Let's yap for a moment

[soupsabaw]

I'm curious how to other people function in their writing ways. Let's discuss and see how different we all are!

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

Personally, I like writing all of or at least almost all of my work before I start posting anything. I usually only do the latter if the work is really long and I'll have plenty of time to finish it up before I catch up with myself. There's a sort of overwhelming pressure that looms over me if I start posting something that isn't completed. What if I run into a wall and get writer's block? What if I can't finish the story and readers are waiting for a next chapter? So, I typically wait until I have everything written out before I start posting something or I at least make sure I have a plotted outline of where I wish to take my story so I'm prepared to write when the time comes, but I usually always have it done a few chapters before I would have to post it.


How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

My outlines for my stories typically involve a few word sentences of what I want to happen with the key points listed, which is how I assume every one else does it. But the one thing that actually carries my outlines as much as listed key points is dialogue. I write out whole conversations I want to happen sometimes. Does anyone else? I'm curious... Sometimes all I have for a whole scene is a conversation between characters, I copy and paste it when I get to that point, add some actions and behaviors around it, and bam! I've stretched 200 words to 1,000 or so.

I have a horrible conception of time, so I also put in dates so I can keep track of how much time has passed by. It actually helps with making the environment consistent. "Oh, in this universe it's near the colder seasons right now, so my character should wear some thicker clothing." It helps!

My docs with my outlines usually also have in a character list with traits, ages, names, relationships to others, quirks, and so on. I reread it over frequently to drill them into my memory. Yes, I'm the author, but wow, sometimes I forget: "Hey, I made that guy wear glasses. I should mention it soon." and write in a reflective glare or something. Or even "This character chews his nails in a nervous habit." Little things I might forget so I jot them down. Readers appreciate the keen eye on character quirks. Especially if they love that character. As someone who has been in fandoms for years, authors remembering characters' tiny habits is everything.


How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

Outlines, at least for me, are more like a rough draft of the story plot. Sometimes I do something, sometimes I don't, sometimes I add in entire chapters. I would say around 80-85% of my outline ends up being around the idea of what I originally had. I've gotten to the point where I don't number the chapters and simply mark it as a new chapter because I end up adding a chapter or taking one out and it throws the numbers off anyway.


I'm curious to see what other people do, so let's yap together!

 

[VertisGuguChalimoth]

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

I haven't posted anything yet but I would like to start posting when after laying all of the foreshadowing elements accurately. So I write up until I reach where the foreshadowing elements shows itself so I can avoid certain issues.

How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

I do the same thing you do however I just write a summary of what they do. Other times, I write an entire scene out whether action or dialogue (rarely). If everything goes well, I have up to volume 7 planned.

How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

Since they're just summaries, I would say atleast 76% is accurate to what is added. Depending on fluidity and how a character's backstory is (which I develop later) then they wouldn't do some of the actions I wrote.

I am new to this writing thing so I thought this method would be good for me.

 

[Macha]

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

When I get comfortable.

How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

Carefully. Use condoms.

How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

As accurate as pregnancy test with a curved handle so I don't get pee on my hand.

 

[SurfAngel_1031]

I'll bite.

Let's take them one at a time:

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

Personally, I like writing all of or at least almost all of my work before I start posting anything. I usually only do the latter if the work is really long and I'll have plenty of time to finish it up before I catch up with myself. There's a sort of overwhelming pressure that looms over me if I start posting something that isn't completed. What if I run into a wall and get writer's block? What if I can't finish the story and readers are waiting for a next chapter? So, I typically wait until I have everything written out before I start posting something or I at least make sure I have a plotted outline of where I wish to take my story so I'm prepared to write when the time comes, but I usually always have it done a few chapters before I would have to post it.

This has varied. With Vivienne, I had already completed 8 chapters before I found Scribble Hub, however, I had already posted on another place. So the answer is, I post chapter by chapter. I average them about 7-9k words each and schedule them in smaller chunks for easy to handle reading.

With Sylvie and then Amber & Vasia I tend to release week to week. I had three chapters completed before I felt comfy enough to start putting them up to read. By that time I pretty much know if the book has enough teeth for me to finish it.

How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

I personally use old school outlines. Bullet points and main ideas, broken down into sections. It the way I was taught in grade school ALL those years ago.

My two editors... One outlines in sentences like you and the other just doesn't.

I don't have any conversations in my outline. If I get something stuck in my head that I want to use, I have a personal discord server that I place ideas into.

