Keeping track - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T13:12:23Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:138940?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A175265&feed=yes&xn_auth=noAgree. Unfortunately I manage…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-06:537324:Comment:1752682009-01-06T10:21:19.999ZHazel Edwardshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/HazelEdwards
Agree. Unfortunately I managed to explode several boiled eggs during a tricky chapter's rewriting. Now the rest of the family tend to do the cooking. Good move.
Agree. Unfortunately I managed to explode several boiled eggs during a tricky chapter's rewriting. Now the rest of the family tend to do the cooking. Good move. Great idea about using tracki…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-06:537324:Comment:1752652009-01-06T10:18:48.154ZHazel Edwardshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/HazelEdwards
Great idea about using tracking to write notrs to yourself and also reader reminders. I'll try this out if you don't mind. Thanks
Great idea about using tracking to write notrs to yourself and also reader reminders. I'll try this out if you don't mind. Thanks I have just one little notebo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-24:537324:Comment:1423812008-05-24T22:49:35.271ZClair Dicksonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ClairDickson
I have just one little notebook that I jot down things I don't want to forget-- usually connections between characters. I carry it with me nearly constantly so I can write something wherever I am.<br />
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The rest of the 'notes' go into the story. Usually, the story gets a complete make-over right when I get to the climax-- so that all the ugly duckings line up for the finale.<br />
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I also use the track changes in MSWord to write notes to myself. And, lastly, I put in little reminders to the "reader" that…
I have just one little notebook that I jot down things I don't want to forget-- usually connections between characters. I carry it with me nearly constantly so I can write something wherever I am.<br />
<br />
The rest of the 'notes' go into the story. Usually, the story gets a complete make-over right when I get to the climax-- so that all the ugly duckings line up for the finale.<br />
<br />
I also use the track changes in MSWord to write notes to myself. And, lastly, I put in little reminders to the "reader" that indicate who was where or what they did before. Helps the reader... and helps me.<br />
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The random musings and research, well, those are just scraps of paper and such collected in folders, usually all labeled "Misc" or "Research." A notebook sounds more organize. =)<br />
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But, hey, if it works, then what's the problem? We all write differently. I used to write long hand, but now, I'll never go back. NEVER!! You can't make me. Even if I do have over a hundred different pens.<br />
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Different is good. Or so the Arby's commercials taught me. =) I usually write a WIP (work i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-18:537324:Comment:1413122008-05-18T08:09:59.923ZHazel Edwardshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/HazelEdwards
I usually write a WIP (work in progress) article of about 1,000 words at the point at which I get stuck in a book, so I'll remember all the challenges to talk about later on the PR circuit.It's also a way of getting my head around plot problems. It is also useful for discussion notes on my website later.
I usually write a WIP (work in progress) article of about 1,000 words at the point at which I get stuck in a book, so I'll remember all the challenges to talk about later on the PR circuit.It's also a way of getting my head around plot problems. It is also useful for discussion notes on my website later. this sounds great to me, Anne…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-12:537324:Comment:1407182008-05-12T21:43:08.601Zcarole gillhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
this sounds great to me, Annette! hmmm!
this sounds great to me, Annette! hmmm! Hope this will help. When it…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-12:537324:Comment:1407122008-05-12T21:29:11.213Zcarole gillhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
Hope this will help. When it really gets going--I found I have one file basically--my outline file. I keep updating it as I go along. So that it's always up to date--it denotes action as it unfolds, and in being up to date it will then be (hopefully) a thoroughly concise outline, chapter by chapter. Just a note--I did my first draft with little planning except for notes at beginning and end of chapters. but now on second draft, I am using this outline process so that the third draft will be…
Hope this will help. When it really gets going--I found I have one file basically--my outline file. I keep updating it as I go along. So that it's always up to date--it denotes action as it unfolds, and in being up to date it will then be (hopefully) a thoroughly concise outline, chapter by chapter. Just a note--I did my first draft with little planning except for notes at beginning and end of chapters. but now on second draft, I am using this outline process so that the third draft will be exactly the story I want to tell. then I will write a final draft for the novel itself. But I have to second the replies here about keeping character files too. During the writing of my nove…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-12:537324:Comment:1406522008-05-12T16:48:03.424ZSimon Averyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/SimonAvery
During the writing of my novel, I had notes all over the place. But I'd try to keep compacting them down, out of some bizarre psychological tidiness quirk. Then when I'd written the book and revised it, I made a new outline so I knew exactly what happened when and where and why.<br />
It's get's really easy to amass lots of notes and research, but I find it tends to distract me from the matter at hand ie: just bloody writing!
During the writing of my novel, I had notes all over the place. But I'd try to keep compacting them down, out of some bizarre psychological tidiness quirk. Then when I'd written the book and revised it, I made a new outline so I knew exactly what happened when and where and why.<br />
It's get's really easy to amass lots of notes and research, but I find it tends to distract me from the matter at hand ie: just bloody writing! My current novel is around th…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-02:537324:Comment:1394312008-05-02T00:30:06.176ZDaniel Hatadihttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/danielhatadi
My current novel is around the 70K mark and I also have a separate 'Plot' file which comes to about 10K. It's that big because it also has notes on improvements I want to make in the second draft. I also have a 'Characters' file which isn't anywhere near as big as those two, but I keep all my names and basic character details in there, as well as a list of possible names to attach to new characters if need be.<br />
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For ideas that come to me during work or random itnernet play, I tend to use…
My current novel is around the 70K mark and I also have a separate 'Plot' file which comes to about 10K. It's that big because it also has notes on improvements I want to make in the second draft. I also have a 'Characters' file which isn't anywhere near as big as those two, but I keep all my names and basic character details in there, as well as a list of possible names to attach to new characters if need be.<br />
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For ideas that come to me during work or random itnernet play, I tend to use <a href="http://www.google.com/notebook">Google Notebook</a>, especially if I find a juicy crime article in the paper. Perhaps we should have a thre…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-04-30:537324:Comment:1390622008-04-30T17:21:11.491ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Perhaps we should have a thread on the pitfalls faced by creative authors. I have forgotten dinner on the stove so many times that I keep having to buy new sets of pots.
Perhaps we should have a thread on the pitfalls faced by creative authors. I have forgotten dinner on the stove so many times that I keep having to buy new sets of pots. I use a notebook (or notebook…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-04-30:537324:Comment:1390452008-04-30T16:05:32.769ZAnnette Dashofyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/AnnetteDashofy
I use a notebook (or notebooks) plus I have a computer program called QuickStory that I use to organize plot points and keep my basic character information in order. The involved stuff (deep character histories, maps of my fictional towns) goes in the notebook. The quick stuff like what color eyes and hair Joe has goes in QuickStory so I don't have to sift through pages and pages when I'm on a roll.
I use a notebook (or notebooks) plus I have a computer program called QuickStory that I use to organize plot points and keep my basic character information in order. The involved stuff (deep character histories, maps of my fictional towns) goes in the notebook. The quick stuff like what color eyes and hair Joe has goes in QuickStory so I don't have to sift through pages and pages when I'm on a roll.