tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post7065065697780704886..comments2023-09-13T10:02:55.313+08:00Comments on Wistfully Linda: Choosing a Story Idealindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16524291742541007382noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-90398223983541634202012-03-03T22:32:48.548+08:002012-03-03T22:32:48.548+08:00Love your idea for tagging all your ideas! I only ...Love your idea for tagging all your ideas! I only organize my notes by story and not by individual elements, and I think I should consider doing that too so my file is easier to browse through.<br /><br />Also, that's a very efficient use of your vivid scene! It might even sprout multiple stories. :)lindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-81023330127333090182012-03-02T21:15:51.517+08:002012-03-02T21:15:51.517+08:00I'm trying to remember my lack-of-process the ...I'm trying to remember my lack-of-process the first time I chose a story idea to write. I remember I had a very vivid scene pop into my head. The story built itself around that scene. I forced myself to keep writing to the end, no matter what. <br /><br />While I'm writing a story, I keep all my other ideas in SpringPad. I have tags called StoryIdea, PlotIdea, CharacterIdea, CharacterName, SettingIdea, and SceneIdea. If a particular idea is WAY COOL! I use that as motivation to finish the draft I'm working on now. When I'm looking to write a new story, I peruse through all my Ideas and come up with something. I have hundreds waiting in the wings to be used. The cool thing is that my stories now use much more than a single idea.<br /><br />The funny thing is that on my first story, the one that started with the vivid scene, after writing and editing it I decided the story was stronger without that scene at all. So that vivid scene is back in the SceneIdeas waiting for the right story.John Fergusonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-47596196445172866062011-10-23T13:16:20.986+08:002011-10-23T13:16:20.986+08:00I've missed you, Linda! I hope all is going we...I've missed you, Linda! I hope all is going well.Peggy Eddlemannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-10735653205441588152011-10-14T23:07:19.316+08:002011-10-14T23:07:19.316+08:00Ohmygoodness, that's hilarious! Usually I have...Ohmygoodness, that's hilarious! Usually I have one story that takes over and everything else gets pushed aside. I too keep my ideas in a folder although I haven't used OneNote- I might have to start using that now.<br /><br />The Warm Fuzzies Blogfest is coming up- I hope I'll see you there!<br />http://aspiretobejuliana.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-have-secret.htmlJuliananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-77350539413881711842011-10-10T00:56:02.797+08:002011-10-10T00:56:02.797+08:00I've never tried One Note...sounds like a good...I've never tried One Note...sounds like a good program though. I should take a look. Thanks. <br /><br />When I get a new idea, I write it down in the notebook I always carry with me. I just write the basics and let it stew for a while. If, after a few days, I've forgotten about it, it wasn't worth it. However, if I do remember it and my stewing has come up with characters and motives then I'll open a new doc on my computer and start sketching some scenes out. <br /><br />I go back to my WIP. If I'm still thinking about my new idea when the WIP is finished then new idea becomes my next project. Some ideas have stewed for years before becoming WIPs. Good things come to those who wait?The Empty Pennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-19696321796635588882011-09-30T03:05:33.721+08:002011-09-30T03:05:33.721+08:00I do the exact same thing with OneNote for organiz...I do the exact same thing with OneNote for organizing story ideas. :) It's so easy to create a new page for an idea . . .<br /><br />My process resembles yours. LOL.<br /><br />I've never tried working on more than one idea for long. I tried rewrites and a first draft, but I find it's too difficult to keep switching from story to story. I like to really embed myself in a single world and focus on that alone.The Golden Eaglehttp://thegoldeneaglesblog.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-41963791121409569352011-09-29T19:19:14.600+08:002011-09-29T19:19:14.600+08:00So envious of how many languages you know! That...So envious of how many languages you know! That's amazing. :D Very cool that you write both fiction and non-fiction.<br /><br />And yes, I'm not letting myself start another project until I finish this one, no longer how much I think I suck! :)lindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-16400451750751893982011-09-29T19:16:12.916+08:002011-09-29T19:16:12.916+08:00Thanks, Peggy! :DThanks, Peggy! :Dlindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-9458324762449999102011-09-29T19:15:57.172+08:002011-09-29T19:15:57.172+08:00Thanks for sharing your writing journey! I love th...Thanks for sharing your writing journey! I love these kinds of stories. I'm so glad you found your niche and know your writing process better now. :) I'm looking forward to improving and getting a better grasp of what works best for me!lindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-37703455826131185762011-09-28T12:09:22.092+08:002011-09-28T12:09:22.092+08:00I can barely manage what's going on in my life...I can barely manage what's going on in my life as it is, so I like sticking to one idea at a time! I can handle one fiction and one NF project at a time, that being said; there's no confusion between those realms.