Planning?

[BlindedxxFalcon]

Do any of you actually plan your stories? Right now I'm in the process of writing character descriptions for each of the characters in my original novel, buts that's about all I'm going to do. I've had this story in my head since about this time last year and finally have time to write it. Well, I did last year, but I liked where my thoughts were going with it so I decided to keep thinking about it for a while. So what I'm saying is do any of you plan your original fiction or fanfiction? If so, how do you?

[Nittanylizard]

I can't write until I think through something enough that it feels like a story. I mean, I can jot down notes, but usually I just let ideas run through my head until they evolve into something that doesn't keep leading to dead ends.

I often start writing once I have an idea where the story is going, but before I have all of the storyline worked out. I make notes about where I plan to go with it, but sometimes the story takes a different direction, so I go back and re-do the loose outline as things change.

So I don't do any formal planning, but it does sometimes take time for the seed of a story to turn into something worth building on.

If you've had the story in your head for a long time, that's a big part of planning it already. Some people can take that and turn it right into a story. Me, I need to write a first draft of the entire thing first, because so many things happen that I never planned on, and I have to then go back and weed out all of the pointless junk.

Good luck with the story, and let me know if you want me to read any of it over for you once you get writing.

Liz

[anotherillusion]

With my new fic; Keep On Trying, I started with a 'what if question' and began working out what canon characters were involved and any original characters, as well as doing plans. I had a rough idea of the key event in the first chapter and just began writing to explore the canon character (Two-Bit) and ended up with more ideas, etc.
In terms of the whole story I have clear ideas of where I want the characters to be at the end, most key events, etc. but this is a less strict plan than my other fics, which all have detailed chapter plans. I may do those plans at some point soon though for this.
I think in planning I like to find an ending to work towards and let the rest flow more, however I like the safety of a plan to keep me from writer's block, etc.
Another Illusion