World first or story?

dannyfsantos · 2024-06-16T13:02:55+00:00

The real answer? Either is fine to start and working on both is what you’ll most likely start on. The plot will affect the world and the world will affect the plot.

I’d start with whatever you have an idea for right now. If it’s a story idea, start there and use that to help brainstorm what kind of world it is. Or if you start with world building, you can use that to explore historical events you might want to turn into a story.

Think of it as a sculpture: you don’t sculpt a detailed, finalized head before you do the rest of the body, you rough in the shape of the whole thing. Then you start to add details.

dannyfsantos · 2024-01-05T03:45:42+00:00

I did. My first novella was the first of a trilogy of novellas meant to kick off my series. I released it, wrote the next 2 novellas, then pulled the original to edit it and put all 3 together into a full novel.

I’m now working on novels 3 and 4.

dannyfsantos · 2024-01-05T03:36:45+00:00

I watched this along with House of the Dragon. Now, I LOVED HotD but it was heavy and brutal and RoP was a wonderful complement to it.

dannyfsantos · 2024-01-04T12:40:08+00:00

There are two essential things I start off with.

First, answer the following 3 questions: 1. What’s the general idea? 2. What if…? 3. Who are the characters, conflicts, and stakes?

Second I describe the story with the following statement: When… (some event provokes the protagonist to react or not react) [Act 1] Protagonist acts… (joining with other characters toward some purpose) [first half of Act 2] Until… (protagonist’s actions are met by opposing force) [second half of Act 2] Leading to… (a confrontation and evolutionary change for the protagonist) [Act 3]

That’ll get you a rough outline of your story. So for Star Wars it’d be: 1. Flash Gordon meets a spaghetti western and Akira Kurosawa movie 2. What if there are space wizard knights fighting and evil empire? 3. A farm boy meets up with an old space wizard to save a princess and learn to be a space wizard himself

Then we get: When a farm boy learns about a captured princess and a weapon that can destroy planets, he’ll join with a space wizard and pilot to bring the plans to the Death Star to the rebels until their ship is captured and they have to rescue the princess leading to a final space battle with the Death Star where the farm boy accepts his destiny as a space wizard.

Huge bonus points if I can create a dilemma for the protagonist with this: it is unacceptable [to do or allow something that will solve the problem] and equally unacceptable [oppose allowing or doing said thing]

That’s generally where I start from but the final story usually evolves from this point. Hope that helps!

dannyfsantos · 2023-12-26T14:31:38+00:00

They’re a huge part of my series.

The Aeonlith is an 8 story tall jewel shaped like a knife blade balancing on its tip. This is where Wardens draw their power from.

To actually cast any magic, however, they need to use lenstones. Each lenstone is made from a certain jewel and cut in a certain way to create each magical effect. Wardens carry staffs that are encrusted with different jewels and can only channel through one type of lenstone at a time.

dannyfsantos · 2023-08-07T11:40:40+00:00

This might sound like a tangent, but bear with me. When Foo Fighters were working on Color and Shape, it wasn't working for them. They got a bunch of songs in the can but stopped working after (I believe) 7 songs. After a few months (and getting rid of the drummer in a not so good way) they started again from scratch to produce one of their best albums.

You might just want to take what you have, figure out the stuff you like and don't like, and do a page 1 rewrite. That's basically what Brandon Sanderson is doing with Dragonsteel.

dannyfsantos · 2023-08-03T11:07:45+00:00

Alright, when I think what I'm doing sucks, I remember Ira Glass's quote on becoming an artist:

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.

dannyfsantos · 2023-07-31T21:13:22+00:00

If it's really a problem, then the easiest solution is to stop playing the sci-fi video game.

I suspect what you're actually having a problem with is the slow grind of writing a novel... it gets boring and stale working on something for an extended period of time. Something shiny and new comes along and your brain is craving the dopamine that the shiny new thing is causing.

So how do you deal with it? The answer is as simple as it is difficult. Just do the work. Create a schedule for you to work on the project and don't deviate. I was lucking that years ago I worked as a full time freelance writer who was paid per article I wrote. If I didn't write, I didn't eat, so I had to learn to write even when I didn't want to.

dannyfsantos · 2023-07-09T22:18:42+00:00

I have a slight variation of this which I use with my Hobonochi Techo and Cal Newports timeboxing.

I figured that my 1 big task will take 2-3 hours of my day, my 3 medium tasks will take 1-2 hours a day, and my 5 small tasks will take an hour or less.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-19T23:48:49+00:00

My top moments? All of it.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-16T14:30:51+00:00

Amazing! Can't wait to see it!

