Starting Out

[Doroga's Cousin]

Is it considered a bad idea in the writer's world to think up a book as you go along, instead of planning it out beforehand? Because I had an idea for a story and was going to do some writing, but I wasn't sure if I need a general outline or anything like that. Advice/comments welcome.

[OZ]

It is usually considered a bad idea but everyone does it differently. Try it. If it works for you, you will be the exception but it would be a shame to never try. Most authors, if they don't have some plan in advance, will wander.

[Kali]

It's not uncommon, in my experience.  I've found it helpful to have a general overview of where I want to go, at least where I want to end up, but I never write complete plot outlines or go chapter by chapter and figure out what I want to have happen in each.  Doing that takes half the fun out of writing, for me.  I like not being entirely sure what's going to happen next, I like finding out as my characters do.  I end up doing a lot more rewriting, but as long as I enjoy it, that's all that matters.

[RobJN]

Write by the seat of your pants, or outline the heck out of everything before you jump in -- JUST WRITE. You can always go back and fix it later.

I mostly write-as-I-go, using Jim's "stepping stones" method. Often times, though, the characters take me in a completely different direction. I may do some rewrites every now and then to see if things veer back "on course," but usually find things working better when I follow where the characters lead...

[Vantillus Octavious]

Where can i find Jim's stepping stones method at? Got a link?

[Breandan]

I think the method matters a lot less than the finished product. If you can write a cogent, compelling book that intrigues an audience and hooks them, does it really matter how you got there?

[RobJN]

On the iPod at the moment, but Googling "Jim Butcher Livejournal" should turn up his writing advice articles.

[Kali]

I think the method matters a lot less than the finished product. If you can write a cogent, compelling book that intrigues an audience and hooks them, does it really matter how you got there?

Well, I imagine the question is "I want to write a cogent, compelling book that intrigues an audience and hooks them. What's the best way to start out?"  

[Breandan]

I dunno, for me it pops into my head like a movie, and I write what I see as it plays. It's never in order, so I write down the clips that I see, then go back and tie them all together. The characters write themselves, almost, it's rather unnerving at times. I think I have one of the more eccentric (read: freakin' weird) methods of writing, so I am a bad person to give out specifics on how to do so

[Starbeam]

Jim's LJ is linked from the main website.  I'd also suggesting googling the Writing Excuses podcast and listening to it.  Very good advice from there.  They (Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Howard forgot his last name) talk a lot about the different ways of writing--mostly talking about discovery writers and outliners--discovery writes being the ones who write as hey go.

[Doroga's Cousin]

Well, I imagine the question is "I want to write a cogent, compelling book that intrigues an audience and hooks them. What's the best way to start out?"  

1) Blow something up.
2) Make it a love story.
I've actually written a chapter already, but it's pretty cheesy with the whole love story idea.

[prophet224]

Hey Breandan! If your way is crazy, then I'm crazy too. I find that writing out all the scenes in my head helps me keep the 'fire'. Those "tying together" scenes later are really tough though. But I keep finding that I learn so much about the story and the characters by writing out the scenes that I am imagining, so much of the rest of the story gets filled in on the way. Basically writing some scenes makes me think about a new set of scenes.

[Breandan]

true, and thankfully I have a designated beta reader to go through and look for continuity issues and editing to help keep me on track

[prophet224]

Yeah... continuity issues... about that... <whistle>

That is definitely one of the potential hazards in this style of writing. 

[Starbeam]

This is where I say that's one of the awesome things with Scrivener---you don't have to write linearly.  You can write it however you want, and then go back and move it around to fit right.