http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=216x5730Oh my. And it's a poll, even.
BlueIris (1000+ posts) Thu Jul-09-09 09:22 PM
Original message
Poll question: True or False: If you tell a story before you write it, even in outline, you kill it.
In other words--don't waste your creative energy in the preparation stage of writing a piece; save it for the crafting of the piece instead. Do you have an opinion on this idea, whether it's accurate, not accurate, etc.
By way of explanation, I came across this notion in a novel the other day (narrated by a long suffering creative writing teacher). It sounded like crap to me at first, but then I started to wonder about some of the pieces of short fiction I've never finished. So I thought I'd ask others here for input.
Poll result (10 votes)
True (1 votes, 10%)
False (7 votes, 70%)
Depends (feel free to elaborate) (2 votes, 20%)
Other (0 votes, 0%)
kentauros (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-10-09 12:27 AM
Response to Original message
1. I think it depends entirely on the person.
I know people that can only be creative with an outline, whereas I never use one. And I still have only finished a few stories
I also tend to jump around in the composition. If I get an idea on how to end the story before I'm even halfway done, I'll stop writing just to get the ending down. If I don't, I know from experience that I will likely forget that idea. So, better to interrupt the initial "flow" to record other details.
sybylla (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-10-09 09:55 AM
Response to Original message
2. I can't imagine not doing any prep work at all
My first novel was very much a seat-of-the-pants production in part because I hate planning and outlining and in part because I didn't have a clear understanding of what prep work would actually be useful in the long run. That said, I still managed a modicum of prep work in the way of character development and plotting, even if it was just a few chapters at a time.
What I learned was that not planning cost me precious time in the more minor edits, not to mention the segments that took a major rewrite when I realized too late that certain plot lines weren't going anywhere.
So I'm forcing myself to plan and prepare the next project based on what I learned in that experience. Even though I made the first novel work, I voted "false" because I'm finding the heretofore abhorrent preparation process surprisingly creative and inspiring, even if it's driving me crazy to go weeks now without actually writing anything.
CTyankee (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-19-09 07:16 PM
Response to Reply #2
8. But sometimes you don't know what you know until you know it.
I wrote a story from beginning to end in a few short bursts. I then went back and really pruned away at lots of extraneous material and filled in characters a bit more. I always knew my ending. I just had to get there.
valerief (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-10-09 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
3. Nah. When writing with an outline, you change/enhance the story as you go along. You can even choose to change the ending as you write. However, it's very difficult to write a story without an outline (without knowing where's it's going).
The Rita Hayworth primitive, about whom franksolich is writing a novel of her life:
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-10-09 11:03 PM
Response to Original message
4. I think everyone plans - don't you?
I don't think everyone writes it down, but everyone plans in his/her head. That's the vision, that's where the story is born and gestates and develops. You can just sit back and think things over and I believe that's just as productive as writing anything out.
Since I'm lazy, I never write anything until I'm ready to write. Then it just flows, and a three-thousand word hour isn't unusual for me. Not the daily output - I don't write every day - but when you've done your work in your head, there's something far more intimate and knowledgeable about the narrative and the characters than making an outline, at least for me.
I trust my head, and my subconscious. So far, so good. My editor/publisher, after looking over the ms of my new novel, said to be - before she set to work on it - "I sometimes think I should pile bricks on the top of your head just to keep your feet on the ground."
Try it. You might be pleasantly surprised and find yourself far more in control of how the story develops because you're keeping it close. And that might solve that "completion" problem you've had so far. There is such a thing as getting bored with your own story, and I bet that's what happens with you.....................
orleans (1000+ posts) Sat Jul-11-09 05:21 AM
Response to Original message
5. it's usually true for me. unfortunately.
The Zbigniew primitive, who has a new book (vanity published) coming out tomorrow:
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-14-09 04:30 PM
Response to Original message
6. Some writers are ploters
some writers are free flowers.
Some go back and forth.
<---------
At times I need a plot, at times I seat and write by seat of pants
You know, that's exactly the way franksolich writes, by the seat of his pants.
That's why franksolich doesn't take himself seriously as a "writer."