I have a horrible conception of time, so I also put in dates so I can keep track of how much time has passed by. It actually helps with making the environment consistent. "Oh, in this universe it's near the colder seasons right now, so my character should wear some thicker clothing." It helps!

That is a problem with me as well. I've had to go back many times and double check what time I've used in order to remain consistent. Seasons are easy, it's the day by day that I struggle with and don't advance it fast enough in many cases. I've gotten to the point where I have a section of my discord server with the chapter numbers and how far I've moved along.

My docs with my outlines usually also have in a character list with traits, ages, names, relationships to others, quirks, and so on. I reread it over frequently to drill them into my memory. Yes, I'm the author, but wow, sometimes I forget: "Hey, I made that guy wear glasses. I should mention it soon." and write in a reflective glare or something.

I call that a list of characters. That's the very first thing I write, every time. I have the protagonist, deuteragonist and on occasion a tritagonist. Then I list out the main antagonist and then fill in the rest of the cast that I've thought about. I leave space in sections for extra characters, or if I get a character concept, I'll type it out and use it when I need to.

How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

I write my outlines before the chapter, maybe a day or two before - so unless I get a twist, it's pretty accurate.

Outlining the entirety of the story before start writing wouldn't work for me. There have been times where if I hit every point I've listed, a chapter could be 20k in size. So if I find a natural break in the chapter, I'll end it and take the remaining ideas and use them as I can.

On average? I'd guess 70-75% is about the same.

Before I even begin, I brainstorm and figure out the main plot, sub plots. These are the main directors for the novel.

I think that answers everything, lol.
Hey, anytime you want to chat feel free to reach out.

 

[Uncrowned]

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

1. Personally, the idea will randomly got inside (based on irl scenario). Afterwards, when I started writing the chapter, I will do anything to finishes it on that exact moment. Then, I’ll be correcting the grammatical and clarity errors + cherry on top. Post! The

2. On my head, when I experience, hear, learn or see something irl. Enough to make the next chapter.

3. 99% (I stopped doing outline on my Ipad cause most of the time it ended up being improve / change lmao)

 

[CharlesEBrown]

1. In general, I won't post until I have at least seven, usually ten, chapters ready to go. Why seven? To put up two immediately and have five or more in reserve.

2, Outlines? I have a few notes, a few future scenes, and that's it.

3. Very accurate, since I write them after the fact... :D

 

[Deleted member 84247]

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

I start posting that thing as soon as I finish the first chapter. I know I shouldn't, but I'm helpless in that regard. The most I've held off before posting was like 10 chapters.

How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

An outline? What's that? Can you eat it? I do only mental planning for each arc I am working on. It allows some flexibility and changes. The only bad thing is the tendency to go off script sometimes, but other times, that creates the best moments. So is it really a bad thing?

How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

N/A

 

[RainingFish]

I've done both, but after abandoning (at least for now) six stories over the last decade or so, I’ve been more inclined not to post my work. Of the ones I posted, most weren’t popular, but two got some views and comments, either way, it caused some issues. For the stories that didn’t get views, it’s hard to be motivated to write them. For the two that did get views, I got too nervous about not messing them up, which made it much harder for me to write. As for things I haven’t posted, I've written around 200,000 words spread out on a few stories, but I still haven't completed anything. Maybe I’m just not cut out to be a storyteller, but I like to work on stories in my head, so I haven’t quit yet. As for outlines, I like bullet points, and I keep files with names and descriptions of characters and places. As for how accurate my outline are, not so accurate, but it provides a general direction I can work towards and helps with brainstorming sometimes. Sometime stories have too many possibilities to think about, and it's good to use an outline to prune some of them off.

 

[soupsabaw]

I haven't posted anything yet but I would like to start posting when after laying all of the foreshadowing elements accurately. So I write up until I reach where the foreshadowing elements shows itself so I can avoid certain issues.

I do the same thing you do however I just write a summary of what they do. Other times, I write an entire scene out whether action or dialogue (rarely). If everything goes well, I have up to volume 7 planned.

Since they're just summaries, I would say atleast 76% is accurate to what is added. Depending on fluidity and how a character's backstory is (which I develop later) then they wouldn't do some of the actions I wrote.

I am new to this writing thing so I thought this method would be good for me.

It is good! I've been doing it this way for years and it's always worked for me. Foreshadowing is a good reason why I like to plot everything out too because I can make sure to slide it in enough. I do so much back and forth and rereading.

