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Your Writing Process, And/Or Problems with Same |
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treydog |
Mar 17 2006, 03:51 PM
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Master
Joined: 13-February 05
From: The Smoky Mountains
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As we seem to have achieved a "critical mass" of writers here, I thought I would begin a thread regarding how it is we do this thing called "writing." The idea of this discussion is to maybe help each other with the creative process and also talk about how we deal with "writer's block."
Here is my process- please note that I do not believe that everyone (or anyone else has to write this way. It is simply what works for me.
Before I ever wrote the first word of Trey, I had made up my mind as to who he was, how he felt about certain things, what his "values" were. He dislikes Imperials and the Empire, hates slavery, isn't very good with authority figures, is perfectly willing to steal (although not from the poor or weak), etc.
I keep a spiral notebook in which I write dialogue, scenes, etc. in longhand. Even though I have been using a computer for (mumble-mumble) years, the act of actually writing in pen and on paper helps me connect with the material. Although I try to maintain a certain flow (chronological in the case of Trey), I have learned from bitter experience to write down EVERYTHING right when I think of it, even if it won't show up in the story until much later. To assist with finding those orphan ideas, I use different colored pens and assign them numbers. Then, when it is time, I just make a note to myself, thus "Insert 15." I usually do not write every word that appears in the final, just as much as I need to get going. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less.
Because I am doing a straight MQ story, I depend heavily on the Construction Set to get the in-game dialogue right. On the other hand, I consider how Trey will react to certain characters and situations and "create" conversations are needed if things are to make sense
Once I have enough (usually 3-6 pages) manuscript, I go to Word and begin turning my scribbling into real story. A lot of composing and creating takes place at the keyboard. The manuscript may simply say "Temple Informant." I will take actual dialogue, plus maybe some additional conversation to show the interaction between Trey and the NPC and develop the scene. A quick spell check (Word hates ES names), and I am ready for the next step.
The most important part of the process is the read-through. This is the place where I read the installment out loud to the talented and patient Mrs. Treydog. The purpose of this is to ensure that the writing "flows." If something I am reading "clunks" when read out loud, it needs to be fixed. I also find typos or missing words during the read-through. Additionally, Mrs. Treydog may ask questions or provide other suggestions.
Example- in the scene with Delitian she asked me, "How does the captain know who Trey is?"
So I wrote in the "I am Trey of High Rock" bit. Interestingly, the "... I've heard the name" response is already in-game.
Once I have fixed whatever did not work on read-through, I post the installment.
If this thread survives, I will talk later about dealing with writer's block.
Edited to fix typo and to add:
One of the hardest things for some writers to do is to decide when is "it" finished. The read-through also helps with that question. Bottom line- you have to let it go sometime. If you polish the story long enough, you will be left with nothing- particularly not the enjoyment.
This post has been edited by treydog: Mar 17 2006, 04:41 PM
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The dreams down here aren't broken, nah, they're walkin' with a limp...
The best-dressed newt in Mournhold.
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Replies
treydog |
Jul 24 2010, 01:20 PM
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Master
Joined: 13-February 05
From: The Smoky Mountains
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Planning- I won't have a lot to say about this, as I have tended to follow the Main Quest for each of my stories. That means the structure is somewhat ready-made. I change things as I feel the need- see discussion of characters which follows.
I still write the greater part of my material by hand, in whatever order it occurs to me. For my current story, I had the beginning and ending before anything else. So then the task became a matter of connecting the 2. Still, I keep a general concept in mind of the events that should occur, and an even more general sense of the order in which they will happen. However, I do not outline at all (not that there's anything wrong with people who do); nor do I stick slavishly to the concept with which I began.
Character- this is the heart of any story for me. If you have interesting and appealing characters, the plot can be almost anything- the fun comes in watching the characters work through it.
I am usually able to write about 2 or 3 fully-formed characters for any of my long pieces. Some people- minque, mALX1, Rumpleteasza, SubRosa- have entire populations of living, breathing 3D characters. Part of the reason I have fewer is because I write first-person narrative. Although that has not limited some of the other folks who also write first-person. For me it means, with few exceptions, that everything is seen through the prism of the narrator. And it also means that what we learn about the main character is based on what (s)he says and does.
