#plotting vs pantsing

[tlbodine]

Stuck? Try junebugging.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but we're 5 days into nanowrimo so maybe this will be helpful.

Do you want the safety and surety of knowing what happens next in your story but can't stick to an outline? Does knowing in advance what will happen suck the joy out of discovery writing? Do you try to wing it through plots but get tangled in plot holes or have a story that runs out of steam because you can't figure out what went wrong? Are you at your most creative when you have a little bit of guidance? Do you tend to under-write? Do you get ideas in your head for random scenes and snippets that drop from the sky without context?

If any of these apply to you, junebugging a draft might be for you!

What Is Junebugging?

Since you're on Tumblr, you might already be familiar with the concept of junebugging as it relates to cleaning. If not -- I think the idea was first introduced to me by @jumpingjacktrash.

The basic idea is that you tackle cleaning by way of controlled chaos. You pick a specific area you want to focus on, like your kitchen sink, and then wander off to deal with other things as they occur to you, but always returning back to that area. You end up cleaning a little bit at a time in an order that may not make sense to an outsider but which keeps you from getting overwhelmed and discouraged.

How Does Junebugging Work in Writing?

OK, so that's great, but how does this work with writing? Well. In my case, the general idea is to jump between writing linearly, outlining, and writing out of order. It usually looks something like:

Start free-writing a scene, feeling my way through it and enjoying the discovery process.

Thinking, ok, now I have this scene, did anything need to happen to lead up to it? Do I need to go back and add some foreshadowing? Does this scene set anything up that needs to be paid off? And then jump forward/back to make those adjustments.

I'll usually have a bunch of disconnected ideas of ideas that have popped into my head, so I'll write those down in a list somewhere and then try to figure out what goes in between them and what order it goes in.

I'll write what I call "micro-scenes" which is where I'll just sketch out a few essential elements of what's going on without worrying too much about details, description, etc. -- just he did this, she said that, the setting was this, real bare-bones script. Then I can come back through and flesh out each of those microscenes into an actual scene later.

Got a story that has a complex structure? No problem. Write through each storyline one at a time and then chop them up and weave them together afterward. Write all the B plot scenes first then come back through to do A plot and C plot. Move the pieces around like legos. No one ever has to know.

This method works for me because I can't "decide" story elements in advance. I have never been able to just sit down and "figure out" what happens in a story beyond a couple steps ahead -- I have to discovery-write my way forward. But at the same time, that gets really daunting. So I zoom forward with micro-scenes, roughing out the beats in the most bare-bones way possible, then when I run out of clear vision for what happens next I backtrack, flesh out those scenes, build in connective tissue, etc. and by then I will probably find more inspiration to jump forward.

It's basically folding drafting, outlining, and revising all together into a single phase of writing, which is chaotic and goes against everything people teach you, but if it works? then it fuckin works.

Anyway, sorry for the jumbled-up post, I'm dashing this off quickly while I heat up a pizza and I'm about to dive back into my WIP -- but I hope this was a little helpful. If nothing else, take this as my blanket permission that it's 100% OK to jump around, write out of order, write messy, outline sometimes, pants sometimes, and do whatever else it takes just to get through the story. You've got this. Good luck.

#writing tips #nanowrimo #writing advice #nano 2023 #writeblr #writing community #plotting vs pantsing #junebugging

[violetlunette]

I really dont like the recent chapters. Which sucks cause i like these concepts and tropes!

The lack of world building and discrimination as a tangible thing is the story screwed Shoji and Spinner over. Especially since both of their stories been foreshadowed since the very beginning but the lack of build up and focus around them makes the pay off feel unearned and shoved in.

Shoji's arguements make no sense, Spinner can't even coherently oppose him since he's under AfO grasp. It doesnt show or provide anything. We didn't know before hand the abuse heteromorphs face was inconsistant in the city compared to the countryside (which feels like a copout to me) nor were we ever shown the characters questioning any form of discrimination and actively doing something about it in a broader societal sense.

It feels so underdeveloped despite apparently being a core part of the worldbuilding.

Speaking of discrimination, what about the quirkless? What about those with weak quirks? Why is it focusing only on Heteromorphs? What about the broader implication of that discrimination? What would happen to others under AfO's new rule? Why is it exclusively a city and country thing? If defeating Spinner is defeating his arguements then why isnt he present for it?

Not to mention, what about the current system? Why have we not seen the systemic issues be challenged or change and only get a brief mention? Why have Spinner be unable to counter Shoji's weak arguements? Why bring AfO into it at all? (aside from what he was offering)

You know the longer im writing this the more i wonder WHY AFO?

The meta liberation army represented these themes much better and there would be a more concrete focus on why what theyre doing is wrong for everyone (ie changing who the aggressor is rather than addressing factors that limit them)

AfO has no connection to this, aside from beneffiting him. AfO being involved cheapens it since because of him Spinner can't respond! Hell combine with him possessing Shigaraki it feels more of 'AfO is the root and cause of all the problems' rather than 'AfO is exploiting the problems the heroes themselves cause' since the heroes apparently aren't aware of those problems or are tackling them.

