How much planning do you do?

Elegy · Sep 19, 2009

Just curious, the question occurred to me the other night when I was plotting an offshoot (or replacement, maybe) for the horror story I've spent so much time ~~ruining~~ working on.

Do you plan your entire story, beginning to end, before you start to write? And if so, do you have a general idea of what goes on most of the pages before you write it?

Do you start with a skeleton of a plot and then build on as you write?

Do you just hit keys (or put pen or pencil to paper) with only the vaguest idea of where you'll end up?

Any other methods out there people are having success with?

Libbie · Sep 19, 2009

I know all the major plot twists, the beginning, and the end before I begin, but I allow for surprise developments along the way.

Jess Haines · Sep 19, 2009

I've done all of the above.

My normal modus operandi is to just sit down and write, with an idea in the back of my mind as to what the general goal is and obstacles are. I don't usually analyze my writing until I've finished the first draft. If I go back before I'm done putting down a complete first draft, I tend to edit my stuff to death, and never actually finish it.

Tracey Bentley · Sep 19, 2009

I now start with a skeleton - the flesh gets added as I write.

I found that if I planned it out too much in advance, I killed my motivation to write the scenes. However, you have to find what works for you.

nitaworm · Sep 19, 2009

I plan it all out, then it changes when I write it.

Editor Jennifer · Sep 19, 2009

I don't plot out every detail, but I do find that it really, really helps to know how the book is going to end. That way I have a finish line to get to.

However, when a great idea presents itself, I go for it, plan or no plan.

Elegy · Sep 19, 2009

Mama Bear said:
I now start with a skeleton - the flesh gets added as I write.

I found that if I planned it out too much in advance, I killed my motivation to write the scenes. However, you have to find what works for you.

That's what I do. Have any of your works been published that way?

ishtar'sgate · Sep 19, 2009

Mama Bear said:
I found that if I planned it out too much in advance, I killed my motivation to write the scenes.

Same here. I can't outline for that reason. I do however, make fairly lengthy character sketches for all the main characters, am familiar with major scenes and know my ending.

Imbroglio · Sep 19, 2009

I know what's going to happen so that while I'm writing I won't get stuck. If I don't know where I'm going, I ALWAYS get stuck, so I just make a mini-outline of most events, and then, like someone else said, if ideas present themselves to me mid-write, I'll add them in.

cwfgal · Sep 19, 2009

Mama Bear said:
I now start with a skeleton - the flesh gets added as I write.

I found that if I planned it out too much in advance, I killed my motivation to write the scenes. However, you have to find what works for you.

I'm the exact opposite. I fine having a general synopsis ahead of time keeps me moving along in the writing. Otherwise I end up with too many stops where I go, "hmmm, now what?" and spend days or weeks not writing because I'm not sure how to move on from where I am. With the synopsis I cross all those bridges before I start to write. The synop keeps me from writing myself into a corner. But I always allow myself to stray from the original synopsis if the mood strikes. Lately I keep discovering by the time I get 2/3 of the way through that the killer isn't who I thought it was going to be.

Beth (aka Annelise Ryan)

thethinker42 · Sep 19, 2009

I write a basic outline, consisting of one line per chapter ("character A meets character B, strike sparks off each other", "characters C & D break up because..."). This way I have a general idea of where I'm going, I know how the story ends, etc. My stories are ALWAYS characterocracies, though: If the characters and outline have a disagreement, the characters win every time. Every. Single. Time. I've been known to revamp entire outlines because of this, including changing the ending. In fact, with Between Brothers, a secondary character decided he wanted a bit more screen time when I was already about 2/3 of the way through the book. All told, he ended up causing me to add about 6 chapters to the book, but I think it worked out for the best.

So...I plan ahead, but very, very flexibly.

