The Writing Season Part Three Formatting

Formatting, arranging or organizing is the third step in the Writing Season. The reason it is not first or second is because a writer can not put thoughts or ideas together if they don’t have any. Once the writer has come up with a few great storylines, characters, ideas and plots for their story, it is then time to organize all that they have come up with.

At this point the writer will have decided how the story will begin, who is telling the story, (Point-Of-View) what will happen in the story and how it will end. In this stage of writing, the writer will conduct an outline.

An outline or timeline explains what will happen in the story in chronological order. To create a timeline, the writer would get a notebook. (I would suggest getting a notebook so you will not lose your pages and the order of the events) The writer would begin with the prologue or start at chapter one.

Side Note: A Prologue is an introductory passage or speech before the main action of a novel, play, or long poem. If a writer has a little something to say or explain before the book begins, the writer would include a prologue. If the writer is telling the story in order but it’s very necessary for the readers to know a little bit of info before the story begins, the writer would include the prologue.

The writer then goes on to tell what will happen in the prologue; what will happen in chapter 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. The timeline or outline must give specific details of what will take place. For example, if the writer is beginning a story about the wife who lost her husband in a tragic accident, the timeline would look like this:

Prologue
Sharon will explain her feelings from the accident. (We’ve already determined the Point-of-View in the story) She will explain how she never thought anything like this would happen to her and her family.

Chapter 1
Sharon tells us how she and her husband met ten years ago. The story starts while she is at work and she meets John as he comes in for an appointment. The chapter will end with Sharon and Johns wedding day.

Chapter 2
Sharon tells us about their earlier years in marriage; about how her parents didn’t get along with John’s parents. She will tell us about the births of their three children.
The outline will continue just like this until the end of the story or epilogue.

Side Note: An Epilogue is a short chapter or section at the end of a literary work, sometimes detailing the fate of its characters. Some writers use epilogues to show a continuation for the present book. Other’s explain what happened after the book was finished. An Epilogue is not necessary, only the writer can determine if it’s needed.

An outline is very important because, as I said before, all writers do not stay in the writing season. Sometimes a writer will not finish a book in one writing season. So if the writer decides to walk away from the story, they can return anytime, picking up where they left off.

In the formatting stage, it’s also important for the writer to do their homework and research. If the writer is writing a story that has a storyline in it that they are not familiar with, the writer needs to research that topic.

I recently wrote a story that had a storyline in it about a girl whose mother was a struggling alcoholic who ended up getting Cirrhosis. I had no idea how this disease came about. I did not know that someone could die from it. So I got on the internet and researched. That way when it came time to write about the disease, I knew what I was talking about.

It’s also good to ask people you know. If you are writing a story about cancer and you know a cancer survivor, ask them about their experience. The one thing reader’s hate reading is a book written by an author that doesn’t know what they are talking about. Do the research.

Stay tuned for Stage Number Three: Pen to Paper

Tips on formatting your story

· It is very important to do an outline.
· Determine if your book needs a Prologue or Epilogue
· Do your research and homework on your books storyline.
· Complete your outline before you complete the book.

The Writing Season Part Two: Concept

The dictionary says that a concept is an idea or thought; abstract notion. This is how a writer gets into the writing season, they develop an idea.

In the stage of Concept, a writer will ponder on the idea that they have come up with. Say for instance a writer comes up with a storyline about a young wife who loses her husband in a tragic accident. The author would need to figure out other storylines to go with this idea. What might happen to this wife? Who will tell the story? How will the story begin? What other characters will be in this book? When faced with questions like these, the writer should build a character profile.
A character profile is a group of questions put together to get to know the character in the book. During this stage, the writer would create a profile of its characters in the book. Not every character needs a profile. But if there is someone in the writer’s story that the readers will get to know personally, the writer needs to do a profile on them. Questions in a profile would include:

*The full name of the character
*Their age
*Where they were born; where they live
*How did they grow up
*What is their personality like
*Are they married; have children; have pets
*Where do they work
*Where are their parents, any siblings
*How they react to conflict. Sadness, happiness
*How will this person change in the book

There are many other questions asked but these are a few of the questions readers may need to know as they read about the characters. If it’s not necessary to mention the characters siblings or parents then the writer would not include that question. It’s important to ask questions that will help the writer develop a good character.

It is also important to determine what character is which. Who is the Villain or Superhero? Who will play the victim? These are things a writer needs to have figured out before they begin to write the book.

