Hello!

I'm pretty new here, so I am not sure if this topic has been brought up before or if this is suitable. However, I was curious about how authors began their stories! Do you begin with an outline? How do you map out your story? Do you spend time researching names and creating a little "synopsis" for your main characters?

I usually start with an outline that has the synopsis of the book, a list of the main characters that usually includes their names, ages, gender, personality traits, and small history. As for the story itself, I usually just let my characters go through it themselves (if that makes sense). For example, when introduced with an issue how would my character react with the type of personality she/he has!

I'm interested in how everyone starts their book as well as their process from start to finish! I don't want to make this too long though... so just include whatever you want!

Thanks,

Namora Vikal

    I'm glad to read about how everyone starts their novels! I normally start my books by creating an "outline", by this I mean I set up the Synopsis, a list of main characters (including their age, race, personality, and small background), and then I research the heck out of naming. All of my names have some sort of tie-in to the book or characters themselves.

    The book I am currently writing is kinda different from what I used to write so I did a lot more research for my outline than normal haha.

      ASleepyBookRabbit That's pretty wise, outlines do help but I just can't do them because I'm as curious as the readers of what's gonna happen next to my own story😂 It just all pop out my mind and I'll just say “Hey, that's a story!” I'll then think of the genre, if there's supernatural being or else. Mostly, I just say whatever and when one sounds like a good book title, I start writing it, I'm more based on the title since it gives me relativity to the plot and whatever comes next, I'll just let my brain decide on that. What's a pain in being a writer, when you're writing a story then you come up with another one you'll want to write the other one and that could make you busier. Anyways, good luck on your book🤗

          ASleepyBookRabbit

          I did a lot of researching, reading, observing and reading again. I also allotted some time for self-reflection on the part of if I actually want to write those stories for real or head out to find a real job LOL. Try creating your own guidelines/guide sheets while drafting your stories.

          Friendly tip: the first step is always the hardest so do not give up.

          Thank you.

              keulijeu I get that! It seems like there's always a new plot running in my head and new characters hammering on my brain to be let out! I call it an outline, but really it's just a bunch of thoughts put into one or two pages so I can remember at least some points that I would like to work into the story lol.

              Thank you so much! <3 I'm gonna try my best to actually keep up with writing this one and not get sidetracked.

                chery_cabral Thank you so much for the tip! Currently, I am trying to figure out how I want to start the story for Chapter One.. once I get a few chapters done I may post them here, but I am still unsure how that part works so more research~!

                    Well, what do you think your readers are looking for when they're looking at your very first chapter? They certainly aren't looking for a wall of exposition, and they certainly aren't looking for cliches or hackneyed catchphrases.

                    So, now that those are eliminated, what else can we do?

                    It all comes down to how you've outlined/thought of your story. What themes does it have? What characters or conflicts are there? What fact about the world, or interesting feature of someone or something can you bring up to intrigue your readers in the very first line?

                    If you want to draw your readers in with a character, try explaining how they're so different from other people. What do they think? Why do they think that way? Are they the happy-go-lucky type, or are they a social reject with a desire to spill their vitriol upon the world?

                    If it's a place, do the same, only the scope of your sentences should be relatively broad, considering places are far bigger than people!

                    Perhaps you simply want to convey an idea that's integral to your story. Well, it's the more philosophical route, but if written well, can get your readers to think.

                    This brings us to the point of this post.

                    Get your readers to THINK!

                    Get them thinking about the purpose behind your words, your sentences, the entire reason for the novel. Lead them on. In a way, an author should be the ultimate sadist, taking pleasure in their readers' every agonized moment, manipulating their emotions to build a world within that anticipation. Not sure if that's a quote, and I may be unintentionally using some philosopher's words, but you get my point.

                      ShoeInk I love that. Become a Sadist

                      I appreciate the advice and I'll do my best! It's probably going to be a good bit of trial and error, but I am excited to get back into the groove of writing and letting my imagination bleed into the paper.

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