Sorry if this sounds incoherent. I like AfO as a villain and him possessing Shigaraki is still neat, but i feel like the way/when of it isnt the best executed. I dont know how to word it without going to another long ramble, but the short version is i feel like the league members should have been more opposed to the whole possession thing and have more imput into the situation before majority where killed or incompacitated. But that may just be me.

Welcome back, Longy! (Hope that's you. If not, hello Longy 2.)

I agree with several points here! I think a lot of these come from the fact Hori’s a plotter, not a pantser. For those unaware, a plotter—aside from being someone who schemes—is a type of writer who needs to plan the whole story out before writing. A pantster--aside from being a mischievous asshole who pulls people’s pants down—is a writer who writes by the seat of their pants. Meaning, they figure things out as they go along with only the bare basics to guide them. Hori seems to fall into the former. Everything that he planned since the beginning seems to be flowing smoothly. Like with All Might’s arc; that was planned out since the beginning, and there wasn’t a lot of change to it, so it all connects together smoothly. Meanwhile, things he was forced to change or suddenly add feel rocky and out of place. For example—just pick an arc that feels weird to you. That was probably suddenly added or changed. (Trust me, you’ll know what this is. As I stated previously, human brains are programmed to follow stories. That’s why plot holes, or things that don’t fit, irk us so.) And now Hori’s being forced to rush things, so he’s trying to force it all in, but there’s no time, so it’s clunky. It doesn’t help that these are subjects that he doesn’t have experience writing, as evident from his previous works. Hori does have interesting ideas; Shoji’s conflict and backstory are interesting (though they should have been introduced before the climax, that's for when the manga's done). And having Spinner become a monster was also good. It was supposed to demonstrate how All for One corrupts desperate people and twists them along with the things they once valued. However, he didn’t have enough time to sit with it and plan it out, so it was hurried and sloppy. As with several points of this story.

Personally, I believe that if was able to plot out the entire series and write it before publishing, we would have gotten a better story. But sadly, as a mangaka, you can’t do that. That profession requires pantser skills where you have to adapt in an instance to every little thing in context and meta-wise. Fans like a character you were going to make an asshole, or suddenly got the urge to write said character in a different light? Then you have to make up a new arc and fit it smoothly into the story on the dot. People don’t like a character who was going to be a major player? Gotta either figure out how to fix him or kick him to the wayside. The plot point doesn’t match up, shoot gotta fix it, and so on. That’s why a lot of manga characters are pretty simple to start off with and the stories are in smaller arcs with a VERY simple overarching arc to tie them together. (Such as there's a great evil that the heroes want to stop, or they're looking for a lost treasure.) It’s unfortunate, but that’s how it is. I really wish we got to read the version where Hori was able to take his time and plan everything out but once the manga became popular, that wasn’t going to happen.

#sorry this is sloppy! #I'm working on something else but didn't want to leave you hanging too long #bnha #mha #bnha meta #plotting vs pantsing #I'm a plotter myself which is why I take forever to write #so I feel for Hori #Others say he's a bad writer #I say he's just not given the proper time and space to do things #Like I think if his editors gave him room to work and breathe #without the chart says nonsense #everyone including hori would be happier #anon reply

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

Hold on I think I cracked the code behind why so many people don’t understand what pantsing/discovery writing is!! Intention!! Though pantsing entails “writing without an outline” (so much nuance there) it doesn’t mean you don’t have a specific intention behind a work! Intention can evolve but it’s like the guiding force behind a work & something I’m aware of while I work, even in the most subconscious of ways… intention!!!

#Rachel rambles about pantsing vs plotting again bc someone left me a comment & it reminded me of a tip a gave which was smart #ANYWAYY pantsing is a really cool and diverse process (not saying outlining isn’t I just don’t do that!) #& there are soooo many variations of discovery that I wish I could learn more about how others pants bc there’s neverrrr ‘ #<< ‘content’ abt that !!! hold on would ppl collab with me anonymously to talk about their process if you pants?? #& I could compile a vid of tips from pantsers??? I always only have tips from me LOL but would love to hear #from more pantsers!!!! there are a million ways to outline but where are the million ways to pants!!! #million ways to pants now?? million ways to pants WHEN?? #also this isn’t a versus pantsing and plotting holding hands rn

[rightwriter]

A nice motivating video by these two authors, Katytastic and Alexa Donne to get you in the writing headspace :)

#katytastic #alexa donne #podcast #interview #youtube #writing chat #plotting #pantsing #plotter vs pantser #writing advice #writing is hard #on writing #writing #writer #writerslife #Youtube

[writers-hq]

WHY IS WRITING IS SO FUCKING HARD?

Ten types of fuckery that stop you from writing the thing:

1. Imposter syndrome

You think you're not good enough or everyone else is better than you and you're just winging it AKA ye olde imposter syndrome bullshit. Yeah nah you're fine. No really, you're exactly where you need to be right now, and you'll keep getting better and better so long as you don't stop. Chances are, if you're filled with doubt about your abilities it means you've actually improved to the point where you can really start to understand what makes good writing. It means you know where you wanna end up and goshdarn it you're gonna get there.

