Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Discovering Your Story

I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering. -- Robert Frost

This is very true when writing poetry. As far as I know, no one structures a poem until after it is drafted.

This is true to my own writing of fiction. Sometimes I have an inkling of the end, but the true discover is in the writing process.

I begin with a thought, an idea germ. Through free-writing, the germ grows into a story. During writing, the story takes on life. The story doesn't take on true form until the editing process.

How do you discover your story?

7 comments:

Jyoti Mishra said...

very true..
U just need a starter... end gradually ends up :D

Terry W. Ervin II said...

I come up with an idea, or unique situation. Then I create the storyline/world where the event or idea could take place. Then comes the characters. Usually. Sometimes a character or a bit of dialogue is first, then the rest is created.

But I do plan: know where the story will start and end, and major events along the way to get from beginning to end.

Cherie Reich said...

That's kinda interesting to think of poetry that way. To be honest, when a poem comes to me, I know the entire thing before I write a word. Then once I write it down, the inspiration vanishes and I can't remember a word I wrote of it without looking at it. It's odd.

In my longer works, the beginning and end form in my mind almost simultaneously. It's the middle that's a bit more murky.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Generally, I have an idea where it will end, but that's only to justify writing the book in the first place. I take so long from beginning to end that I hate the thought of wasting my time, and suddenly discovering there is no end to the book. Self-made fear tactic? After two published books, you'd think I'd get over that.

Great post, Cher. You always make me think.

Anonymous said...

Jyoti, Terry, Cherie, Joylene,

Thank you all for your great comments. Glad you enjoyed the post.

Theresa said...

I sometimes feel like a reader when I write - I have no idea what is going to happen next and I can't wait to find out! At the same time, I like plotting, so this can screw that up sometimes and vice versa.

Anonymous said...

Theresa, Yes it's a tangled web we weave and sometimes we get tangled up. Best luck with your writing.

 
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