I'm looking at writing a story and I already have an idea for an ending and the beginning with a bit more(I really feel it could be good). I guess I'm pondering how to develop in between point A and B.
I'm not that author who has a muse like a few of you describe. I don't have tons of words and a beautiful scripted dialogue that just flows out of me. It's just not terribly easy for me. I would really like some tips in how possibly to develop supporting characters. Some suggestions on possibly being able to let the dialogue flow out...and naturally at that.
For those of you who don't have a muse and find it difficult at times I would really appreciate your advice especially.
I don't know if this helps but when words come with insight I they tilt towards rhyme. I'm an emcee so much.
Comments
You have a beginning and an end...
And your question is how to get from.one to the other via characters? Then answer me these questions:
Who is your main character, and why do the beginning and the end you seek matter to them?
Who are the people who help them progress through the story, and why do they matter?
The first question is the most important, because you want your plot to matter to your protagonist. Take your elements and decide what they say about who your main character is. What kind of person would it take to make X decision, or be emotionally invested in Y? The more you understand your character's motives, the more you understand what makes them.unique.
Once you have your main character, think about the minimum number of characters you would need to make your progression work, what they do to help or hinder the protagonist, and why. Maybe come up with a line from a film.or a song that expresses who that character is and keep it in mind when writing their parts.
That's basically all you need. Most characters, even with repeating parts, are little more than ways to convey information or advance the plot. For personalities, focus only on those who matter to the protagonist in a big way, and for everyone else, don't sweat it.
Melanie E.
Some sort of outline can often help
Need not be detailed at first... more of a series of way points on the *roadmap* of your tale.
Stories often benefit from tension, from conflict. Otherwise you risk only having *the process* and not a complete story.
Think of the whys behind key character's actions. What are their motivations?
With these in mind you can sketch out important steps in your characters getting from A to B and that will make the story easier to fill out.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Exercise
Freewrite, perhaps. Write whatever comes to mind, or as far as you can. I've discovered that creativity needs to be exercised. Both in freewriting and in other writing, don't worry about writing the best or even writing well. There's always revision. Write your fetish. (You don't have to show anyone.) An interesting idea comes to you, that fits in? Write it down before you forget. Write it down somewhere even if it doesn't fit in.
Practice, exercise. That's all I know.
I'm far from the best person to give advice. I was somewhat more productive in my writing over 15 years ago, in the less-respectable sections of the internet, than now. I finished and posted a few things last summer and early last fall -- finally, after unproductive years. But I only managed a single posting since, about a month ago, and only because I noticed that the reality-shifted version of the opening made a nice story on its own.
-- Daphne Xu (a page of contents)
In addition, I'd suggest...
...reading dialogue out loud, perhaps even recording yourself reading it. You want it to sound natural, the way people of various classes and backgrounds actually speak.
Livin' A Ragtime Life,
Rachel
inspiration for a story - character development
HI,
This might sound a little strange since you seem to be saying you do not write a great deal and have only some background in story development.
Both a story map, and a character map (one per character) might help you.
You said your story has a point A and essentially a point Z (or end). The points in between (B through Y) are the trials and tribulations through which your characters and story must pass.
The character maps are relatively important because it is those short but vital sheets (or files on a computer) which show you how your characters and the story are progressing. They allow you to track (or backtrack) to see if you have placed the things into the story which you felt were needed for development.
In life, an individual's character (mental and physical) development is both directed and affected by the trials through which they live. For this reason how a character reacts to various things that happen in the story must be mapped so you can see your character(s) developing. What might affect your character one way at the start of the story might result in an entirely different reaction by the end of the story. The stages of development as the story progresses are what cause this and are a part of your character's development (which makes them seem more... human or elvish or ????).
The story map shows the trials through which your characters are proceeding. little things like the car not starting due to a battery going bad during a long cold winter which repeatedly froze the electrolyte. The frustrations that could produce and the delays to your characters trying to accompish things as a result. Small things as well as large ones will affect the direction of your character's development. A lot of small things can add up to be just as devatating as one very large event.
