At this point in your story writing you have a basic idea for the plot and, hopefully, the title and characters. Now what do you do?
It is time to begin organizing your thoughts about the story. There are a number of methods for plotting or diagraming the flow of a storyline. Over the years I have tried a lot of these described in my latest article, Story Structure & Plot. Each writer needs to try out different methods to see what works best for you. It is similar to Goldilocks trying out the three beds in The Three Bears story. One way is okay, but not right for you. Another doesn’t work at all. And, finally, one method fits you for now. I say “for now” because most writers modify their methods of writing and organizing over time. I have done a lot of that.
I described in detail in my article about the steps involved in the Plot Outline Template, which I have recently adapted to my writing organization. It was created as a Word table so I can use it over and over. My suggestion is to print out a copy of the template for referral purposes. You can create your own template to use by basically replacing your particular story’s details in each box. Or you can email me at starlakaye.romance@gmail.com and I can send you the Word template I have created.
As always, I have added the article on Story Structure & Plot and the Plot Outline Template to both My Writing Tips: Writing Process here on the blog and to my Writing Tools on my website.
Tags: Definitions, process, Writing Tips
I often think how unfair it is that we don’t get to choose our own names (particularly the first name) when we’re old enough to have some kind of common sense. Parents mean well when they choose their baby’s name. At least I’m hoping that is generally the case. It is unfortunate that sometimes they shouldn’t be allowed to do it, to hamper a future adult with names like Baby or Apple or … I’m sure you get my meaning. Even I’m sort of in that group of “could have had a name I like better.”
As a writer choosing a name for your characters, you are in much the same position as a parent. Except if you are a prolific writer of many, many works (such as I am), you will have the opporunity to pick many names for your characters. My advice: Choose them wisely not on some fanicful whim of the moment.
I’ve added another article on The Art of Naming Characters to both my Writing Tools on my website and to My Writing Tips on this blog. I’ve also included some wonderful links to online name sites.
Tags: process, Writing Tips
We all know that first impressions are important and can have a negative or positive effect when meeting people or presenting yourself to a group of people. The same is important with titles for your writing projects.
If you’re writing for a big print publisher, chances are you will not get to keep the original title you choose for a project. You are at the mercy of the publisher’s marketing department on what they decide is a marketable title. It is unfortunate that they often choose book titles that are ridiculous or mean nothing to the book. But you have given away the right to have the title you want when you sell the book. You can only hope for the best when readers scan bookshelves for their next purchase.
If you are writing for a publisher that allows you to pick your book’s title, the importance of choosing a good title is even stronger. I have pulled together some thoughts to consider when creating your “perfect” title. As always, the article has been posted to my Writing Tools on my website and has been added to the list of My Writing Tips on this blog.
Tags: process, Writing Tips
There are many methods that writers use to keep track of their story information and research materials. Each of us must decide what works best for us. Some people use filing cabinets and files. Others use notebook systems. And still others keep track of everything strictly on the computer and with disks of some kind. Whatever method you use, be sure to back-up, back-up, back-up, and don’t store the back-ups in the same location. I’ve heard many horror stories about failed flash drives, scratched CDs, damaged hard drives (external or internal), and no printed copies of the manuscript to recreate the project. Personally, I back-up on my office computer, my laptop, an external hard drive, and two flash drives. Paranoid? You bet.
My article today is on Creating a Writing Project Notebook, which I strongly recommend. A notebook can be taken with you to work at various locations and is an easy method of keeping track of everything related to a certain project. I’m talking about everything from the plotting items, the research materials, printed copies of the synopsis, query letters, and the chapters. I also recommend having a business section to keep track of the project after it is completed and submitted.
As part of the Plotting Items, I suggest using a character grid of some kind, having a basic character contrast chart, and a spreadsheet to track the storyline progression. I use basic templates for these items and modify them to fit the project.
I am adding the Creating a Writing Project Notebook article, the Character Grid template and the Story Progression & Outline template to My Writing Tips on this blog. They are also included in my Writing Tools on my website.
Tags: process, Writing Tips
Before you write your first piece of dialogue you should understand what tags are and why they are used. Basically, a tag added to a piece of dialogue should make it clear to the reader who is speaking. Sometimes a tag isn’t even necessary. If it is clear who is speaking, then don’t clutter up the writing by adding a tag.
Another key thing about dialogue tags is that they shouldn’t be intrusive, they shouldn’t pull the reader away from the story. If “he said” or “she said” will be enough, use that. The word “said” disappears to a reader. Yet by adding a name or “he” or “she,” the speaker can easily be clarified.
Study how dialogue is written in the books you read and analyze the tags. Why were they used in a certain situation? Were they necessary? Were the correct grammar rules followed? Did the tags draw you away from what was said or the storyline? Did they seem excessive or silly? Also, remember that just because a well-known author got away with using a poor or excessive dialogue tag doesn’t mean that you will. You want to present to your agent, editor, and readers your very best work.
My article on Using Dialogue Tags has been added to the Writing Tools on my website and to the Writing Tips on this blog.
Tags: Definitions, process, Writing Tips
