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To: RosieCotton
I haven't really tackled writing anything of this scale.

Me neither! In fact, I've never written much of anything... I've done lots of planning and thinking, but when it comes to actually putting words on paper (or rather, into the computer) I lose all of my enthusiasm (sigh). What I've done for the story I'm going to attempt is the following:

a) develop a plot, a fairly simple one, that I've kept in my head;

b) develop a bunch of characters... basically I came up with names, and typed out a few characteristics of each one as I worked out what role each character will play;

c) come up with an outline, which is the most complete part. With a notion as to what the plot was, I sat down and thought out a number of scenes to advance that plot. Each scene has a couple of sub-points detailing what I want to establish in that scene. It sounds complex I guess, but really the outline is fairly simple, like this: "character A talks to character B; this scene shows character A is unhappy with the project, and that the project is behind schedule".

It was while I was reviewing this little outline Saturday that I realized I didn't have enough there for a 50,000 word novel, so I added some scenes. I'm still not sure that I have enough there... and what's there may not be very exciting. Lots of characters talking, I'm afraid....

35,904 posted on 10/21/2002 6:59:42 PM PDT by Bear_in_RoseBear
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear; 2Jedismom
All we are is characters talking!

All Seinfeld is about are characters talking!

Hullo! - Good evening! Brother is gone and I have a wardrobe in the barn.... It just never occured to me to climb in it!
35,908 posted on 10/21/2002 7:06:05 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear
I'm having trouble naming my characters. The plot is ok, the stuff is laid out, and the roles are defined; names have always been my weak spot. Today I did a timeline for the project; "Have x done by the 4th, y by the 10th, etc".

My problem is not writing; it's finishing. When I have a reason to finish I complete the story, otherwise it sits there for years until I come back to it. Really and truly it's not that hard to write a story as long as you're willing to work on it. And since we're all doing it, we'll encourage each other.

35,913 posted on 10/21/2002 7:17:12 PM PDT by JenB
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear
I've never written much of anything... I've done lots of planning and thinking, but when it comes to actually putting words on paper (or rather, into the computer) I lose all of my enthusiasm (sigh).

I do a lot of starting, but no finishing. Most stuff doesn't make it onto paper anyway, but when I HAVE started to put it into words, I usually end up getting really discouraged at how little it resembles what was in my head. Seems like it's always better (or seems better) before I try to capture it.

I should probably do something of an outline. I HAVE done some synopses for chapters (similar to your outline, I think - brief descriptions of what happens in that chapter), but I have the beginning and the end with no connection as of yet!

And the characters keep changing as I think more about 'em. Hopefully they STOP that by the time I start writing, or this is going to be really confusing!

I don't know if I have enough or not. I guess I'll just have to try and see...if I can even finish the story, it'll be more than I've ever done. So far I don't even have many conversations to write, though, which worries me! Mostly it's people's thoughts...

35,964 posted on 10/22/2002 6:11:12 AM PDT by RosieCotton
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