Helpful Tip #4 - Planning your stories

Every author has their own method of how they construct a story. The below are the ones that are the most defined and show the best differences but there are as many variation as there are authors on all of the below. Each author has their own way of constructing their works, you just need to discover your own way.

• Detail Oriented - An author that is super detail oriented, maybe a little OCD too - but we're not judging cause we're like that as well to a point, will create a story structure. Another term is the Outline. It is basically how they see the story progressing from start to finish. For example:
• Introduction; character one (male) description and occupation + character two (female) description and occupation
• Chapter One; location description and background needed
• Chapter Two; character one and two meeting, sparks and a hint of what's to come
• Chapter Three; introduce conflict they will need to resolve or overcome
• Chapter Four; show two characters interacting and add some tension
• Chapter Five; have characters show some vulnerability, and push them further apart while building intrigue
• Chapter Six; throw the characters together in situation where the conflict is forefront
• Chapter Seven; resolve conflict and have characters discovering new things about one another strengthening their relationship
• Chapter Eight/Epilogue; give readers a HEA (happily ever after) ending or HFN (happy for now) ending with a twist
• Got Notes - An author who may do a layout a lot like the above, but not nearly as detailed. These are the authors that like to see where the characters take them in the writing process and they allow for extra curve balls to come their way.
• Character/Story Controlled - An author who has an idea or character pop into their head that they just start writing about. There is no real planning like in the Detail Oriented author, but they do make notes about other thoughts that come around. Like if they see their character being hurt, they'll make a note about that but it's not necessary if the story never leads that way. These authors really love it when an idea pops into their heads part way through writing that they can utilize as a zinger to wow their readers. Something usually out of left field but that totally works in the construct of the story.

Now, these are sort of the three extremes, far left, middle and far right of the author world. There are hundreds of different variations and none of them are wrong or right. After all, what works for you may not work for someone else. Yes, try all the methods to see if they help you in your writing but don't worry if one method is not yours. We all have our own quirks and ways of writing, don't force yourself into doing something that just makes you miserable and your story suffer because it's what you're "supposed to do" according to other authors or your publisher. They do not know you, you know you and that is the only person you need to listen to and make happy, you.

What it all boils down to is working with what works for you. If you need to do an Outline to keep on track, do it. If you're more free form and let your characters lead you around, do it. All that matters is ensuring that your writing experience is the best for you and what you are sharing. Critics and naysayers need not approach.

The Moderator