How to Organise a Story (Icarus gets out the weed-wacker)

[icarus]

So today someone asked me what my process was to write a story. They had a lot of ideas but found if they just started writing, they got bogged down in all kinds of detail, world-building, characterisation.

Me, too. Notes everywhere and -- Point? What point?

*Icarus starts up the weed-wacker.*

Here's my process and how I deal with my "look Ma, let's write about this, too!" mind:

1 - Paper or Computer?

This is actually important. I need to write things on paper first because then I allow myself to write hen-scratch notes on paper. As soon as I start typing, oh... I get all bogged down in description, details. Typing somehow to me means "finished."

2 - Organising Notes (sort of).

I tended to lose my notes, and then I'd remember something vaguely that I'd once written... augh! Where is it?

So I started keeping notebooks with the name of the Fics inside on the cover. I like bound ones because that way I don't lose my notes (I'm a slob). There's one drawback: I have a hell of a time finding my notes when they're scattered all over the book. But I have a good memory so I do all right, and I usually scratch the name of the fic a note is about underlined above it (my SNAFU notes are scattered all over hell in these books). It's not a perfect system, but it works for me.

I've heard other people (like JKR) keep files with little sheets of paper they can move around and resort. I'm too disorganised for that and am better off just writing in a bound book and having trouble finding it later.

3 - Writing A Short Story
Step One: Hen-scratch notes.

For short stories (and for chapters of novel-length stories) I first write them down in quick hen-scratch in my notebooks. Bullet points. For example, Hagrid's Hut:

* Ron face looked up at Harry w/that gentle vulnerability that made Harry's throat catch. Couldn't tell if he did this for the sex or just to see Ron like that.
* What're you looking like that for?
* Like what?
* Harry hefted The Book of Eros onto the counter, Ron sort of smiled as the- picked out things they wanted to try.
* Somehow they felt funny about using Hagrid's bed.

It's really sketchy, but I write fast to "capture" the story before it escapes. I don't let the the details, complete sentences or even spelling get in the way of getting the whole thing written out. I just want to get the flow and feel of it while it's still fresh. I'll flesh it out later, change it later. A ten page story might have 2-3 pages of notes. The notes are usually dialogue, characterisation and plot. Maybe a little description, if I have a great image that just must be written -- but mostly not.

Step Two: Typing and fleshing it out.

Then I open up Word and start to type. Since the plot, most of the dialogue and characterisation is written, at this point I just need to flesh out description, write in setting. As I type, I focus on texture, mood, poetic language, pacing.

I find this makes the writing process go pretty fast because by the time you're typing the story, it's essentially already written. Often I can crank out a 10-page story in one sitting.

4 - Writing a Novel-Length Story
Step One: Write an Outline and a Theme

For novel-length stories I write an Outline of the scenes so I can structure the story carefully. I will often 'hen-scratch' a chapter or two first, just to get a feel for the story and then write the outline.

Somewhere in there, not necessarily in the beginning I admit, I pick an over-arching Theme for the novel.

Primer, at first the theme was: why won't Dumbledore let Snape teach the Dark Arts?

It changed to: Are the Dark Arts evil? Where is the line between good and evil with the Dark Arts, and how does Harry grow up and learn to decide for himself?

The Outline is not allowed to have detail (no matter how tempting it is). Instead, I write one sentence (okay, sometimes two) that has the main insight for that chapter. I end up writing and rewriting this outline many times as the story changes and fleshes out, or I find I need to rearrange the chapters.

So for Primer to the Dark Arts it looked like this at first (you'll see I changed a lot):

