Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
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Outline or no outline?
I suppose everyone has a different style of writing a story. How do you do it? How much planning to you put into it, and do you keep notes while planning?
Do you write as it comes or are you using a structure? How does it feel to do so?
--- - Firlefanz
Writing: "Kiera und der Gauklerjunge" - novel
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4/17/2007, 6:58 am
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hadaad
NaNo Winner
Registered: 08-2005
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 334
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Re: Outline or no outline?
The way I always start is with a scene. I always think small. Then, when the actors come into my head, and the scene resolves itself, I'll think of where this scene could take me. After that, I find myself pulling away from that and looking at it as a whole. Then I'll narrow in and find other scenes.
Basically.
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Reading: Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
Writing: Resurrection edits
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4/17/2007, 2:53 pm
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ThoraoftheNord
Initiate
Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
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Re: Outline or no outline?
I start with an idea, then the piece writes itself.
I do take notes of things, though, like if something comes to me for later. For my saga I have a whole notebook full of notes, time lines, little details--all on post it notes, thank you very much. I have really helped that company...haha. Anyway, I really only do that for background information; everything else comes together as I write.
Of course, extensive rewriting and time is required, but those sort of things goes without saying, you know?
---
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5/12/2007, 8:18 pm
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Reythia
Knight of Honor
Registered: 11-2005
Posts: 1883
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Re: Outline or no outline?
I do about the same as Thor, I think. I keep a notebook (or, often, another Word document) with details about characters, setting, and so forth, but that's mostly just to keep the little things consistent. The hard-core "planning" is all done in my head, and gets revised as I write -- and revised more as I edit!
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-- YAR!
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5/14/2007, 6:17 pm
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ThoraoftheNord
Initiate
Registered: 11-2005
Location: WI
Posts: 24
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Re: Outline or no outline?
quote:
Reythia wrote:
I do about the same as Thor, I think. I keep a notebook (or, often, another Word document) with details about characters, setting, and so forth, but that's mostly just to keep the little things consistent. The hard-core "planning" is all done in my head, and gets revised as I write -- and revised more as I edit!
Ya, exactly, it's just the tiny little details I record, of course they turn out to be big details in the notebook, but to the whole they're still tiny.
Oh, and sorry, just wanted to correct you, it's Thora. No worries. 
---
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5/15/2007, 3:26 am
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Reythia
Knight of Honor
Registered: 11-2005
Posts: 1883
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Re: Outline or no outline?
quote:
ThoraoftheNord wrote:
Oh, and sorry, just wanted to correct you, it's Thora. No worries.
Ah! Indeed! Sorry about that! Read too fast.
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-- YAR!
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5/15/2007, 4:36 am
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TheKid965
Journeyman
Registered: 07-2006
Posts: 55
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Re: Outline or no outline?
I find that I run a very real risk with an outline... that I'll have the idea pulled off so well in the outline that I'll be actually less motivated to write it down in prose form. It's a delicate balance to maintain.
The way I usually write is with a specific scene in mind, then work backwards to find out how we got to that point. Details such as character traits and personalities often reveal themselves to me in this process, when it works. It's silly, but effective when all else fails, I find...
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5/16/2007, 3:18 am
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David Meadows
Squire
Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 693
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Re: Outline or no outline?
I have a very detailed outline but it's entirely in my head. I only write notes to help myself keep things consistent.
---
"The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty."
John Adams, 1772
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5/16/2007, 2:38 pm
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