I could go on and on but this is the gist of the concept and I have a meeting to get to.
God Bless
Anesidora
Horses for courses
I'm afraid I'm nothing like as scientific in my approach to writing, but it certainly helps to know what kind of story you want to achieve. Crime, romance, adventure, humour or simple novelty at the journey. Much will depend upon the type of person you are.
Once you've decided that just start imagining a few situations to get you from A to B. With the beginning and the end, there must be some route in between.
Then it's all about placing yourself in your protagonists roles and imagining what they do and say, and what others do and say in response. Ideally put some conflict in there; some difficulty which has to be overcome.
Don't invent characters just for the hell of it. Your basic plot will require some, and readers simply won't remember their names if there are more than six or seven.
And that's it. Start writing.
I tend to write as I think rather than planning ahead but that's personal preference.
Above all, enjoy the process
Good luck
Charlotte
People
You need people in your story. They need to be real to you, human beings rather than cardboard cut-outs or mouthpieces. Find your people, then ask yourself how they would speak.
Listen to how folk in the real world speak, their hesitation and wordplay, and build on that. Your characters will tell your story, so give them voices that aren't yours.
What I think works
It's not too hard to come up with an initial premise and some characters, and then to write the beginning chapters. Then you run out of gas. At least I do.
What I do to prevent that is to determine two things: (1) what is the end of the story and (2) what prevents your character(s) from getting there. Because the story is all about NOT getting to the end. If the story is a drive from New York to San Francisco, something has to make it seem like you will not get to San Francisco. If it's a long enough story, probably in the middle the characters will realize that it's a mistake to go there, and decide to turn around. And the reader will think, "Oh, hell! Now they'll never get there!" But of course in the end they do.
Dialog isn't hard. It's just people talking. You have to be careful that it doesn't become explaining. If you treat your characters as if they are real people, everything follows: what they do, the way they talk. You have to continually ask yourself, If this was real life, would they do this? Would they say this? and when the answer is no, you rewrite. And when you get stuck, you can ask yourself, What would they do now, if this was real life?
Lawrence Durrell said that writing is more like divination than anything else. He meant that we find out our stories. We don't invent them, generally, although you could do that (it's just a different way of working). It's interesting and amazing to feel your way through a story you're writing, as though you were living it too. But the only way to do that is to write it and then fix what you wrote.
Rewriting is key. That's where the writing gets tighter, where you cut out the fat... If you don't know how to rewrite, it's just like this: after a day or so, read what you've written. Every time you stumble or something doesn't seem quite right, fix it.
That's what works for me. I didn't always do it, but that's how I work now.
Kaleigh Way
Music helps.
I find music helped. Especially music that fits the mood of each scene. Such as a high paced song or musical piece for an action scene.
Also, watching movies, series, or reading books, that are of the same genre as my stories, chapters, or scenes, helps me get into the mood to continue writing.
Mmmm...
I heard something that has helped me in writing my little tales. "Write what you know." Not being more than a wee bit into my third decade of life, I tend to write about the people I've met. Often I too have a beginning and/or an ending. I simply fill in with how I believe those people would have reacted, or how I'd have liked them to react, to the situations I pose. I hope this has been a wee bit of help and I certainly wish you luck and look forward to reading your tale.
May Your Words Flow Like Water to the Sea...
Kelly
this may sound strange
But visualize the story in your head, then just describe the scene(s) as best you can. If you think your story needs a character you probably already have an idea planted on what that character should be. Feel the character and let it write itself.
I am one of those people with the stupid fardling muse that won't quit. Each of my characters, be it the main character or not, has a history, a look and feel to them. I just try to write and keep up, not always working so well.
Sorry hope that helps.
Good advice.
Wow! There's a treasure trove of good advice for writers here. Mels' entry, however, was very close to what I would tell you. The only thing I would add is, "Get started." If you are actually a writer, the characters in the story will take over, and you will find yourself just documenting their actions, or as Mels says, "Feel the character let it write itself". Writing can be rewarding. Come get your reward!
Jamie