Steven’s Comments (group member since Jun 03, 2019)

Steven’s comments from the The Story Forge group.

How do you start?

I am often asked how do you even start a novel? The task seems so daunting that at a glance you can feel hopeless. It is truly not that hard, or even painful. Just pick a character or idea that captivates you. Something you will want to spend a lot of time with. (Because you surely will)

If you start with a character, ask yourself about the world around them, how it effects them, and who you want them to be.
If you start with and idea or event, build that world in your mind then you find someone. Pick a name and start listing off traits until they seem almost real. What they want, and who might stop them comes next. Yarns of thread forming that feeling for your character.

Now that you have the who and what we outline the events. Put down the beginning, and how you think it will end. (I say think because this often changes) Then you simply start connecting the dots. You have a start and an ending now you only have to travel the road. Add more adversity if the plot slows down or another character if you want a longer work.

Once this is done its much easier to mix story lines this way. Each story-line is braided with the others until the tie together. Moving scenes around is always easiest visually for me, and helps you plan foreshadowing.

After that you are free to write. All that is left is time and effort.


Get to Writing!
Steven Lost

World Building

World building is a huge part of any great story. The setting is something that not only captures our imagination and desires, but enhances and shapes the characters within it. A web of dreams effecting everything around it.

So how do you go about crafting such a dreamscape? How do you create that bright flashing city painting billboard light across your readers face? Here are a few tips to help.

First I love to draw maps of the worlds I create. It helps me to visualize and timeline movement. It lets me see the problems my character may run into and be ready for solutions, but must of all its that first step in building culture. That sense of community, and personality that your reader will feel and believe.

Next look to history as a source to stir your imagination. Events or people that you can use to craft your own mold. Names, places, battles, architeture! There are thousands of years of countless cultures to give you ideas or spark your imagination. Look through the past, blend cultures, borrow and change names, make it all your own. Then add it to your world.

Never forget your senses when you are moving a character to a new place. Describe the smell and lighting. Tell them if it is cold or hot and if the place makes them nervous. Perspective is something that you always have to check when you are writing a character. Let the reader know what they feel. Remember to feel for them. Is there a sound in the back ground? Does your character know the people they are going to meet? Are they happy to meet them? Hear, smell, see, touch, but do not forget to add how it makes your character feel. The way there stomach ties into a knot or warms up with a since of joy. Let the setting soak into them and that is what your write!

Lastly dream, just keep asking your self what if and drawing on the chalkboard of your mind. Bounce ideas and modify them at every angle until you come up with something new that is just you. A time, and place that no one else would ever build. You are unique, we are all different, I could never create the same world as you. Show us why yours is something different, and don't be afraid to let it be parts of you into it.


Get to writing!
Steven Lost

We all eventually end up there. Staring blankly at the computer screen as tension rises up inside of you. You are stuck.
Don't worry, whether it takes a day or a week you will find your solution. But just in case, here are a few helpful methods you keep you moving forward.
First take a small break, grab a snack and let your mind settle. Everything is easier when you're relaxed. Now place you're setting in your mind. Focus on your characters mood and motive. What do they want? What problem are they fighting? Where do they want to be next? Still no flash of intuition?
Perhaps you're dead-end is because of a direction or decision your character has made. Consider changing a direction or choice made earlier in the story. This will not only help you move through your current block, but present more choices for your character to act on, one that will offer you more exciting circumstance.
Lastly, and more often my preferred method, is to let it bake Allow your subconscious to work its way through the scene. Let the ideas cook down inside of you until only the broth remains. If you are truly a writer you never stop thinking about your work. It may take days, but let that insanity work for you. Trust instinct and allow the process to work within you.
If all else fails don't panic you're not cursed or incompetent You just need to let the work breathe. A tired mind seldom fines epiphany. Sometimes you have to stop looking and return with fresh eyes. Look at it again a week later without all the stress and preconception. Look at it as if you've never seen it before. The magic light bulb will find you. After a month away you will see it in a dozen new ways.


Get to writing!

Steven Lost

Writing that great villain

We all try to craft that perfect villain. The next Darth Vader or Frankenstein.

There are a few key rules to keep in mind so that your antagonist stays grounded and tearing at the mental and emotional heartstrings of your readers.