I personally use old school outlines. Bullet points and main ideas, broken down into sections. It the way I was taught in grade school ALL those years ago.

My two editors... One outlines in sentences like you and the other just doesn't.

I don't have any conversations in my outline. If I get something stuck in my head that I want to use, I have a personal discord server that I place ideas into.

I use bullet points too! Just a bullet pointed list with hints of where my brain was at the time of writing it. Crazy how one of your editor doesn't outline... I would go crazy. Or maybe I have too much going on with work that I just get jumbled.

That is a problem with me as well. I've had to go back many times and double check what time I've used in order to remain consistent. Seasons are easy, it's the day by day that I struggle with and don't advance it fast enough in many cases. I've gotten to the point where I have a section of my discord server with the chapter numbers and how far I've moved along.

Discord servers are so good for keeping all your information in a nice little organized place

I write my outlines before the chapter, maybe a day or two before - so unless I get a twist, it's pretty accurate.

Outlining the entirety of the story before start writing wouldn't work for me. There have been times where if I hit every point I've listed, a chapter could be 20k in size. So if I find a natural break in the chapter, I'll end it and take the remaining ideas and use them as I can.

On average? I'd guess 70-75% is about the same.

Before I even begin, I brainstorm and figure out the main plot, sub plots. These are the main directors for the novel.

I change a lot of my outline as well. A lot of scenes change and it's when I completely flesh out characters. So maybe I'm just dumb and said an inaccurate percentage, but it also sounds like I write wayyy more than other people do for their outlines, so maybe it's not too far off either mm

1. Personally, the idea will randomly got inside (based on irl scenario). Afterwards, when I started writing the chapter, I will do anything to finishes it on that exact moment. Then, I’ll be correcting the grammatical and clarity errors + cherry on top. Post! The

2. On my head, when I experience, hear, learn or see something irl. Enough to make the next chapter.

3. 99% (I stopped doing outline on my Ipad cause most of the time it ended up being improve / change lmao)

Ooh, interesting... I see, I see. Quick!

1. In general, I won't post until I have at least seven, usually ten, chapters ready to go. Why seven? To put up two immediately and have five or more in reserve.

From all the replies I read, it seems like more people sit down, write a chapter, and that concludes their writing for that period. Which is so new to me honestly because I write when I have a moment, and I don't have a specific set time. That's why I like having everything done or a majority before I post because I could randomly get super busy for weeks and hardly have time to write. I stop in the middle of chapters half the time and just reread what I had before I start again.

2, Outlines? I have a few notes, a few future scenes, and that's it.

3. Very accurate, since I write them after the fact... :D

I legit always have so much. It's crazy. But I also have an after outline. Like a before I start writing and my original plan and then a short outline of what I have when the chapter is finished. Usually because I always end up writing too much and I need something to look back at to navigate myself through the long doc or else I would be searching for a scene for hours to find again lol

 

[AngryCat]

I'm too lazy to read all this. Can't you keep it shorter?

 

[soupsabaw]

I start posting that thing as soon as I finish the first chapter. I know I shouldn't, but I'm helpless in that regard. The most I've held off before posting was like 10 chapters.

Right away is crazy. I envy you though. I could never do that. But I completely get it. I have a story I really want to start posting, but I keep forcing myself to finish what I have first.

An outline? What's that? Can you eat it? I do only mental planning for each arc I am working on. It allows some flexibility and changes. The only bad thing is the tendency to go off script sometimes, but other times, that creates the best moments. So is it really a bad thing?

Nope! Nothing wrong with writing in the moment. I do it sometimes. Like randomly adding in a scene I never had planned at all, but i know if I don't jot something down at all then I'll be lost. One time I wrote down "that one scene I was thinking of" in my outline without anything else. By that time, I forgot most of the conversation I wanted to happen. Silly... that's why I do so much dialogue too.

I've done both, but after abandoning (at least for now) six stories over the last decade or so, I’ve been more inclined not to post my work. Of the ones I posted, most weren’t popular, but two got some views and comments, either way, it caused some issues. For the stories that didn’t get views, it’s hard to be motivated to write them. For the two that did get views, I got too nervous about not messing them up, which made it much harder for me to write. As for things I haven’t posted, I've written around 200,000 words spread out on a few stories, but I still haven't completed anything. Maybe I’m just not cut out to be a storyteller, but I like to work on stories in my head, so I haven’t quit yet.