- Dark Magic, w/Snape! Harry had to admit, he was curious
- 1st class in Dark Magic ---> Snape's mystery
- Disappearing notes!
- The rescue of notes - the Book of Eros (I had this chapter written)
- New relationship w/H & R - Avoiding each other! Ron ignores Harry & chases Hrm. (intensely, it irritates her. Harry is relieved, but lonely)
- Snape's lesson Dark Potions - Love Potion is dark magic? Of course. It is a form of madness.
- Ron & Harry fight over nothing / a grope in the dark
- Falls asleep on H's chest -- nearly caught! The Great Escape
- Snape's trick ---> he finds out about H/R
- Snape torments Harry over dinner
- Snape torments Harry in class (watch H. with burning eyes, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth... but starts calling him Harry. Hand on shoulder.)
- Hermione catches on: finds it amusing
- R & Hrm in R's bed
- Snape hears of R/H fight (or R/Hrm together? late?) - Sympathy, A word of advice
- Dark Lesson - Snape loses control of his lust for power nearly flattening Harry
- Snape nurses Harry himself --> hide the damage
- H/S morning after (I had this chapter already written)
(added later in red) - Snape demonstrates how Harry is holding back - Eureka, Success
- H. runs to Dumbledore
- S. is crushed when class is cancelled
- D. requests one more class
- H. performs Dark Magic, bind
(added later in red) - Gift... opens it. A glass unicorn blinks up at him. Card in the box says "Don't break it this time."

Step Two: Organise Outline of Scenes into Chapters

After I write the first outline of scenes, I group the scenes loosely into chapters with brackets. :)

Step Three: Write Chapters As If They Were Short Stories

Once I have the outline sketched out, I start writing the rest of the chapters. I treat the chapters as short stories. I try to make it so they could almost be posted as short stories. Just like for short stories, I write them in hen-scratch notes first and then type them out. I sometimes will write a whole bunch of chapters in hen-scratch notes before I flesh any of them out. Sometimes I'll draw a blank on the next chapter, so I'll just jump ahead and sort out transitions later.

I found that my original list of chapters for Primer was 12 chapters. Then, when I did the Hen-Scratch notes, I added some more Harry/Snape, it was 16. Then, when I typed out a bunch of chapters I needed to resolve a lot between Harry/Ron, Hermione. Then, I skipped ahead, and realised I needed more transitions to get from point A to point B. It steadily climbed from 12 chapter to 27.

5 - When the Outline Doesn't Help
One: Refocus The Outline

Sometimes I find that my story feels "out of control" even after I've written the outline. The pacing is off, I'm adding things that I'm not sure how to resolve or how it ties back to the point.

Then what I do is rewrite the outline.

I look back at my Theme and decide what is important to the main plot. Then I underline the Key Chapters where the plot is advanced. Anything that doesn't advance the plot is subject to deletion.

In Primer, the Key chapters were:

- Harry learns of his Dark Arts classes.
- Harry/Ron Book of Eros
- Ron not okay w/it, avoid
- Snape learns of Harry/Ron
- Love potion doesn't work
- Snape loses control of lust for Dark Magic, injures Harry
- H/S relationship from Dark Magic class.
- Harry cancels Dark Magic class, Snape is crushed
- Harry does Dark Magic - CLIMACTIC SCENE
- Final scene: resolution. H/S resolved. H/R resolved.

Two: Doublecheck Your Theme

Sometimes, my theme has changed and hit a larger issue in the process. So I have to re-write my theme.

In Primer to the Darks Arts the original theme, why won't Dumbledore let Snape teach the Dark Arts? was too thin and the story out-grew it.

I re-read my hen scratch chapter notes and wrote a new theme: Are the Dark Arts evil? Where is the line between good and evil with the Dark Arts?

Looking at my Key Chapters, I realised I had two plots - the Dark Arts, and Harry's relationships. How did that fit with my Dark Arts theme? It felt like it fit, and that was because the story was about Harry growing up and deciding his ethics concerning the Dark Arts and Relationships.

I re-thought the Theme again: Are the Dark Arts evil? Where is the line between good and evil with the Dark Arts, and how does Harry grow up and learn to decide for himself?

The Harry/Ron subplot was tied to the main plot because it drove Harry to Snape. Then the relationship between Harry/Snape forced Harry to decide what to do about his stand on Dark Magic. Ah. It worked.

In Primer, the Key chapters were (main plot is in bold, supporting subplot in regular print):

- Harry learns of his Dark Arts classes.
- Harry/Ron Book of Eros
- Ron not okay w/it
- Snape learns of Harry/Ron
- Love potion doesn't work
- Snape loses control of lust for Dark Magic, injures Harry
- H/S relationship from Dark Magic class.
- Harry cancels Dark Magic class, Snape is crushed
- Harry does Dark Magic - CLIMACTIC SCENE
- Final scene: resolution. H/S resolved. H/R resolved.

