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This week: How Much Do You Plan? Edited by: Crys-not really here  
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| Hi! My name is Crys-not really here and I am your guest editor for the For Authors newsletter this week! |
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How Much Do You Plan?
When you write a novel, do you plan it out first? Or do you just start writing and see what happens? I've done it both ways, and I have to say that any time I plan even a small part of the plot, things always go more smoothly.
This month, I am attempting to plan my 50k novel for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I've done NaNo on the fly before, but it was difficult to sustain a logical storyline when I didn't know what happened from chapter to chapter. I was also so worried about keeping up with my word count that I sacrificed quality for speed. Some people claim to be able to open a Word document and just start writing, eventually finishing a somewhat coherent novel. Not me. I always end up with a mess that needs lots of work later when I don't pre-plan.
However, I also feel that it's important to let the story flow naturally. A writer can't let an outline prevent him from making surprising discoveries about his character's lives. I think the NaNoPrep Brandiwynš¶  is holding this month provides the perfect amount of preparation for writing a novel. Ideally, I'd like to take the time to do those exercises before beginning any novel!
At the minimum, I think writers should know the following before starting a novel:
Who is your main character? What struggles will he/she face during the course of the novel? What about his/her past experiences contributes to to the way he/she handles the current struggles?hey add to your
Who are your supporting characters? How do they add to your main character's struggles? Or do they support the character to achieve his/her goals?
Where is your setting? What kind of people live there? What does your location look like? What is the culture of your setting? How does where your novel takes place prevent your main character from achieving his or her goal?
What are all the things that could stand in your main character's way from achieving that goal? How does he or she ultimately overcome them
Like I said, this is a minimum. With a strong setting and an equally as strong character, a goal and a struggle, you should be able to start a novel that you'll be able to sustain easily. It's too late to join the NaNoPrep challenge, but I highly encourage everyone to use its exercises to plan your next novel! There's no such thing as knowing your characters and setting too well.
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Thank you to everyone who wrote in about my last For Authors Newsletter: "Writers Have Other Hobbies, Too!"
Re: Writers Have Other Hobbies, Too!
I think it's very important to have a life outside your head. Too many writers live at the keyboard, and it's easy to get into that routine, especially if you're on a tear with a piece. I also work as a computer programmer/consultant, so I really have a potential keyboard abuse issue.
In my outdoor life, I'm a serious cyclist (used to race road and mountain bikes and cyclocross) and a seriously inept kayaker. Luckily I'm also a good swimmer.
"Mens sana in corpore sano", I always say. Why do people look at me weird when I say that?-allenalien 
Absolutely; "Writers have other hobbies too" otherwise how would they write if they didn't have any other events they participate in??? This would only show not only the question of;'Where the heck are they getting ideas from in order to write,but also are they actually living?(LOL) I never believed in placing 'all the eggs in one basket' per se...I have several other hobbies that are, yet also very much connected to my own writing ideas in the realm of creative arts. -ingenuity6
I enjoyed your newsletter. I have a new outlook on my other hobbies...lol I feel no guilt and I think it does make you a better writer. It's kind of like getting away from the kids and coming back refreshed and with a better attitude! -Happy Spring
Hi Crys!
Great NL!  Everyone should have something that de-stresses them at the end of a long day. I'm glad you've found minis (I used to love painting them, too!). Now, I play mah-jong before bedtime because the repetitive nature of matching the tiles puts my brain to sleep.  -LJPC - the tortoise
My hobbies tend to leak into my writing.  Throughout the last decade and a half, music and photography have been hobbies outside of writing that I've kept up with for at least five years. As a result, I have stories with characters that are either musicians or photographers. I wouldn't be surprised if these three hobbies merged into one story, perhaps a true crime-esque bit that involves a photojournalist witnessing a law-breaking event at a marching band competition? Hey, it could happen! -Elisa the Bunny Stik 
Thank you for including my story in your newsletter. Indeed, it is important for us to have hobbies and other interests, it keeps us balanced. I remember the Dean of English told me (when I was an undergraduate) to continue my eclectic interests and courses I was taking. She said the tunnel vision which was beginning to affect academia disturbed her as it limited the ability to grow, and without growth there is no innovation. I would like to add though, we can also research great hobbies for our characters. The key is getting a real feel for it and paying attention to detail - mystic_dreams |
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For Authors: October 10, 2012 Issue [#5301]
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