What kind of visuals do you suggest for writing a novel?

Question

I read somewhere that it was good to go out and buy a bulletin board and to tack information and pictures on to it so that when you are writing, you are totally in the zone. So I have a small bulletin board cause I don't have room for anything bigger and a white board for this. Should I cut the outfits I put them in in the chapter and find representations of their homes and stuff even if I don't describe them? Or should I just stick to things that I will describe? What would you do?

Answer 1

Sure, that is what I do. Actually this is what I do. I took several catalogs like chadwicks and victoria secret whatever and cut out outfits that each character might wear, like creating their wardrobe. It is harder to do for the men though cause I dunno, the hero's wardrobe is usually just slacks and suits and that sort of thing. But anyway, I don't have an office or a desk or anything, I usually write on the bed or on the couch or maybe sitting at the kitchen table. And even if I don't describe the outfit, I still want to know what they are wearing. So I'll go through the wardrobe and take out what I need for the scene. The outfit, the hairstyle, the setting...and I'll lay it out so I can glance at it when I need to. I'll even get up and move around and pretend I am that female character and I'm moving around in that outfit. And of course you always keep a visual of the character's face near you so you can match the head to the body lol.

So you don't have to tack everything to the bulletin board...just the stuff that is the most unchanging. The faces, names, places, ages, etc. Stuff that in case you blank on, you can just look up and be reminded instead of having to look back in the chapter.

Answer 2

It can be a good idea. What about looking through magazines and catalogs for people who remind you of the characters? I am an architect so sometimes I draw floor plans to help me with what I call "logistics" in a scene -- how does this person get across the room? Can this person over hear someone over there? Things like that. Pax - C

Answer 3

in the experience that your attempting to return up with tale concepts I recommend you think of with regard to here: What puppy peeve pushes your buttons? What subjects pastime you? Why not look on the internet "bizarre information" websites plus the Yahoo questions and solutions in distinctive categories for the demographic you are trying to attain? you're absolute to return up with various concepts, character features then mixture them jointly and, walla, there is your elementary tale. sturdy success ? Gary Anderson author GAMEPLAYER: The Genesis Portal

Answer 4

Sounds like you have a plan.Be sure to not just describe a person place or thing,but to give it life for the reader,usuing similies(your own!)For instance,instead of saying,"He was wearing a brown jacket.",you might say<"He was wearing a brown jacket,studded with the age of years of wear'"See?

Answer 5

Sounds like you're talking about 'storyboarding' and this can be done in any way, in any medium, whichever way feels comfortable to you.

Not all writers do this, but some just simply 'visualise' in their mind's eye.