6 - Overview

So that's my process. Yours will probably be different, and each book or chapter even will be different.

It probably sounds complicated, but really boils down to two steps:

1 - Organise your thoughts before you write.

2 - Step back and look at the big picture.

Comments

[wellington.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I always wonder about how other people do it.

I hear ya about the paper thing. As soon as I start typing, oh... I get all bogged down in description, details Yeah, that's what happens to me. I find that fics that I write on the computer always end up getting stalled. And then I end up finishing on paper or even going back and rewriting the whole thing in a notebook. The problem is, I can't think in a straight line.

Eh, you don't need to know all this. Just typing to myself. :) But yeah, interesting post.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I find that fics that I write on the computer always end up getting stalled. And then I end up finishing on paper or even going back and rewriting the whole thing in a notebook.

I wrote A Deserving Man (http://www.thedarkarts.org/authorLinks/Icarus) directly on the computer. I go real-ly slow that way.

The problem is, I can't think in a straight line.

*Wry look.* I have a new problem with every story. It helps when I know what the end is supposed to be. Usually. But stories all have different issues. Primer the problem was the flood of disassociated ideas. Sex, Drugs and Death Eater Rock I had trouble getting Ron to cooperate. He wouldn't go along with my, er, goal. SNAFU -- currently derailed becaus I deliberately went off my outline, and now, er, I don't know how to get the momentum back.

Sometimes it's maddening.

Icarus

Icarus

[mentalstaples.livejournal.com]

This has nothnig to do with anything really but I like your icon.

[wellington.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you. :) Yours is not so bad either. Mmm... Jack...

[mad_maudlin]

Wow. You're more organized than I am. ::blinks::

See, one thing I absolutely can't do is outline. I'm crap at it (look at my speech classes) and moreover, I loathe it. For me, writing something down even in outline form short-circuits the writing process, because once I've got it written down for real in any form, I lose interest.

Not that I don't plan ahead; it's just that all the planning is done in my head. Writing anything for me is all about intuition and flying by the seat of my pants, and the longer the fic gets, the more I end up getting from plotpoint to plotpoint by intuition alone. Which may explain why it took eighteen months for me to write twelve chapters (of Don't Judge a Book By its Cover).

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Um. Well. This is more of an organised rendition of what really happened. I was trying to make sense of something that was muuuuuuch more chaotic.

You'll probably enjoy the reality:

1 - Started writing a Harry/Ron short story (The Book of Eros)

2 - Wrote a Harry/Snape short story (Afterglow)

3 - Thought, hmm. I think I need to explain why those notes were so important for Harry/Ron.

3 - Then went, hmm? This Harry/Ron, Harry/Snape... what an impossible combination! Is it possible to bridge and make this all one story?

4 - Gosh would it be about? Er. I know! I sure would like to know why Snape isn't teaching the dark arts.

5 - Write rather disorganized outline to try to string together existing short stories. Had never used outlines before.

6 - Stares at outline. Starts to write story notes in the margins. Illegible, so I have to rewrite outline. New rule: keep outline descriptions short and to the point.

7 - Started writing out chapters in hen-scratch notes. Thought I'd finish everything first, then start typing. But I got stuck.

8 - So I leaped ahead and typed out what was working.

9 - Er. This left me some plot-holes. Big ones. So I rewrote outline. Wrote out hen-scratch notes for new chapters to 'splain stuff.

10 - Gave first three chapters to Beta. At this point I had the first three chapters, the 5th and 6th chapter, the 12th chapter and something waaaaaaay in the end done. Speaking of plot-holes.

11 - The Beta was strange, mentioned plagiarism in a positive light. Yiiiiiii! I posted the first three chapters pre-beta. Fast.

12 - Feedback. ???! They wanted the next chapter. So I wrote it. FF.net people pointed out some plot holes. Teased me: "7 chapters and still no sign of a plot." Whoops!

