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I Is For… Idea to “The End!”

Writer Zen Garden Posted on by

Contributed by Tina Holland.

There are many ways to take your IDEA  to a finished short story, novella or novel. Some work better than others, but that depends on the writer and their strengths and weaknesses.

If you’ve been writing for any length of time you’ve probably heard the terms – plotter, pantser, and plantser.  If you haven’t, here’s a blog that defines those:

https://thewritepractice.com/plotters-pantsers/

There is no right or wrong way to take your IDEA and turn it into a story.  Whatever gets you to “The End” is most important.

I myself fall into the plantser category so I will speak to my process and hope that you are able to gleam some helpful hints from it.

  1. First I write a blurb for the book – sometimes this becomes my back blurb other times my book changes so much it will be radically different. This is basically my story idea.
  2. Next I research my characters. I choose their names and pick their birthdate, birth sign, do their numerology chart, and cast an actor/model/singer to play them.
  3. I plot the 12 key romance scenes and then I go ahead and fill in what I know. I utilize a template by C.S. Lakin.  Which can be found here. https://www.livewritethrive.com/resources/
  4. The steps above are my plotter steps, once these are done I start writing and I write whatever scene I want. Generally I start at the beginning, write a few scenes then go to the end and write that before coming back and working on the middle, and I almost always write love scenes last.
  5. If I struggle during stage 4 – then I go back and research my characters. I utilize “90-day Novel” if my characters require more introspection and motivation.
  6. Once I’ve completed the rough draft I go back and layer in setting, clothes and all the other details like eye and hair color.   Sometimes I have to do this before the love scene because people need to undress and readers like to know where this couple is for the deed.
  7. Now I go back and self-edit the novel. I personally love the editing process, but I’m weird.   Join me in a couple days when I discuss “Killing your darlings”.

 

Comments

I Is For… Idea to “The End!” — 4 Comments

  1. Tina, these are great ideas for how to take “The Idea” from start to finish! :>). Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience. I’m also going to check out the links you included. You’ve given us a lot to think about and explore!

  2. Wow. I am usually pantser or plantser. The plan and work that goes in writing something good – wow never thought of that. Never really learned to write . but I believe with out a process output won’t be great. I feel your steps are very useful. Good luck.

    Dropping by from a to z http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.com/

  3. very interesting. I’m a plotter but I can’t write and jump around, I’ll jot down future scene ideas but pretty much go in order. But I deff find creating the characters first,how they look and personality helpful.

  4. Thank you for sharing your creative process, this is great. As someone who finds focusing difficult at times, I’m going to try your wonderful suggestions (except not sure about the numerology chart, but see where you are going with this).

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