How important is it 2 your Created your characters before you write ur story?

And how important is it 2 do research before you write your story?

Is it really important 2 write out the plot before you actually write the story ?

I always kind of wrote stories off the top of my head, with out writing all the above, but I was arguing with another writer and they where talking about important it is 2 do all that stuff

I kind of like 2 just make up stuff as I go along instead of following the guidelines of writing, but my writer friend told me if you want 2 be a correct writer you have to do all the other stuff first and I was like

So I thought it would be cool 2 see what some of you writers of the org had 2 say about this

writer edit
[This message was edited Tue Aug 19 6:04:40 PDT 2003 by DigitalLisa]

I am not a writer in the traditional sense of the word. However, going to school in and having experience in the field of public relations, I have written numerous proposals, press releases, informative documents, technical documents, essays, journal articles, and other forms of media.

That said, research is of the UTMOST importance. Whatever you write on, the background on the topic should be like second-knowledge to you. Only then can you really understand the perspective of the party you represent, and the audience which you are speaking to.

As far as structuring your story before writing it, I have always found these skills to be over-rated. However, I have a very good mind for composing structure, and letting ideas shape themselves out. When I write a story, I will usually start out by writing a really brief 1-paragraph summary of what I plan to talk about. Using this as a very loose guide, I can easily elaborate. For more detailed stories, I will quickly jot down all the points I plan to cover. As I write, if more thoughts come to my head, I will add and remove points accordingly. I know I have covered all of my bases when I have finished a sentence and all points are crossed off of my list.

Usually, 2 - 3 edits, 1 peer edit, and the re-sorting of the information I wrote down, will ensure it is accurate, coherent, and complete.

I realise this is a different style of writing than what you are asking about, but I hope it helps.
[This message was edited Mon Aug 18 23:46:08 PDT 2003 by savoirfaire]

savoirfaire said:

Thanks 4 the info

I like 2 write movie scripts and plays. What I usually do is, write like a short story about it, that won't be no longer then 20 pages long, then I write it into a script, which always end up being longer then the short story . So in away that's kind of like me writing down the plot and characters, just in a different structur.

My only problem is somewhere in the middle of the story I always get stuck and I was maybe wondering if that's the reason why, cuz I never do any research or develope my charectors before writing the story.

You know I'll get a ideal in my head, then jot it down on papper , next thing you know I have about 30 pages written all in one day.

I have alot of stories with strong beginnings, but there never finished and my mom always asked me "So when are you gonna finish writting that book of yours"

DigitalLisa said:

I think character background is the key. You should never give your characters away at the beginning of the book. And at all times you should keep in mind where they are coming from, without writing it down explicitely. Also, try writing the 'ending' of your story first and than continue to explain why/how you got to that ending. It requires a little focus, but it also forces you to think things through (u know, like a whodunit (sp?): u first get the murder and than the rest of the book explaining what happened).

SpcMs said:

Ur right
It's important 2 at least develop the charactor first
When I was in highschool, my other problem was I would always loose sense of who my character was then the story would get lost
[This message was edited Mon Aug 18 23:49:14 PDT 2003 by DigitalLisa]

DigitalLisa said:

I honostly believe what works best is individual.

I do research when preparing an interview, of course, but when writing an article, I just write what springs to mind and check up on facts along the way, to make sure I got that part right. Then I reread what I have written and make corrections and improvements here and there and voila - another job well done.

When it comes to fiction, I jot down notes in preparation - but they are like completely loose ideas and some will end up getting used and others saved for another day.

When I start writing, ideas and characters very often take on a life of their own and take me in completely different directions than I had initially planned, and then I just go with the flow. If there is science involved, I look it up along the way to make sure I got it right.

Sometimes you look at the result and think - okay, the beginning is weak, because when I started writing, I didn't really know the characters that well, and then I rewrite the story - do a second draft - with the knowledge of the characters I gained from writing the first draft.
Sometimes I go to a third draft. Sometimes one draft is enough.

