Okay, so you knew a Dave Matthews reference would appear sooner rather than later in this blog. Lord knows plenty exist in The Cave (found any?). But, seriously, what do you want to say when you write? You know you have ideas. Do you want to write about a person, place, or passion? Can you write of a unique or interesting experience? Don't worry what others may think; it's your story! Besides, I’m willing to bet what interests you will interest others. Perhaps you don’t know what to say, but you want to write. That’s fine, too. Just start writing and let it grow. Here’s what I did.
First, consider a story, a basic plot, and then loosely outline it from beginning to end. It will begin to appear as a skeleton story, and serve as the basis of your novel. The outline will also help to guide your writing. Don’t worry about settings and characters at this stage. These important pieces will develop as you write and add depth. Don’t worry if your story is rough in the outlining stage. It will smooth as you revisit and reread. In fact, don’t be surprised if your entire story changes while you write. Also, don’t worry about length at this stage. For now, just write, write, write until you tell your story.
One approach I use is seed writing. I’m not sure if that is a technical writing term, but I think it describes the process well. With seed writing, you write whole or partial ideas or scenes (i.e., seeds) that you hope to fit somewhere in your story. Then, plant the seeds into your outline where they would best fit. Revisit the seeds every now and watch them grow organically as your story develops. This method allows you to develop an idea anytime, anywhere, or whenever a mood strikes. Dominant ideas will naturally take over your story, forcing lesser ones aside, if not out. It’s survival of the fittest. To me, that’s the coolest part of writing. You never know where the story will take you.
So, start writing! Let your creativity flow and enjoy the experience, because YOU KNOW that you have…so much to say.
I know, I know.
First, consider a story, a basic plot, and then loosely outline it from beginning to end. It will begin to appear as a skeleton story, and serve as the basis of your novel. The outline will also help to guide your writing. Don’t worry about settings and characters at this stage. These important pieces will develop as you write and add depth. Don’t worry if your story is rough in the outlining stage. It will smooth as you revisit and reread. In fact, don’t be surprised if your entire story changes while you write. Also, don’t worry about length at this stage. For now, just write, write, write until you tell your story.
One approach I use is seed writing. I’m not sure if that is a technical writing term, but I think it describes the process well. With seed writing, you write whole or partial ideas or scenes (i.e., seeds) that you hope to fit somewhere in your story. Then, plant the seeds into your outline where they would best fit. Revisit the seeds every now and watch them grow organically as your story develops. This method allows you to develop an idea anytime, anywhere, or whenever a mood strikes. Dominant ideas will naturally take over your story, forcing lesser ones aside, if not out. It’s survival of the fittest. To me, that’s the coolest part of writing. You never know where the story will take you.
So, start writing! Let your creativity flow and enjoy the experience, because YOU KNOW that you have…so much to say.
I know, I know.
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