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Posted By: dleon Dec 20, 2004 - 01:18 pm

i'm having a little trouble writing. i see it clearly and vividely in my head the entire book from start to finish. and most of the scenes are really exciting. but i feel like there are lulled portions of the book in between the fight scenes, action sequences, and emotional roller coaster scenes. it's like it drags on and i've tried everything i could think of to spice it up, like adding flashbacks and doing some short dialogs that help to define the characters little by little. most of the story deals with moving from one place to another so should i just fast forward from where they start to where they're going each time my main characters leave one place to head for another or should i invent side quests or complications to add interesting events?

Posted By: cleasterwood Dec 20, 2004 - 03:47 pm

Honestly, that's totally up to you. I've found that even though I think I've got it mapped out from start to finish in my head, it helps to get it onto paper.

Personally, I do a little of both. I skip from place to place and sometimes, I give them complications to make it more interesting. I even find myself going back during some of those lulling periods when I can't write anything new and add ideas that have come along inadvertantly. Like in one scene I'm trying to start now, it won't seem to come out but then I think of something that would fit in nicely in the previous chapters so I expand them. Sometimes, you can't always think of the scenes that will give it that extra umph until after you've passed the part that's giving you a problem. My suggestion, move on and come back to you when you think of what would fit there.

If you're interested I posted a workshop that I did for another site about plotting. Here's the direct link:
http://speculativevision.com/forum/messages/385/5956.html

There's four seperate posts with some exercises to help you. I don't know if it's what you need, but you may find it helpful anyway.

Keep writing,
C. L. Easterwood

Posted By: Gnollslayer Dec 20, 2004 - 05:00 pm

Outlining definitely helps me with my stories.

Posted By: Magus Dec 20, 2004 - 08:17 pm

This is really something that you need to figure out on your own. Eadch work will be different and how you work on this aspect of your writing in this particular work will vary.

Personally, just write what works. Write some transitions of travel, if that's what they're doing. Make sure to always develope your characters, that is important. Show dialogue, but remember it's only about 7 percent of communication, if I remember correctly. So be sure to tell how they feel, show how they feel. Be sure to describe body language and the whole shebang.

Good luck!

Posted By: dleon Dec 25, 2004 - 06:06 pm

i'm pretty sure i can say how someone feels but how do you show how they feel. is it something like "His body vibrated with the unpent anger that welled up inside of him, shaking his small frame to the core" or should it go " I'm pissed off!" he shouted into his friends face " which would be better one deals with body language and the other is direct.

thanks

Posted By: chowder Dec 26, 2004 - 10:10 am

Your first example is 'telling' more than showing. If you left it at "his body vibrated, shaking his small frame..", then it would be showing. But I wouldn't be sure if it was anger or some other emotion. If he clenched his fists--something more indicative of anger--that would be better.

Your second example is showing (through dialogue)

Posted By: woody000 Dec 26, 2004 - 01:56 pm

Ive had the exact same problem. Im learning how to cope with it myself. First I tried making every part of the plot exciting, it ended up being too cluttered. Next I tried explaining what happened in gaps, and sometimes that works and sometimes it doesnt.

It appears as though its a balance, some bits a paragraph of explanation to skip forward is possible, for other bits, you need to make the plot more interesting.

Also, chapters are a blessing in stories like this. Its so easy to skip forward at the start of a new chapter, in the middle of one its much more of a pain.

Posted By: Magus Dec 26, 2004 - 07:41 pm

Yeah, you really have to balance downtime with uptime, so to speak. A proper blend of the two will help any and all stories.

Posted By: dleon Dec 29, 2004 - 06:59 pm

thanks you've been a help