13 - So I made some adjustments to my outline (rewrote it Again - but the new version was crap, so I went back to the old one).

14 - Found myself riddled with Major Transition Problems, because of the piecemeal way I'd written the story. Like two halves of a bridge that didn't line up.

15 - Re-evaluated Theme. Made it about Dark Magic: Good or Evil? and Harry growing up. That solved some of the problems.

16 - Excitement for next chapter built since I was posting a chapter a day, more or less. I finally gave up on my Transition Problems just to keep the story going. This is Arte, I'm having fun, writing what I want to read. So there is one Major transition issue that I never resolved. (No, I'm not going to tell you where it is.)

17 - Someone whined that the Title said "Primer to the Dark Arts" but they hadn't heard anything about Dark Magic. They had lots of questions.

18 - I expanded the search for a solution to Snape's, er, problem to include a detailed dissection of Dark Magic, just for them.

19 - Someone whined that there wasn't enough sex.

20 - I wrote Hagrid's Hut, but it didn't really fit. I sketched out an NC-17 version of the scene where Harry/Snape got together (later CLS edited it down to an R-rated version).

21 - I wibbled over the final action scene, the climax. Can I pull it off? *Author Panic*

22 - Then... oh, it was so hard to end the story. Even though I had it all written in my hen-scratch notes. The agony! So I hinted strongly about Snape Manor, just to stave off a major depression.

And then other stories had a different process. Primer I had to slow it down a little, get some structure because it was complicated and I was getting lost. Needed a bloody map.

For Sex, Drugs and Death Eater Rock I needed to get Ron 'in the mood' so I used music. Played Red Hot Chili Peppers "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" over and over and over again. SNAFU has completely different problems. It was a research issue, so I've been watching a lot of really violent movies.

There've been other times where it felt forced what I wanted my characters to do (I'm thinking my early Frodo/Sam stories). So I had to set them down for an imaginary interview to find out what they felt about sex, etc. It was rather fun playing a Middle Earth Barbara Walters asking these conservative blushing hobbits some very uncomfortable questions.

Icarus

[mad_maudlin]

Ah. Still more structured than I am.

For me, plots come as these big fuzzy nebulous things with maybe two or three "anchors" in the form of specific scenes. Everything in between, I discover as I write, including (sometimes) the ending.

[florahart]

Icon in reference to me, not you.

...And then there are those of us who wish we could do it this way. It seems like it would be a nice sane way to go about things. Personally, I suck at it. I did finish a Nano, without ever writing an outline, and with an arc and a plot and story and all. It (the arc or written outline or anything particularly close) can't happen on paper, though, or it goes all crazy. This was true even when I was writing on a typewriter (first three-plus years of college; my degree is in lit, so I wrote more than a couple of papers on a typewriter).

Now, I *can* write the story longhand, but then I'll change it while I type it up anyway, always. I suppose you could call that a rough draft, but it's more like a different edition, as this isn't an editing process, exactly. It's probably just as good the first way. I just can't write it the same way twice, so the second version has to be different. Often, it diverges wildly from like word six and really isn't even the same story at all. I *can* scrawl random notes, but they can't have much to do with keeping the story/paper in order. They have to just be Things That Go Here Somewhere. Exception: if there are things relevant to an actual calendar in the story, that can be in the notes, apparently. Otherwise, not so much. Sigh.

Every paper I ever tried to do an outline or rough draft for, I wound up scrapping entirely and starting over (usually with a different topic completely) the night before it was due. Which does not lead to sanity, let me tell you.

Yes, even the 20-page paper on Wuthering Heights, Eng 479? 489? Some Topics in British Lit thing, term paper, 60% of grade. Yes, sleeping wasn't to be. Fortunately, I was 20 and I could do that, then. Now, I'd be oh so screwed.

[emeraldjay.livejournal.com]

I could never organize my thoughts like that. probably why my plot meanders so much.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Er. Well.

This is sort of an organised after-the-fact version of what really happened. The reality was:

1 - Started writing a Harry/Ron short story (The Book of Eros)

2 - Wrote a Harry/Snape short story (Afterglow)

3 - Thought, hmm. I think I need to explain why those notes were so important for Harry/Ron.

