New Writer Searching For Help!

[bobaball]

Hi everyone! I'm a new writer on Tapas looking for some help with planning my novel. If anyone has any tips or resources for finalizing a plot and planning out chapters and arcs for novels, please let me know!

Also, if any other writers would like to partner and be writing buddies, please reach out! I'd love to have someone I can talk to and cheer on while we work on our projects!

Thank you so much everyone!

[FGC_Checkmate]

What genres are you interested in?

As for general tips, outlining is your friend. I've seen a lot of people give up on projects because they have a very strong idea for a specific scene but can't come up with the rest of the story. You don't need to have every aspect of the story planned out from the very start, but you can help prevent yourself from writing into a wall if you have a general idea of what direction you want to take your story.

[Jwebtoons]

Think about what you want to happen by the end of an arc or the whole story then ask yourself "how did I get there?". You should be able to figure some things out just from that question, like how did character A and character B become friends/enemies/rivals/in a relationship or how did Character C die.

[bobaball]

Thank you so much for your advice!

Right now, I'm into either slice of life or a fantasy story!

[crimson_mystery_cake]

Hello I am fond of the outlining also I would like more writer friends.

[crimson_mystery_cake]

I’m going to get you some resources that can help but I am not at my house rn so you will have to wait.

[crimson_mystery_cake]

Ok so I am at my house so for one I suggest starting out with plot factory

Online Story Planner

this website is great and it has a lot of basic tools that make outlining a story simpler. I kind of just go into a google doc and barf out random ideas though. I have a TON of google docs lmao I am a messy plotter. It is ok to be a messy planner.

When telling a story one of the first things I like to do is find the "throughline" the thing that basically connects the entire story together. For me that's usually going to be a character flaw, like let's say you've got a character that is insecure. So basically I through the character into situations that will exacerbate that trait, and I'd just have the story focus on building and building until it naturally reaches its apex and everything comes clashing together. That's just me though.

[fleurravenbooks]

okay, grab a notebook and dump any ideas you have, no matter how "dumb" they might be.
then connect little ideas in big one
if you need any help just message me since im new as well

[coppermouflon]

There are a LOT of good books out there that can help, but I personally have 1 book that I recently read and has helped me a ton in planning my stories, figuring stuff out, breaking scenes down and making sure everything works.

The book is "The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know". Now the funny this is that the entire thing is also available online for free. You can find everything about the book and additional resources here --> https://storygrid.com/

I recommend you buy the book (if you can afford it) and you will not regret it. I have filled mine with post-it notes and I keep referring back to it as I plan my stories. It's amazingly useful, and the main use of it is after you have finished putting down at least a first draft of your story. This has changed the way I approach my stories and I recommend it to anyone who has trouble keeping track of their stories and wants something to help them keep everything in order.

[extazybomb]

Hey! I would love more writer friends! feel free to dm me

[Nopride]

My way of outlining is a little messy lol. Like @fleurravenbooks said, I just kinda grab a notebook and scribble down any ideas I have. I've found that not worrying about whether or not I can connect them helps with my creativity.

Write first, edit later, I suppose. You'll get some great ideas this way, and sure, not all of them will make it into the "final draft" (is anything in writing ever really final ). But at least you'll have them somewhere!

[bobaball]

omg thank you so much! this looks so helpful i love the idea of a throughline, that's such a lovely way to describe the concept.

[MimzyWhimzy]

Hiya! I'm also pretty new! figuring out actual plot is the hardest part for me. also looking for some writer friends, plotting party anyone? we could help each other out!

[MizzHope]

Hello! Also looking for writer friends, let's support each other and share tips