Comments on: WIP Wednesday

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:11:54 +0000

Anna, you sound like me. I’m definitely an event/plot person first and then I work on the characters. But think of it this way, now your story will be even richer once you figure out the characters. I always do this part last. Plot first then character.

By: annastan

annastan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:50:15 +0000

Andrea, it sounds like we have a very similar approach to writing! I’m also a pantser and I tend to jump into the story before I really know my characters. I often get to know them by putting them into different situations, but sometimes I think doing a bit more character work before I actually start writing will save me a lot of revision later on. I’m still not convinced outlines will help me, but I’m trying to use them a bit more.

By: Andrea Vlahakis

Andrea Vlahakis — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:17:51 +0000

I find I do the same thing when I begin a new WIP: I set up a world for my protagonist to react to. I think I need to spend more time with my characters before I write. I tend to be a pantser, which I’m finding may not be the best way to go. Oh, it’s fine for getting a semblance of a first draft down, but then I really need to rework the whole project. You made me chuckle about the outline because I, too, am thinking I need to go back and outline my first draft of this MG chapter book I’m writing. I also think I’m getting over my aversion to outlining—as long as I can outline in a way that’s comfortable for me.