3 - Then went, hmm? This Harry/Ron, Harry/Snape... what an impossible combination! Is it possible to bridge and make this all one story?

4 - Gosh would it be about? Er. I know! I sure would like to know why Snape isn't teaching the dark arts.

5 - Write rather disorganized outline to try to string together existing short stories. Had never used outlines before.

6 - Stares at outline. Starts to write story notes in the margins. Illegible, so I have to rewrite outline. New rule: keep outline descriptions short and to the point.

7 - Started writing out chapters in hen-scratch notes. Thought I'd finish everything first, then start typing. But I got stuck.

8 - So I leaped ahead and typed out what was working.

9 - Er. This left me some plot-holes. Big ones. So I rewrote outline. Wrote out hen-scratch notes for new chapters to 'splain stuff.

10 - Gave first three chapters to Beta. At this point I had the first three chapters, the 5th and 6th chapter, the 12th chapter and something waaaaaaay in the end done. Speaking of plot-holes.

11 - The Beta was strange, mentioned plagiarism in a positive light. Yiiiiiii! I posted the first three chapters pre-beta. Fast.

12 - Feedback. ???! They wanted the next chapter. So I wrote it. FF.net people pointed out some plot holes. Teased me: "7 chapters and still no sign of a plot." Whoops!

13 - So I made some adjustments to my outline (rewrote it Again - but the new version was crap, so I went back to the old one).

14 - Found myself riddled with Major Transition Problems, because of the piecemeal way I'd written the story. Like two halves of a bridge that didn't line up.

15 - Re-evaluated Theme. Made it about Dark Magic: Good or Evil? and Harry growing up. That solved some of the problems.

16 - Excitement for next chapter built since I was posting a chapter a day, more or less. I finally gave up on my Transition Problems just to keep the story going. This is Arte, I'm having fun, writing what I want to read. So there is one Major transition issue that I never resolved. (No, I'm not going to tell you where it is.)

17 - Someone whined that the Title said "Primer to the Dark Arts" but they hadn't heard anything about Dark Magic. They had lots of questions.

18 - I expanded the search for a solution to Snape's, er, problem to include a detailed dissection of Dark Magic, just for them.

19 - Someone whined that there wasn't enough sex.

20 - I wrote Hagrid's Hut, but it didn't really fit. I sketched out an NC-17 version of the scene where Harry/Snape got together (later CLS edited it down to an R-rated version).

21 - I wibbled over the final action scene, the climax. Can I pull it off? *Author Panic*

22 - Then... oh, it was so hard to end the story. Even though I had it all written in my hen-scratch notes. The agony! So I hinted strongly about Snape Manor, just to stave off a major depression.

So, uh, yeah. Organised.

Icarus

[jadarene.livejournal.com]

Theme! What a good idea. No wonder my stories never have morals! Thank you so much. Your workshops are positively priceless.

Do you write original works? I am extremely curious about your work.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

Actually, I just started writing what I was interested in reading. For example, 'hmm, wouldn't it be interesting to know why Snape doesn't teach the Dark Arts?'

Then because Dumbledore is Dumbledore, that turned into how the Dark Arts can bring out the worst in someone but he's not necessarily against it. More of a morality issue.

So the morals comes out of the characters, and asking questions, you know, rather than starting with one in mind.

Do you write original works? I am extremely curious about your work.

I'm starting to. I have something due in a couple weeks that I'm panicking over. It's one reason I need to write Snape Manor: because Torvald plays a major role, and I want experience writing and developing original characters.

Icarus

[jadarene.livejournal.com]

Well, we could use some new stuff in the submissions pile at SNM. If you felt like writing something new and dark or if you have something sitting around, our submission account is: fictionsub@hotmail.com and our webiste is: http://scarednakedmagazine.com/main.htm and it pays money. Not much money, but if you're trying to build a name for yourself, it is a good place to go. It is a print magazine and while we don't ever publish fanfiction, you can tell who has a gift when you read anything they've written. You're definitely gifted.

Sincerely,
Jada

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm very interested and I have some ideas. I just scanned the website, and this sounds really cool.