So the narrator becomes the most important person in my story. Before I put pen to paper, I try to think about who this person is. What are his beliefs, his values, his biases? Since I already know what his world is like (Morrowind, Tamriel, Solstheim), I can begin to think about how he will interact with it. How does he feel about the gods? -the Khajiit? -the elves?
What is his background? Wealthy, poor? What about age? Writing fan-fiction about a game can give you some scope to describe the character's abilities in creative ways. Rather than simply giving a laundry list of skills, you can reveal them as the action dictates.
"Roaring, a troll burst from the brush beside the road. Fortunately, I had a natural affinity for fire spells."
I prefer to have things revealed gradually, rather than getting an "info dump" at the beginning. There are different kinds of suspense- all are based on unanswered questions. So the character can be somewhat of a mystery, without necessarily going all the way to being a "woman in black." It is useful, whenever possible, to fit "reveals" into the narrative, rather than just baldly stating them. For example look at the difference here-
"Juneipurr did not like guards. She thought they were bullies and thieves wearing city colors."
"A guard appeared at the end of the street, and Juneipurr pulled back into a shadowed doorway. She had memories of city guards- none of them good."
Both get the job done- I think the second one is better story-telling.
Last bit of advice- have fun with what you are doing.
ETA- A character's "voice" can also do a great deal for the story. Look at how Khajiit and Argonians speak in-game. Someone could have a character speaking in the Khajiiti fashion-
"Juniepurr is honored to meet you, noble lady. How may this one be of service?"
And go on in that vein for a while before revealing that she is not herself a Khajiit, but a Bosmer who was raised by Khajiit. Therefore, her cultural references and mannerisms are those of her upbringing, rather than her genetics....
Flexibility is key- one of my most succesful creations- Athynae- was only going to have a limited role in the story as I originally conceived it. But she is such a wonderful character that I had to give her more time on stage. And Athlain is less of a spoiled brat than I had planned.
Ideas for characters (for me) come from real life- Trey and Athlain are me, to a greater or lesser extent. They are braver than I, and tougher. Trey is certainly mouthier- he says the things I only think. On the other hand, I know what it is like to want to live up to a father who was respected and admired- even though we got along far better than Athlain does with Trey....
Baria is very much based on Mrs. Treydog- so is Athynae, with a sprinkling of my sister and a few ex-girlfriends....
My most successful characters are the ones that are based on real people- because that basis in reality makes the characters more real, more believable.
Give your main character(s) strengths, but also give them flaws. We may not always like what they do, but we should be able to understand it.
As you are playing the game (if your fiction is game-based), consider how your character will respond to situations- and think about why that might be....
If you are writing more general fiction, you can still "role-play" situations, conversations, etc.
This post has been edited by treydog: Jul 24 2010, 06:27 PM
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The dreams down here aren't broken, nah, they're walkin' with a limp...
The best-dressed newt in Mournhold.
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Posts in this topic
treydog Your Writing Process, And/Or Problems with Same Mar 17 2006, 03:51 PM Padalin Ohh thanks treydog im hoping taht this would help ... Mar 17 2006, 04:07 PM Zelda_Zealot Sometimes I just write what ever comes to me, if i... Mar 17 2006, 05:58 PM Kiln This thread has the potential to help those frustr... Mar 17 2006, 08:02 PM Agent Griff My writing style is pretty strange. Since most of ... Mar 17 2006, 08:10 PM Taillus One thing, for me that I always take into consider... Mar 17 2006, 08:41 PM jack cloudy I am a bit of a daydreamer, so I usually come up w... Mar 17 2006, 09:28 PM Wolfie Writing...process? What the hell is that? :P
I jus... Mar 18 2006, 01:22 AM minque Hmm havenīt we all different tactiques? Me I devel... Mar 18 2006, 06:50 PM treydog I think we have some excellent ideas here- one thi... Mar 19 2006, 03:21 AM ShraX Here's my process:
I sit down at my computer ... Mar 19 2006, 04:15 AM Tellie Ok...My process:
1:I sit down, enjoying a good cu... Mar 19 2006, 12:10 PM Franavu Okay, here's how I write. Before I started wit... Mar 19 2006, 03:54 PM Kell-Reevor Great idea Trey, I'm glad you started this thr... Mar 30 2006, 12:38 AM davion Hey i'm back but whats new, every month i seem... Apr 2 2006, 06:58 AM Fuzzy Knight Great thread you've made here Trey, now as I... Apr 3 2006, 04:50 PM Kell-Reevor I stumbled across this website during my neverendi... May 22 2006, 08:24 PM minque Ah that site is great Kell! Iīve bookmarked it... May 22 2006, 08:30 PM The Ascendant I haven't written anything that I've put o... May 22 2006, 09:10 PM treydog Kell, that site is quite useful. I, too, will add... May 22 2006, 11:19 PM Mazelure I normaly just think up of a character and what ki... May 22 2006, 11:54 PM Kayla I have a spiral notebook that I keep and write ide... May 23 2006, 12:53 AM Zarrexaij I have loads of notebooks filled with writing.