The important thing is to be open to feedback. Have someone who knows about writing read your stuff. They'll give you some comments about what they like and don't like and what they would have done differently - just remember that they aren't writing the story: You are. So only take the criticism to heart that makes sense to you.

Basic story structure IS important, in that you have to keep in mind that character introduction is important. You want to make sure they are interesting/intriguing charaters right from the beginning. And you want to keep it interesting - and the reader's attention - along the way, and add a climax that makes reading the story to its finale seem worthwhile. (It's much like sex, really, in that it should get better and better along the way - not start with a bang and end with a whimper.)

is fun. I hope you'll have some creative highs along the way - when you feel like you've outdone yourself and is really grabbed by it and into it - that's the best part!

P.S.: Oh, I forgot - usually when I start out a new story, I always have the ending in mind so that I know what I am going towards. The fun - and sometimes surprising part - is how you get to that ending.

It's important to know what the climax will be, so the story can have a sense of direction from the very beginning. Otherwise, it will be "this isn't going anywhere - goodbye" rather than "I'm excited to see where this is all going."

You know?
[This message was edited Tue Aug 19 0:19:05 PDT 2003 by scififilmnerd]

A planned story line helps me to focus on where the story needs to go.

Some people can themselves to be flowery, I am not one of them.

But inside that jacket; I first write a chapter from my mind and then immediately rewrite it and edit the unnececary words.

DigitalLisa said:

gooeythehamster said:

True. But it also dependes on the type of story you're writing, whether its romance, horror or comedy, genres. In some cases, some stories (horror genre) may not need a "planned plot". Its some time best for the writer to just let the plots unfold as they write. That way, endings won't seem "dry" or plain "obvious". As for characters, of course you want to have a character map with different personality sketches, etc. As you know, characters ARE the most important parts in a story. With research it also depends on the genre. I'm not a "professional, but from experience I can only tell you, just be original.

But Gooey, does the story NEED to go that way? Can't it be allowed to go its own way? I have done the same u see, only to find that that wasn't what my characters had in mind at all. I tried (and still try even though I'm about to give up on the plot) very hard to write a vampire story set in an alterbate reality Stockholm, and I find myself to feel that the characters don't at all feel like vamps, even the one who is. So should I then pursue the storyline I set or let it evolve on its own? Write two maybe?

kiss85 said:

I agree

This is why I like 2 just write as I go along other then planning it out. Even if I do try 2 plan it out, the story never ends up as the same

i create my own comix, so i tend to handle story-writin a titch different...




well ummm, if i didn't have any characters there'd be no use in makin a story!


no need, really...most of the stuff i do for stories i make up in my head.


i never do. what i do is think of a basic plot, begin at the first panel and keep it goin as i draw. it's a lot like puttin a puzzle together, it's sorta hard to explain how i do it.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

That is so cool
I always like reading comics books,
I use 2 read alot of them when I was a kid. My favorite one was all the betty and veronica comics, but nowadays they can really get deep like a novel book.I admire u, because U have 2 have a really creative mind in order 2 create a comic book. I hope u do well, make alot of money and leave a legacy behind :Smile:
[This message was edited Tue Aug 19 8:37:55 PDT 2003 by DigitalLisa]

I am just a tinkerer.
I write ten words and scrap eight.

To me, knowing where I am going with my story keeps me focused.
On the other hand I am always surprised what things come up while writing. I am not an totally uptight writer.

What genre do you write, Gooey?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Cool. I'm a big comics reader. During my twenties, I edited a Danish Star Wars series and wrote and drew some of the issues myself.

Now I am working on a creator-owned sci-fi action thriller gothic horror kind of thing in my spare time (which is rarely as much time as I'd like it to be).

What kind of comics do you create?

How important is it 2 your Created your characters before you write ur story? Very

And how important is it 2 do research before you write your story? extremely

Is it really important 2 write out the plot before you actually write the story ? extremely