writing a book?

Question

what the best techniques for writing a book? I've completed a character and i have already written six pages in my daily journal. But i am afraid of having my story stray away as it usually does. I've been writing for quite a while now but i've never completely finished any of my work. My stories always seems to stray away from the main topic and, or they usually end not how i planned.

i meant to say character chart.
excuse me, please

Answer 1

First, does it even matter if the story ends how you planned it in the beginning? I've written stories where I let my characters do as they wished and was as surprised as anyone to see how everything turned out in the end. This has the benefit of making a story much more character-driven than plot-driven. The characters don't do things that they would never do just because you NEED them to do them to get where you want them to go (which is a bad sign that the audience can usually detect).

Secondly, I think you're putting the cart before the horse. Editing can take care of a lot of discontinuities and problems, but you have to have a finished work to do the editing on!

Let's put it this way - there is absolutely no reason why you have to write the story in exactly the same way that someone would read it. If your characters wander off before they get to the next waypoint of the story, then just skip ahead in your writing. PUT them where they need to be, and worry about how they got there later. Sometimes I find that to be the most effective way of putting a long story together: I know the major stepping-stones that the plot takes, and I just work my way out from each of those until everything grows together. This also has the benefit of making it much easier to put in things like foreshadowing and the like, especially if you write the earlier parts AFTER the later parts!

Bottom line, if your characters wander off, that may not be all bad. If they're not where they need to be, just put them there and see how they explain the difference (that can save you a lot of time). And if you don't know how to bridge the gaps, just keep writing stuff until you get something that works! Pencils have erasers - nothing you write is set in stone. If you don't like it, change it later!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Now that you have developed at least one character, work on a story line... Here's the person, here's the situation, here's how the situation develops, here's how the situation is resolved (pretty much a 3 act play sort of concept). Once you have a story line, develop situations that move from one plot point to the next, furthering the story along the line you have already developed. That method might keep you from straying, since you know where you want to go.

Answer 3

Read "How to write a damn good novel" because James Frey talks not only to this point but he mentions other things that can snag you while you are writing.

The best advice he gives is “Let you premise be your guide.” A premise is a one sentence summary of what your novel is about. Is it about how love defeats greed? Is it about how hope leads to despair? Whatever it is about, only put words in that help prove your premise and you will find you do not “wonder” off aimlessly as much.

Answer 4

Go to stepheniemeyer.com, she is a real inspiration. Her website has all the things she's gone through, writing Twilight- a not very known book. If you do go there, you should look into the Twilight part, and maybe even read it!!!

Answer 5

try not to plan your ending. start writing on one story. if you feel your starting to stary away from the story, bring it to your friends, or post it on the web. when you start getting good feedback from people, it drives youto finish the book. and trust me, when you do finish one, it's the best feeling. I've wrote 5 of them already :P i wish you luck and if you need any advice feel free to ask...

but I dont know everything...i just try to help and do my best :P