Read this: 4 tips to kick imposter syndrome in the face and also genitals

And also this: How to silence the inner critic

2. Fear of rejection and/or failure

Yeah, us too. It fuckin sucks. BUT. Not all rejections are equal. And rejection is a necessary part of the process. Sometimes it takes a rejection to realise that a story isn't ready. Sometimes a rejection is entirely subjective and has ZERO reflection on the quality of your work. But shying away from the very idea of possibly maybe hypothetically getting rejected is only going to hold you back from even trying. And knowing why you got rejected and how to learn from it is one of the most valuable writing skills.

Read this: The different types of rejection (and how to deal with 'em)

Then read this: How to cope with rejection

And also this: Writing lessons from Groundhog Day

3. Not enough planning / too much planning

Leaping into a new story with nothing but a glimmer of an idea is exciting as heck (and can sometimes be a great way to begin) but at some point you're gonna need some sort of outline or plan to keep you on track. HOWEVER. Planning your story to within an inch of its life can also sometimes be a hindrance - leaving you stuck in the hypothetical stage of the process where your story doesn't quite exist yet (and therefore avoiding the prospect of it sucking). The sweet spot is in the middle. Having just enough of a plan to know where tf you're going, but enough freedom and flexibility to let the story lead the way...

Read this: Planning vs pantsing

Then read this: Five plotting techniques

And also this: The perils of overplanning

4. Your WIP just isn't working

Sometimes things just fall flat. Sometimes you work on the same story for yeeeeears and then it just kinda... dies. Sometimes you have the best plans (see above) and the best intentions and things still don't work out. Sometimes it's just time to move on. And sometimes it's not! Sometimes a story can be revived, fixed or changed. Sometimes you just need time. Sometimes YOU'RE the one that's changed and this isn't the story you need to be writing right now. Many variables. Muchly personal. Read the things below for more advice cos this is a big question:

Read this: What to do when your WIP isn't working

And also this: Give it space - how to grow a story in your head

Or how about this? Editing 101

5. You keep deprioritising it

Ah the irony of writing being the thing you love/want to do most of all AND YET the thing you procrastinate over and avoid and shove to the very bottom of your to-do list all the freakin' time. Maybe it's the comodification of art destroying our freedom to create without pressure. Maybe it's late capitalism sucking up all our available time and energy. Maybe it's a lack of self-belief subconsciously telling us our 'little hobby' doesn't really matter. Maybe it's maybelline. Whatever it is, you have the power to reclaim and revalue your writing. To say, "I'm a fucking writer, goddamnit!" and mean it. To ringfence your creative time so nothing and nobody gets to interrupt it. To do that thing you love.

Read this: Prioritise your writing

Read this: How to write in 30 second bursts

6. Shiny Thing Syndrome

You know that feeling when you're just getting stuck into a writing project and then — SQUIRREL! — you get distracted by another, better, more shiny writing project? Or maybe you're deep in the editing phase and your current WIP just isn't feeling very shiny at all and pretty much ANYTHING seems more exciting? Or you simply can't decide which of the many squirrelly writing ideas to actually start? You, fine writerperson, may be suffering from Shiny Thing Syndrome (STS). But fear not! There are a few ways to combat it, depending on the cause, and most of them involve embracing the squirrel-brain and injecting a bit of fun into your writing, like so:

Read this: Shiny thing syndrome - a writer's malady

Aaaand read this: Get excited about your writing again

And also this: Write like a kid

7. Perfectionism/self-sabotage

Look. Writing is scary as shit. What if someone READS it? What if they don't like it? What if they see into your soul and gain a deeper understanding of you through your words? Writing your truth, being vulnerable, smearing your heart juice all over the page? No thank you. But also, that's where the good shit is, so actually yes please. Just make sure you smear responsibly. And rest assured, even the most 'successful' and experienced writers ALSO feel like this sometimes, so you're in good company. It's just part of the art, bruh.

Read this: Why writing is scary (and why that's a good thing)

Read this: Beginning a story - what stops us starting?

And also this: Get out of your own way

8. The dreaded blank page

Oh godddd the blank page. It should be an exciting palimseset of possibility but is somehow also the most terrifying thing known to humankind. You wanna write something but where to start? HOW to start? You type that first line and immediately delete it. You watch the cursor blinking at you—taunting you—until you just give up and shut your laptop again. It's probably tied up with a bunch of things we've already covered so far: perfectionism, imposter syndrome, fear of failure, maybe a lack of planning or faith in your story or whatever. But it doesn't have to be this way. A blank page IS exciting and full of possibility. We just have to get over ourselves and learn to embrace the unknown...

