i have this really great idea in mind for my book that i am writing. however i can't seem to slow it down. like im on fast forward with this. i want to finish it but i know it won't be good if its the length of a children's book. i have no idea on how to slow down the story. can you give me some hints?
2007-04-23 12:46:27 · 11 answers · asked by kayk726 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Simple answer. It isnt a matter of adding details, its a matter of adding more substance. Adding more details is like taking a little tiny cupcake and loading it with frosting and calling it a cake. It isnt. It's still a cupcake covered in a lot of frosting. You havent added any more substance to your story. Not good. It's a trite answer and a solution used by amateurs.
The reason is because you are focusing so much on your plot and not on your characters. You just dont know enough about your characters yet. You need to put the book aside and do some serious character studies. Do them each on a file card - one for each character. Then start pushing them around on a table, figuring out how the different characters relate to each other. Who likes who? Who hates who? Etc. By doing this you will develop sub plots or back stories. These are seriously needed to keep the book interesting and also they add length.
I would do an outline of the story as you have it now. Then I would add in between the plot the events of the backstories. This way, your main plot and back stories blend together into one single story.
That's your answer! Pax - C.
2007-04-23 12:52:48 · answer #1 · answered by Persiphone_Hellecat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before there is a lot of action in the story, you need to develop the characters. If one dies or has something happen to them, then the reader will be more sympathetic because they feel they know the character better.
If you do the above and find that you absolutely hate adding all of that detail, then you might consider screenwriting (writing movie scripts instead of books). That way you leave a lot of the details to the actors and you get to do what you like best which is describing the main action.
Hope that helps.
2007-04-23 12:53:31 · answer #2 · answered by god1oak 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All good writing is the result of careful proofing. Proofing means more than finding misspellings. It means working on interstices, filling in and fleshing out, enriching language and finding new and interesting thoughts to include or illustrate.
Write at the speed your drive demands, and when you are done, bring it up on the screen and chapter by chapter read and amend what you have, give the details of place and character and work out dialog if there is any.
Write and then rewrite, and watch it grow. This is the great advantage of the word processor: Endless amendment. It's like being able to hang all the pictures and the go round straightening them until all come right.
Good luck and persistence
2007-04-23 13:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by john s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I have something like that, I write a children's book.
Now, what I do when the thoughts just rush at you, is record it to my pocket micro-cassette recorder. Then I play it back as SOON as I can, because you WILL run out of tape, and transcribe the notes onto my computer, where I review them every now and then as I write, and plus them in as I write.
I am unpublished, but Stephen King wrote a book ON WRITING which has been very influential. I HOPE to be published very soon though.
The most important things as far as I can see: do an outline.
Good luck. Write me privately if you want to chat.
2007-04-23 12:53:40 · answer #4 · answered by thedavecorp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't try to slow down. If ideas are coming to you, if you're working easily and creatively and are fully focused, you're in the kind of creative flow that you want to keep, uninterrupted. This doesn't mean, though, that when you've written the end of the story the book is finished. THEN the process of revising starts. If you need to add, change, or cut, do it.
2007-04-23 13:00:25 · answer #5 · answered by Wise Advice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could use LOTS and LOTS of details. Throw a couple of twists in there for the main character to have to face, have two plots like a main and a side plot. You could make a character come out of no where and kinda thow the main character off. I have to know the story kinda to REALLY help u tho.
2007-04-23 12:51:00 · answer #6 · answered by noella. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok first stop writing the book, second make a plot line for the story so that when you feel the urge of fast fowarding your story you stop read your plot line and continue at the same pace.
2007-04-23 12:51:28 · answer #7 · answered by slashrocks25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
add a large detail into the story that drastically adds something good into it. make it more entertaining than it already is, and try not to go too crazy to get it done.
add some adjectives.
p.s. i hate reading , but if it goes out & is interesting i will read your book. hehe ;)
2007-04-23 12:50:17 · answer #8 · answered by SaxiPHNgurl3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Focus on describing the people and surroundings in greater detail.
2007-04-23 12:49:51 · answer #9 · answered by eodbobo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Finish, then go back and put more detail.
2007-04-23 12:50:52 · answer #10 · answered by Chris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