(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Write On! Prep time [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-19 October is at least in theory, the heart of fall. Most farmer’s markets are starting to wear down, and this is when we gardeners get to do the last work on our gardens, preparing them for winter. Maybe that’s why NaNoWriMo is in November. But in either case, this month, for those who follow NaNo, is also called ‘Preptober.’ So let’s talk about how we can prepare for getting into a story! Types of writers No, it’s not prep yet! However, there are a few ways of categorizing what kind of writer you are. Hint: just like any other categories, it’s not an either/or — it’s a spectrum. But they’re still handy for short-hand and conversation, and considering what types of preparation might work well for you. Discovery Writers: also called ‘gardeners’ and also called ‘pantsers’, these writers have a character or several, an idea, and just… write. By the seat of their pants. This means no preparation, right? Nope! It means different preparation. If you’re going to just see what happens, it helps to know your character (or characters), what they want at the start, and where you’re going to set it. So it’s about understanding that initial state — or in Hero’s Journey terms, the Old World. Tatooine. Ruatha Hold. Mrs. Polifax’s apartment. Maybe a pintrest board will help, or a character personality test. You can build that sence of place and time. Plotters: they’re on the opposite side of the spectrum. Plotters work best when they know where the story is going and what happens. Whether this is using a beat sheet or the snowflake method, writing is easier if you know what’s happening next. Plantsers: the final category, these are halfway in between. Ish, of course, because nothing about writing is in absolutes. The snowflake method might be perfect, or starting with a story structure and laying out the major events — while letting the details come as you type. Or these writers might prefer a mix of the two methods, with a pintrest board and a beat sheet, but not fill anything out to too much detail. Types of Stories Especially for plotters and plantsers who like beat sheets, now’s a good time to look at story structures. Some of these terms are thrown around all the time, like b-plot or hero’s journey. I like this site, which lays out seven of the most common Western story structures. Stories tend to follow similar patterns, and it’s handy to understand the different patterns and most importantly, what kinds of stories work best with what kind of structures. For instance, a lot of epic fantasy follows a hero’s journey. Except when it follows a heroine’s journey. But a lot of thriller/suspense follows something closer to a fichtean curve, with a lot of clues and immediate threats afterward — tension keeps going up, while with a hero’s journey, there’s more time to release that tension and take a breath (or a walk across Middle Earth). Are those all the types? No, of course not. I’ve heard that a lot of Chinese literature follows a 4-act structure, or a 5-act. But these seven cover a lot of Western literature and therefore, a lot of the senses of stories we’re likely to want to tell. However, it’s a good start. And as with all things writing, a good start is an excellent place to make variations to fit what works for you as a writer and for your story. But like talking about types of writing, types of structures are also a good way to share status or issues — or understand how to keep the pacing interesting. Tonight’s Challenge: Are you planning on participating in NaNoWriMo in November? If so, please list what your goals are! For everyone: write about preparation. How do your characters get ready for what they think is coming next? READERS & BOOK LOVERS SERIES SCHEDULE [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/19/2200396/-Write-On-Prep-time?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/