When you write a novel...?

Question

...do you like to write it from beginning to end (for the most part), or skip around (say, write the end first, then a scene from the middle, etc.)? Which do you think produces a stronger story?

Also, how much outlining do you do prior to starting the manuscript? I have my own opinions and experience on this, but I'm curious to see what the most commonly used methods are.

Answer 1

That depends on what works for you as a writer. Everyone has their own individual method of organizing and producing ideas, their unique creative process that produces their best work.
I personally usually start writing when I have a strong idea or image, and I create my outline in my mind. I usually have a document where I throw down ideas, pictures or scenes that come to me- don't sit down and deliberately brainstrorm, I write whenever something strikes me as worth writing about.
I find that if i force myself to write the beginning of the novel first, I usually come up with somethign I later end up changing anyway as the novel develops. I look at the novel as a mobile text that can constantly evolve during production.
I notice that if I follow my ideas they show a natural progression and link with one another as the story gains clarity in my mind.
of course once im done there's the editing process and review in which I read and reread and also have some trusted author review.

Answer 2

The first thing I do is research - and that can take several months before I even write a single word on paper.

I write all my novels from beginning to end - with one exception. When I wrote my first novel, I actually got painted into a corner somewhere in the middle, so I left it blank and went on all the way to the end then came back and filled in my hole.

Most authors outline. I always encourage people I teach to write outlines and character studies out - although I do not practice what I preach. I write no outlines. My books are in my head and when I write the first page, I already know how the last chapter will sound.

The only time I do any notes at all is when I come up for an idea ahead of myself. I am almost finished my 4th novel and I have a ghost writing assignment after that so I have made notes for my 5th and 6th novels because it will be quite a while before I get back to them.

I highly recommend a novel entitled The Novelist. It is a story about a successful novelist teaching a college class in CW. During the semester, she actually goes through all her steps and writes a novel. It's a good story and it teaches you the techniques she uses for outlining, character analysis, story curves etc. I recommend it to students.

I guess there are very few authors who actually "wing it". If you cannot keep that kind of information organized in your head, outline. Pax = C

Answer 3

I have yet to actually write a novel, but when I do write it's typically from begenning to end. I do a lot of fan fiction (most of which is novel-like as I write it in chapters) and I do write stuff I could hopefully make into either a short story for magazine publication or into a novel. In only two cases have I gotten ahead of myself and started somewhere other than the beginning, once in a fan fic and once in a planned novel. Neither of which is finished (the novel is clearly not finished considering what I said in my first sentence). In both cases I'm left saying "How the ********* am I going to get to this point?" It's a bit easier in the fan fic cause it's in the middle of the whole thing, but in the novel one it's really what I want to be the big climax.

I think it's easier, on me at least, to start from the beginning and build to the end. That way you can build on what you've already done and not worry about possibly contradicting what is to come. Or figuring out how to get to it.

Answer 4

Well it all depends on what type of writer you are.
For me , if an idea comes to mind, just a really strong image, dialog or character comes into my mind, I take a hold of it and write it down as fast as possible.
Then I think about it and elaborate on it. That's when I come up with the story, get to know my characters and so on.
When I feel that I know enough about that scene/character etc then I start to build an outline, but I don't tend to stick to it because a story is a story when it does its own thing.

I usually write the scenes that come out the strongest. Which is sometimes a burden because it leads to writer's block, like 'So I have A and D, but what about the middle?" And I tend to avoid writing that and then I stop working on a novel (Like right now) . *sigh*

Answer 5

I write from the beginning to the end--straight through.

It produces a much stronger story--than say...skipping around.

I only outline when it's an absolute necessity. Or for those complex novels (like my PRICE OF FREEDOM novel--for example). I only do about 2 dozen pages of rough outlines and then start from there.

Answer 6

I am not a writer but from what I have heard, you always start a bit with each part and then go back to change everything as the story unfolds etc.

Answer 7

Well you already know I wrote one, I prayed a lot before hand, than began to write the story from start to finish with no out line or structure. I let my mind free and it wrote that beautiful book. All the mistakes were mine all the beauty belongs to God.

Answer 8

I write short stories and then compile them.