Do you plot your story?
By klaudine
@klaudine (3650)
Indonesia
September 4, 2008 12:35am CST
Well.. I read somewhere that to make a good story we have to make a plot before we start the chapter one. It means, we have known very well where's the story would be brought and the ending and the twists. We develop the plot into something that we can craft with words and a little bit imagination.
But I seldom make a plot. I usually just write and see how the story goes, and make things just like that. Flowing. Even when I almost reach the last page, I still don't know how the story would end.
Do you make plot before you're writing your story or you just write with the flow? How do you do that? And how's the result?
7 responses
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
I'm in the process of finishing my book's first chapter but yeah, I've written several short stories in the past and most likely I already know how everything will go before writing it down. Though I also try to be flowing sometimes. There are just times when the idea just settles in and I find myself writing down everything that comes, just like that.
But well, I've always been a planner and an organized person, so I'm always partial to making a plot first before writing. I don't see anything wrong with flowing ideas however, it works fine with me as well. I even admire a friend of mine who's so spontaneous, she finds it easy to think of every part of the story while writing it, now that's talent!
I don't mind having both though, talent and skill, oh that would be the day...
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
Err... don't get too wowed about it, I've been writing the novel for 2 years now. Shucks! I had a Prologue you see, and I think I've rewritten it 5 times (as in the whole Prologue, about 10 pages) before I finally let it go. The same idea/same plot, but I was just not satisfied of the outcome. I finished my first chapter last week and I've been rewriting that as well because an idea just came and I want to replace some of those sentences or want to insert some phrases. Gosh! Was it hard!
I always write and write, I supposed, I've got so many poems published on my own blog (http://maplekisses.tabulas.com if you have time to visit). I had some short stories too, but this will be the first time I'm really going to have myself published. I really wanna see my book, you see, I want a hard-copy, a real book.
Uhmmm, the plot was rather easy because it's more on gathered experiences and memories. I do take notes. Every note-worthy event in my life, or other people's life for that matter will be written on my notes. Every interesting line that I read in a book or heard spoken by others that I think is related somehow to my story is written down as well. Every quote, every phrase, I always make a note, my notebooks are getting full coz' I've been gathering those "little stuff" for years now. It's a good reference though.
1 person likes this
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
5 Sep 08
Well.. it is still a wow for me.. I am amazed on how you make the plot and gathering little things. How do you do that? You just took some sentences, or you took them from your conversation with your friends. And in what language would the book published? I would like to buy it if it is sold in my country too.. I would like to learn about it...
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
5 Sep 08
Wow... you're writing a book!! I always admire people who is able to write a book. I always write and write and never find a way to publish my books. That's all because I don't have the guts to send it to the publisher. I think you're great because you can make a plot. How do you make a plot? Do you make something like story board? or you write it in a piece of paper so you can always look at it while you are writing? Or what?
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
4 Sep 08
It depends on the story. Most of them I do plot them, but less in terms of all details, twists, and more of a vague outline. If I sketch out every detail...then I can't write. The specific-ness stifles my creativity.
It goes something like this:
*claudine goes to the market**evil henchmen enters scene**murder at 8th street**family drama!*
My results are usually decent. I try not to make judgements on my stuff, and let others do the evaluating of the quality, but I always try my best.
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
6 Sep 08
It is basically a vague timeline for the story, yeah ^_^ it's flexible, so I can decide.."Hm, actually I think this should happen sooner due to this detail or that detail".
And since I use my notebooks for plotting, there's usually space to write down or cross out anything further. Like ideas for details when my computer's not available to write it, etc. etc.
But yeah, plots don't have to be terribly specific...just like the rest of writing, it can be however the writer wants it to be -- and since everyone's got their own methods and it all ties into creativity, it's pretty cool I think.
1 person likes this
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
6 Sep 08
So how yo make notes of your plots? I mean it was just the main idea or the whole topic on the chapter? Or you make some short stories about the chapter, so you can add details here and there to make it a whole chapter? I don't understand about plotting, so I might ask you lots of questions 
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
5 Sep 08
Well, the plot is important. However, this isn't always the way to approach a new story. I've started several things just by theme along without a full plot in mind. And yes those times had been stressful because I lacked a clear goal. But in the end I usually came out with something worthwhile. I think it depends on what you're feeling at the moment.
