Writers: when you sit down to write a story, do you know the outcome from the beginning?

Question

... or do you just write and see where it takes you?

Answer 1

I have written four full length novels, none of them began with any idea in my mind as to where they would go. The scenes changed as they were required by the actions of the characters, the dialogue evolved spontaneously and I found this style to be the easiest way to write. As each story progressed it became easier to continue because personalities and actions had to be maintained in the manner in which they evolved. All who read the stories were quite entertained, to my great satisfaction.

Answer 2

I hardly ever vision how a story will turn out. Most of my short stuff starts with an idea of a thing, place, name or even the appearance of a character. I turn it loose from there and folow where it leads.

My novels are a different breed. I usually have a mental plan of what is going to happen. I never make a written outline as I've found that can be confining in that one might tend to try to stick to the outline at cost to the tale being told.

All writers I know do their own thing, so to speak, and don't worry too much about form.

The best I can tell you is just write and keep writing. If you've not found it yet, soon your 'voice' will come to you and you'll be off and running.

Good luck....Work hard.

Answer 3

When I write, I have a general idea of how the main character/s would like the story to end. However, until I've written the conclusion, it's still negotiable. I'm very drawn to the idea that life's experiences often turn on the slightest twist of fate. I like to think that my writing resembles real life, so I try to keep open the possibility for something to happen in a story that even surprises me, the author.

During the Q and A portion of a book reading, Diana Gabaldon, author of the "Outlander" series, described how she simply lets the characters in her books do and say as they wish.

Answer 4

Yes, I do. I do not outline. I am more of a visual writer. I am often told my writing is cinematic. The last book I wrote, I couldn't WAIT to get to the end and write the last two scenes because I really saw them in my mind like a ballet almost. I knew where everyone would be standing - who would move where - who would do what to who. It killed me not to skip ahead and write the ending, but I really felt it would break the spell for me. I am not an outliner, I do it all from my head, but I just have this odd ability to kind of see books I write like they are on a screen. I think a lot of that comes from my other degree - which is interior architecture. I spent a lot of time studying ergonomics, how long the average female arm could reach etc. in order to design interiors. That really works into my writing. I call it logistics. Sometimes I literally have to sit and draw a floor plan and figure out sight lines and how many steps from one place to another. I learned as an architect the words of the great architect Mies van der Rowe - God is in the details. That helps me tremendously in writing.

Often I run into roadblocks where I have to figure out how I am going to get to that last scene, but I always know what that last scene is going to be.


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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 5

There's no right or wrong way to write a story. I always know my beginning and ending before I start, but not always the middle.

However, I'm a firm believer in planning before writing something more substantial, like a novel.

Answer 6

..... and perhaps every word is God inspired. We do actually have a reasonable idea who wrote what in the Bible. From Moses onwards some 40 or so individuals, including; Kings, princes, paupers, prophets, apostles etc over a period of approx. 1500 years. It's nothing short of a miracle that these writings have all come together in one wonderfully cohesive, coherent book to tell us everything we need to know about our relationship with God through Jesus. Praise the Lord

Answer 7

I write short stories. Usually my characters tell me their story, and I write it down. But, I have heard of other writers who map everything out beforehand, and know exactly how their story will end. I think it's up to the writer. Everyone is inspired in a different way.

Answer 8

Yes and no I generally have a good idea of what is going to happen, but I keep the freedom to change anything at any time and that includes the final outcome.

Answer 9

I think most of us know the basic structure if not the form it will take. It takes extraordinary talent to write top grade material off the top of your head. Pulp fluff is what usually seems to come out of the ad-lib crowd.

Answer 10

I like to write and see where it takes me. Although, I sort of like to have an outline. Usually, the story builds upon itself.
Best of luck to you!