<br /><br />Typing that makes me remember people asking me questions about studying languages in college. "But don't you get confused, taking them all at once?!" No, as it happens, Russian, German and Swahili are just not that similar. <br /><br />I love your 37-step plan, but I think I'll love it even better when it's a sweet memory of how things used to be. ;)Deborah the Closet Monsternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-41658643246484967772011-09-28T12:01:11.183+08:002011-09-28T12:01:11.183+08:00Oh, my goodness. That was HILARIOUS! And rang so t...Oh, my goodness. That was HILARIOUS! And rang so true! I really, really loved it.Peggy Eddlemannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-82589880696949538762011-09-28T04:56:37.827+08:002011-09-28T04:56:37.827+08:00Lol. See, when I wrote my first novel, I didn'...Lol. See, when I wrote my first novel, I didn't know it was supposed to suck. I was completely in love with it and the characters, but as I grew in my craft I realized it *did* suck and no matter what I tried I couldn't fix it. Standing over that novel's grave was a very sad day. But I got better for it. After that, I would come up with tons of ideas and write them all down, flesh them out, maybe write a page or two, but they never went anywhere.<br /><br />Then came the idea for a book way outside my genre, and I thought, "hey, it'd be a fun experiment." I don't know if I ever thought it would go anywhere, but man, did I find my niche after all. I focus on one story at a time now. I can't even edit one and write another at the same time. Little tidbits might come to me, and I'll file them away for future books, but at the moment, I'm lucky to have only one project bouncing around my brain.Angela Wallacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-9235677249427839962011-09-28T03:30:05.884+08:002011-09-28T03:30:05.884+08:00Thanks, Carrie! :D I so agree that it's hard t...Thanks, Carrie! :D I so agree that it's hard to commit. It's awesome that you finished your project! Hope revisions are going well. And yes, adding snippets to various ideas is a lot of fun! :)lindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-75733456942375336872011-09-28T03:22:20.566+08:002011-09-28T03:22:20.566+08:00Haha, I wish I saved my ideas out of restraint! It...Haha, I wish I saved my ideas out of restraint! It's mostly because I lack confidence. :P I think it's cool that you can stay focused. And you do have other ideas! Like the luck demon one. Didn't you say you might return to that some day?<br /><br />I'm sure you'll do an awesome job on your WIP! You've put a lot of thought into it. :)lindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-73006204834340444122011-09-28T02:35:19.526+08:002011-09-28T02:35:19.526+08:00Omg, seriously! It's so scary to try to write ...Omg, seriously! It's so scary to try to write a story idea you love, isn't it?? Crazy how similarly we think!<br /><br />I'm glad you decided to go ahead with working on an awesome idea instead of a ho-hum one, though. Your idea is brilliant, and I can't wait to see how it turns out. I bet it'll be great! :Dlindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-3001115057328373802011-09-28T02:21:28.959+08:002011-09-28T02:21:28.959+08:00Ooh, that sounds like a great process for dealing ...Ooh, that sounds like a great process for dealing with SNIs. :) I do find myself drawn more to some story ideas than to others, but I'd have a hard time picking just one favorite. I think I need to learn to be less greedy. :Plindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-46319544228475466342011-09-28T02:16:48.282+08:002011-09-28T02:16:48.282+08:00Hehe, thanks Rida! Yes, take the plunge with me! W...Hehe, thanks Rida! Yes, take the plunge with me! We can cheer each other on. :Dlindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-75014344431258063462011-09-28T02:15:08.788+08:002011-09-28T02:15:08.788+08:00Haha, I like the idea of organization a lot, but I...Haha, I like the idea of organization a lot, but I'm afraid I'm usually not so great at sticking with it. :P But yeah, I can't wait until I get better at writing! Glad to hear you can relate, too. :)lindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-64064486832187687572011-09-28T02:12:57.506+08:002011-09-28T02:12:57.506+08:00I admire your ability to stay focused! :) I think ...I admire your ability to stay focused! :) I think I need to learn from you and be better about committing to one story. Thanks for sharing, and best of luck with your projects!lindahttp://wistfullylinda.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-20066286590052814872011-09-27T11:00:24.269+08:002011-09-27T11:00:24.269+08:00Hah! Oh, Linda...