Read this: Don't fear the blank page

And also this: The moaning method

9. Not enough time/energy/motivation/gnuuuughh

Dude, same x 1000. But you don't have to get up at 5am, do hot yoga, drink a kale smoothie and write a thousand words before sunrise to be a Proper Writer. You don't even have to write every day. But what you can do is hack your writing brain and figure out when, where, how, and why you write most effectively. Then tweak your schedule, your habits, and your attitude to ensure you're making the most of your time. Productivity is a big ol' lie but finding the secret to getting in your own personal writing zone is actual MAGIC.

Read this: Maximise your writing time

And also this: Get in the writing zone

And also unto this: The Writers' HQ Guide to Productivity

10. You're just fucken stuck

Got the writing morbs? In need of some literary sudafed? Stuck as a pig in a poke? Writing is a whole puzzle of a process—and to be honest that's what makes it so fun and exciting and addictive, because your writing brain is hardwired to both create AND solve the wordy puzzles within your story. Sometimes the answer is time. Sometimes it's a second opinion or a fresh eye. Sometimes a totally different approach or just a hefty kick up the bum. But whatever the problem, there IS a solution. You just gotta keep going and trust that you'll find it...

Read this: Troubleshoot your writing - why are you stuck?

And also this: Break through the writing blockage

And also also this: Write yourself into a pit (and then dig your way out again)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alright, that's it for today. Now go write, you flithy animals.

(And if we missed anything, stick a question in our ask box or check out the rest of our shit here)

#writing #writing advice #writers of tumblr #writeblr #writing community #writers community #writing life #creative writing #national novel writing month #nanowrimo #nanowrimo 2022 #imposter syndrome #perfectionism #writer's block #writers block #writer things #procrastination #productivity #writer problems #blank page #the blank page #WIP #pantser #editing #plotting

[writingquestionsanswered]

I've seen across the web multiples tips for outlining/plotting when you have ADHD, however, I feel like I kinda have the opposite problem: I'm autistic and I always feel a big need of minimum surprises, doing things methodically and planning ahead of time, but my stories don't quite flow and I may need to work a non-forced pantser mindset, so if you gave me any advice on how to embrace a less outlined writing, I'd be eternally grateful.

Middle Ground Between Planning and Pantsing

It sounds like you need a middle ground between planning and pantsing, but it may take some trial and error to find one that works for you. Here are some possibilities, though:

1 - Do a Beginning to End Summary - Most of the time when people talk about outlining a story, this is what they're talking about. Just doing an in-depth beginning to end summary. However, you can adjust the depth of your summary to suit your needs, which makes it a great tool for when you need something with just the right balance of planning and spontaneity to fit your unique set of needs. Try free writing a summary of the story as though you were explaining it to someone else. Talk about as much of what's going to happen as you know or can flesh out as you go. Just having this in hand when you write can be helpful. If you find you need more structure, you can go into more detail. If you find you need less, you can pull back.

2 - Use a Story Structure Template - I've found that 90% of the time when writers struggle with planning vs pantsing and/or outlining, it's because they don't have a good understanding of how stories work and how they're generally structured. How stories work and how they're structured does depend on the type of story you're writing, but outside of experimental or deeply literary stories, most stories do have some sort of structure. You can learn more about plot and story structure, along with suggestions for story structure templates, in my Plot & Story Structure master list of posts.

3 - Do a Scene List - I'm mostly a planner, but I have to be careful not to let myself get bogged down with too much planning and too many details. So, for me, the best middle ground between planning and pantsing has been scene lists. I love scene lists because they're such a straightforward road map to your story, while at the same time having the depth flexibility of a beginning to end summary. You can put in as much or as little detail as you want. A scene list can be a just a list of scene titles that just let you know what's going on in the scene, like: Scene 1 - Hunting with Gale. Scene 2 - The Reaping. Or, you can do a brief or in-depth summary of what happens in each scene. Or you can even do what I do, which is a fairly extensive data table containing things like when and where the scene takes place, who's in it, plot point, summary, etc.

4 - Do Chapter Summaries - If you prefer not to break your story down into scenes, you can do chapter summaries instead. Like a scene list, this can be as light or in-depth as a scene list, from a list of chapter titles or working titles that suggest what happens, to in-depth summaries of what happens in each chapter.

5 - Do a Timeline - Timelines are kind of like scene lists in that they break your story down into important events/moments, and you can choose how deep to go. There are a also a lot of different formats you can use for a timeline, but you might want to start out by doing an old-fashioned line drawn on paper, then mark in the most important events. From there, you can start filling in the next most important events, then the slightly less most important, zooming in as much as you want to.

I hope something here will work for you!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

LEARN MORE about WQA

SEE MY ask policies

VISIT MY Master List of Top Posts

COFFEE & COMMISSIONS ko-fi.com/wqa

#writing tips #writing help #writing advice #wqaadvice

[slayingfiction]

Plotters VS. Pansters

Don’t forget our Grand Opening Giveaway starts February 1st/24 on Tumblr, Instagram and slayingfiction.com! You don’t want to miss it! Happy Writing!

