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soc_puppetThis is definitely rough, but I think it's about right.
1) Start with an idea
1a) An idea you like, one you're passionate about
1b) It doesn't matter where it comes from! It could be...
1b1) An actual plot idea that you think might be interesting (All the Names I Know You By (Miraculous Ladybug), MC's secret identity becomes an open secret)
1b2) A single line, phrase, or paragraph (Him and Me and You and Her (Miraculous Ladybug), "My Lady," he said, "I can assure you that if you're really not interested in me, you wouldn't be interested in him,")
1b3) An actual prompt written by someone else (Pheromone Woes (Homestuck, NSFW), basically: Trolls emit a special pheromone when kissing that signals their desire to Do the Sex rather than using their words, their human partner doesn't know this, perceived rejection and confusion abounds)
1b4) A collection of thoughts or goals that you want to coalesce into a single story (Buzzer Beater (Miraculous Ladybug), something that has fun opportunities for interesting audio stuff in podfic recording)
1b4a) (If you're starting with this, first think of an idea for how all of these elements can work together in a single scene or story) (Buzzer Beater - "Maybe a game show of some kind? That would have lots of sound effects...")
1b5) Something else???
2) You have your idea? Great!
2a) Figure out the circumstances under which this idea occurs
2a1) What are the characters' emotional states? What are they thinking about?
2a2) What are they doing right now?
3) Figure out how your characters got to the idea point
3a) It may take only one scene
3b) It may take a lot of scenes
3b2) (Luckily, we already know how to write scenes)
3c) All we have to do is write down, in order, what we think will happen in the scenes leading up to the Idea Point
4) We know what happens to get us to the Idea Point? Great!
4a) Figure out how you want your story to end.
4a1) You can totally do this before Step 3, by the way
4a1a) Or even at the same time!
4b) Figure out the steps it will take to get your characters from the Idea Point to your desired ending
4c) Write those steps down, in order
5) REMEMBER, while you are thinking about how to get from Point B to Point A and Point C? BE SELF-INDULGENT.
5a) Think about how you would most want to get from the beginning to the Idea Point to the end, what would be most fun for you to write and that you would have the most fun re-reading to edit.
5b) Pampering yourself and making writing fun really, really helps with motivation to write and finish stuff.
6) You have everything you can think of?
6a) You got your characters and situation lined up so you can write the Idea you started from?
6b) You like the way the outline played out, and how the whole story shape feels to you?
6c) Great! Now let's get to work on that first scene!
1) Start with an idea
1a) An idea you like, one you're passionate about
1b) It doesn't matter where it comes from! It could be...
1b1) An actual plot idea that you think might be interesting (All the Names I Know You By (Miraculous Ladybug), MC's secret identity becomes an open secret)
1b2) A single line, phrase, or paragraph (Him and Me and You and Her (Miraculous Ladybug), "My Lady," he said, "I can assure you that if you're really not interested in me, you wouldn't be interested in him,")
1b3) An actual prompt written by someone else (Pheromone Woes (Homestuck, NSFW), basically: Trolls emit a special pheromone when kissing that signals their desire to Do the Sex rather than using their words, their human partner doesn't know this, perceived rejection and confusion abounds)
1b4) A collection of thoughts or goals that you want to coalesce into a single story (Buzzer Beater (Miraculous Ladybug), something that has fun opportunities for interesting audio stuff in podfic recording)
1b4a) (If you're starting with this, first think of an idea for how all of these elements can work together in a single scene or story) (Buzzer Beater - "Maybe a game show of some kind? That would have lots of sound effects...")
1b5) Something else???
2) You have your idea? Great!
2a) Figure out the circumstances under which this idea occurs
2a1) What are the characters' emotional states? What are they thinking about?
2a2) What are they doing right now?
3) Figure out how your characters got to the idea point
3a) It may take only one scene
3b) It may take a lot of scenes
3b2) (Luckily, we already know how to write scenes)
3c) All we have to do is write down, in order, what we think will happen in the scenes leading up to the Idea Point
4) We know what happens to get us to the Idea Point? Great!
4a) Figure out how you want your story to end.
4a1) You can totally do this before Step 3, by the way
4a1a) Or even at the same time!
4b) Figure out the steps it will take to get your characters from the Idea Point to your desired ending
4c) Write those steps down, in order
5) REMEMBER, while you are thinking about how to get from Point B to Point A and Point C? BE SELF-INDULGENT.
5a) Think about how you would most want to get from the beginning to the Idea Point to the end, what would be most fun for you to write and that you would have the most fun re-reading to edit.
5b) Pampering yourself and making writing fun really, really helps with motivation to write and finish stuff.
6) You have everything you can think of?
6a) You got your characters and situation lined up so you can write the Idea you started from?
6b) You like the way the outline played out, and how the whole story shape feels to you?
6c) Great! Now let's get to work on that first scene!
no subject
Date: 2018-11-07 04:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-11-07 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-11-07 04:53 pm (UTC)It's not a guarantee, but it's helped me write fics that I genuinely love and not be disappointed by lack of kudos and such.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-07 05:27 pm (UTC)Also, that's a really good point...
no subject
Date: 2018-11-08 11:45 pm (UTC)I definitely believe that love and passion can really shine through a person's work, though; including yourself in your audience helps on multiple levels :3b
no subject
Date: 2018-11-09 01:50 am (UTC)