The art of the story

I think this could be a frequently asked question, but what do you actually need before you begin to write your story. I have the plot, the main story line, relations between the characters and how they change during the story. I also have a main idea about the main characters. Is this enough to start writing or are there more really important things which I didn't do yet

 

You have enough there to get started - Good luck.

 

For a novel-length story all I have is a scene-by-scene outline of the plot. This is usually 20,000-35,000 words in length, so I guess instead of an outline it's more of a short "tell" (rather than "show") version of the story. I tend to spend several months working on these and spend a lot of time rearranging and editing scenes and trying to identify plot holes before I begin writing the actual story.

 

that's exactly what I do. I create the plot and characters then wrote a 25 000 words version of the story. edited that story and now I'm writing it again to reach 80 000 words

 

I like to have my characters well thought out, even I change them during the writting process. I usually loosely come up with the sequence of events and themes I want to imply before writting as well.

 

I need inspiration, a vague idea of what I want the story to be about and interesting characters. As I write, I get more ideas for the story and my characters develop into deeper ones overtime.

I think you have enough! Start writing and, as I always say, see where it takes you~

 

Protagonist, antagonist and at least a loose end. The rest I invent as I go.

 

Thank you for the tips! Especially the idea of writing and then improving and changing it sounds quite good! Thanks a lot!
Gives me a bit more self-confidence

 

Quite a lot. A cast of characters, a situation for the mc, basically the entire plot, including the ending. I also need a rough sketch of the character development, although I usually work most of that out while writing. I write the scenes down on index card (or similar) but they are very basic. They usually evolve as I go and I might add new ones too.

 

Frightened but raring to go...

Hello Stachenscarfen - I recently joined this site, and looking around I can see there are lots of people with helpful advice for newbies like us. I am a firm believer in characterisation and the need to really get to know my characters before I start to write anything longer than a short, short story. I would suggest that when you're sure of the genre your story slots into, and you have an idea (no matter how vague) of your main character, you should set up a character construction sheet, which will include your character's name, age and date of birth - look up his/her birth sign within astrology and this will give you an idea for character traits - consider weaknesses and strengths and formulate your character. If you feel a particular actor/actress could play your character, look them up on the internet and you will even have an image to work on - friends/family can be included here too. It's amazing what you can come up with, and before you know it your character comes to life. Don't put too many characters into your plot as this can be confusing for readers. Get to know your character(s), and you're off... Enjoy

 

Quite similar to Tesoro. I also need to have worked out (almost) the entire plot and the important scenes, characters and much of the character development. I do it because it is useful when doing some foreshadowing and connecting the dots from the beginning to the end.

 

Before your fingers make way to the computer, have a pen and piece of paper where you write out all of the characters and their path through your book. I then make lines connecting each as they go along. Gives me a visual picture of the storyline in a time-frame fashion. Something that gets me excited and motivated to write (although it sounds as though you already are) is to think of a cover, think of a title, use basic word/paint/photoshop tools to create a basic cover with the title and name. After all, what is the first page of your novel if not the cover? My 2 cents.

 

This is where I was a bit ahead of the curve. I wrote my first draft 30 years ago, and I've already made every mistake in the book, pardon the pun.

The one nice thing about making a lot of mistakes is that it shows you what you don't want to do. And I've been formulating the corrections for a long time.

 

All of you well planned people

 

I'm interested in finding out if anybody has been trying out the Storyaday.

A lot of my friends have been talking about it and shooting out stories like crazy with the writing prompts. Gets your creativity going when you're having one of those days that you either don't feel like writing, or have nothing to write about. I was going to try it, but I'm trying to touch up the first three chapters of my story for submitting into a contest. Plus I'm a procrastinator by nature, and internet and video games don't help me there.

Anyone else know about this site? Tried it? If not, are you going to try it?

 

I've been working on my novel for so long, and it has mostly been me trying to plan it out, and not getting much writing done. The past couple of days I've started writing a story a day just on my own, so I don't get out of the practice of it, but not with any website or anything. Just typing out a quick 500-600 words to make sure I can get some practice in.

 

Every assignment I've handed in has been done the night before. I'm working on a script AND an original piece for tomorrow (then it's all over!)

I'd say you definitely can but the quality varies. I make mine up as I write and I've had the full spectrum of marks given to me, 40 through 70+.

 

I started writing my story and your tips help me. I didn't see it before, but it is actually quite obvious: my stories are not perfect the first time I write them. I should go on and after a certain time I should read it again and improve it. The tips are very useful and I'll use them. Thanks a lot!

 

I find it extremely difficult to write short stories. Probably 90% of my ideas are novel ideas that I simply could not pare down into a short story. And even at my most inspired, I can't write a novel in a single day. (A week or two, yes. A day? No.)

 

You can write a novel in a week?

 

I dig the idea and concept. You're not likely to write anything of significant quality by writing a story a day, though it can keep you disciplined, and you never know when you read these old stories that you can put something together for something greater. I'll try it, someday.

 

Some people actually can write a novel in a week, the quality of it, however, is not something most people would want to read, lol.

 

i can think of a story a day but my writing style makes my mind work in over drive so i get tired of writing after about 200-300 words and ill have to take a break and start again xD

 

i've been writting a novel for almost a years now and I'm still not done with the plot. so a story a day.. nope.

 

I've been writing my novel for longer than that, but I'm able to write a story a day if I have the mind to do it. I'll see if I can't try the story a day and post them on my blog for people to read.

Edit: They'll be rough drafts, of course.