In the world of writing, there are two types of creators often discussed: plotters and pantsers. These terms describe a writer’s approach to crafting stories. Whether you’re an aspiring author or a seasoned novelist, understanding these styles can offer valuable insights into your writing process. Let’s dive into what makes plotters and pantsers distinct and how each approach contributes to the

art of storytelling.

Plotters: Architects of the Written World

Plotters, often referred to as ‘architects,’ are writers who plan their stories meticulously before diving into the actual writing. They are the mapmakers of the writing world, charting out each twist and turn of their narrative.

Detailed Outlining: Plotters create extensive outlines, character profiles, and world-building elements before penning their first sentence.

Controlled Storytelling: This style lends itself to a controlled narrative with fewer inconsistencies and plot holes.

Time Investment: Plotting can be time-consuming initially, but it often makes the writing process smoother.

Famous Plotters: J.K. Rowling and John Grisham are notable plotters, known for their detailed story planning.

Pantsers: The Free Spirits of Storytelling

Pantsers, or ‘gardeners,’ as George R.R. Martin likes to call them, write ‘by the seat of their pants.’ They dive into writing with a general idea or none at all, discovering the story as they go along.

Spontaneous Creation: Pantsers often begin with a basic concept or character and let the story unfold naturally.

Flexible and Dynamic: This style allows for more flexibility, often leading to surprising and dynamic plot turns.

Adaptable Process: Pantsing can be less intimidating for some writers, as it doesn’t require extensive pre-planning.

Famous Pantsers: Stephen King and Margaret Atwood are known for their pantser style, crafting intricate stories with a more spontaneous approach.

Which Approach is Better?

The truth is, there’s no ‘better’ approach. Both plotters and pantsers have their strengths and challenges. Some writers are strict plotters or pantsers, while others fall somewhere in between, employing techniques from both styles.

1. Mix and Match: Many successful authors use a combination of plotting and pantsing. They may start with a rough outline but allow room for the story to evolve.

Personal Preference: The best method depends on what works for you as a writer. Experiment with both styles to find your comfort zone.

Genre Considerations: Some genres, like mystery or high fantasy, might benefit more from plotting due to their complex plots and world-building.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in between, the most important thing is to keep writing. Each approach offers unique pathways to creativity, and understanding your own method can enhance your writing experience. Embrace your style, and let it guide you in your storytelling journey.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to write a story. The beauty of writing lies in the diversity of its creation.

View On WordPress

#creative writing #fiction #novel writing #pansters #plotter #writing #Writing advice #Writing community #Writing fiction #Writing reference #Writing resources #writing tips

[kamreadsandrecs]

#history #movies #writing #babylon 5

[elizmanderson]

Hi, here's my attempt at a specific question(s) for 'Remarkable Retirement"

Does Edna ever get a cat?

What was the writing process like, do you have a favorite scene?

How fantasy-esque versus modern-day esque is Remarkable Retirement?

Also also

"a dragon who hoards flowers"

more info on this one. I love this one.

I'll try to get the book whenever I'm able, it seems really interesting

<3

ahhhhhhhhh excellent. sweet sweet questions. let's talk about Remarkable Retirement!

Does Edna ever get a cat?

not in the published book! originally she adopted a stray who lived outside the nursing home and brought him partway on her adventure with him, but then he got cut because I am terrible at keeping track of characters' pets.

it is actually canonical that she's had a cat at some point, bc when she has to name something for Magical Purposes, we learn she's bad at naming things. she once adopted a stray cat and called it Kitty.

(in one draft it's stated that her son's father named their son for this reason lmao but I don't think that line survived)

What was the writing process like? Do you have a favorite scene?

part one of this question:

long and chaotic lmao. I wrote the first draft as part of a last-man-standing-style writing challenge in which I had to write at least 1000 words/week by the weekly deadline or drop out.

I made it all the way to the end for a grand total of 72 weeks. the last several weeks, the creator upped the word count each week (from 1000 to 1500 to 8,000 to 12,000 to 20,000) to pressure the last of us left standing to drop out so they could start the next round.

it was unsuccessful, as two of us not only reached but smashed right through the 20k goal of week 72 and were declared joint winners lmao. I wrote 32k that week and finished the draft at about 160,000 words.

I leaned heavily into pantsing for the first draft: I knew a few major plot points going into the first draft but otherwise figured most of the story out each week as I wrote more of it.

for subsequent drafts, which were revised over the next two years, I did considerably more planning. but still plenty of angst lol, especially since 160,000 is pretty chonky and the first draft needed some major restructuring. I think there were three major rounds of revisions total before I started querying.

(queried for two years, got lots of "love this but it's not marketable," and finally published with a small press that said "love this and we want to publish it." although I do have an agent now! but I got my agent with a different manuscript.)

part two of this question:

I do love a major plot twist and spent most of my first draft looking forward to writing it. but I think my favorite scene is probably the soft moment in the hospital between Edna and Amir. they're just *anime fist clench* so soft together.

plus it includes Amir calling Edna "Edna" instead of "Mrs. Fisher" for the first time, and I am a slut for a good name thing.

