Jun 2024
1 / 12
Jun 2024
Jun 2024
Innocynce
Jun '24

As the title says: how do you write your novel? What's your process and how long does a chapter take to normally?

For those who have time to kill:
I'm asking because my previous method of writing has gotten me nowhere in the past few years due to lack of time to think. My process used to be simply having time to (probably over)think how I wanted a chapter to go, then start writing when I've replayed the plot-points like thousands of times in my mind. But in this situation, where I'm editing and having to connect things/write new parts: it gets super tedious and I end up barely doing even one (already finished) chapter.

So yeah, my entry for this post is, if you have time; sink it into replaying a chapter in your head as you if you're watching your newest favorite movie. And keep watching until you memorized it

  • created

    Jun '24

  • last reply

    Jun '24
  • 11

    replies

  • 425

    views

  • 1

    user

  • 22

    likes

BoomerZ
Jun '24

Over all story, plot points, beats to those plot points, outline, First draft (just get it on paper), rewrite, let it sit for a day, come back and tighten up the dialogue, read through it multiple times, delete anything not needed for the plot, and done. As a comic artist, this leads to layouts, roughs, etc.

JoshRaed
Jun '24

I write out an outline that vaguely describes the events. It ranges from far too detailed to pretty vague, and then I copy paste the outline into my project and write a scene that meets the description of the first sentence. Then I do that for every sentence, until I get to the end of the outline.

aquashark
Jun '24

i give myself a very tight schedule so when i sit down and write its on the spot but that doesnt mean i dont plan, i literaly plan while doing ANYTHING. In the shower, while im eating, even in the middle of classes haha. I compile a ton of thoughts then sit down and put them all into words, obviously going over it at the end to change bits up and making it better. (i have also planned for future events before i even wrote episode one though.

kyupol
Jun '24

I stop thinking and it just gets channeled to my head. :slight_smile:

Kuma
Jun '24

  1. I did a big plot summary.

  2. I split the plot into segments.

  3. I split the segments into scenes.

  4. I write the scenes.

  5. ....

  6. Profit?

hamzeh-a
Jun '24

I start with a 'rhyming intro sentence,' like a phonetically catchy factoid, from there I text illustrate using short sentences that contain keywords. Paragraphs follow in conjunction with chapter titles and stream content. I try to weed "the graphics" whenever I can with iterative subtitles.

if all that makes any sense-

vapidink
Jun '24

Start with the big picture, so main plot points, the start, and the ending. Then I work out how to get to that ending. Last thing I do is work out the smaller details like, if you have a magic system, how does it work and how am I going to introduce that. So yeah, basically like others have said in this thread, just keep breaking things down until I know what I'm doing. Then just write it down without worrying about how bad it is. First drafts are meant to be imperfect, it's just to get the story down, so you have to push yourself to finish it. Once that's done it's easier and faster to go in and fix things in the next draft.

miyaskya
Jun '24

My approach is a little more visual and nonlinear. Some of the stories I'm writing now have been incubating for years. First I come up with an image of the main characters, some key scenes, and the overall atmosphere of the setting. Then I replay those scenes in my head until I decide that I should create a story around them.

During the outlining process, I list out the major plot points and write paragraphs of commentary about the characters' backstory, motivations, and feelings. I generally know how the story begins and ends, so it's the middle parts that need to be filled in. Even though my current stories are fantasy and sci-fi, I do some historic research to add a bit of realism to the plot.

Lastly, since I have a long backlog of story ideas, rather than wait for one novel to be completed before starting the next, I work on multiple novels simultaneously (while also working intermittently on my comics). Hence, the update schedules are a bit irregular. It keeps the writing process interesting, since I can switch to working on different story if I get bored of the first one.

Leyelle
Jun '24

This'll be long, but as a sort of gist, since it's not exactly the same for every novel I make, I come up with the initial idea of what I want to be the main theme of the story. Then I start to think up what I'll consider the most pivotal scene, though this isn't inherently the very end, and start to come up with the steps or plot elements that will lead up to that part of the story. Often times I'll take some (or like a lot a lot) of time do daydream up scenarios and scenes between the characters that show parts of their dynamic I really want to see or want to make their way into the final story, and then I'll figure out how I can weave those in. Once I have enough plot points I'll try to organize them more or less into a time line. Then I'll make my novel outline by doing breakdowns of each chapter in order. if I'm missing some build up, I'll go back and insert a chapter, or more detail/escalation in previous chapters, and then I get to writing. I sometimes (read: often) deviate from the outline when I actually write the novel, but this is the gist.

Lensing
Jun '24

I work big to small like in every creative project

I first come up with
Situation / Setting
Problem / Motivation of the characters
Solution / End

Then I work with a 12 panel system where I put different
story beats into the panels. I do that that for complete stories
and for chapters. I use this as a script

Additional thoughts:
IMO many people focus too much on the world building / setting and not
enough on the problem / motivation of the characters. I read a lot of comics
and stories and most of the time it´s just a very complicated world and I don´t
understand why the characters are doing what they are doing. I think it´s important
to put a lot of focus on that in your writing process. What is a believable and relable reason
for the main character to do what he is doing? This will be the reason why the reader will
read your story

CharlieBluebell
Jun '24

For my most current novel I came up with a basic idea for the setting first. Then my characters came into creation, just a few of them, I didn't even know who all my main characters were yet. My novel is also more character driven than plot driven. From there I had some random snippets of ideas for storyline that I knew I wanted to include. They were some of my bigger storylines so it was easier to outline where I wanted them. I planned out smaller events that I wanted to include in between while still having it transition together well. Once I had my basic outline done I went back to focus on characters and tightening them up. From then I planned everything chapter by chapter using bullet points, making sure I was still able to incorporate the important characters plots that I needed. I also had characters and basic plots in my head way before I even had the thought of making it into a full length novel which helped. It didn't feel like it was coming from scratch.