.
3) Write first chapter or until i get a little stuck.
4) Plot a little and write some more... and i just repeat this step till the books done.
It's crazy how different, yet so similar, yet everyone's processes are. And mine isn't set in stone - it depends what happens. For example, the musical outline might be one of the things I do at first because a song gave me the idea!
It's a somewhat mixed blessing that I can fix everyone's writing except my own.
Oh, Para. I bet your writing is a lot better than you think it is.
But I feel for you. I tend to have issues with feeling negative about my writing after I read amazing books. Mainly with how simplistic/minimalistic my writing style is. I still need to get used to the fact that that's just my style; I can't force it any differently. I guess my main concern with that is having good plots but lackluster writing.
Ah well.
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