Shakesbear · Sep 20, 2009

I write historical mysteries/thrillers so do a lot of research before I start to write. I have note books for each story with maps, time lines, character outlines, background information, sketches of clothes for the period I am setting the story in and anything else that is, or maybe, useful. I find that if I sit and write I lose my way, forget important plot twists and only remember them at the point when it will mean rewriting huge chunks. Keeping the note books has also increased my word count as I have more to write about - descriptions, background and location information which makes the stories more rounded.

timewaster · Sep 20, 2009

I usually sell off three chapters plus synopsis so I have to have a broad outline fairly early on. I don't have a clue when I start writing, but by chapter three I usually know what I think the story is probably about and then I work out the story arc. I find that quite difficult and it usually changes a little when i come to write it properly. The main events tend to remain - the route and motivation shift. Even when I haven't written a formal outline, I tend to know where I'm headed within a few thousand words so that I don't usually take plot detours.

kaitie · Sep 20, 2009

I used to just make it up as I went. Ended up with some good characters but always felt like my plots were a little lackluster. My last story ended up having a very complex plot compared to usual, so I worked up all of it in advance. Now, there were some things that changed throughout the way (some major), a few scenes that got left out entirely and I ended up changing the focus of my climax at the end, but the general plot was all mapped out and researched before I ever started.

I'm currently doing the notes for my next one. I'm still sorting out the details on the climax. Once I have a fairly good idea of that, I'll start writing. Part of this requires me to get the characters down well before I start. For instance, figuring out the climax involves working on my villain and figuring out what extent he'll go to. It's going to be important to have in mind, however, because it's got a large cast of characters, and I want to make sure the focus is where it should be when I start.

I also find that knowing in advance increases motivation. I do it with editing as well. There are certain scenes that I really enjoy and have planned out in advance, sometimes partially written in advance, and no matter how many times I work through them, I always find it enjoyable.

Phaeal · Sep 20, 2009

For short stories, I generally start with a funky little idea or question, like "What are those red and green hanging urns in the pharmacy window in Hopper's painting?" Then I have to figure out what characters would care enough about the initium to look into it. Then, if necessary, I do some research. For a recent story set on city rivers, I needed to find out their history and the history of urban growth around them. The research gave me critical ideas for the plot and character development -- research usually does.

Planning for novels is much more intense. For a series I'm starting to work on again, I've researched the Himalayan Plateau (since my setting resembles it), genetics (to figure out the exact mechanism of transmission for a psychic ability), parapsychology, falconry, cosmological models, castle and monastery design, the king cobra, etc. I have a huge ring binder full of the history of my planet -- natural and sociological, maps, charts of the complex caste system, charts of character development, long free-writings on possible plot twists, lists of possible place and character names -- one for each of the major language groups on the planet, lists of possible novel titles. Lots of work, but all that worldbuilding paid off -- I've got solid ideas for at least a dozen novels in that ring binder.

Now I just need time to write 'em all.

sydney · Sep 20, 2009

ishtar'sgate said:
Same here. I can't outline for that reason. I do however, make fairly lengthy character sketches for all the main characters, am familiar with major scenes and know my ending.

Same here as well!
I recently wrote an outline for a novel and when I started to flesh out the events, I found I'd lost the motivation to write them lol It was a horrific experience but since I realized I actually need a lot of little things happening between these main events, it's turning out all right.

I similarly write up lengthy character sketches though. I think it helps when I'm trying to characterize and keep track of what they would do/not do.

Anyway, in a more direct answer to the OP... I also am kind of doing a different project whilst suffering with my main one lol
I just wanted to experiment with a character and therefore wrote one page. Suddenly I realized maybe I could run with this, and characterization erupted. I started thinking of main events and characters and plot and... and yeah

Just trying to write it all out now

C.M.C. · Sep 20, 2009

I know enough that I can't get stuck halfway through with no idea where to go next. That's the feeling that can cripple me, so I do my best to avoid it.

Linda Adams · Sep 20, 2009

Do you plan your entire story, beginning to end, before you start to write? And if so, do you have a general idea of what goes on most of the pages before you write it?

I just finished my WIP (yesterday), so I'm going into the planning stages for the next one. This particular one has been simmering for over a year, and I've been doing some research on an off. I'm trying a new type of outline from a workshop I took last month.