In this stage of writing, a writer does not want to rush anything. I know the story may sound fascinating and we are eager to get it on paper but it if a writer rushes this stage, they will not have developed a good storyline or good character. For example, let’s say we have the same storyline of the wife who loses her husband in a tragic accident. If a writer has not created the wife enough, when it comes to write her reaction of the accident, the writer will not know how to express her feelings. If the writer has not decided on her reaction, the writer can not put it into writing. But if the writer has already decided that she is already emotionally unstable and this type of news will break her, it will make writing that particular scene a lot easier.

So, it’s very important to take your time when in this stage of writing. Also, be sure to decide the point of view in the story. A lot of writers have a hard to differentiating First person, Second Person and Third Person. Doing this will determine who will actually tell the story. Will it be the main character, her best friend, the dead husband or the narrator? View my tips, advice and links on this below.

Stay tuned for Stage Number Two: Formatting

Tips for the Concept Stage of the Writing Season

*Take your time
*Do a character profile on the important characters. Be sure to complete it.
*Determine your POV: View more info here on the different POV’s in writing: http://www.tarakharper.com/k_frstpr.htm
*Email me for a sample of a Character Profile
*Write down all your ideas for this story. Anything that comes to mind. It does not have to be in order.

Wanna be a guest article writer on From A Writers POV? Your article will be featured on our website for one full edition. You will also receive a free interview. Check out the details here: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/guestarticleform.htm

The Writing Season Part One: What is the writing Season?

The reason that this article is called Seasons of Writing is because most story writers develop great storylines over time. We may have a notebook full of ideas but only one or two of those are formatted into a story at a time. Once the story has been told, we lose interest in the process of writing because of the long journey it took to birth that last book. Like pregnancy, most women wait two to three years before having another child. It takes about that long to birth another book; including publication and production. After a while, the itch to write again comes back and you are back at square one.

Not every writer can stay in the writing season. Not every writer advances through the stages as quickly as another. But every writer experiences the writing season in some way or form.
The writing season is when a writer gets in the mood, in the flow of writing; when a writer has the need to birth a good writing. Its a time when all writers feel the need to tell a story or get some thoughts out on paper.

The writing season is not a set time of the year. To most people, the season comes out of no where. They could be going through something that inspires them, watching a movie or they could simply get an amazing idea out of no where. Either way, when one or all of these things happen, the writer has entered into the writing season.

As we all know there are many different types of writing, short story, poetry, novel etc. On a personal note, Im always in the poetry writing season. Most poets are. We can put together a poem very quickly. At the longest a week or two depending on the amount of time we have to write and how much we really want to say. But getting into the season of writing a novel or story takes a little longer. This is because most writers take time getting a story together and birthing it. Its safe to say that not all writers can be in the novel, short story or poetry season all at the same time. This is because our minds are focused on that one particular project and getting it finished. We also don?t want to confuse ourselves with the different characters and storylines in each story. Its natural for a writer to write several stories at one time. Anything is possible when in the writing season.

Ive created four stages of writing throughout the writing season: Concept, Formatting, Pen to Paper and Birth. Each one of these stages a writer will experience depending on how far they get with their book.
In this article, I will explain my ideas of the Writing Season. I will give tips and advice on how to successfully get through a writing season.

Stay tuned for Stage Number One: Concept.

Tips for getting into the writing season

* If you do not naturally get into the writing season and you find yourself longing to write but can?t find anything to write about, go somewhere that you know will inspire you. Any place that you feel will get the juices flowing.

*Always carry a notebook with you. No writer is caught dead without a notebook. So many things around us can inspire us. Have your notebook handy just incase an idea comes to you.

Wanna be a guest article on From A Writers POV? Your article willbe featured on our website for one full edition. You will also receive a free interview. Check out the details here: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/guestarticleform.htm

Welcome

Welcome to From A Writers POV Lounge with Dominique.

As you may know, I am the editor and publisher of From A Writers POV Online Magazine. I created this blog to give me advice and tips on writing and to allow other writers and authors to stop in and give their tips as well.

I do not have a set time of when I will decide to post my tips and advice but I'm sure I will have something to say often.

Please subscribe to the blog and stay tuned for what's coming next. I'm currently writing an article about the Season of Writing.

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I will allow you to submit an article to the magazine, that must be read and approved first. Then I will conduct a short interview with you to be added here on the blog. So if your interested, contact us!

God Bless

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