Writning fiction Horror/fantasy etc?

Question

Any tips on how to create the main following story points (not meaning your own personal ideas!) Don't want ideas just how to create them:
-plot
-characters
-themes
-worlds
etc....
You get the jist.
Plus how would I interlink the above to create themes/motifs etc?
'or'
If I have a theme/motifs idea in place, it's very hard controlling ideas sometimes to try and make your writing fit and become superior.

Answer 1

I suggest you daydream a story first. Figure out who the main character is and what's going to happen to him and who is gonna help or hinder him. If the daydream holds your interest, start writing with a plot summary.

Themes naturally appear. Don't worry about them. If you have a good main character and a solid plot and obstacles/conflict, you'll get by. As for worlds, you can waste years creating a believable world or you can just start writing and make up details as you go along.

I thought I knew my world (Syra) pretty well when I started writing, but discovered I had to think pretty hard about details that never occurred to me when I started writing. For instance I knew the custom of Manhunting arose because Sunborn women have a very short fertility (two to ten years instead of forty). They needed to find a man right away. What I didn't consider until I actually wrote THE MANHUNTER was the downside. Women who did the Manhunt and raised their child with no man in their lives often left their child wanting more love and more stability. The poor child grew up, though, thinking the Manhunt was the answer and doing one so they'd have a child to love. Vicious cycle.

Answer 2

First, write out your plot line, not too hefty, just the basics. Create a character sketch for the characters, all of them, more detailed for the major characters, perhaps two or three sentences for those you see only once. Like the other person said, all the basics of book writing are the same, no matter the genre. I would suggest reading the book, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. Other good places to look are for Writers Digest books, and you can go to your local library and look in the book writing section.

Answer 3

I think one of the most important things is to create good characters. If you write some character sketches before attempting to put them in motion, you might find that getting to know them pays off. When you know a character well, the character's actions determine the plot and themes, etc. If you try to force themes and meaning, you might lose out on the other elements of fiction.

Answer 4

Regardless of the genre, the basics of writing are all the same. Everything you listed are things that you, and only you, as the writer must decide. There is no magic formula. What you are looking for cannot be found in YA.

It can only be found by READING...a lot...and everything. By reading, you can begin to see how other authors do these things. And it will help you formulate your own thoughts. I would also suggest you may wish to sign up for a creative writing course at your local community college or join a writers' group.

Answer 5

Orson Scott Card put out a very good book called HOW TO WRITE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY. It was published through a series done by Writer's Digest. It's a small codex that will tell you all that you are looking to learn about where to go next in your story.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I would go to your local library and ask the person at the desk for help in finding information on what you want to do. They have many books out there on how to write and so forth. One such book that might be helpful is The Writers Handbook. Good luck.