Where can I find a copy of Scared Naked? Would it be carried in my local S/M store or Gay bookstore? I'd like to get a feel for it before I write a fluffy-bunny story full of love and light ;) or write a gay bondage scene only to discover you prefer Femme Dommes. :D

Are you an editor for Scared Naked?

Icarus

[jadarene.livejournal.com]

*laughing* Hi, yes, I'm the Assistant Editor for SNM. It is primarily erotic horror or dark erotica. We frequently publish pieces featuring homosexual couples. We need more of those. We tend to get a lot of het submissions, which we also publish, though reader feedback indicates they want to see more non-het stuff in the mag. Project Pulp carries SNM as do a couple other places, mainly east coast. You could, of course, order it directly from our website. We've just celebrated our one year anniversary so we're still working to get carried by other independent bookstores. Good grief it was nice of you to go out of your way to look for us! And hell, you're doing my job for me, so thanks for all the hard work! I would love to talk to you more about this and about the possibility of me digging up some samples for you, if you want to email me: jadarene@yahoo.com . I'm excited that you're interested and look forward to future discussions!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Well I've been hunting down a copy of Scared Naked, and I'll probably have to special order it. In the meantime I'm brainstorming ideas.

In my magazine hunt I discovered that Beyond The Closet Bookstore in Seattle at (206) 322-4609 would be interested in carrying Scared Naked if it has a gay and/or lesbian theme, quote, "If they have a gay and lesbian theme, have them give us a call." The Crypt might be interested as well. The manager's been asked to give me a call tomorrow.

Icarus

[jadarene.livejournal.com]

And to think I started farther from home! Thank you. Really. So nice of you to work so hard!

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

I heart you for that excellent summary to not waffling.

Even though I go about everything completely different - the basic idea is the same. Organise, organise, organise. Ensure that you know where you are going to end up - which I still think is the most important part - if you have an ending you can always stop and say 'Do I really need this to get there or am I waffling'.

*hugs and bugs - I'm still thinking about the conv. we had a few days ago - boggling my little mind*

[maelwaedd.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's really fantastic. When I write, I do it because I've had an idea. Which is probably why I write so little, or I'll write nothing for ages and then write heaps in a really short time. For example, I wrote I think 18 000 words of Muggle Clothing in two weeks, and it's now been something like three months since I've written a single sentence.

I get an idea, and sit down and type. Sometimes, if I get flashes of 'oh, this should definitely happen!' I'll write that bit at the bottom of the word document, and just type until I hit that bit. The ficlet I wrote this morning started like that. I had the first line and the last line in my head, and an image of blood flowing. And that it should be Bellatrix/Ginny and involve an orgasm. Okay, that's pretty complex as far as my 'ideas' get, but oh well. Generally I just write beginning to ending, though, and hope it turns out okay. :)

[novembersnow.livejournal.com]

This is fascinating--I love reading about other people's writing process.

I need to write things on paper first because then I allow myself to write hen-scratch notes on paper. As soon as I start typing, oh... I get all bogged down in description, details. Typing somehow to me means "finished."

I'm exactly the same way, except that I also actually draft the story/chapter on paper before I go back and type it. I've told people this is my built-in edit stage, because I reevaluate every word I've written as I type, and often lines (or even entire scenes) will get redrafted. So I completely understand the importance of the paper stage--I suspect my initial notes for pretty much everything I write would be all but illegible to anyone but me.

I should, however, take a page from your book regarding organization. I have a terrible habit of not outlining, or else I'll start with an outline, then diverge from it and not re-map the plot. I usually work with a beginning and an end in mind (sometimes the conclusion is the first thing I write), but the steps I need to get there are not carefully defined, although I often have a general idea of what route I need to take. Organization like yours would probably do me a world of good. *sigh*

[fourth-moon.livejournal.com]

That is helpful, thanks! I've read some parts of it before, but seeing how it fits together, and the trouble-shouting, makes it very useful for me.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have to get back to everyone, because this is sort of an organised version of what really happened. I mean, because in actuality with Primer at least I --

1 - Started writing a Harry/Ron short story (The Book of Eros)

2 - Wrote a Harry/Snape short story (Afterglow)

3 - Thought, hmm. I think I need to explain why those notes were so important for Harry/Ron.

