A question for all of you who write fiction, drama or for the screen: Do you plot your story out before you create your main character [and others] and just plug them in to the plot to fit your story OR do you develop your main character and see where he/she takes you?
I only ask because I have worked both ways -- depends on the project. For example, when I wrote "confessions" the plot was pretty much "sin, suffer, repent, happy ending" which could be anything. I usually decided on the sin first, and went from there.
On the other hand, when I worked in flash fiction, the plots seemed to be character driven. I crafted my 100 or 200 words around the character that sprang to life and demanded to be written about. Those little plots were completely dominated by what happened to the character.
My screenwriting, on hold for a long twilight of elder care, is something I'm compelled to return to as soon as I can this spring. The script I was working on when Dad took ill had been evolving from a character who made me sit up and take notice of him. He seemed quite clear cut in his objectives -- but what happened to him -- that pesky old plot -- went in several directions. Now that I'm disciplining my mind to return to the story again, after a long break, I'm finding I'm up in the air. Perhaps another, more thorough examination of my main character is in order before I even put pen to paper again. Or perhaps I should just let the scenes come and go as they want until I can shape the script once the first draft is completed.
I just wanted to know what you found useful in your own work. I appreciate your thoughts and any comment you'd like to leave below.
Thanks for visiting today!
4 comments:
I am desperate to start on my first story, but I don't know whether to start with a plot or a character. Either way, the character has to be worthy of being involved in a plot, or a plot has to have some worthy characters. I guess it depends on what comes into your mind first.
While I have travelled a lot, my life has in many ways been fairly ordinary, and aside from writing an autobiography I have not been able to come up with an idea that will grow. I hope I get some sort of idea soon.
I think that although life stories can be successful, they need to have some reason for that. It's either that the person has done something amazing or unique, or that they are famous, and therefore people want to read about them.
You are right about the special events in life -- but I have found that the little things, the ordinary things can also bring great understanding and joy.
Don't wait to find one or the other. Just start writing and see what happens! You might discard a lot of ideas -- but you could also develop a stack of engaging work, too. Your travels might be the key that opens the door to your writing. Sometimes an incident in an unfamiliar place will be the spark. Explore and see what works. You can't have writers block, you know if you don't start! LOL
Good luck and keep us posted! Thanks a bunch for stopping by, too!
I loved the bit where you say your character demands to be written about, I have a few of those at the moment and the cobwebs are forming in the home!
I enjoyed my visit and will return. :)
Oh and I agree with your advise for Poddys, just get it written and see what happens.
Thanks Glynis for your very sweet comment! I am going to enjoy watching you craft your novel. Keep us posted on your progress. Thanks for stopping by!
Post a Comment