Hey all,
I've got all of these ideas for the rewrite of my story, and I've got different ways to include the old plot from the first story. But when it comes to actually putting pen to paper, I can't make the story flow in a cohesive method. What are the methods that you guys use to sort your thoughts and actually include them in the book?

eruheran

Mostly I keep my thoughts and ideas in my head. (I honestly have no idea how I can keep track of it all up there!) But I've recently started writing down scenes apart from the book and write at the top of the page where in the story I believe it would be (chapter, general part, scene, etc.). That way I can get it out of my head and also be able to refer back to it when I come to that part in the story.

Well, I hope that helped and you were able to understand it. I'm having a hard time putting words together and actually get them to make sense today.

Ah, I see. I've only done that once, I wrote a scene that was really strong in my head and I didn't want to forget. My problem is that when I get to tough parts to write (usually the parts that are most crucial to the story) a) they seem jerky and choppy and b) they sort of stand alone and don't really mesh well with the rest of the story. I'm not really sure how to describe what I'm saying

(I think everyone's writing on this forum is unclear first and foremost to themselves. Everyone understands everyone but thinks their own writing is hard to understand )

eruheran

I usually get it straight in my head, then I write an outline and write in chronological order through the outline, that way it all flows straight through. Otherwise I would suggest that you take the individual scenes you have written, put them in the right order and then re-write them together in the same style and pacing, that will make them much more cohesive.
I completely agree, I hope that makes sense but I really am not sure that it does. :P

That is exactly the problem I have with my writing. It gets really annoying. What I normally do is force my way through writing out that particular scene when I get to it, then I'll just edit it later, and hope it turns out better.

Oh this happens ALL the time to me and I hate it! I do what Celestria does sometimes (writes the parts I get in my head) but then I feel like I HAVE to connect the parts I wrote out of order, even if they are near the end of the story!

It seems like we all have this problem, or one close to it... I tend to
1: Write it down like I see it in my head, but if I can't get it right I usually...
2: Write the basics of the scene and keep some of the detail in my head for another day.

I do not things out of order, but I also do not outline. I usually work out the general idea in my head, then figure out details as I write. If something doesn't fit with the rest, I can always go back and edit it.

I did do an outline, with a bit more detail on specific scenes I already had figured out. That did help, some. I also have all these 'writing snippets' scattered in my Writing folder on my computer, full of small scenes that were strong in my head that I wrote out of order. They're mainly conversations about God between some of the characters, and I haven't gotten so far in the story as to graft one in yet.

I guess I'd answer my own question by saying to outline stuff, even if you go into great detail on each bullet in the outline.

eruheran

I know exactly what you mean, but I'm not sure how to explain...I would say, write down everything. Whatever comes into your head, write it down, even if it's just a a description of a scene and not part of the actual draft. Also, keep focused on the main idea of the story, and that will help you keep everything logical. Once the main plot is set, it's easier to tell what scenes help tell the story, which ones don't, and where they should go.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

I have a notebook specifically called "Random Book Scenes" where I write scenes that I come up with then I can go back and see what ones are related to the same story and I can move them to different parts of my story. (This may require some re-writing depending on how you squish a new scene in your story.) It works well for me. Especially if I'm listening to music, get inspired, and write it down in the notebook. Whether or not it's related to the story I'm working on presently, it can be a nugget for some other story I may come up with in the future.

I started doing that. I have a computer folder full of random scenes. Except I get mad at myself when I go and am writing in my book, write a scene, then realize I had almost the exact scene in that folder!

eruheran

I wouldn't completely trust having your writings all on the computer or even memory stick. I've done that too many times and lost chapters of stories because the computer crashed or was struck by lightning. (That has happened to one particular computer in our house 5 times in the almost five years we've lived at our present home.) I would suggest writing it on paper and then you can copy it on Word Document where you can edit, ect. You know what I mean? Just a helpful tip for ya!

Yeah, I keep my writing on my computer, mainly, but every few days I copy all my files to a hard drive (that I keep elsewhere than my computer) and to a memory stick...so I'm OK, usually. Writing by hand is so slow.... I could probably do it if I weren't so lazy. Plus, for world-building, the computer is a lot easier.

eruheran