Aw I understand. Seeing a low rating kills your confidence. I do hope you post again eventually. Even if it seems like someone won't read it, there will be someone out there that will! Sometimes it just takes time for people to see it too. You shouldn't be too hard on yourself :((

As for outlines, I like bullet points, and I keep files with names and descriptions of characters and places. As for how accurate my outline are, not so accurate, but it provides a general direction I can work towards and helps with brainstorming sometimes. Sometime stories have too many possibilities to think about, and it's good to use an outline to prune some of them off.

Bullet points are nice! I love that you have files. For each story I have I create a folder and then separate documents. The outline, the story information like plot and characters and the universe, and then a doc for the work itself. So I completely agree! I've never heard of someone also sorting with files, so I love to see it.

I'm too lazy to read all this. Can't you keep it shorter?

Ah three question points:

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

 

[Madmcgee]

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

I toss it out the day it's written, let the snapping piranhas (readers) have what they want! People generally help me if I have a spelling mistake or two and point it out.
Honestly, idk how I ever passed high school English... I'm sure my teachers 'loved' me.

How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

My outlines for a 100k word story consist of nothing, all the way to four to five lines of 'vague' ideas. I prefer to let things unfold naturally as I write.

How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

Ha! Surprisingly quite accurate, given how loose they are. I generally have an 'idea' that I'm working towards and stick to it within the realm of my, again, very vague plan.

I thrive in my chaotic process, and wouldn't have it any other way!

 

[soupsabaw]

I used to simply write complex storyoutlines. Growing up, I would write without planning much at all or if I did, I wouldn't write my ideas down, so I would forget them. By my twenties—since I was focusing only on fan fiction—I wrote detailed story outlines so that I wouldn't forget my ideas, but because they were so detailed, I never found the time or energy to simply write the damned chapter. As a result, I have outlines for a 40+ chapter Pokemon fan fic and a 40+ chapter Superman/Justice League fan fic that are both around 60,000 words each.

When I made the decision to switch to writing original fiction, I decided to do so without planning the story out too much. I had super rough ideas of what I wanted, then I just started writing the chapters. As a result, this led to me coming up with new original ideas on the spot and incorporating those and sometimes entirely abandoning my previous ideas. For example, TOP EGG was originally going to be a high school prom story where the main character pretended to be trans so that she could be her best friend's girlfriend, but I accidentally wrote the first chapter to progress to their relationship becoming real and the main character realizing she actually was trans. I didn't have the heart to change the scenes I had written to draw out the plot further than the initial 7,000 words for the first chapter, so I just came up with new plot developments—like a serial killer in the second chapter. Of course, this didn't stop me from going back and updating the first chapter and subsequent chapters. Chapter #1 is now twice as long, at 15,000 words, simply because I felt that there was more character and such to bring out for all of the characters.

ADHD is fun.

For Ten Years I Love About You, I've done some more proper planning, but not in great detail. I enjoy being able to come up with new character beats in the spur of the moment. Otherwise, my writing becomes a slog to get through.

LOVE THISS. Oh my goshh. I used to have a doc filled with fanfic ideas. Maybe not around 60,000, but they existed at least. One of my favorite original character pairings (which is the book I'm going to post next after my current one) was originally a fanfic of a ship with maybe three fans and I was two of them. It was such an unknown ship. I had a whole fic around 40,000 written out and never posted it because I was like "wow this is embarrassing. I'm these guys' only fan." Since the characters were basically like my own (considering this was the sidest side pairing you could ever find), I just changed some things and made them my own characters. By now they are nothing like how I saw the original ship, but I still derived their story from an abandoned fanfic.

I do a bit of both though. I plan a lot of things out, but I come up with a lot of things on the fly. One of my more favorite original characters was created originally to just be this guy who showed up to help the main character once. He was never meant to show again, but he ends up being one of the more important characters and one of the strongest ones in the series. The way things can change is so crazy and so fun.

I toss it out the day it's written, let the snapping piranhas (readers) have what they want! People generally help me if I have a spelling mistake or two and point it out.
Honestly, idk how I ever passed high school English... I'm sure my teachers 'loved' me.

LOL oh my gosh. I've always wanted to try being the writer who just writes up a quick and cute 5-10k story and posts it without hardly looking over it. Tiny oneshots. I always end up going too far...

