Plot and Planning: I have the best prompt books and use a simple sentence prompt to get me going. One small sentence can make an entire story for me. I take notes and plot out the plot. :) I decide where I'm going and what I plan on doing. Now sometimes, my brain doesn't do what my notes say and that makes it harder. I have to practically start all over again. I change all the plot notes and get busy getting the story done before my notes take another turn. I truly try to stay focused on what I'm doing, but do I always? No. I think one of my favorite parts is the planning stage. You look over your notes and you see and story building right before your eyes. And no story is complete without the plot. So I try to stay focused on that. Is there anyone that actually stays on track for the entire story? I would be so impressed if I could do that. I can't wait to read what everyone else says. Happy Day, y'all.
Checkpoint #1: I have two stories, so I will list my progress.
1. The Choice: This story is finished and 10,481 words after being betad. I like this one a lot, but not as much as I like the next one. I always have a favorite and this year, it's #2.
2. The Many Challenges of Blair Sandburg. This one is also finished, at 21,040 words. This is by far my favorite story of the two. I like a strong BLair and he is in this one. Actually, he is in the first one too. Maybe I just like both of the stories alike. :)
Can't wait to see what everyone else is doing. :) I'm available for cheerleader if anyone needs me.
I have to plot things out pretty specifically, especially if it's a long story. I generally have three to four main scene ideas in my head, major emotional climaxes, depending on the length, and then I have to fill in how we got there. If I'm doing something with a nonlinear flow (which I'm very fond of), then I really have to outline to make sure I know what happened when and when I am in the story. Most of the time I know the ending, although occasionally I've been surprised (The Devil You Know). Beginnings are often the hardest part for me, because my first emotional scene usually isn't right at the start, there's some set up, and so it's always hard for me to start writing that part, I want to get to the meat right away
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Jen, I think it's cool that you love to plot. I like plotting, but don't love it. I've taken a sentence prompt and written a 20k story from it. But it has to be planned. Otherwise, I can't keep track of things and it's no fun that way. I'm so glad you shared your writing experiences with us. :)
I only tried once to plot everything (not in this fandom) and it didn't work. The characters kept wanting to go off in a different direction, and after trying about three times to force them to do what I'd plotted I gave up. It just wasn't working
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Checkpoint - both my stories are finished, betaed and ready to go.
1) Survival. The first 7000 words of this was posted to Sentinel Thursday in 2011 in response to six consecutive prompts. I've added another 11,000 words to it. Someone has kidnapped Jim and Blair and dumped them in the middle of nowhere... in November.
2) has had three titles since it was started - For Want of a Guide, for Lack of a Guide and For Need of a Guide. I finally settled on For Need of a Guide. Blair has disappeared. Without his guide, Jim has zoned, and is in a care home, unconscious.
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1. The Choice: This story is finished and 10,481 words after being betad. I like this one a lot, but not as much as I like the next one. I always have a favorite and this year, it's #2.
2. The Many Challenges of Blair Sandburg. This one is also finished, at 21,040 words. This is by far my favorite story of the two. I like a strong BLair and he is in this one. Actually, he is in the first one too. Maybe I just like both of the stories alike. :)
Can't wait to see what everyone else is doing. :) I'm available for cheerleader if anyone needs me.
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1) Survival. The first 7000 words of this was posted to Sentinel Thursday in 2011 in response to six consecutive prompts. I've added another 11,000 words to it. Someone has kidnapped Jim and Blair and dumped them in the middle of nowhere... in November.
2) has had three titles since it was started - For Want of a Guide, for Lack of a Guide and For Need of a Guide. I finally settled on For Need of a Guide. Blair has disappeared. Without his guide, Jim has zoned, and is in a care home, unconscious.
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