3 - Then went, hmm? This Harry/Ron, Harry/Snape... what an impossible combination! Is it possible to bridge and make this all one story?

4 - Gosh would it be about? Er. I know! I sure would like to know why Snape isn't teaching the dark arts.

5 - Write rather disorganized outline to try to string together existing short stories. Had never used outlines before.

6 - Stares at outline. Starts to write story notes in the margins. Illegible, so I have to rewrite outline. New rule: keep outline descriptions short and to the point.

7 - Started writing out chapters in hen-scratch notes. Thought I'd finish everything first, then start typing. But I got stuck.

8 - So I leaped ahead and typed out what was working.

9 - Er. This left me some plot-holes. Big ones. So I rewrote outline. Wrote out hen-scratch notes for new chapters to 'splain stuff.

10 - Gave first three chapters to Beta. At this point I had the first three chapters, the 5th and 6th chapter, the 12th chapter and something waaaaaaay in the end done. Speaking of plot-holes.

11 - The Beta was strange, mentioned plagiarism in a positive light. Yiiiiiii! I posted the first three chapters pre-beta. Fast.

12 - Feedback. ???! They wanted the next chapter. So I wrote it. FF.net people pointed out some plot holes. Teased me: "7 chapters and still no sign of a plot." Whoops!

13 - So I made some adjustments to my outline (rewrote it Again - but the new version was crap, so I went back to the old one).

14 - Found myself riddled with Major Transition Problems, because of the piecemeal way I'd written the story. Like two halves of a bridge that didn't line up.

15 - Re-evaluated Theme. Made it about Dark Magic: Good or Evil? and Harry growing up. That solved some of the problems.

16 - Excitement for next chapter built since I was posting a chapter a day, more or less. I finally gave up on my Transition Problems just to keep the story going. This is Arte, I'm having fun, writing what I want to read. So there is one Major transition issue that I never resolved. (No, I'm not going to tell you where it is.)

17 - Someone whined that the Title said "Primer to the Dark Arts" but they hadn't heard anything about Dark Magic. They had lots of questions.

18 - I expanded the search for a solution to Snape's, er, problem to include a detailed dissection of Dark Magic, just for them.

19 - Someone whined that there wasn't enough sex.

20 - I wrote Hagrid's Hut, but it didn't really fit. I sketched out an NC-17 version of the scene where Harry/Snape got together (later CLS edited it down to an R-rated version).

21 - I wibbled over the final action scene, the climax. Can I pull it off? *Author Panic*

22 - Then... oh, it was so hard to end the story. Even though I had it all written in my hen-scratch notes. The agony! So I hinted strongly about Snape Manor, just to stave off a major depression.

So, uh, yeah. Organised.

Icarus

[moshi.livejournal.com]

This is such a great thing, I love hearing about how people plan their stories. I'd say I had a similar system to you, I tend to go with the scribbling notes down (sometimes while at work, even) quickly, before I forget any of the key points I want to make. I use character notes/essays too, for longer plottier stories. Very cool, very interesting post :-)

[harveywallbang.livejournal.com]

wow...
i'm the type that sits down and starts writing... i only make a note of a plot device or idea or anything, when i don't have time to sit down and actually write the story.
i have a none HP related book that i started writing a few years ago, and at the top of a page, i'd write a few words or two, or maybe a sentence, to remind me of what happened next. and in the back of the book, i had the characterisations... but i think that's the most organized i've ever been... outlines would probably be good for me, but i can't make myself sit down and write one...
this was fascinating to read :)

[(Anonymous)]

Ugh, I haven't even read past the first pargraph yet, and I already sympathise with you.
Computer means finished work to me too. My rough drafts look like someone's pen died violently, spewing ink and corrections all over the place.

I love your writing columns. Plain and simple, the love, she is great and encompassing.
Now I'm going to go read the rest and learn something new. Yay.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I really enjoy writing them. You know, I've stumbled across some very good writerly advice essays by Slash Writers. We ought to really collect these....

Icarus