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How has your writing process changed since you first started?
For me, it’s the way I approach telling a story. When I first started writing the main thing I would think about is the plot and what would be the most interesting events for the story. Now, what I think before I start writing a story is, “Why am I writing this?” and “Why does this story matter?”. (Particularly these days because I’ve been mostly just writing a bunch of short stories.)
I think deeply before a write about who the characters are, their struggles, misbeliefs, and their transformation in the story. The biggest difference in my writing from when I started is that I’m less focused on what happens in the story and more focused on the evolving characters and how I can portray the theme of the story in the most impactful, subtle, beautiful, and fun way possible. It doesn’t always pan out, but I’m getting better at it each day.
Before when I wrote I wanted people to read my stories for pure enjoyment. Now I want people to read my stories because it either helps them with something they’re struggling with or gives them a new perspective on the world around them; While of course having a jolly good time as well. XD
So how has your writing changed over the years? It could be how your actual stories have changed or how you write yourself.
@kathleenramm I’m actually quite similar to you, Kathleen. When I first started writing I learnt about theme and I was like, “Eh. I just want to write things that people will enjoy.” But now I want to write things that people will think about for a long time.
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into daysI was a horrible pantser. I would just write whatever wisp of an idea that came to me. I would write a few pages before having my next ‘big idea’ and writing that down. It was a rigorous process.
Now I plan out my stories. I catch those wisps of ideas and find ways to either weave them into the story I’m writing or write them down for the future. I stick with a writing project and I don’t just leave it for new ideas, (no matter how much I want to.) and I actually understand structure now! I’ve also learned new ways to build interesting worlds and characters so they’re not just bland on the page. Which I’m EXTREMELY grateful for.
If you ask me about my book, I will talk for hours. Have a nice day!š
This is a great thread, so I’ll invite myself over š
For me, I can think of a few, namely plot versus characters. I used to pour all of my writing thoughts into developing the perfect plot and story that would surely keep the author hooked. But what I neglected (and lacked) was developed characters. Not to say that the plot isn’t important, but I’ve learned to really focus on the characters and the messages they tell throughout the story.
When I crack open a book, I have to connect with characters first and foremost, so I like to think of mine as actual people and base my plot off of my cast. So while I still put thought into what happens, I also think about how it affects the characters, and how the characters can inspire the audience. I’ve tried to steer my writing brain to focus on good, relatable characters rather than just a riveting story with the characters sprinkled here and there
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@kathleenramm I just went back over the last few days to a short story I wrote a little over two years ago and edited it, and, suffice it to say, it wasn’t all that good. While a TON of things have changed in my writing over the last three-to-five years, there are two things that are the most noticeable.
- Plotting. I am still very much a pantser, but I used to go into stories with only a vague idea of who/what it was about, then just very literally make it up as I went along. Now, I’ll have a good foundation of the main events occurring and can play off the character drama for the rest of the story.
- My voice. I didn’t have one until I started writingĀ Held Captive. Beforehand, I teetered between very wordy, descriptive, and boring and a straightforward but otherwise vague way of writing. Once I found the voice of my character Rina, I learned how to properly balance description with action, dialog, and emotion. It took me a while, but once I got that foundation, I formed my own voice. It’s snarky, funny, and evenly measured (I think), and now I know how to create new voices for each individual character and to model after certain authors.
There are a myriad of other things, one of which being what my stories are about as a whole (they’re much more original and realistic now), but most of them fall under those two umbrellas.
@writerlexi1216 That’s exactly what I’ve learned to do with my stories! I personally prefer to read character-driven rather than plot-driven novels, so I had to find out how to write them myself. You put that method into words perfectly!Iāve still got a lot to learn and Iām my own worst critic TBH, but…umm…welp Iāve since learned about paragraphs….
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Seriously tho, I started when I was little and I have my first ābookā in a drawer (my mom kept it) and all the chapters are just like one long paragraph XD!!!
But I do think Iāve gotten better in other ways too.
1. I was also a panther, but I loved the idea of plotting! I just couldnāt seem to do it. So, this very year I had started drafting the first book of a four book series (with a novella) and I fast drafted it.
It flopped, for me anyway. I had no idea how to go into editing because I was pretty much going to have rewrite EVERYTHING so it was almost like I was just drafting all over again.
Needless to say that idea has been scrapped, at least for now, and I decided I was gonna try plotting and seems to have worked. I guess u could say Iām a bit of a Plantser, because my outlines will change over time as new ideas come and theyāre not as in-depth as some but I think itās worked a bit.
