Home Page › Forums › Fiction Writing › General Writing Discussions › How do you draft/write the “first” document?
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March 15, 2022 at 12:24 am #109552
HELLO MY KEEEEEPERS!!! SO! I am currently drafting Project Garden as you know, and I have discovered that I am seriously Pantsing it. Like…legit. I’ve got ideas and obviously some plot and storyline but it’s just like…writing whatever comes which is honestly hard most of the time and easy sometimes. SO WEIRD!
ANYWAY!! I’m wondering how everyone else Drafts or writes their first version of the story (or sorta first version because while im kinda calling this my first draft I suppose its not REALLY my FIRST FIRST version XD but anywhoooodle) I know some ppl don’t maybe draft per say but yea I was curious and wanna see if anyone else does what I do. Are there any others who pants their first draft? I like to have ideas and I really really want to outline and I’m going to try this AWESOME tip I discovered after this first draft and stuff but as of right now im pantsing.
For me, what seems to be happening is I’m trying to write in the vague direction I have (VERY VAGUE because I didn’t even realize I was going to have to even make this a whole book until like…last month or January or whenever it was) and I write whatever comes, and then im like “Oooh this should really come later…” so I move it to just a different act or to another scene, etc.
Things are just labeled Scene- and then the POV character rn XD, and IMO the beginning is REALLY to quick and abrupt but yea imma change that later lol. I know my writing has gotten a lot better thanks to the Lord (: and growing, reading, etc and I’m not near as critical of myself, but its still hard to pants lol.
So yea, anyone else? XD Also if ur process is totally different plz share too!! I’d love to hear as well!!
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#ProtectSebMarch 15, 2022 at 1:20 am #109554Drafts? Ugh.
First, may I say that what you’re doing sounds wonderful? You are writing it out!!! Keep it up!!!
(Okay, that sounded weird. Let’s see if I can explain myself.)
If we are talking novels, and not poetry or essays, then:
I think. The I write. Then I think some more. Then I start a timeline but never finish it, etc. Etc. Then I destroy what I wrote. Insert more thinking. Then I go at it again. Now I realize I have the wrong MC. I hide the beleaguered manuscript, lose it, and try again.
I think that since I often start before I have any clear idea about where the story is going or what the rising action is, (two very important things, by the way) I get lost before I can get anywhere and often just develop the characters and avoid actually writing anything down and consequently getting discouraged by my crippled prose.
Recently though, my twin sister and I have been writing some short stories/novels together with a friend of ours. It’s been really fun, since we keep each other on track(and from completely incinerating the WIP).
Anyway, now I’m rambling, but all this to say that drafting is definitely not one of my strong points, and therefore, is the site of future improvement. Hopefully.
It’s hard to climb a mountain without walking.
Fun Fact!
If it’s an essay, then it’s probably due in a few
dayshours (Ha. Ha. Ha.) and I just sit down, write out a short outline, and then fill it in. Great, right? ๐You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
March 15, 2022 at 10:03 am #109556@godlyfantasy12 Usually I write a beginning, and then I start working on an outline/plot/characters, and usually after I have the outline for all the chapters done, or most of them, enough to keep me busy for a while, I just starting writing each chapter one by one.
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into daysMarch 15, 2022 at 11:57 am #109557@elishavet-pidyon lol!! That is understandable!!! Drafting (writing in GENERAL) is ROUGH!!!
@devastate-lasting Oh nice!! Iโve tried doing the chapter outline thing for drafts and maybe once I get to later drafts itโll work better for me ๐#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMarch 15, 2022 at 1:08 pm #109558Welp, I love revising. Writing itself is difficult and obnoxious.
Let me rephrase that; I enjoy writing, but I struggle turning off the strong-minded inner editor who then destroys all my work because it’s in first draft stage and therefore terrible. However, as rewriting is my favorite part of writing in general I usually don’t notice the problem untill I’m so fed up I stop.
*Heavy sigh*
But how do I draft? I’m not sure. I have a mental outline of my book, but nothing on paper. I don’t do chapter outlines, but instead use beats for each part of the plot. I tend to split up chapters wherever it feels right.
I also have to have a pretty good idea of the entire plot, or I back myself into corners.
I’ve heard that for some people writing out a first draft, plotting/rearranging, then rewriting works better than using outlines first.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Koshka. Reason: Goof?
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkMarch 15, 2022 at 1:38 pm #109560I used to totally pants my first drafts. Now I find it more helpful to make a plot outline and scene outlines before I get writing, but I still give myself the freedom to deviate from that outline if I feel like it. That’s just me though. ๐
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.comMarch 15, 2022 at 7:38 pm #109561@godlyfantasy12 Depends. Sometimes I have an idea of where it’s going to go, but sometimes I just have a scene that’s somewhere in the middle, or even the ending. Other times I have no clue what I’m doing and just tell the story. I also make up a ton of stuff with my brother, so he offers his input too.
Where'd I get ya this time? The liver? The kidney? I'm runnin' outta places to put holes in ya.
March 21, 2022 at 4:55 pm #109595I’m a pantser… I cannot plot a book. It just doesn’t work.
So when I begin, basically all I have is a basic idea of what I want to write about, and possibly a vague idea of how the story will end. Then I just write and see how it turns out! xD
I’m not very good at plotting, as you can see.
I think pantsing is totally fine, but also know that you may end up deleting your drafts and starting over multiple times.
In the words of Jinto Queb, "Hurry, reading is fun!"
March 21, 2022 at 8:47 pm #109597@godlyfantasy12 Great question!! Honestly I’m still figuring out new tricks myself, but I typically start with aย Pinterest board and a music playlist. That gives me the aesthetic and character personalities. Then from there I do a bit of rough outlining and figure out the main story line, usually consisting of the beginning, middle, and end of the plot. Then I just start writing and continue plotting as I go along XD It works best for me and helps me keep track of things. Bonus tip: If you like to halfway throw together a plot like me, when you create new creatures or special scenes or something, write a note to yourself to let you know what chapter it’s first found in, what it is, and what kingdom/whatever it belongs to XD
Hope this helps!!!
"It's easy to be caught up in stardust and whispers when reality is so dark and loud."
March 21, 2022 at 11:30 pm #109600These are all really neat!! They seem to differ a lot but at the same time overlap with each other if that makes any sense lol!! But thatโs Creatives for you XD
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebMarch 28, 2022 at 8:13 pm #109641Ah, this is embarrassingly late, but here I am anyway! ๐
My drafting process is a bit odd. Generally, I know how the story begins, and I know how the story or even series ends. Random scenes from the middle pop into my head at random times, but most of it is pretty blurry. The story usually works itself out on its own. I just type it out! ๐ After the first draft, if I’m serious about a book, I’ll plan on rewriting it (multiple times). I’ve actually never gotten to the point where I’ve finished a draft of a novel I’m serious about and not started over again…
Wow. I honestly had no idea I was such a pantser until explaining my process! XD Anyway, all the best with your WIP! <3333
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