What method do you use to build your novel ?

[CharlesEBrown]

The method looks good, but as someone who used to practice karate I almost had a stroke (mawashi geri is the name of a basic kick in karate, it is not an object it is litteraly a move. Imagining someone casually containing a MOVE on his belt is... wow, a whole new level in this imaginary story)

Or Standard Operating Procedure in some Cultivation stories... They get weird...

 

[istryj]

The method looks good, but as someone who used to practice karate I almost had a stroke (mawashi geri is the name of a basic kick in karate, it is not an object it is litteraly a move. Imagining someone casually containing a MOVE on his belt is... wow, a whole new level in this imaginary story)

In the text, I also hint that I consider mawashi geri to be food. That makes the joke (and it is indeed a joke) twofold. It’s perfectly normal for me if I go a few days without taking my meds.
Just to clarify the method without joking: some writing guides recommend starting with an outline, BUT some people can’t fathom how to actually sit down and write one (it’s a very intimidating and confusing word). That’s why I suggest writing the story in several passes, each pass expanding on the previous one. At each point of interest, among the possible options, choose something unusual/paradoxical/funny (depending on the story’s style) to make the narrative more original. Your imagination will naturally generate both an outline and a synopsis this way.

 

[LesserCodex]

It's a mix between two three and five. Yes I see it too but it works, li focus on reoccurring characters and build the story around them.

 

[Phantonym]

Honestly I just have a random idea, turn it into a prompt or sentence then think about it a lot and start writing. Once I start writing the story almost writes itself. I just have to get over the writers block and start writing

 

[soupsabaw]

There are a couple for me. My most dangerous one is writing with no plan. Just let the wind blow through my hair.

The one I try to stick to the most is creating an outline. First, I think of what I want the story to be. What's the plot? What's going to happen? Why is it going to happen? Who is it going to happen to? Why are they in the center of it all, and what is their relevance?

Then I begin to think about the characters involved, what their relationships are, and how they react to situations, tasks, scenes, and how they solve the issues. How will characters grow their relationships? Will they? Is character A going to show up again, or were they kind of like a filler character for the moment? Can they be used again?

From there, I think of the scenes I can add that will lead up to the end. The stepping stones that can get me across the river. Sometimes, I add in filler, sometimes I don't and every scene has a purpose.

A lot of the times, I will outline with pure dialogue. Just "conversation" "conversation" "conversation." All lined up together in one, big, messy paragraph. It's a draft! Sometimes I use it word for word, and sometimes I switch some wording around, and sometimes I only use the general gist of the sentence and mainly scrap it.

I will say that I always end up adding more or taking some out, but a general outline of the entire novel before I begin writing has always kept my thoughts in order. Additionally, I like keeping track of some character details I want to make sure I'm consistent on. Example: a beauty mark, dimples, glasses, etc. Habits like lip biting, excessive sighing, tired eyes, toe tapping, eye rolling, etc.