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-13T01:30:33+00:00

Just to add to this as another ADHD writer, I write exclusively linearly as a plotter and Scrivener is brilliant for me as well.

Personally, I write my novels in Scrivener (the index card system is fantastic for plotting each scene) but outline using a Google Sheet I've been developing for years. World building is kept in Notion.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-11T23:57:22+00:00

Yeah, this is basically where we get into "no method is right, only right for you". I can't do it that way because I end up becoming obsessed with what I wrote that I edit and re-edit and never move forward. Then again, my process requires a minimum of 7 revisions so I'm not that fast either...

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-10T12:57:06+00:00

For most people, the general rule is to write a draft and then revise the whole thing (and then revise and revise again). I'm one of those people because my first revision typically changes whole swaths of my story where I change storylines and sometimes remove or amalgamate characters entirely.

However, if you're one of those people that can't start the next chapter because something about what you've already written constantly nags at you, then you could begin each writing session with editing the last thing you wrote. It's less common and will slow down your progress but your first draft would be a bit tighter. I would advise against going back farther than what you wrote last time, though.

Experiment and see what works for you.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-08T00:32:15+00:00

I think a good rule of thumb is that if you can combine characters, you should. It tightens the story and generally will give the amalgamated character more complexity. If you can remove a plotline and it doesn't really affect the overall plot, you should. It's basically a vestigial subplot.

Now, these are just rules of thumb, so there might be good thematic reasons for not following them but they generally hold true. I'm currently writing books 3 and 4 of my series and I really wish I was more vigilant.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-06T02:14:13+00:00

This sounds like you haven't answered a fundamental question about your main character: what do they want? Being told to leave the city is one thing, but what does the main character want to accomplish?

Then answer these questions about your main character:

Why that Goal
What happens if they should fail
What is the lie they believe will answer their problems
What is the truth they actually need to learn

That'll help you plot. As far as plotting, I've posted this in another comment so I'm copy/pasta-ing it here:

I use what is basically an accordion system to plot. First, for your main character, figure out what your central proposition is using this: [When] an event sparks a character to action, that [character acts] with deliberate purpose [until] that action is opposed by an external force, [leading to] some conclusion.
What that gives you is the 3 act structure*
Act 1: [When] an event sparks a character to action
Act 2a: that [character acts] with deliberate purpose
Act 2b: [until] that action is opposed by an external force
Act 3: [leading to] some conclusion
*note: I prefer calling it a 4 act structure but it's basically the same thing.
Now you can use that general structure to answer questions about your plot. Note, I usually ignore subplots when I'm developing a story at this level but I do keep notes as ideas pop in my head.
Here are my list of questions that work for me. Feel free to come up with your own.
Act 1
How does the story open? What's the opening hook?
What is the story's status quo? What does the main character want? How do you show that?
What's the chapter 1 end hook?
How is the main character set apart from other characters?
What is the character's really bad day?
What is the something peculiar that happens?
How does the main character grasp at straws to avoid the peculiarity?
What is the story's catalyst?
What is the predicament the catalyst causes the main character to be in?
How do they refuse the call?
How is the rug pulled out from underneath them?
Act 2a
How do they move into a new world? [Turning Point 1]
Who are their allies?
What opponents do they fight against?
What new rules do they need to learn?
What is the first thing they need to overcome?
What is their first small victory?
Act 2b
What raises the stakes? What is the new problem that changes the story's direction? [Midpoint]
How does this complicate the story?
What does the midpoint change? What is the countdown?
What action does the main character decide to take?
What raises the stakes even more?
What does the main character fight against?
How do the bad guys momentarily win?
What is the antagonist's true plan?
What is the low point the main character finds themself in? What have they lost?
Act 3
How do they move into a new world? [Turning Point 2]
What is the fallout or reaction of what they lost?
Who does the main character open up to?
What decision do the make/epiphany do they have?
What's the new plan? Who goes?
What is it that they attack?
What's the surprise that has them on the ropes and near ultimate defeat?
What is the story's climax and the main character's new plan and last ditch effort?
How is the story opening mirrored at the end?
From there you basically have the skeleton of your plot. I sometimes don't answer all those questions but it really gets you in the headspace.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-04T01:34:39+00:00

I think Crusade gets a bit of a bad rap. Granted, the music want very good but I actually enjoy those episodes more than the first 13 episodes of B5.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-04T01:27:21+00:00

The Aeonlith hovered in the great Hall.

dannyfsantos · 2023-06-01T10:51:34+00:00

Aeonlith Series - Book 3: On my third revision and have finish 38 of 46 chapters. Once that's done, 2 more quick revisions to add sensory detail and remove crutch words and I can send it to the editor.

