random advice- post it here!

[madandfrozen]

just let the writing flow. Don't try to control the story, just let the words control you.

[Jordy]

That's good advice, it helps too! Thanks, =-)

[madandfrozen]

welcome!

[creamwolfgurl]

((That's what I say. No fun planning it all out, so just write and stuff comes out.....mostly Although, sometimes I'm surprised at what I write, it wasn't expected at all.))

[Jordy]

Yup, I agree with you cream.

[madandfrozen]

OMG!!! Hi cream!!!

[Lady Hammer]

I actually like to plan things out first, that way I have an outline and I know generally where the story is going. I find that if I don't make any efforts to plan beforehand, then whatever I'm writing draws out forever and ever and ever and gets mixed up and I forget important details and whatnot.

But I guess it depends on who you are whether or not you should plan it out.

[madandfrozen]

I see lol

[silvermoon]

Yeah, I write a rough outline of the main storyline (although it sometimes has huge gaps)

Then I sit down and write about a dozen really short sentences to describe briefly what happens next.

Then go and write what happens, using the sentences as a guide that are slightly flexible. Since I just let my characters control what happens and never make them do anything they wouldn't do.

[madandfrozen]

Outlines hinder my natural creativity.

Or maybe they just bore me...

[silvermoon]

I find they help, since otherwise I'll end up going for pages before getting to something important.

I make them vague and loose, things like:

- Set out on journey
- Joined by -name-
- Ambush
- Something interesting happens
- Reach next town

Only that's a really quick example.

You may not like them but outlines really are useful.

Here's a link to a page that talks about them way better than I ever could

www.anti-shurtugal.com/outlines.htm

Oh and there's a few more interesting articles on writing there.

[madandfrozen]

cool, I will check it out.

[Bethany]

For anything other than stories, I agree that planning things out is more hindering than helping.

But for stories, you really gotta plan it out, otherwise you write yourself into a corner plot-wise; meaning, you get to the point where you don't know what to do to get your charecter to move on in the story.

That's why stories aren't the main thing that I write. Lol. I always end up doing that to myself.

Sometimes I'll write the a beginning, middle, and ending scene out to kind of help guide me along too, and that seems to help.

[snowkitty]

I used to let my words just "come out" instead of planning anything out - it was a breath of fresh air for my creativity. However, creativity gets out of hand sometimes; I ended up going nowhere with too many words on my hands. I like to have a really rough outline to help myself out if writer's block hits or I forget where it's going. XD

Usually, I'll draw boxes with arrows putting them in order of occurance, and then write in the general plot, switching to a new box as it changes (or a box a chapter, whatever). I'll also write important cannot-forget details under the box. That way, I can go back and read the boxes for the very important things whenever I need to (I usually draw this all out on the inside of my notebook cover).

One of my outlines for a fanfic (Avatar: Last Airbender) goes like this (don't steal the idea...since I already wrote it XD and it sucks anyhow).

-

life at rabbitfoot outline

1. the proposition
Katara tries to convince Zuko to join her for the spring hollidays, in order to make her father bleieve that she has a boyfriend. Eventually, Zuko accepts

2. the outside world
Zuko and Katara meet up with the folks

3. the truth
Zuko wakes up in Katara's room and after narrowly avoiding old-fashioned Master Pakku, Sokka discovers their sham - but accepts it. Zuko and Katara take a quick trip around town

3 1/2. the mistake
meet up with Jet and Katara ends up having one too many drinks

4. the aftermath
Zuko and Katara deal with the aftermath of Jet's little "party". Plus Zuko shows her just what he loves about the violin. [cliff-hanger: Zuko tells Katara there is something very important she needs to know.]

5. the offering
With spring vacation nearing an end, Zuko offers to be Katara's boyfriend "for real". Katara doesn't know what do and ends up making an impromptu phone call to Toph, who convinces her to accept. [C.H.: Katara gets a letter]

6. the return
The letter is from Aang, asking how her vacation was. Zuko and Katara return to Rabbitfoot, where a now-jealous Mai and Jet (spearately) set out to ruin the couple's chances. Meanwhile Zuko explains his scar. [cliffhanger: Katara finds a picture of Jin.] (see chp. 7)

7. the fight
(Katara discovered a photograph of Jin that fell out of Zuko's pocket.) At the same time, Zuko finds a Valentine from Aang in a box of Katara's "Worldly Treasures". They confront each other and the result is not pretty. [C.H.: Katara declares "like father, like son". Zuko cries.]

8. the end
Katara and Zuko finally come to an understanding and forgive each other. Zuko says he has a final proposition for her. Zuko asks Katara if she will wait for him. She says yes. (NO C.H.) (ooh, ahh, fluff.)

-

Yes, those are the EXACT words. It seems like an overly detailed outline (I actually agree, it is a little too detailed, but I was bored), but the actual story was nothing like that. It took quite a few unmentioned plot twists. For example, Mai wasn't even IN there (except for a little angsty-ness).

And Jazzie, NO you cannot read it. "Life At Rabbitfoot" shall never see the light of day. 'cause, frankly, it sucks and I hate it and it seems too much like other fics.

[snowkitty]

Oh, and my advice? Keep a pencil sharpener on you at all times. God only knows how many times I've had a sudden inspiration and...a DULL pencil.