Does anyone improvise stories

[MochoStudios]

Anyone here enjoy making up a story improvise most of it

[KRWright]

What you're referring to is generally referred to by novelists as 'pantsing' or 'being a pantser'. It comes from the idea that there are two types of novelists - 'plotters' and 'pantsers'.

There's a fair few pantsers on this forum, though I can't say that I'm one of them. But there is something fun about exploratory writing and sometimes just seeing where a story can take you. I write short stories this way - but novels are too long and I need to plan my time more for those.

[33rdCenturyCaveman]

Too much planning spoil the fant'sing. Must be spontaneous.

[claiborneart]

Oh yeah, I've done a couple of comics that were almost entire improvised strip-to-strip, with maybe the first three strips thought of ahead of time, max.

Pantsing a comic is a lot of fun, but I find jumping in fully unprepared goes best when it's a more comedic or episodic story. Improving can help you flesh out a world quickly and inutively, but the plot/pacing tends to crumple under its own weight without some kind of long-term game plan. So when I'm making any form of longform story, I'll need at least a basic outline done before I working on it.

[ben]

I have a long-form sorta supernatural/mystery comic that was supposed to be a little experimental comic exploring improvisation that’s ended up accidentally spanning into a three book deal.

I’ve been enjoying the process though!

[Kiweevil]

I don't improvise stories but I improvise all of my text lmao. I usually have vague emotions in mind and just type something in right before I export and post the comic

[catfaceshirt]

I try and ride a fine line between plotting and pantsing. I like to have an outline of the major events and plot points, like character arrivals, character deaths, twists ext. I've learned not to go into fine detail, because when I start to actually put your pen to the paper, I notice a list of unforeseen issues because of the structure. So by not having a set in stone outline, I can move pieces around to make the story work better, and alleviate issues. But, I still have plot points that will happen, so I can foreshadow them even if I don't know exactly when I'll use them.

[sc101]

Yes but i do have an outline though

[IdiotWithPencil]

tried it twice and I did not have a fun time =/

[jensrichard77]

Even that Blue Life seems planed. It is improvised all the way.

But this is only to test how things work.

Blue Life | Tapas

My BL here is planned and written. But as it goes the impro takes over.

The Last BL Comic | Tapas

But all this is just for fun and how to learn to make good comic stories. I am written something else that requires a lot of planning... But can’t say more about that project now

[darkone4587]

I plan everything for the most part but some of the connecting events might get changed or thrown out depending on how i feel. So sometimes I improvise things.

[Vivibutter]

I feel like if you want a coherent story, you need to plan out the most important plot points and how the story and theme connect with it. But you can also go all surrealist and just draw what you feel like. Sometimes something good comes out of it. In my case I like daydreaming about my comic. So the plot slowly comes together day by day.

[darthmongoose]

I used to, but I'd always end up writing myself into corners or running out of steam because my stories weren't leading to anything and there was never good setup and payoff, so nowadays I put a lot of work into my plotting and character arcs. I still improvise details, pages, conversations and especially jokes along the way, but it's always leading somewhere.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I don't improvise comics (when you're a full-time student and you need 5+ hours to finish each comic page, the desire to gamble with your story starts to wane pretty quickly) but I improvise novels all the time.

I don't think I've ever written a novel from a pre-planned outline...the one time I tried, I was making up the outline as I went, too.

[dawgofdawgness]

Ech... I try to plan as much as I can before starting a story. It’s honestly really distracting when It’s obvious that the author’s just coming up with ideas and plot points on the spot cause it comes off as hasty and unprofessional.
Some writers are really good at improvising their story as they go, usually as they slowly realize what they WANT it to be (which is why there are so many TV shows that start off sort of awkwardly and then get really good later on). So as long as you’re good at covering your tracks then it shouldn’t be a problem. Worst case scenario your story becomes a tonal mess

[Panqiuyan]

I do. I go with how I feel in the moment

[Elixiink]

Yes and no I guess XD I mean I already have an outline ready but I tend to add extra things to it sometimes (and then spend the next 3 days patching up plot holes).

[Geek_Aflame]

I always want to know where I'm going with a story and might do a basic outline but I'm not against going with the flow. I've come up with some of my best writing going with the flow of the story. I find really detailed outlines drain my urge to write the story, as though the drive to be creative has been satisfied. Some of my best characters are side or minor characters that just showed up and wouldn't leave. I've subconsciously came up with ideas I would've never thought of when planning a story. Sometimes just letting the personalities I've created bounce off each other produces incredible natural sounding conversations. I used a story prompt today to get some writing done for April NaNoWriMo and the story went places I would've never expected when I first picked the prompt.

That said I'm always thinking through possible plot lines for whatever story I'm currently working on. I'll sit with music when I can't write and just consider 'what ifs'.

[martinadenatale]

In my opinion improvisation can work in the beginning but not in the long term. Maybe you were suddenly inspired to create something and start throwing it down without thinking too much but later you will be probably stuck and you will have to think to build everything at the table. Improvising is beautiful because everything has more energy, more spontaneity and often improvisation is the result of a great and sudden inspiration but to grow properly very soon you will have to define its development and above all know where you want to go.

[Bishmuth]

I have a basic outline in my head, and sometimes I'll thumbnail out maybe 8 pages ahead, if I have the inspiration.
Honestly though, I definitely think the pacing of my comic, my dialogue and my general direction suffers for it though. The only reason why I've done it this way is because I was wanting to create this comic for years and kept procrastinating in the writing side of things. I decided that I should just jump into this comic and if it's bad, it's bad. At least I'll be a lot better for my next comic!