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PLANNING VS GOING WITH IT
I was having a conversation with a friend a while back about this and was amazed by his lack of planning. He said he loves to just let the story take, so on my latest project i had an intial idea and went with it so to speak and was amazed how my novel is taking on a life of its own, I have just killed off someone in a horrible way and she was never even meant to be in the original idea.
I would be interested in how many of you plan or let the story take you as you write.
Guffyowl
Comments
I write with rough planning, some parts more than other but tend to pants most of it.
I think both methods are equally useful as I've stumbled across new and interesting ideas/directions using both methods.
I do find that if you pants it and then hit a particular section you need to research it can stall you for a while. I usually try to have a few bits of research in place, or at least a brief read of relevant books, in order to have enough info to write something reasonably convincing and then change it later after I've done some detailed research.
Previously I had an idea of the story with a starting and ending point with points in between, but I went with it.
Every writer is different and for some the spontaneous workks better.
Yeah I did. I started with the 'What if?' and let it take its own direction. You end up with the proverbial Topsy.
Fourteen months, one professional edit and several rewrites later, I wouldn't recommend it. It 'grew' organically to 100,000 words. After the edit, I ditched 50,000 words, pruned down the remainder to 30,000 and built it up again to 60,000.
I've now been given some ideas by my writing tutor which look like inspiring another 10,000 words, so I'll be at the 70,000 which I wanted originally.
I don't recommend the 'fly by the pants' approach but it has helped me to find my voice (I think I'[ve found it). On the other hand, I think if you plan in too much detail, it can restrict you.
Having a chapter by chapter synopsis means I can lay down words knowing where I'm going. It's like planning a strenuoous walk up a mountain - each word is one word nearer the summit. There's still opportunity to veer off-route, but at least the general direction is there for me to refer to.
[/quote] Me as well short stories just seem to happen anything else I have to think about and scribble a lot.
I sat down (with much complaining as I believed the rigid approach of plot, plan and outline would kill all creativity) and wrote down both the synopsis and chapter outline for one of my assignments I was amazed at how much easier it is.
There's no 'right' or 'wrong' way of doing it, it seems.
I think every writer is different.
As is every story.
You must have experienced that sudden idea that grabs vulnerable part of your anatomy demanding attention be paid to its creative expansion. The fever swathes oblivion to all else for a period, sometimes deflating within a few sentences, other occasions drowning inspiration as scenes flood through the opened dam.
The diverse scenario might be prompted by an overheard comment or witnessed spectacle. From that germ of conscious thought, hours may be dedicated to constructing a many branched tree of logical connections, meticulous plotting frames a complete storyline.
Either way, journey from inception to conclusion travels a dashed uncomfortable trail of laborious climbs and tobogganing slides.
Such exercise demands greater exertion than pure physical effort which encourages me to show preference toward [quote=Guffyowl]let the story take you as you write[/quote]