How fantasy-esque vs. modern-day-esque is Remarkable Retirement?

Remarkable Retirement leans heavily modern day, but magic exists and everyone knows about it. so the setting is modern and the characters travel to some real places, like Detroit and my hometown and California, and there are real-world things like nursing homes and cell phones.

but then you've got a part of the U.S. military that deals with dragons because there are dragons, and you've got a council of wizards that's mostly useless, and some of the nursing homes (not Edna's) are magical homes, and you can magically enhance your cell phone (but not iPhones because Apple doesn't let you do that).

so like. it's set in more-or-less the modern-day U.S. (minus the pandemic, which hadn't started yet when I wrote the book), but the fantasy elements exist openly alongside all the real-world stuff.

More info about the dragon who hoards flowers

his name is Basil and I love him very much

#answered #the remarkable retirement of edna fisher #e's writing #title game

[bomberqueen17]

aw poop

Last night as I was lying on the couch trying to get the energy to go to bed I remembered that it was Saturday and Friday comes before Saturday and I'd been trying to post fic updates on Fridays. so that's how long it took me to notice the passage of linear time.

Update schedules are for the birds. I think I proofread the chapter? I was doing it one at a time so I'd have time to go back in and make my decisions about the final chapter and write that, and I have in all these weeks made about ten words of progress on that. I've thought about it a lot! But I've written thousands of words on other projects instead, lollll. That's how this goes; the words will come when I have thought of them enough, and also when other stuff stops being shiny for a moment.

The one where Ciri goes to Vergen and Does Not Meet Saskia is nearly complete except that I got to the climax and halfassed it in the interests of getting it done, which is great but now I have to like. You know. Rewrite it to be good. It's structurally there! I just basically have placeholder paragraphs. Little wooden blobs of sentences that approximately convey the action beats and have zero actual description or immediacy or poignancy of any kind. They exist! The story is technically complete! But they are terrible. Fortunately @bittylildragon has annotated them and i just have to muster my strength to figure out how to work those annotations plus my lumpy rough clay into some kind of finished polished thing worthy of all the goddamned setup I did.

(This is largely how pantsing works, btw, of the plotting-vs-pantsing procedural divide. I could not have outlined that, I had to write it. It might be easier for you to expand an outline than revise a terrible draft, but that is not the case for me, and I have learned this through a great deal of experimentation. You can plot all you want, I am apparently contractually obligated to pants or the words no worky.)

So anyway I have a day crammed chock-full of All Of My Weekend so I'm not sure when I'll get to the update but I will! It exists and is ready probably!! It just always takes me like half an hour at least of concentrated effort to put up even a well-proofread final version of a chapter because it involves switching between multiple tabs and even in a perfect scenario that's pretty high-stakes for my rabid ferret of an attention span, and this course of Ditzifying Antibiotics has multiplied those risk factors by like a million. (I am so dumb y'all.)

Anyway at some point there will be a torrent of words posted but idk when. Probably tomorrow there will be a tidy 6k or so words posted, about the one with the dogs.

#about the author #not fic updates lol

[wastemanjohn]

ite guys i am once again consensus seeking but not in a horny way for once - i'm having a very good convo with @amiwritesthings about writing processes and plotting vs pantsing and it made me curious - writerly mutuals what is your process like? do you plot all the tiny things out or just sit down with an idea and see what happens?

#far fetched #i'm definitely a plotter lol #or maybe more of an agoniser #if I sit down to write without a plan and some serious percolating beforehand literally nothing will happen! #then I redraft to fuck #I also very much subscribe to get it down then get it good #i don't write as quickly as I would like

[kammartinez]

#history #movies #babylon 5 #writing

[thequeenofthewinter]

Your answer on the pantsing/planning ask actually got me super curious :> Talk to me about your experience writing specifically a series, where you have multiple installments in the same 'verse, so to speak. Did you know you were going to be writing a multiple-volume story when you started, or did it sort of unfurl on its own? What are the main differences in your experience of writing the first installment, vs working your way through the second? Do you carefully plan all the beats in advance, or do you enjoy meandering through the milestones and seeing where the journey will take you? Bonus: is there a point, for you, where the universe of your story starts taking a life of its own, and feel like it has a logic of its own, or do you stay close to canon throughout? Relatedly, are there side stories in your specific series 'verse that you'd like to tell, but haven't gotten to yet? No rush, and thanks for indulging my curiosity ;)

Ah, well, in true pantser fashion…uh, when I first started out on this jaunty stroll into madness—I mean—writing, I had very loose beats, so to speak and an even loser concept of what was going to happen or where it was going other than:

Civil War

A romance with the most controversial and possibly most hated character in all of Skyrim. (Because I am self-indulgent and I like controversy.)

So, really great plan, right?

Anyway, if I am 100% honest if you, I wasn’t even sure I was going to finish it. The first time I opened my Word document, (I was working in Word then instead of Scrivener.) words were so hard to word and I almost gave up after the first three paragraphs. (Which are still in their untouched original state in chapter one.) 

