Planning Methods (Writing)

Epsira · October 13, 2015, 02:05:44 PM

How do you plan writing, writers?

I need a comprehensive plan to do anything, otherwise I'll spend hours making a few text lines and toying around with more and more abstract/nebulous concepts. I'll get nowhere.

So what do you start with first?
I came up with my general planning process (from working on a book idea):
Themes -> Characters and World -> Plot -> Scenes

Without this approach I was always lost confusing myself with how I'd order story aspects.
Though it's better than before, the thematic process is the most difficult and important job of planning.
For the story I want to write I'll be making arguments, and to fit all the things I want to ultimately discuss I've decided personal essays are the best way to elucidate my ideas and adapt them to fit into the story.

Does anyone use different methods of planning?
Is my method convoluted where simplicity would suffice? If so, where?

Release · October 13, 2015, 02:08:51 PM

Usually with my stories, a vivid scene will pop into my head, and after that I attempt to think of something compelling off of that.

Azumarill · October 13, 2015, 02:10:26 PM

i tend to write academic pieces so i usually gather and analyze my sources, compile useable information, and by that point ive got a pretty clear idea of how to actually write the piece.

OnionBeetle · October 13, 2015, 02:20:47 PM

If I plan on writing something that I aim to be published, I usually spend a few years thinking about it at minimum.

I have no clear cut step plan. But given enough time of just thinking and thinking and thinking some more, your world will grow. The key here is time. The more years you can spend thinking about it, the better.

Word Wizard · October 13, 2015, 02:37:12 PM

I don't really have one. I just did a historical fiction 1st person narrative of John Wilkes Boothe and my professor liked it so much she asked me to email her an additional copy to use as an example for future classes. The paper I'm writing now, a textual analysis, is what's giving me trouble.

Sandtrap · October 13, 2015, 02:37:21 PM

I don't. I just go. I usually have a singular baseline concept that gets me thinking, and then from there, I just write. Everything just falls into place naturally.

Epsira · October 13, 2015, 06:27:06 PM

Quote from: Lotus on October 13, 2015, 02:08:51 PM

Usually with my stories, a vivid scene will pop into my head, and after that I attempt to think of something compelling off of that.

Sometimes this also happens to me, especially if I'm listening to music.

Naru · October 13, 2015, 06:32:43 PM

i plan on improving my haikus, its the only form of poetry i tolerate

Epsira · October 13, 2015, 06:34:43 PM

Quote from: Naru on October 13, 2015, 06:32:43 PM

i plan on improving my haikus, its the only form of poetry i tolerate

Speaking of which, where's mine?
Also, it might be fun doing a Renga Circle thread sometime.

Doctor Doom · October 13, 2015, 06:43:03 PM

Usually I think up characters first, then picture scenes for them, then find some way to Frankenstein them together into something resembling a plot.

Naru · October 13, 2015, 06:45:24 PM

Quote from: Epsira on October 13, 2015, 06:34:43 PM

Quote from: Naru on October 13, 2015, 06:32:43 PM
i plan on improving my haikus, its the only form of poetry i tolerate
Speaking of which, where's mine?
Also, it might be fun doing a Renga Circle thread sometime.

ill get to that thread later tonight, and yes we should

N/A · October 13, 2015, 06:46:14 PM

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