1 person likes this
@cbreeze (1205)
• United States
4 Sep 08
I've never plotted a story. I've started with an overall idea and just started writing. I guess my creative juices start flowing and the story just kind of develops a life of it's own. Different chapters jump out of my head out of sequence. I write them and save them for later. When the time is right, I slip them into the story. I would like to learn how to plot a story out first. I would like to try it and see if it works better than my way.
1 person likes this
@cbreeze (1205)
• United States
5 Sep 08
I build my characters from the personalities of people I know well. So it is very easy to think of how my characters would react in any given situation that I create for them. I may get an idea for a scene that I think would go well in building my story, but maybe I haven't developed the story that far along yet. Rather than lose the thought, I go ahead and write the scene as detailed as I can and just save it as a separate document. Then as I write my story, I see where it would appropriately transition into my scene and I just add it in as a new chapter. I may have to do a little editing to make it flow better but this actually works well for me.
1 person likes this
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
5 Sep 08
So you also make a character sheet for every main character you made? You are really a book writer, aren't you? I just learn to make a character sheet and a plot. I want to make a beautiful story not only an ordinary one. I need some guidance. Thank you very much for sharing your really nice information...
@freakingman (239)
• Singapore
6 Sep 08
i would first think through how the story would flow. then i would surf the net for some background information. then i do some brain-storming and mind-mapping to make sure i can write the whole story out. then i would write a draft for editing.
but sometimes, i am quite lazy, so i wrote with the flow. i would just write whatever that comes to mind. sometimes the outcome is great and i got ideas that i never thought of.
to me, both ways has its advantages. if you have no idea how to start or end, i would suggest you to write with the flow.
1 person likes this
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
6 Sep 08
Hey! I have never think about making plot with a mindmap. How do you do that? I mean was it a plot or developing the main idea of the story? Because I think it was a little bit different then...
So far I always use the 'go with the flow' techniques, but unfortunatelly I always end up never able finish the whole story because I found the leaks of the story here and there and somehow I cannot decide the endings... So I am thinking about making plot before making a story... what about that?:)
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
6 Sep 08
yes, soccnut, and that I was actually having right now. Without the plot, it is true that the story flows really well... but when it comes to the 'writer's block' I am stuck, and doomed right away because I just don't have any idea how I would continue the story. In the end, there is no story at all 
@mba4ever (118)
• Malaysia
7 Sep 08
There are two method in writing. First you just write what ever you want to write and once finished you bring the manusscript to the publisher to get it publish. The chance of rejection is very high. The second method is to get the agreement from the publisher first before start writing. This method is less risk, but you must be discipline to finish the writing based on deadline given.
In second method of writing, you must tell everything in written to the editor about your storyline. Not only the plot but from the start to the ending. The editor must know and agreed with your summary before given green light to go ahead with writing.
I tried both method. First one took me 3 years on my own sweet time to finish writing. The second method just took a month of my time and three moth of editor time. The book is sold out.
1 person likes this
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
7 Sep 08
Yes I can see it, but MBA... I need to know about the publisher. Or I just have to send them to the publisher without knowing who they are. If only I got someone who works as an editor or something it would be easier for me.
So do you plot your story too? I mean, you really write the plot in some paper or you just have the plot in your mind?
@mba4ever (118)
• Malaysia
7 Sep 08
If you are serious to be a writer, you need to spend some time to know a few things about writing world. I know one publisher who give free course, training and coaching to their writers. You can visit http://universitipts.com and look for the training schedule. Now it's Ramadhan, no training given.
If you know any editor, he or she can be your personal editor, but the publisher still need the manuscript edited by their own editor.
@Anne18 (11029)
•
4 Sep 08
I'm not writing at the mo, not enough time.
But I have done it both ways and both ways have worked for me. I think it depends on what the story is you are writing and how much you have in your head.
I wrote a story once and I had been going over in my head the story for weeks so when I came to put pen to paper then the story just flowed.
Another time I only had the outline of a very good story so I had to plan the story and the plot on paper a few times before I started writing it and had to keep checking back that I had got everything in that I really wanted in my story.
Hope that helps you
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
4 Sep 08
Are you a writer? I mean are you a real writer? It's like you are just so experienced in the writing stuff. I hope I can learn many thing from you. I know that I have a lot to learn, and I want to learn form the expert. Thank you very much for your information. I appreciate it and it really helps me so much.
Have a nice day, Anne