My outlines for a 100k word story consist of nothing, all the way to four to five lines of 'vague' ideas. I prefer to let things unfold naturally as I write.

Ha! Surprisingly quite accurate, given how loose they are. I generally have an 'idea' that I'm working towards and stick to it within the realm of my, again, very vague plan.

I thrive in my chaotic process, and wouldn't have it any other way!

I was going to say this is literally sooo crazy and chaotic but I love it. Whatever works for you!

 

[Edeshei]

I'm curious how to other people function in their writing ways. Let's discuss and see how different we all are!

When do you get comfortable to start posting your work?

Personally, I like writing all of or at least almost all of my work before I start posting anything. I usually only do the latter if the work is really long and I'll have plenty of time to finish it up before I catch up with myself. There's a sort of overwhelming pressure that looms over me if I start posting something that isn't completed. What if I run into a wall and get writer's block? What if I can't finish the story and readers are waiting for a next chapter? So, I typically wait until I have everything written out before I start posting something or I at least make sure I have a plotted outline of where I wish to take my story so I'm prepared to write when the time comes, but I usually always have it done a few chapters before I would have to post it.


How are your outlines formed? How much are you planning?

My outlines for my stories typically involve a few word sentences of what I want to happen with the key points listed, which is how I assume every one else does it. But the one thing that actually carries my outlines as much as listed key points is dialogue. I write out whole conversations I want to happen sometimes. Does anyone else? I'm curious... Sometimes all I have for a whole scene is a conversation between characters, I copy and paste it when I get to that point, add some actions and behaviors around it, and bam! I've stretched 200 words to 1,000 or so.

I have a horrible conception of time, so I also put in dates so I can keep track of how much time has passed by. It actually helps with making the environment consistent. "Oh, in this universe it's near the colder seasons right now, so my character should wear some thicker clothing." It helps!

My docs with my outlines usually also have in a character list with traits, ages, names, relationships to others, quirks, and so on. I reread it over frequently to drill them into my memory. Yes, I'm the author, but wow, sometimes I forget: "Hey, I made that guy wear glasses. I should mention it soon." and write in a reflective glare or something. Or even "This character chews his nails in a nervous habit." Little things I might forget so I jot them down. Readers appreciate the keen eye on character quirks. Especially if they love that character. As someone who has been in fandoms for years, authors remembering characters' tiny habits is everything.


How accurate are your outlines to the finish product?

Outlines, at least for me, are more like a rough draft of the story plot. Sometimes I do something, sometimes I don't, sometimes I add in entire chapters. I would say around 80-85% of my outline ends up being around the idea of what I originally had. I've gotten to the point where I don't number the chapters and simply mark it as a new chapter because I end up adding a chapter or taking one out and it throws the numbers off anyway.


I'm curious to see what other people do, so let's yap together!

I'm very random in terms of writing. I just write for fun.
I let my subconscious cook whenever. Like out of the blue type shi a plotline would just come to me at 2am while im pooping at the bathroom. Stuff like that lol.

Im not organized. I hate structure and schedule. If I feel like writing, I will do it. I work better if I have no deadline to pressure me lol.

 

[soupsabaw]

My original stories are actually just based on me a bit. I give my flaws to the characters and explore my own challenges a bit, so I think it's actually okay to self-insert, so long as you give your characters challenges to face (autism, facing bigotry, fertility issues, personality flaws and other stuff are a lot of what I write about lol).

Self-inserting is so fun sometimes. I made a character who has horrible vision just because I do, and I throw in all the things I do because of it. Like replacing the top of my shampoo bottle to a different color of my conditioner in the shower because I can't read the bottle so I go by the color...

I'm very random in terms of writing. I just write for fun.
I let my subconscious cook whenever. Like out of the blue type shi a plotline would just come to me at 2am while im pooping at the bathroom. Stuff like that lol.

Im not organized. I hate structure and schedule. If I feel like writing, I will do it. I work better if I have no deadline to pressure me lol.

Just completely free with it. I love it. Also your cover is gorgeous omg

 

[Edeshei]

Self-inserting is so fun sometimes. I made a character who has horrible vision just because I do, and I throw in all the things I do because of it. Like replacing the top of my shampoo bottle to a different color of my conditioner in the shower because I can't read the bottle so I go by the color...

Just completely free with it. I love it. Also your cover is gorgeous omg

Ouh thank you hehe :> you can check out the book if you want hehe (*つ▽`)っ