[Auryporry]

I've been having troubles getting my novel going. I've written snippets of scenes and dialogue but have not layed out a plot outline yet. Would that be helpful? And would writing character biographies help? How on earth do/did you start your novels? Help!

[Survival]

You have to find the idea right for you. Then, at least for me, the novel is pretty easy after that...

[Spinner]

A novel can be the epitome of creative complexity. Your best bet is finding a way to work with it that isn't complex, and natural to you. That means finding your process. There is no "way" to start. Everyone has their own.

I put together a guide of my own on my blog if you're interested. Its how I write, or part of it at least. My process has changed a bit since then.

Don't worry about the plot just yet. Find something that interests you. You can start however you like--snippets of dialogue, a scene here and there--whatever. Just so you're interested and want to continue. If you must do character notes, keep it vague and broad so you have room to build upon. Characters aren't pawns, but rather the grease that moves the story forward (you don't want your plot to enslave your characters--it gets lame really fast). Eventually, you'll find a scene and go from there. Keep writing until you can start asking yourself questions like, "what does this mean?" and "how is this important?"

From there, it's a straight forward process of keeping the story moving and interesting.

Ben

[Regitnui]

Start with the outline plot, then go on to define the characters and their personalities, and begin writing.

My writing began as just that. Writing, with no real purpose. But as my characters gained independance they made the story themselves.

---,-'-@

[Invisible Ink]

My own writing style is a little weird. Or at least, I think it's weird. I guess I base my plot off my characters, instead of making my characters act in a scene I came up with...if that makes any sense or helps at all. The way I got started was I had an idea, a little scene in my head, and I looked at who the main characters were and who the supporting characters were and just random people that were there. It wasn't a big plot or anything, it was just an event. Once I knew the important people, I explored who they were and how they became to be the people they are and the hundreds of possibilities for who they were going to become and along with that came the world they lived in and the other people who lived there with them and why those people were important to the character. Then I looked at who was important to the character and they became characters of their own. Once I had a sufficient number of characters, along with the world they lived in, I just put them into situations I thought were interesting and the characters kinda showed me what they would do. Then I thought about how the characters might get to that situation and those thoughts became their own situations. And then I wondered if they met any other people in those situatons and if those people would become important in the future or if they were already important and if the answer was yes, I developed those characters as well. I repeated the process a couple of times and eventually came up with a story. I actually have a whole crapton of characters and while the upside for this is that I have way more options to work with, it's also harder because you have to keep track of the characters and you have to make sure you develope them well or you just get....crap, especially if you base your whole story off the characters. The hard part for me is actually sitting down and writing it. It's funner to just sit around and think about it, but it's definitely more rewarding to write it and show it off to people. My advice is to daydream alot. Just totally let your mind wander, even if you don't write it down. Writing seriously comes later. Yes, write random things, but don't expect those random things to become anything serious unless your put alot of thinking into it. If that includes writing down your thoughts, then do so, but only if you're comfortable with it. I don't write down alot of my thoughts, but that's because I can keep track of the things I dream up. Don't force your writing, just let it come to you.

This post has been edited by DracoInkBlood: 13 May 2009 - 05:33 AM

[Pearl Song]

I found I could really start untill I found the right music to clear my head of the block.

[Moonwalker]

I've been having troubles getting my novel going. I've written snippets of scenes and dialogue but have not layed out a plot outline yet. Would that be helpful? And would writing character biographies help? How on earth do/did you start your novels? Help!

1. Go through your ideas.
2. Listen to Michael Jackson music while you think (does this count as advertisement?)
3. Create an outline.
4. Be brave.
5......Use the Force.


-Moonwalker-

[Regitnui]

2. Listen to Michael Jackson music while you think (does this count as advertisement?)

Yes. Michael Jackson's music sucks.
Just music in general should do it. I'll recommend Coldplay.