So, I guess to answer your first question, no, I had no idea I was going to be a multi-volume story, and it very much unfurled its sail all on its own.

As for the main differences between writing the first installment to the second…it might be a weird thing to say, but I have a much laxer approach to it. When I just started writing I fussed with every word in every sentence and how it would be received, and I’m much more—free flowing? now. And I like that. I used to worry so much about trying to get things “perfect” or how people would like this or that or if this idea was stupid or too dramatic—and you know what? Fic is fun. It can be whatever I want it to be and it isn’t going to be perfect in the plot or the structure and not everyone is going to like every bit, but it’s mine and I am damn proud of it. Learning to let go and just do was the most important lesson for me.

Ideas go from brain to fingertips with more ease for me now, and I believe that I have learned a lot and have improved in the 250k words from the first fic to the second where I am about to hit another 100k.

As for the next question, I think it is a little connected to the last. When I started writing, the plan was “Civil War” and maybe try to throw in some other things. So all those beats were mostly planned for me, but the way to get there was very open. I am a rambling, meandering soul by heart. I don’t make detailed outlines or take extensive notes, and I know some would look at my writing in absolute horror because of it, but it has been working for me.

A major difference between the first installment of the series and the second is that it’s “totally” unscripted for the most part, meaning that I don’t have the game to guide me and use as a crutch. Once I got halfway through “In the Midst of Winter”, I started thinking about where I would go and where the logical conclusion would be. We could end at the Civil War, but well, we all know what would happen next: the Moot. But we never get to see that in the game. So, that’s where I wanted to go, and as you kind of already know I am currently navigating a snake pit of politics, and later, we’re going to try to take a stab at a 2nd Great War. How will it go? No idea. But will I have fun along the way? You betcha, and that’s all I am concerned about at the moment.

Bonus question? I always take the extra credit. 

I would say that I try to follow canon within reason as in we are not going to suddenly make Ulfric a giant cuddly teddy bear, but at the same time I think the universe and the characters DEFINITELY take a mind of their own. Don’t even get me started on that. They take the wheel frequently and “turn this car around” to tell me that we’re going the wrong way to pick up a Wendy’s frosty. So, perhaps I would say it’s a little of both? 

As for side stories, definitely. If you continue reading “In the Midst of Winter”, you’ll eventually meet another OC named Narile. While I do tell a bit of her story in the sense of what happens to her in the moment, she has a backstory which I haven’t had the time to tell. And well…I also started post-main quest and I could tell THAT story as well. Or even write about Dahlia’s time in the College. So many words, so little time.

Thank you very much for the questions, Para. I thoroughly enjoyed answering these questions. <3

#winter talks writing #winter answer asks #very thoughtful questions Para #you're making me use my noodle

[seeingteacupsindragons]

Brains are especially prone to bullying us in this darkest week of the year that also has the most pressure on it to be HaPPy and MaGiCAl. I'm sorry you're having a rough week!

Couple asks: do you do New Year's resolutions or set goals or anything like that? If so, any you're willing to share?

Second, we've talked a lot about pantsing vs outlining etc. This is semi-related I guess. I seem to have backed myself into a corner where I have a very specific scene I want to write, but that doesn't seem to be where the story wants to go, so everything I try to do to get there feels forced and dry. Do you think I need to drop the planned scene entirely to get my flow back? Is there some magic trick to get my brain to cooperate with me daring to plan something for once? 😅

Work has been a bear and hormones are currently out of whack, so it's not like it's surprising and honestly could be a lot worse, but I'm just so tired and grumpy and feeling underappreciated. I'm going to go take a nap soon.

One:

Yes, I do set New Year's Resolutions, sort of, but I haven't actually made most of them in a few years. They're typically writing-goal oriented, and I'm not generally very married to them. But they're goals. Things like getting back in querying (missed it again, thanks concussion), finishing drafts, starting new things. I think this year it's going to be finding a new CP, getting Tiadane's book out the door, and finishing at least one draft of Avel's.

Two:

I have a number of times had to drop plot lines I liked the idea of or scenes because they just never fit into the story or I never had time for them (in the story line). I suspect this will always happen, and it's a little sad, but sometimes it's just better for that particular story.

But there are ways around it:

Write it anyway, and if it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. You still have that scene you love.

Plan the damn story around the things you want most to include, and therefore that scene you want to do (this can be hard because you can do that and then sometimes the story warps and it's weird anyway).

Write a new story to stick The Thing in. Very popular choice.

Sometimes also talking through the problem and articulating why the story is veering in a different direction from that scene can be helpful (even if only talking to yourself).

For example, that I'm just making up on the spot here:

The Scene: A very dramatic reunion between Protag and Love Interest set in Protag's home after a year apart, and one of them is wounded and dripping wet from the rain and there's a couple lines you really like about what they meant and why they left and why they couldn't return sooner and the other getting down on their knees to beg for forgiveness or whatever the hell.

Why would the story not want to go there? It's great, right?