Ev... May 24 2006, 03:06 AM The Wolf Oh dear.... My writing technique (in itself inexis... May 24 2006, 05:39 AM burntsierra Having looked through the fanfic section carefully... Jul 3 2006, 06:57 PM jack cloudy I'm still a daydreamer though I now actually p... Jul 3 2006, 07:05 PM Kiln
Yes, those unfinished stories are kind of sad. Bu... Jul 4 2006, 12:08 PM Ze Milanio
Oh dear.... My writing technique (in itself inexi... Jul 4 2006, 02:39 PM The Metal Mallet Well I have to say my process would be considered ... Jul 5 2006, 03:34 AM minque
There are quite a few stories that just when they... Jul 5 2006, 09:17 PM Sir Radont I get a small spark of an idea, whether a bit of d... Jul 6 2006, 03:26 PM minque
Also, I try not to write anything without my iT... Jul 6 2006, 09:38 PM Kell-Reevor This isn't so much of a process as it is a too... Jul 27 2006, 06:21 PM The Metal Mallet
Yea, I attempt to do that when writing in my fic... Jul 27 2006, 06:41 PM minque Emotions? Hm I think I include that all the time i... Jul 29 2006, 10:30 PM Mazelure
I think that most of my work is pretty much base... Jul 29 2006, 11:11 PM treydog One of the things I discussed in this thread was t... Nov 11 2006, 02:21 AM The Metal Mallet Writer's block is definately dreaded among us ... Nov 11 2006, 04:18 AM Black Hand I dont get writers block it would seem...there are... Nov 11 2006, 11:11 AM jack cloudy That's what I did with Oasis. When writing fan... Nov 11 2006, 03:09 PM canis216 I just sit down and bang out my stories when I fee... Nov 13 2006, 05:36 PM The Metal Mallet I just thought I'd bump this thread considerin... Jan 6 2008, 08:23 AM canis216 Thread necromancy... approved.
From the opener, ... Jan 6 2008, 09:05 AM Olen Mallet: try reading Assassin's Apprentice by ... Jan 6 2008, 05:30 PM redsrock
Thats what I generally do though I tend to run... Jan 6 2008, 09:40 PM 0rimus This is a rant so hold onto your pockets.
Everythi... Apr 27 2008, 07:34 AM paragenic Change the font, line spacing, font size, and char... Apr 28 2008, 04:51 PM paragenic Oh, yes of course AND when reviewing remember the ... Apr 28 2008, 04:54 PM treydog In response to the advice to "make it interes... May 2 2008, 01:08 PM bbqplatypus I'm of the opinion that there is no single rig... Aug 29 2008, 02:10 AM canis216 I'm posting this to sort of show how I'm s... Nov 16 2008, 06:40 PM The Bean After reading this thread, I've come to conclu... Nov 16 2008, 11:15 PM seerauna It's not that strange, Bean. I do that too. Ex... Nov 17 2008, 12:28 AM canis216 Yeah, I don't think your method is all that st... Nov 17 2008, 12:33 AM canis216 Current progress on my stuff above:
--------------... Nov 17 2008, 01:47 AM canis216 More progress. Why am I clogging the thread with t... Nov 17 2008, 04:35 AM bbqplatypus I also know exactly what Bean is talking about. I... Nov 17 2008, 08:53 AM canis216 Well, it is meant to be an entertainment, that... Nov 17 2008, 05:03 PM treydog
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