Writing

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How many of you writers like to outline your story before you write? And by the way, do you have a word count goal you like to aim for each day? Do you have any other writing rituals?

I usually start out with a basic synopsis, something like, "Orphaned child, raised by well-meaning aunt and uncle, must choose between staying on the farm and saving the world after he intercepts a message from a princess to someone else."

Obviously, this would be the opening of Star Wars, Chapter 4.

But maybe not.

What if it took place in Nicaragua, and the "princess" happened to be the daughter of the El Presidenté himself, who was recently assassinated by Columbian druglords, and the girl is on the run while looking for her father's must trusted Confessioré, Father Ben?

That's where the plot synopsis must be joined with a setting, a time period, and the genre.

It depends. I've written both ways, but prefer not to use an outline. Works I've drafted with an outline tend come off as more plot-driven. For short stories, I'll usually start with an opening line or paragraph I really like and let it grow from there.

Maybe writing an outline while the story unfolds would work as a journal of where the story has been could work.

Chapter 1: Princess gives message to courier. Explosion and fire nearby. Courier goes one way, princess goes another. Battle between palace guard and Marxist rebels ensues. Courier gets into speedboat and heads upriver. Discovers wimpy butler cowering under the forward cowling. They disappear into the night.

Chapter 2: Boy is introduced. Uncle picks on him. Aunt expresses sympathy. Boy goes out to the barn to sulk. Starts working on abandoned speedboat. Message falls out of hidden compartment. Boy reads message. Stashes message in an old rucksack.

Chapter 3: Boy goes to house. Angry voices heard. Rebel soldiers drag off uncle. Aunt nowhere in sight. Boy retreats to barn. House now on fire. Sees aunt and uncle in back of rebel truck, bound. Truck drives away. Barn catches fire.

Chapter 4: Boy sets animals loose. Spots rucksack and grabs it. Manages to rush out of barn just before ...

Hmm ... should the propane tanks explode? Should a few rebel stragglers chase the boy? Does he make it to the river, or try to follow his aunt and uncle? What happened to the courier and the butler?

Arrgh! Writer's block! Time for a beer, Hemingway...

Good idea. I sort of do this using my digital recorder, just to remind myself about character sketches and subplots while I'm working. I sometimes forget the hair/eye color of a character & some personality aspects, so I go through a lot of audio notes and Post-its as time goes on.

darn tootin' it's not the OP of A New Hope, and that's not what happened, The OP was the ISD Devastator chasing and capturing Tantive IV then boarding it.

not a 'writer' but have done/working onsome stories.

no, normally the story changes a decent portion from the original.



no

While I do outline my stories, usually the plot changes dramatically over the course of the writing. I don't deal with word counts...I don't like numbers and suck at estimations, lol.

I don't make outlines, but I do write very very rough, plot-oriented [and terribly written] first drafts, so I know where I'm going when I'm re-writing.

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