Does Anybody Else...

[MariaJLM]

...struggle?

With plot to be specific. I seem to be great at world building and character development, but whenever it comes to actually deciding a plot I seem to fall flat. I can typically figure out what I want the outcome of a story to be, but then actually getting there becomes a challenge. Due to this one stumbling block I rarely finish anything I write.

Instead, I simply just throw my characters into different scenarios and things to see how they would react. At least it gets me putting them to use.

 

[Jenniferdiana]

...struggle?

With plot to be specific. I seem to be great at world building and character development, but whenever it comes to actually deciding a plot I seem to fall flat. I can typically figure out what I want the outcome of a story to be, but then actually getting there becomes a challenge. Due to this one stumbling block I rarely finish anything I write.

Instead, I simply just throw my characters into different scenarios and things to see how they would react. At least it gets me putting them to use.

haha sorry i dont even know what a plot is..i just write

 

[MariaJLM]

haha sorry i dont even know what a plot is..i just write

I suppose I just like to have some structure so things make sense, y'know?

 

[Jenniferdiana]

I suppose I just like to have some structure so things make sense, y'know?

yea i wish i could help ya but like i said i dont know too much about those things...i just write

 

[~Anastasia~]

Have you tried an outline? Brainstorming for a few days about how your characters are and how you want to show them developing to get a few "bricks" to fit into the wall. Fit those into the loose outline. See what other things need to happen - who needs to be challenged and how they will react and interact. Elements that can bond your reader to your characters and fit those in. And then where are you - how much more do you need?

Mostly mine just kind of have a life of their own as well, but I guess my mind does these sorts of things early on in the process, though I don't normally commit it to paper. I think it does serve to guide my characters though. (And a caveat - it's been a while since I wrote.) Just offering in case it helps.

 

[seekingmuch]

...struggle?

With plot to be specific. I seem to be great at world building and character development, but whenever it comes to actually deciding a plot I seem to fall flat. I can typically figure out what I want the outcome of a story to be, but then actually getting there becomes a challenge. Due to this one stumbling block I rarely finish anything I write.

Instead, I simply just throw my characters into different scenarios and things to see how they would react. At least it gets me putting them to use.

Do you have a beginning? Do you have a good ending?

The middle is going from point A to point B. Don't be worried about going to point C or D or E while getting to point B since that is life.

 

[Bob Crowley]

...struggle?

With plot to be specific. I seem to be great at world building and character development, but whenever it comes to actually deciding a plot I seem to fall flat. I can typically figure out what I want the outcome of a story to be, but then actually getting there becomes a challenge. Due to this one stumbling block I rarely finish anything I write.

Instead, I simply just throw my characters into different scenarios and things to see how they would react. At least it gets me putting them to use.

Makes two of us. I can rattle off a short story quickly enough, but I struggle with developing a plot for a novel.

 

[bèlla]

You may find K.M. Weiland's books helpful. The Outlining series is well received.