Step 1: Identify what makes the story special. I learned from the one I just finished that this is an important step because I need to know what it going in. It would be hard to add it in after the fact.

The rest of these are from an outline workshop:

Rough synopsis of the story. Not agent quality by basically hitting the beginning, middle, and end in under a thousand words. I tend to only have a vague idea of the idea of the ending, and that got me in trouble with the one I just finished up. When I go to edit it, I'll have to fix the ending.

Then I pull out the key events and build out scenes from there. Then, for each of those, I answer three questions--how did the character get here, where does he go from here, and what I'll need for these things to happen. From there, I'll build a progression, probably based off reasons--i.e., if X happens, why is main character there? That hits another weakness of mine, which is not answering questions like that because I'm thinking I'll figure it out when I get there.

barbilarry · Sep 20, 2009

I do a one or two line outline fot each new chapter when I finish the previous one. But me thinks the first draft will probably end up being an extensive outline for the second draft. LOL

Jane

Lady Cat · Sep 20, 2009

I'll get an idea and start going over it in my head and once I know how it ends I'll start writing. I have to know how the story ends before I can start writing it down.

If it's a novel idea that I'm going to be working on at another time, then I'll write a quick synopsis just to jog my memory. I get so many thoughts jammed into my head that I tend to forget things easily.

Tracey Bentley · Sep 20, 2009

Elegy said:
That's what I do. Have any of your works been published that way?

No - this will be the first *fingers crossed*

I've completed novels before (but alas, they're tucked away under the bed). For me, they read "forced" - my take on that is because I refused to deviate from my original outline (which was far too detailed to allow any creativity when I began writing).

That's why I'm trying it this way now - I'll see if it works better for me, and so far, so good.

Jon_S · Sep 20, 2009

Half of the time it's like this: I go in with an idea of the beginning and the end, and with a main character in mind at least. Everything else comes to me as I write.
The other half of the time it's like this: I go in with just one idea, one concept. This one idea excites me so much that I usually start writing its story very soon, usually in the same day. Everything falls in place as I begin to write. Sometimes I'm astounded by how a bunch of abstract ideas that have come to me over the years suddenly find their home in this new story.

BigWords · Sep 20, 2009

Doesn't matter how much or how little planning I do, I'll never follow my outlines. The story goes where the story wants to go, and nothing will prevent moments of divine inspiration hitting like a brick in the face.

erin_michelle · Sep 20, 2009

Before I start writing I have to know how the story begins and ends. Then I write down a quick, one-shot synopsis of how I think the plot's going to go. It helps keep me organized, even if I don't end up following my original synopsis exactly.

Straka · Sep 21, 2009

I've writing every WIP differently.

I used to be worried that over planning would kill my flow. I used to write from the hip while having a solid concept in mind of where I wanted to go. This I found helped keep some mystery in my mind, like if I was reading it for the first time.

Now I've learned that such an approach works for pumping out a manuscript quickly, but then I spent a very, very long time editing to get it tighter and more commercially viable.

My current strategy is have a long range goal i.e.: where I want the story to go and when, then have more focused short terms goals. What this chapter needs to do. What voice to use. I planned about three chapters ahead and keep the work tight and focused. Like if I'm planning a trip and looking at a road map. If I start in Portland, Maine and I need to get to NYC, how do I get there? I know I need to drive through MA & CT, but I don't know which towns I'll pass through until I get there.

So far its working better, I'm getting a better written draft the first time around while still getting room for on the spot inspiration.

How much planning do you do?

Deceptively Horrific

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

Boldly going nowhere in particular.

AW Addict

Deceptively Horrific

living in the past

PERPETUAL EXISTENTIAL CRISIS VICTIM

On the rocks

Abnormal Romance Author

knows a hawk from a handsaw

present

With great power comes

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Archetype

Soldier, Storyteller

I just wanna write

I'm cool

Geekzilla

Foreshadowing Queen

Bored Fanatic