Except maybe the dramatic confession words you imagined don't quite work with other ways you've described the feelings so it doesn't seem like a way to sum it up

Maybe the location is wrong, because Protag's home has become a source of too much safety and it seems wrong to have a dramatic confrontation there, or the layout you made for it doesn't match your Cinematic Daydream.

Wait, why are they going to someone they haven't seen in a year wounded they have other options and they're not actually the type of person to do that despite how cool it looked in your head.

And then once you kind of narrow down the specific sort of direction the story is building to and the specific location the Scene That Doesn't Fit is in, you can see if one or the other can shift towards the other so they can meet together, or if it's just irreconcilable, or you have to pick which elements are most important and how you can repurpose them.

I don't know if this is helpful. Maybe? Lemme know, I guess.

[semperintrepida]

Two more questions? 28. SEVEN OF CUPS: OVERWHELMED BY CHOICE (How do you decide which story idea to pursue? How many do you have?). And: 68. FIVE OF WANDS: DISAGREEMENT (Do your characters ever act of their own accord? Or do you find that adage false or silly?)

My sincere appreciation for this distraction from Monday's drudgery at the day job!

28. SEVEN OF CUPS: OVERWHELMED BY CHOICE

It's more like the story ideas decide to pursue me. 😅

I've been writing consistently for a few years now, and I've always had some big, ambitious project going on during that time. And each one has gotten waylaid by some upstart big, ambitious project that hits me from out of nowhere and with such intense force that I can't not write it. It's like they hold my brain hostage—until the next one shows up, that is.

Elegiad got sidetracked by Sellout. Sellout got sidetracked by Irredeemable. Irredeemable got sidetracked by Breaking. And now you can see why I've been so utterly deranged about finishing that book, because my WIP backlog is getting out of hand and I want to finish what I've fucking started.

(I'm not even going to talk about all the oneshot ideas I have.)

68. FIVE OF WANDS: DISAGREEMENT

I write fic to explore characters in greater depth than what we see in canon, and most of my stories start from a central question that the main character ends up answering as I write them.

I don't think the idea that characters can act on their own accord is silly at all. I liken it to plotting vs pantsing. For every writer out there whose characters leap fully formed from their foreheads, there's a writer like me who has to write their way into a character. Both are valid, and both are useful tools that aren't an either/or.

[author/publishing tarot ask game]

#yes plz distract me from day job drudgery #i'm glad you asked #triyal #i appreciate the thought-provoking questions #and the reality check about my list of unfinished WIPs lol #ask game

[writingquestionsanswered]

How do I start a story? I find that the first page is always the hardest to write, because I just don’t know how to introduce whatever it is I’m thinking. Or what I should be introducing in the first place.

Not Sure How to Start a Story

Starting a story happens in one of three ways:

Wing it, wring it, or a little of both.

Winging It (AKA "Pantsing") - Winging or "pantsing" a story means that you sit down and start writing with only what's in your head. For some that can mean knowing everything that's going to happen from beginning to end, for others it can mean just having a vague idea or story goal. In either case, there are two non-negotiable requirements for successfully winging a story... at least a good one: 1) You need to be SUPER motivated by the idea. 2) You need to understand how stories work. The majority of writers aren't "pantsers" meaning that they can't sit down and successfully write a good story without some level of planning.

Wringing It (AKA "Planning") - Wringing (as in wringing out) or planning a story means that you start with an idea--either one that already popped into your head, or one that you searched out--and you spend a lot of time fleshing that idea out into a story. "Planning" a story means different things to different writers, but usually it requires a lot of brainstorming, planning the story's structure, world building, character design, research, and plotting out what needs to happen in the story. It can sometimes even mean spending time to learning about plot and story structure, as well as other storytelling mechanics. Planners sometimes need only beginning to end summary of their story, but many like to use scene lists, timelines, mood boards, scene cards, chapter summaries... really planning tool that works for them. Figuring out your story's events from beginning to end is called "plotting" or sometimes "outlining." Most newer writers do best as planners.

A Little of Both (AKA "Plantsing") - Most writers are "plantsers," especially once they've gotten the experience of completing a few stories. Plantsers may spend time brainstorming and fleshing things out, may even write out a summary or scene list, but since they fully understand how stories work, it's easier for them to write a story without having every detail planned out.

Why You're Struggling to Write the First Page

The reason you're struggling to write the first page is because you don't have what you need to wing it. You're not a "pantser," at least not yet. This is most likely due to not understanding how stories work, or it could be that you just aren't inspired enough by this idea for it to draw out naturally as you write. In either case, you need to take a step back and spend some time planning out this story.

Here are some posts to help:

Beginning a New Story How to Move a Story Forward Guide: How to Turn Ideas into a Story Plot Driven vs Character Driven Stories Understanding Goals and Conflict Basic Story Structure Guide: How to Outline a Plot Scene Lists

Best of luck with your story! ♥

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

Visit my FAQ

Find answers fast on my Master List of Top Posts

Go to ko-fi.com/wqa to buy me coffee or see my commissions

#writing tips #writing help #writing advice #wqaadvice