Your process killed me. I loved...Hah! Oh, Linda...<br /><br />Your process killed me. I loved it. <br /><br />I was always afraid of killing my ideas, too. I think that's why it took me so long to finally commit myself to writing my first book. I toyed with the concept for a year before I let myself venture past the first few pages (that later changed, anyway).<br /><br />Of course, now I'll write anything that comes to mind. I have a growing file of concepts, and I love adding little snippets here and there. I won't go full throttle on an idea until I'm done revising this one, but I'm excited to branch out!<br /><br />Great post! :)Carrie Butlerhttp://soyoureawriter.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-19241688370002686612011-09-27T06:30:29.633+08:002011-09-27T06:30:29.633+08:00LOL, you are too cute. Although, I do understand e...LOL, you are too cute. Although, I do understand exactly where you're coming from. I have this constant fear that I'm doing all the things I don't like in fiction within my own writing, and I want so badly to do my idea and characters justice. <br /><br />But I don't have the restraint you do though to save it for a rainy day. I think part of it is that I don't get that many ideas at once, so I'm in constant fear of never having another new idea ever again. So I can't afford to "save" anything for when I'm better. That and I'm a pantser who doesn't plot, which means I almost always jump in right away. Yes, this does mean I often get distracted when Shiny New ideas pop up, but I usually focus on one thing at a time.<br /><br />I don't have much completed to show for this kind of impulsive decision-making, but here we are. :)Krispyhttp://a-nudge.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-56141153808996543542011-09-27T06:10:52.006+08:002011-09-27T06:10:52.006+08:00Oh gosh, THIS THIS THIS.
This is exactly my entir...Oh gosh, THIS THIS THIS.<br /><br />This is exactly my entire "writing" process right here. I'm always, always afraid of "messing up" a brilliant idea with my mediocre writing skills, so I plan plot twists and craft cool characters, and then store the idea away for when I'm good enough to write it.<br /><br />Then I either repeat the process with the next great idea, or force myself to write a novel I'm only ho-hum about for "practice" while dwelling the previous idea. The "first novel is supposed to be a practice novel" advice -- while undoubtedly true -- is really the bane of my writing mindset.Emy Shinhttp://emyshin.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-45315320988715657322011-09-27T05:48:32.006+08:002011-09-27T05:48:32.006+08:00Ha! I love your 37 steps. :)
I tend to do similar...Ha! I love your 37 steps. :)<br /><br />I tend to do similar things-- I get an idea, flesh it out a bit, then stick it in a file until I'm done with my current WIP (because my SNIs always come at the worst possible times). Then, the problem is which one do I love best and want to write next? I usually write out a few scenes and do some character sketches. One idea almost always sticks out more than the other, and I know it's the one I need to write next!Shallee Mcarthurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-13399286866843613902011-09-27T05:41:48.769+08:002011-09-27T05:41:48.769+08:00Oh, I know exactly how it is! I save all my best i...Oh, I know exactly how it is! I save all my best ideas for when I'll suck less... but hey, this 37-step process sounds totally familiar, so I guess I'll do the same as you and take the plunge :)<br /><br />You totes make me laugh, Linda :) I love this post!Ridahttp://twitter.com/being_ridanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727352439107762801.post-65480538227268753642011-09-27T04:17:11.640+08:002011-09-27T04:17:11.640+08:00LOL ~ You crack me up. Especially with your "...LOL ~ You crack me up. Especially with your "when I suck less comment." Funny thing is, I know how you feel. I have much the same process as you, but I am not nearly as organized with all the folders and stuff for my different ideas. You are amazing!Abbynoreply@blogger.com