Hello

[Locket]

I'm sure you people probably get tons of these sorts of threads all the time, but oh well.

My problem is I love to write, but I'm not quite sure how to go about it. I've written several short stories (most for school, a few for competition) and those I can do easily because I don't have to plan.
But I want to write books- big hulking novels. I'm just not quite sure how to go about it. There are two ideas in particular I want to work on. One is just the main gist- this person goes here and does this. But absolutely no detail, no elaborate twists and turns, nothing. The second is just a beginning. No middle, no end, not even a plot except for a faint romantic interest.

So what do I do now? Most people say to make some sort of structure, showing how the major events happen and in what order. But how can I do that? I don't even HAVE the major events! Please someone help. I'm afraid if I wait too long, everything that's trying to bubble over will disappear.

 

[Tariel]

ok...let me ask you a question about your novel you want to write. Do you have characters?

If your answer is yes, then you may be in good shape.

Do you have several characters, and are they interesting characters?

If the answer is yes, then you should be fine.

I write the same way. I have a story I'm working on now with very little plot.

If you have a general idea of what you want to do and enough interesting characters to pull it off, then you should have no problem. I cannot plan out my story ahead of time for anything, and from you are saying I believe that you just might be the same way

just start writing and do what feels natural for the characters to do.

Does this make any sense??

 

[Locket]

I have the main characters... but no names or anything like that. It just seems hard to make these characters and give them depth if I have no idea where I'm going to take them.

 

[Lessien]

Well, think of how you want the story to end first. Then, think of the events that would logically lead to that end. Yeah, it is kind of time-consuming, but if you like daydreaming, then it's really fun. Also, it's easier to think of personality traits for characters if you know where you're taking them.

As for the main characters, what do they look like? What do they do for a living? What are they like? What are their roles in the story? Once you have those questions answered, think of names that would go with those characters.

 

[Locket]

Does anyone have a site with odd/old/foriegn words that I could use for names and places?

 

[Lessien]

http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/tacitusc/histries/chap21.htm

Don't know if that'll work...

 

[Locket]

Thank you very much Less

 

[Lessien]

np

 

[Blessed-one]

Locket, it's important to have an idea of what your story is about, even if the structure is as vague as the wind. Having a map also helps, as where and how the character travels to depends on the topography (mountain barriers might prevent people from getting to another place).

here's a site that i highly recommend.
Holy Lisle's website: http://hollylisle.com/fm/

scroll down and check out the index bar on the right hand side. You'll find the 'How to' section.

hope that helps.

 

[dustin-lee]

When I get an idea for a story I sit down with a notebook and just start writing. I write my idea down and then let the story evolve from there. Usually when I get done I have many things crossed out or rewritten. But I usually get a good story out of it. But of course this method probably doesn't work for everyone. I like it because I can see the story evolve and I never have anything set in stone so I can change things around and stuff.