What is the best way to write a story?

Question

I'm trying to write a long 500 or 600 page novel. I've tried before but none of my plots really work out, and my passions for certain types of stories isn't really sparking. Maybe I'm not righting it the best way? Like, what would be better and easier to write, past tense or present tense? What would the reader read with more liking and ease?

Thanks!

"Lucky Friend"-
Yes I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, and fantasy is one of the subjects that I most enjoy writing about. The problem is, everything is all ready taken, there are dozens of series about fairies, magic, giants, spells and witchs, etc. All the wonderful, breathtaking plots have been written, everything magical in this world has been claimed. I myself am really young (I'm not going to reveal my age, exept the fact that I go to a middle school)

Answer 1

It sounds to me because you just jump into writing without doing your homework. That is not how it is done. Before you start writing, you need a good, strong outline. You also need to flesh out your characters with detailed character studies. From there, you gain backstories and subplots. People's past is one of the things that affects their present behavior. It also affects how people feel about each other ... those are your backstories and subplots. Weave them through your story - using your main plot as a spine. Try doing your outline in one color for the main plot and other colors for the subplots and backstories so you can move things around. You do all of this before you set a word on paper.

Then you need a strong first sentence and five pages that draw the reader into your story. Those are the most important pages. Very often, when an agent or publisher reads someone's work, that is about all the time they will give it. Five pages - if you are lucky.

As for tense, writing in the present tense is very difficult to maintain. Most times you will slip and revert to past. Also it limits information flow to your readers. If you are writing in the present, you cannot use any references to things that happen later on. Also if you are writing in first person, you cannot "know" anything that occurs unless your narrator is present.

The most common is to write in past tense, third person narrative with a reliable narrator. This gives you the luxury of knowing everything that goes on within the story - as if your narrator was a fly on the wall everywhere the story takes place. It also gives you the ease of writing the story AFTER it takes place so you know the ending before you tell the beginning. Just by all means avoid passive tense. Dont say "they had watched the boats on the lake yesterday" ... it is much stronger when you just say "They watched the boats on the lake yesterday". Take out all those hads ... they are totally unnecessary and weaken your story.

Lastly .. my dear - a 5 - 6 hundred page novel?? You are kidding right? Unless your name is Thomas Pynchon, that is WAY too long and an editor is going to cut you to ribbons. Too many novice writers worry about how long things are. Just tell your story. When you have everything you need to say on paper, it is DONE - whether it's 20 pages or 600 pages. The industry standard is 250 words per page. So you are looking at roughly 150 thousand words. That is a LOT of story!! More than I am sure you could possibly come up with. No wonder you cannot get anything to work out. You are pushing yourself way beyond your limits.

Lastly, hone your skills. Your spelling and sentence structure are not the best. Those are your tools. They are like a writer's hammer and nails. Without them, you cannot communicate. You need work on spelling, sentence structure, grammar and syntax.

My best advice to you is do the homework as I mentioned, then try some short stories. Write a bunch of them. Brainstorm in a notebook and come up with a lot of ideas. Then see if you can't hook some of the short stories together or if one of them could be stretched into something longer. Start slow. You are trying to run the Kentucky Derby with a pony!! Pax - C

Answer 2

First of all, what the reader wants and what is easier (past tense or present tense) is really depending on you or the reader. Me, I'm a Harry Potter person. I'd rather read Fantasy than read books about School...
Um... I've been writing a story, and for me, every time I start writing one, I get really excited and ideas just keep popping up. I don't know, I just really like writing. It doesn't matter what, I just write. Maybe writing past tense is better (said) then present tense (says). I like books with many details. Just do what your mind tells you to. What kind of stories do you like? How about if you liked fantasy stories? Then, try writing a fantasy story...You can make everything up if you have to... just look at Harry Potter! Hogwarts! As for "realistic" books, try writing your own experiences. I find it very surprising that every time I write a story, the characters end up having something related to me.
Just enjoy what you do! Just 'cuz I'm under 13 doesn't mean I don't have a chance to write a story!

Answer 3

Writing a 500-600 page novel takes *time* and patience.

It's not something that happens overnight.

10 years ago, my upper ceiling limit was 60K words (or 240 pages). I could not break that barrier no matter what I wrote. The problem wasn't IN my writing, it was my SKILLS.

I simply didn't have the experience and knowledge--yet--to break past it. So instead of fighting the root cause to my own misery, I *evolved* past it. I started thinking outside the box--drawing in other elements of my writing which could be used to lengthen my plots and storylines. And I did this *slowly*--as not upset the apple cart too much.

I broke past the 100K barrier only 8 years ago. But it wasn't until my first manuscript evaluation--that I discovered that I could go *beyond* 100K words. A floodgate opened inside my mind, and I started seeing things which weren't there before: Complex and incredibly in-depth plotlines and story ideas.

The idea isn't to *force* yourself towards a number goal in writing. The idea is to EXPAND on your own writing potential.

Forget about barriers and such that the mainstream places on you in order to write--just WRITE.

Think about what you want in *steps*. Every little detail and scene as a LAYER. Then add each of those layers to the next and keep going. Once you're satisfied that you have enough material, then start writing.

But don't *limit* yourself when you do. Go beyond the limits of your imagination. Don't be afraid to explore and smash through boundaries--like some writers are wanton not to do.

As time goes by, you will be able to juggle and handle more and more complex writing--and start weaving them all into larger and larger books.

Like I said earlier, it took me 10 years to get where I am now.

And presently I'm sitting past 300,000 words--with one of my book projects looking to make a break for 600,000.

But it's a slow burn on this book project. The trick isn't to concentrate on how many plots, subplots, and characters you have, but the STORY itself.

Just think on where you want to go with and keep writing it that way. One step at a time.

Answer 4

I feel your pain! I have been trying to write my book seirse for around 4 years.

I find it easier to read present tense. I find that if you write in past tense that you know that whenever you think the main character is going to die you know they won't because it is writen in past tense.
But also you must decide how you want to write a book. 3rd person or 1st person. Either one works well. I really enjoy writing in 1st person and I find it when reading a book in this way the reader can picture themseves in the book better.

I hope this helps you out a little bit. Good luck with your book!

Answer 5

what exactly is it about ur plots that "don't work out"? u may just need some conflict. so long as the main character is trying to accomplish something, and someone or something is trying to stop them, u have a plot. u may just be writing away, and haven't stopped to think about what ur conflict will be.

as far as tense. try to avoid flashbacks, they are the signs of an amatuer. stay in the present tense.

Answer 6

first make a simple 4 th grade story map follwow and tweak your plot, try to find something that your passionate about in real life and perhaps make a metaphore or some thing in your story. it will help you become more attached to your story