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  1. Linden R.

    Linden R. New Member

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    How does this sound?

    Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by Linden R., Oct 18, 2017.

    So, in my book, there is a main event that goes on for 4 weeks (in the book). I have 4 chapters of the events leading up to there, and I am to the point where it is starting. After the end of Chapter 4, I put in big bold letters "The Trip" (name of the book and the event). From then on I want to do a daily diary. Do you guys think this would end well? Or not? Keep in mind, I'm a teenager who knows hardly anything about writing books (other than all the school projects I've done).
     
  2. Memento mori

    Memento mori New Member

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    I think it is worth the effort to write out a first draft and see how it feels. You can always change thing up if it doesn't work out for you. Good luck
     
  3. OJB

    OJB A Mean Old Man Contributor

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    It is not 'ideas' that make a book great or bad; it is the implementation of ideas that makes a book great. Writing takes work, discipline, study, dedication, and years of practice to become successful in.

    -

    I not saying this to discourage you, but you need to have a clear goal in mind for the type of stories you want to write.

    So, my question to you is: What about writing do you want to learn about so you can see your ideas brought to life?
     
  4. izzybot

    izzybot (unspecified) Contributor

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    The best advice I've ever read about writing is "Start as close to the end as possible". So in that spirit, I'd ask: how important are those first four chapters? If the trip is the main event, you should try to get to it as quickly as possible. Some of the information in that lead-up might well be crucial - it might all be! - but I'm leery of taking so long to get to the meat.

    As for how well it'll end, that's all up to you. You haven't said anything about the plot or the characters. But in general, a diary style can totally work, sure.
     
    ChickenFreak likes this.
  5. EdFromNY

    EdFromNY Hope to improve with age Supporter Contributor

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    The short answer is "write it and see", because as you write, you will expose any inherent problems with your pre-chosen structure.

    If I understood correctly, the first part is 4 chapters of preliminary events, followed by the second part which is in diary format. My only specific advice would be to avoid making those first 4 chapters excessively backstory, solely scene-setting, or world-building. These are all very common flaws in novice writing. OTOH, if those first four chapters are filled with conflicts between/among the characters about to embark on the trip, or with trials and tribulations that threaten the trip from ever happening, or plant the seeds of conflict that will burst into the open once the trip has started and threaten it from being completed, then I think you're likely on the right track.

    One piece if advice about the diary format: it is very easy when writing that way to fall into mostly "telling", with very little "showing". In my current WIP, I use time and date headings for chapters, but I'm doing it because it's a crime novel and I need to nail down the timeline. Also, since my mc is a detective trying to solve a mass murder, I thought the date headings helped to maintain the tension.

    My approach is always to have a good reason for the format I choose to use.
     
    xanadu likes this.
  6. Poetical Gore

    Poetical Gore Member

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    I would say this is a little too advanced (to do it in a good way). I'd say the easiest way it to do it would be all as a diary and to relate info about the event throughout the book in the diary entries. Easy to build a sense of suspense and the reader wanting to find out what happened at this event.

    More advanced would be something like to have the diary, but to also have like newspaper clippings about the event. Stephen King did this in Carrie (you may want to check that out).
    Also, there could be letters and then you could also have diary entries like Dracula.

    But being totally honest, do not write 4 chapters like a regular story and then do diary entries for the rest of the book.

    PS make sure you write and outline first.
     
  7. Francis de Aguilar

    Francis de Aguilar Contributor Contributor

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    In some senses it probably all needs to written. How else will you discover what you need to leave out?
     

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