---,-'-@

[eragon nerd]

On music, I blare electronic in the background. It usually helps because if I start listening to the music I know I'm not focused enough to right my best. Otherwise, it just works to make me lose track of time and write till 4 am, which is horrible when I have to get up at 6 for school. After that episode I never write on weekdays.

This post has been edited by eragon nerd: 21 May 2009 - 06:45 AM

[China Oolong]

For me, the question is never how to start a novel, but how to stop myself from tearing it to shreds after reading it. and it's so hard to begin without infodumping or being annoyed with the way it turned out and never completing it.

[Regitnui]

Reveal information slowly, That's my solution to infodumping. Rebecca (in Firebound) has wings, but over the course of the book, I reveal other adaptions: enhanced vision, lightening of bones, as well as an increased sensitivty to air currents. She has other abilites, but those also come into play slowly. Also, try describe something in as little words as possible.

CP Example: If i was writing Brom telling Eragon about magic, This is how i would have done it.

"You did magic." Brom told him. "You called the fire."
"But," Eragon fell to the ground again. "All i said was Brisingr."
"Brisingr is fire." The campfire flared, sending sparks into the air. "It is the true name for fire. everything has a true name, and once you know it, you can manipulate it with magic."
"But why'd..."
"You tried too much too fast," Brom scolded him. "Using too much magic will kill you."

That's an exposition; a small, inobtrusive infodump. Keep using those thoughout your story, and you'll have the reader clued up in no time. Remember, the reader mustn't know everything you do. If they do, the story becomes predictable and unenjoyable. You are a god, the reader is an angel, wondering at the glory of your creation.

---,-'-@

[garfield]

Yeah but you've kind of contradicted yourself there with 'reveal things slowly' and 'try to describe everything in as little words as possible'. There will always be (or at least, there should be) some developments/aspects of your story that will need some extra time to explain. I mean, taking the example you used - Brom revealing, not only that magic existed, but that Eragon could use it, was a massive part of the book, and I think if it had just been explained in the few sentences you used, the reader would have been like '...whuut just happened' (I'm only using that as an example because you did; I think we all know my feelings regarding CPs writing =P).

At the same time it's kind of a hard line to draw. It's one of those things. I don't think there are 'rules' to follow - it comes or it doesn't. I don't know. I mean I always just write, without thinking about things like this... in the editing process I'll fix things up, but according to what I think would feel right rather than following some rules. So I find it difficult to advise others, but this is just my opinion. Lord knows I hate infodumps and they are definitely one of the worst things you can do - but an equally bad thing is too little information, or too much too quickly.

[Regitnui]

Yeah but you've kind of contradicted yourself there with 'reveal things slowly' and 'try to describe everything in as little words as possible'. There will always be (or at least, there should be) some developments/aspects of your story that will need some extra time to explain. I mean, taking the example you used - Brom revealing, not only that magic existed, but that Eragon could use it, was a massive part of the book, and I think if it had just been explained in the few sentences you used, the reader would have been like '...whuut just happened' (I'm only using that as an example because you did; I think we all know my feelings regarding CPs writing =P).

At the same time it's kind of a hard line to draw. It's one of those things. I don't think there are 'rules' to follow - it comes or it doesn't. I don't know. I mean I always just write, without thinking about things like this... in the editing process I'll fix things up, but according to what I think would feel right rather than following some rules. So I find it difficult to advise others, but this is just my opinion. Lord knows I hate infodumps and they are definitely one of the worst things you can do - but an equally bad thing is too little information, or too much too quickly.

What i'm saying is reveal individual facts slowly, but when you do exposite, do it in a few words as possible. And of course some things do need extra time to explain, I'm just not sure they are. My betas seem to get the way i explain, so if it's not broken...

---,-'-@

[Caliga]

Planning is great for me. I tend to have ideas when I'm not thinking about it, so I take a notebook with me wherever I go. Always write down the ideas you have - it gives something to look through when thinking of a plot, and can be used as a reference. I tend to not plan characters that much; I find that they develop overtime anyway.

[wolffy]

I recommend listening to halo Soundtracks.

thats how i did mine