How can you outline a story if you do not know the characters, and how can you get to know all the characters before you outline a story. I usually just start writing and let the characters lead the way, but I seldom finish, because I do not know how the story ends. That's my problem, how to bring it all together.

Most people suggest outlining each chapter. I don't know how to do that. Some say do a characterization on each one, get to know the characters, even if you do not use all the background before you start writing.



Maybe I should just stick with articles.

Hi tsila,
It's a very difficult thing to write a story, I've started many times and like you haven't come to the end yet.

I think initially you have to decide what the story will be about, every story should have a beginning, a middle and an end... so to speak.

Once you have the basic plot, you can work everything else around it... the leading up to it, the main event and of course the after math,giving you your end.

You don't need to tell the readers too much to start with, they will work out each character as the story goes along, using their own imagination ,which is what writing is all about.

If you can always leave the reader wanting to turn over the next page, then you've done a good job.

Also don't be to desciptive, it leads the readers away from the original story, eventually becoming bored,putting the book down.

Try not to begin to close to the plot, feeling that you have to explain everything at the start otherwise the readers won't get it. The readers won't realize, that this is the main event, and will expect something bigger later in the book.

I personally would do some rough notes... not necessarily sitting, but going about my daily routine... things suddenly come to you out of the blue,which you won't remember later, so it's a good thing to have a note pad about your person,any inspirational thoughts you can then jot down on paper.
You'll be amazed at things you've written down!

I think you can only outline a story in your rough notes, for your own personal use.After the story is completed, you can then... proof read and edit it, taking away or adding words of little or no consequence.

I wish you luck

Thanks to both of you for your advice. Perhaps my problem is plotting more than the other. I need to work out the plot first and then do the rest of it.

You may find this Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction_writing) on writing fiction helpful. Also, this is a great concise guide (http://www.musik-therapie.at/PederHill/MainElements.htm) to writing fiction. There's no magic formula for writing fiction, and each writer will develop his/her own approach. But the basic elements of story are the same no matter who's doing the writing.

I will first mentally and then on paper made a basic outline (including an ending) of my story. If I have characters in mind already, I label them A, B, C, D, etc. and breathe life into them later.

Here's a good way to develop your stories and novels:

How To Write A Novel Using The Snowflake Method (http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php)

Wondergirl is an experienced, published author. So, her advice for a question such as this is top-notch and based on real-world and writing industry experience!

I love this site :)

Me and my friend decided we will be creating our own comic/manga. And I have always wanted to do this, but the writing part stalled me. I would do the same as the OP and not finish.

But me and Mike managed to stumble upon a pretty decent story. We started with wanting 2 specific main characters. Female and Male leads. The time frame (like fuedal japan) and the setting like how much fantasy mixed with reality.

So with all those set, we started drawing. Not really working on the story. But we started drinking too... and I don't recommend it lol, it just happens to be the method that got us 'started' down our path.

While we are having a good time we threw around ideas, conflicts, solutions etc... we managed to pretty much finish the summary, outline, character backgrounds and there motives, for the first issue we will use.

We just need to write it out in more depth.

But looking at all these links on writing, and from WG I am going to read up a lot on those so that I can do it much easier!

There is really no one best way to write a story. Do what works for you. If some of the characters are clear in your mind (maybe people in your real life who offer you possibilities for fictionalizing them), put flesh on their bones. You will develop other characters as you need them, and maybe delete characters who don't seem to be working out. The characters can write your story for you. I've let characters write some of my stories. I've worked in public libraries for almost 30 years. Can you imagine the characters who are living in my head?? --the alcoholic librarian, the sultry patron, the handsome patron who has bedroom eyes and quotes poetry, the misbehaving children, the homeless guy, the autistic volunteer (in my newest story), the flirtatious HVAC guy...

Other times, you may have a plot in mind, so develop it as much as you can. Rest in between and let the parts come together over time. Sometimes you know the whole storyline and sometimes you might know only how you want the story to end. Sometimes you might know only the middle part or what setting you want to use. Write from wherever you are. Write what you know from your own experience.

No matter which method you use, you will probably stop and start and stop again, or maybe you will "tear the whole thing up" and start over in a completely different way. I would caution you, though, to save old beginnings, middles, ends, characters, etc. since you later may think of new ways to use them and new stories to tell.

There is no right way to write.

I guess my problem with short stories is I am best at writing from the heart articles. I can't just do a 'snapshot' of life, I have to explain everything, add too much detail and I feel so attached to my writings it's so hard to edit out what is not necessary. It feels like it is necessary, and I cannot bring myself to cut it off like an arm or a leg. I put a lot of emotion into everything I write and a lot of me into everything.

Thanks to everyone, you have given me much information to check out, and the most important thing I have gotten from this is that I cannot adapt my writing style to model it after someone else. I have to write the way I write instead of trying to follow someone's formula, which is what I was trying to do. They wanted me to write an outline for every chapter, I thought if I can do that, why not just write every chapter.

I think I will just stick with my style and take the advice I have gotten here. I have to know the ending before I get two pages away…thanks for that. I assumed it would just 'all come together' but that is where my characters let me down.

I have to feel free when I am writing, not as if it is an exam that is going to be graded to make sure, that I have followed every step precisely. I love to write, but I hate exams, so you have set me free to write and I thank you.

Anymore advise, links or comments welcome.

thanks to Wondergirl for this statement. There is no right way to write. I had to chuckle, it finally dawned on me...

thanks to Wondergirl for this statement. There is no right way to write. I had to chuckle, it finally dawned on me...
I'm glad I could give you a few words of wisdom on which to hang your hat.

What really annoys me is when writers get together and form a writing group, and then spend all their time reading each other's stuff and critiquing each other to death. How Mary Lou writes is not how I write; how Bill writes is not how I write. I refuse to recast my character or my plot or my setting based on how someone else thinks it should be. It's MY story and MY characters and MY plot and MY setting! (If I did rewrite every time someone didn't like something, where's my literary integrity?)

Those groups usually go round and round criticizing each other to the point that nothing ever gets finalized and nothing ever gets submitted. My story is between me and my editor once I submit something and it's accepted.

Be true to yourself in your writing, and write with love and emotion and excitement and determination!

In her post #8 on this thread, Wondergirl does mention something about "Rest in between and let the parts come together over time." I would like to stress to you how important it is to do that.

One of the shows that I had written for a school where I taught all of the children at the school, pre-school age through the eighth grade, I found it beneficial to go take a walk in the park when I was struggling with ideas on how to continue. There is a limit as to how much the creative processes of our brains can do at one time, especially in the development of a story.

There is a limit as to how much the creative processes of our brains can do at one time, especially in the development of a story.

Yes, I have found this to be true. I get so confused I cannot see the screen anymore, but after a break; I come back refreshed. I also find reading it out loud helps me. I know each sentence so well; that I sometimes do not realize a word is actually missing or spelled wrong. Reading it aloud helps me to see my mistakes.

Being a perfectionist does not help either.

Thanks to everyone.

Being a perfectionist does not help either.
I too am one of those. I've learned to put aside my need for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation and am able to write, write, write and tell my story. Later, I'll go back over it (and not obsess over the mechanics), add more meat perhaps, or some adjectives and adverbs or some dialogue. When I have enough flesh on the skeleton, I'll clean it up and email it to my writing buddy who will ask questions and see gaps and find the proofreading mistakes I didn't catch. It's always good to have a writing buddy--not someone who will critique things to death, but someone you trust who will act as your alter ego or your twin separated at birth.