How do you prep for your novel? - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T18:22:42Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/how-do-you-prep-for-your-novel?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A177152&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThe last story I wrote starte…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-22:537324:Comment:1776952009-01-22T03:42:38.395ZKaryn J. Powershttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/karyning
The last story I wrote started out as an exercise in a critique group. I fleshed out a character who was trapped in a job she didn't want by circumstances she couldn't control. It started out as a list of bullet points and ended up as 225 pages.
The last story I wrote started out as an exercise in a critique group. I fleshed out a character who was trapped in a job she didn't want by circumstances she couldn't control. It started out as a list of bullet points and ended up as 225 pages. I have an idea, then I start…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-17:537324:Comment:1771522009-01-17T04:28:12.238ZJohnny Ostentatioushttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnnyOstentatious
I have an idea, then I start writing. The ending usually doesn't come to me until about halfway through the draft. I don't outline.
I have an idea, then I start writing. The ending usually doesn't come to me until about halfway through the draft. I don't outline. Congratulations on writing 50…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-16:537324:Comment:1771142009-01-16T23:04:26.882ZJulie Lomoehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/julielomoe
Congratulations on writing 50,000+ words on NanNo! I tried it two years ago but gave up after a week - the stress level was too high.
Congratulations on writing 50,000+ words on NanNo! I tried it two years ago but gave up after a week - the stress level was too high. Intriguing question. When I r…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-16:537324:Comment:1771112009-01-16T23:01:08.585ZJulie Lomoehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/julielomoe
Intriguing question. When I read it, the first thing that came to mind is that I prep by accumulating years of life experience. My two published novels grew out of my work in the mental health and home health care fields, and they explore issues I feel passionately about.<br />
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But now that I'm past that initial message-driven phase, I'm trying to approach my next project more systematically. It goes against the grain, though. I find outlining difficult; plot twists come to me during the writing…
Intriguing question. When I read it, the first thing that came to mind is that I prep by accumulating years of life experience. My two published novels grew out of my work in the mental health and home health care fields, and they explore issues I feel passionately about.<br />
<br />
But now that I'm past that initial message-driven phase, I'm trying to approach my next project more systematically. It goes against the grain, though. I find outlining difficult; plot twists come to me during the writing process. I jump in by immersing myself in specific scenes and characters, and the work takes on momentum from there. It depends on the project.
S…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-15:537324:Comment:1768942009-01-15T23:40:09.587ZD.R. MacMasterhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DuncanRMacMaster
It depends on the project.<br />
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Sometimes I make detailed notes on the setting, characters, plot, etc...<br />
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And sometimes I just have a rough idea and I charge in blind. Sometimes I start with an ending in mind, sometimes a new ending comes to me organically from the work, and sometimes I don't have an ending at all until I get their.<br />
<br />
One time though, I did have an entire screenplay I had written to act as my outline. I had written it and decided that it would also work really well as a novel. So as…
It depends on the project.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I make detailed notes on the setting, characters, plot, etc...<br />
<br />
And sometimes I just have a rough idea and I charge in blind. Sometimes I start with an ending in mind, sometimes a new ending comes to me organically from the work, and sometimes I don't have an ending at all until I get their.<br />
<br />
One time though, I did have an entire screenplay I had written to act as my outline. I had written it and decided that it would also work really well as a novel. So as for plot, that was the most I had outlined ahead of time. I have worked from outlines a…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-15:537324:Comment:1768682009-01-15T19:16:37.627ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I have worked from outlines and from a rough plot. It doesn't matter. When I get started, I make changes. When I make changes, it affects plot. And that frequently means waffling between likely villains. It also means a lot of tweaking after it's done.
I have worked from outlines and from a rough plot. It doesn't matter. When I get started, I make changes. When I make changes, it affects plot. And that frequently means waffling between likely villains. It also means a lot of tweaking after it's done. I agree with your method. It…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-15:537324:Comment:1768602009-01-15T19:02:37.343ZJ. F. Juzwikhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Crimewriter
I agree with your method. It is a brief thing to be sure, but I have to work out the basic plotline, how it will end and a hint of how to connect the two. Subplots, character details, all come once I begin writing it, but I always end up completing the project with my original idea. Writing with no idea where you're going or how you're going to get there is interesting too. I wrote a 50,000+ word crime fiction 'novel' on NaNo last November and it was fascinating to me how all the twists and…
I agree with your method. It is a brief thing to be sure, but I have to work out the basic plotline, how it will end and a hint of how to connect the two. Subplots, character details, all come once I begin writing it, but I always end up completing the project with my original idea. Writing with no idea where you're going or how you're going to get there is interesting too. I wrote a 50,000+ word crime fiction 'novel' on NaNo last November and it was fascinating to me how all the twists and turns just kept coming up out of nowhere. I plan to edit the thing this March for NaNoEdMo and try to market it somewhere. But, as fun as that was, I don't think I have the strength to do that on a regular basis! Joyce I'm pretty close. I don't HAV…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-15:537324:Comment:1768502009-01-15T17:15:00.886ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
I'm pretty close. I don't HAVE to know the endng before I start, but in putting everything else together, the ending has usually come to me before I actually start to write. I keep promising myself and some friends I'll write the next project by the seat of my pants, but somewhere--riding in the car, doing yard work, falling asleep--the ending comes to me well before I get close to writing it.
I'm pretty close. I don't HAVE to know the endng before I start, but in putting everything else together, the ending has usually come to me before I actually start to write. I keep promising myself and some friends I'll write the next project by the seat of my pants, but somewhere--riding in the car, doing yard work, falling asleep--the ending comes to me well before I get close to writing it. I'm with you. I need to know…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-01-15:537324:Comment:1768252009-01-15T10:53:54.625ZJack Getzehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JGetze
I'm with you. I need to know the ending before I can start. I have to know where I'm going.
I'm with you. I need to know the ending before I can start. I have to know where I'm going.