Post by TelephotoMarigold on Oct 4, 2018 20:30:40 GMT
When you are at the starting stage of writing you will have lots of different ideas about characters and plots. The easiest way of getting them on paper is to write an outline for your novel. This is essential when plotting your novel and helps you develop your story idea.
An example of outlining would involve identifying who your main characters are and what they do.
Frank, Harry, and Rebecca meet in a queue. They begin a conversation as they stand there. They find out they all went to school together.
This tells you that your characters are roughly the same age and probably live in the same area, thus setting the scene. To move it forward you'd want to expand on the points you've listed.
Frank is unemployed and has been offered a job interview in a nearby town. He has called into the shop to pick up a suit he has had dry cleaned.
Now you know what he is doing there and you have hints of what he could be talking about to the others.
Rebecca is a single mother. She has called in to pick up some passport pictures.
Are they for a trip she is taking soon or for something else?
Harry is single and has recently moved house. He has called into the shop to get some spare keys cut.
When writing this part of your story what you are doing is setting the scene or also known as the build up.
Your next job is to outline the main body of your story which involves describing the conflict between characters. Following on from conflict comes some kind of showdown before resolution and then your ending where you'd bring your story to a natural end.
Some people can writing without planning or drafting an outline and that is fine but if you are a beginner it is best to have some plan in place as it offers a guide and can help keep you motivated.
Happy Writing