2. Idk if Iāve found my voice Per say, but I have found out which POV works for me. First person. I am a first person writer, all the way. I wanted to write third person, but first just seems to come naturally to me. Maybe because it makes it so much easier to become the character and get into their head.
3. I finally broke free from āDoing everything the way others tell you to.ā
Obviously I knew you didnāt have to follow other peopleās suggestions, but I still tried and failed sometimes. So now Iāve decided to take tips and do them in the way that works for me, and do things MY way, not the way others think I should do it.
While I do still struggle with this some, I do think Iāve gotten a lot better with it.
And to anyone else struggling with it, trust me, your writing will be so much better when you decide to do your own thing!
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebExactly! I don’t just want to write entertaining stories, I want to write stories that last forever.
Haha, yes. I think we’ve all at some point wrote totally spontaneous stories and wrote whatever cool thing popped in our heads first. XD
But like you said, with structure the story ideas can be fully utilized to their full potential.
Do you do a detailed outline or a simple one?
I 1000% agree. Depending on the characters, a story about a pastry shop owner can be just as, (if not way more), intriguing than an epic fantasy series.
Do you have any all-time favorite characters from books or movies?
@gracie-j
I think character voice is going to something I’m going to be working on for the rest of my life. XD One, because I love distinct character voices in stories, and two, it’s so hard to get it quite the way you want it, you know? Especially if you have many POVs. But your so right, once you do get a character’s voice down, it’s so fun to write with them!
You don’t have to worry about the paragraph thing, I still remember not being able to wrap my head around when or when not to make a new paragraph. XD It seemed totally random to my eight-year-old self!
After being both a total pantser and an extreme outliner, I must agree that plantser is where it’s at. It’s all about the balance of both.
Yes, I definitely understand theĀ āDoing everything the way others tell you toā thing. I love hearing and applying other’s advice, but sometimes it can get overwhelming and kinda stunts my creativity.
@kathleen
Considering I have over 30 pages of planning and outlining for the current one I’m working on, I’d say detailed xD
If you ask me about my book, I will talk for hours. Have a nice day!š
- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1789
@kathleenramm Girl, I have had a time with some of my characters voices! I’m kind of obsessive about it–a font for each voice, different accent, sentence phrasing, focus, pacing, word choice, all of it. It’ll take me months to nail it, but it’s SO worth it!
@Kathleen
A few characters with great character development come to mind, actually, but since I’m a huge fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I have to point the finger at Zuko (and not just Zuko; plenty of other ATLA characters are incredible). Zuko has one of those character arcs that I’m personally a fan of (going from evil to good) and the slow progression from Restore-My-Honor Zuko to New Zuko was incredible. I enjoy watching reformations so much that I included it in my own book with one of my main characters. He went from feeling like his ‘honor’ was in capturing the Avatar to realizing that honor is just accepting yourself the whole time and being who you are. I thought that his redemption was perfect.
Another character that I think of is Elsa from Frozen (yes, I love animated shows š
Elsa was such a conflicted character through most of Frozen I, and to be perfectly honest, she’s strikingly similar to my own protagonist. She has a deep conflict with herself, and hides from everyone because she’s scared that she’ll hurt them. And when she’s forced to become queen, that’s pretty much the worst thing that could’ve happened.Ā I think the song ‘Let it Go’ is really powerful because it shows her letting go of her fears and accepting herself. And then, by the end of the movie, she’s transformed into being more open and free, and learning to trust people. I feel like I don’t give Elsa enough credit–she actually went through a great character arc that inspired me in my own WIP.
*Whew! My apologizes for such a looooong reply. When it comes to writing-related topics, I can’t help myself. And talking about some of my favorite movies/shows is a weakness of mine
I just watched AtLA for the first time last month, and as someone who was expecting the typical kids show, (or just any tv show for that matter), it blew my expectations right out of the water. Particularly with what you mention with Zuko’s character arc. I love the thought and care the writers put into him and the entire story. His transformation wasn’t too rushed or convoluted. I also found Katara’s negative character arc really interesting as well. How she slowly lost her trust in people by being betrayed so many times and also losing her innocence throughout the story and sealing her decline with blood bending. She didn’t turn evil of course, but the difference between first episode Katara and last episode Katara is huge, and something I definitely didn’t expect when they first introduced her character. I could go on forever about this show, but I’ll shut up now. XD
I know a lot of people dislike Elsa, but I’ve also thought she was an interesting character like you said. She has a lot more depth than a lot of Disney Princesses.
Yeah, animated films are pretty awesome. XD They will always be some of my favorite films!
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