Planning out your story vs winging it chapter-by-chapter

[waka-sama]

I do a mix of both. There’s a “plan” but it’s more of a list of key bullet points of events I want to write, in the order I want to write them. I don’t really plan out How to get from one point to the other and instead just kind of let my muse guide that part.

I do this exactly, sometimes I'll even write out like 2k words of what I want to happen and then just wing it to get there

 

[SirDogeTheFirst]

I have the key points written, but I give myself lots of freedom when writing in between. Why not side-track things a bit and make mc and his buddies raid a bandit stronghold so I can give them some extra loot, or if I have a knight with power armor and a magical sword in the same room as a dude with a giant mech, why not make them do a friendly spar, etc.

 

[MortalStrongerThanImmortal]

Plan out the story, then ignore the plan and wing it anyway, then adjust plan, then repeat

But do it in your head

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I have a rough road map, sometimes with key scenes planned out, but no real idea how I'm going to navigate between those key scenes until something in a chapter triggers them... (especially if I'm writing it to be serial fiction - that way I can "milk" the serial for all it's worth while still keeping an overall arc in mind)

 

[BLIGHT_ZERO]

But do it in your head

but you do it in your dreams

 

[Zagaroth]

I voted "winging it" because that was entirely how I started, but as I wrote I learned more about my world and character backstories and I now have at least a broad outline of where my story is getting with several goal posts along the way.

It's just not written out and some aspects are subject to change.

 

[MortalStrongerThanImmortal]

but you do it in your dreams

but let your subconscious do it

 

[wresch]

I wish I could plot out a whole book, but I just can't. I just start with a situation and let things roll from there. Since I write mysteries, it mostly works, but I do have a couple books where I got started and never did find an ending. On the plus side, I surprise myself some mornings, or even mid-morning where I suddenly find an interesting direction to take. I surprise myself. And I leave myself puzzles to work on. Adds some interest to my days.

 

[Heartmint]

I've heard some people write in total non-sensical orders. Specifically novel authors. They'll plan out what happens when, then write whichever chapter they're in the mood for, basically stitching it together as they go.

That's sounds like something a serial killer would do

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I've heard some people write in total non-sensical orders. Specifically novel authors. They'll plan out what happens when, then write whichever chapter they're in the mood for, basically stitching it together as they go.

I heard that was pretty much how Claremont and Byrne planned out comic books - they'd work together on the big visual set-pieces, and then Claremont would go and write chunks to connect those scenes, send them to Byrne (or Cockrum) and get the rest of the visuals done to match the script.

I used to plot things out that way - it works well for RPG material (and, apparently, for comic books) but not for much else IMO.

 

[TheIcMan]

Plan out the story, then ignore the plan and wing it anyway, then adjust plan, then repeat

My story is my outline

 

[Deleted member 84247]

The only thing I plan is world domination.

 

[Corty]

The only thing I plan is world domination.

Hurry up! I want my living conditions to improve!

 

[Puji-Maki]

Plan and wing-it.

 

[JayMark]

1. Write a basic outline, map out the world if needed, create files for the main starting characters, lay out what themes are going to be in it and what themes aren't, have the main events for beggining / middle / end in mind.

2. Explore the world chapter by chapter almost as blind as your readers because that way writing fiction is almost if not more fun than reading.

 

[BLIGHT_ZERO]

Hurry up! I want my living conditions to improve!

imagine thinking your going to have "living conditions" lol

 

[ChronicSleeper]

Step 1: Have a plan/concepts of a plan
Step 2: Jot down all the little juicy plot points
Step 3: Go more into detail into the worldbuilding, explore a character here, expand on an area there
Step 4: ???
Step 5: Drop the story because while you had 10 pages worth of lore and how the world works, a "better" idea comes up and you begin a new project.
Step 6: profit never get anything done ?

OR

Step 1: Write a cool idea
Step 2: Get to the beginning chapters after faintly determining what kinds of powers and what the "beginning island" is.
Step 3: Write <5 chapters. You really want to write the cool bits, but you can't find a way to bridge that gap from the introductions to the cool bit.
Step 4: ???
Step 5: Drop the story because while you did really well on the introductions and the cool bits, the chapters and build up in between SUCKS/is missing.
Step 6: profit never get anything done ?