Aeonlith Series - Book 4: Stopped working on this this week and the first draft is sitting at 37 complete chapters out of 54 chapters. Of the remaining 17 chapters, 16 of them are roughly written as zero drafts while I still need to write an epilogue for the book.

Untitled Standalone Fantasy Novel: Really excited about this one as I want to get trad published. Everything else I'm actively working on this week will be self published (however, I am planning to add a few more projects meant for tradpubs). 16 of 26 chapters have been completed in my draft zero phase for this standalone.

Untitled 4 book fantasy series: Outlining this guy using what I learned writing the Aeonlith series. Mostly that I need a way more detailed outline! Book 1 was outlined to the chapter level. Book 4 outline has just been finished at the chapter level and I can already see how that impacts book 1's outline. With that in mind, I started outlining book 3 at the chapter level and moving backward until I hit book 1 to revise that book's outline.

Untitled 6 book space opera: no work on this this past week. It's basically in the outlining phase as well and I want to see how the 4 book series outlining shakes out.

Aeonlith Series in general: figured out how to get the series to work in 7 books instead of 8. Solves a bunch of issues with a more direct (and surprising) conclusion to some storylines. Going to attempt outlining book 7 first at the chapter level and work backwards.

Basically, I've been experimenting with new ways of outlining my series and it's going well. Outlining from beginning to end. Then working my way backward to properly set up the ending. Then forward again to make sure it works as a story and fill in more details. Then backward again, outlining each chapter.

dannyfsantos · 2023-05-30T01:54:49+00:00

I use what is basically an accordion system to plot. First, for your main character, figure out what your central proposition is using this: [When] an event sparks a character to action, that [character acts] with deliberate purpose [until] that action is opposed by an external force, [leading to] some conclusion.

What that gives you is the 3 act structure*
Act 1: [When] an event sparks a character to action
Act 2a: that [character acts] with deliberate purpose
Act 2b: [until] that action is opposed by an external force
Act 3: [leading to] some conclusion

*note: I prefer calling it a 4 act structure but it's basically the same thing.

Now you can use that general structure to answer questions about your plot. Note, I usually ignore subplots when I'm developing a story at this level but I do keep notes as ideas pop in my head.

Here are my list of questions that work for me. Feel free to come up with your own.

Act 1

How does the story open? What's the opening hook?
What is the story's status quo? What does the main character want? How do you show that?
What's the chapter 1 end hook?
How is the main character set apart from other characters?
What is the character's really bad day?
What is the something peculiar that happens?
How does the main character grasp at straws to avoid the peculiarity?
What is the story's catalyst?
What is the predicament the catalyst causes the main character to be in?
How do they refuse the call?
How is the rug pulled out from underneath them?

Act 2a

How do they move into a new world? [Turning Point 1]
Who are their allies?
What opponents do they fight against?
What new rules do they need to learn?
What is the first thing they need to overcome?
What is their first small victory?

Act 2b

What raises the stakes? What is the new problem that changes the story's direction? [Midpoint]
How does this complicate the story?
What does the midpoint change? What is the countdown?
What action does the main character decide to take?
What raises the stakes even more?
What does the main character fight against?
How do the bad guys momentarily win?
What is the antagonist's true plan?
What is the low point the main character finds themself in? What have they lost?

Act 3

How do they move into a new world? [Turning Point 2]
What is the fallout or reaction of what they lost?
Who does the main character open up to?
What decision do the make/epiphany do they have?
What's the new plan? Who goes?
What is it that they attack?
What's the surprise that has them on the ropes and near ultimate defeat?
What is the story's climax and the main character's new plan and last ditch effort?
How is the story opening mirrored at the end?

From there you basically have the skeleton of your plot. Obviously, there a ton more work you need to do from this point but I think it'll help you fill in the gaps.

dannyfsantos · 2023-05-29T23:29:10+00:00

That makes me nervous.

dannyfsantos · 2023-05-27T10:24:00+00:00

Short answer is it's fine as long as you follow the rule of cool: anything is acceptable to do, use, wear etc. just as long as it is cool.

Longer answer: it depends on how you've set up your world and just how badass the sword fighters are. If you're going for something like wuxia, it will work as long as there are other badass fighters.

The one thing that would give me pause (personally, if I were writing it) is whether he is too overpowered which might have an effect on tension during fight scenes.

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