Villains are not completely bad, they often pursue a virtuous goals through nefarious ends, or use to be good but lost their way. Even the few who are totally evil often hold something sacred, be it their own ego or some perception of something sacred within society or themselves

Villains often think of themselves as tools and thus are fearless in sacrificing themselves. While others lust for power and Status clinging to privilege in a corrupt world

A conflict of conscious will humanize them to your reader while unshakable will will make them seem terrifying and insane. Just to keep remember to keep real emotions in inside of them nobody wants a robot stealing scene dialogue.

It does not matter who your villain is, or where he is from. He has a past that shaped him, and a need that keeps him moving. Keep that in mind as you shape your next evil genius.

Get to writing!
Steven Lost

7

Hi Fiona!

Welcome and thanks for joining! Yes the first novel is such a learning experience. I am going through the same pains myself. The key is to keep writing, Build a personal catalog and make it work for you. Keep that snowball rolling and before you know it, you will be a full time author.

Have you checked out 20to50k on Facebook? A very good resource

Get to Writing
Steven Lost

The first draft of anything is shit. It is my favorite Hemingway quote, and and if even he felt that way you can have doubt too.

Just get it down on paper. Be fearless, take risks some of them will payoff. You really just want to get the clay on the table so you can begin to massage the details into place. Add that foreshadowing that you did not see before. Only you will see the mess. So just throw the words together and get it to sorting. It is how we all start. No one writes a novel in one try.

Mistakes make us better, don't be afraid of them. They reward you.


Get To Writing!

Steven Lost

How long is your book? It is a question that starts a tinge on insecurity down a new author's spine. How much is enough? How much is too much?

Relax there is no law of novel writing you have to obey. Everyone has a different opinion. The Scarlet Letter is only eleven thousand words, the old man in the sea is only 25,000. Did that stop these works from becoming Timeless Classics? No. In truth the length of your work should be decided by its momentum.


Stop when the action does. When the plot has run its course. You will only bore the reader if you force extra scenes. If you must add length add a character, or introduce a new problem earleir in the story.


Get To Writing!

Steven Lost

Basic story structure

Conflict, action, resolution the basic parts of any story. Stay in your car and everything will be ok.

Characters only act when forced to. Conflict is their reason to do so. The problem that sends their whole world spinning, sending them on a path to face it

Action is their direct attack or solution to that problem. A plan or place that will no doubt require great effort to achieve.

Resolution of course is how the whole thing shakes out. How their action remedied the conflict, or didn't. A place for your character to celebrate or re-plan.

Just the basic 1,2,3 of story writing. Something to keep in mind when you outline or day dream.


Get to writing!

Steven Lost

How do you start?

I am often asked how do you even start a novel? The task seems so daunting that at a glance you can feel hopeless. It is truly not that hard, or even painful. Just pick a character or idea that captivates you. Something you will want to spend a lot of time with. (Because you surely will)

If you start with a character, ask yourself about the world around them, how it effects them, and who you want them to be.
If you start with and idea or event, build that world in your mind then you find someone. Pick a name and start listing off traits until they seem almost real. What they want, and who might stop them comes next. Yarns of thread forming that first knot.

Now that you have the who and what we outline the events. Put down the beginning, and how you think it will end. (I say think because this often changes)

Then you simply start connecting the dots. You have a start and an ending now you only have to travel the road. Add more adversity if the plot slows down or another character if you want more scenes.

Once this is done its much easier to mix story lines this way. Each storyline is braided with the others until the tie together. Moving scenes around is always easiest visually for me, and helps you plan foreshadowing.

After that you are free to write. All that is left is time and effort.


Get to Writing!

Steven Lost

Write from people you know

We all save notes in the corners of our minds. People or events that spark our imaginations to work.

The best lies have a grain of truth. Art is no different. It is a lie that looks back at the truth.

To build real characters, use real people, or parts of them atleast. A template to start from then tweak as your story grows. How someone in your life walks, or talks or even how their presence fills a room. It is all starting points for your character to evolve from. It all already there inside of you. Just let it into your work.

Your characters will be more organic and honest. An illusion your reader is less likely to question.

Get to writing!

Steven Lost

They will remember me a traitor, a usurper, and a criminal. A scheming snake who nearly brought down the great kingdom.
But how can one disobey through obedience? How can I be ostracized for being the lone voice of reason? I have been betrayed by a faith that has proven to be variable. I followed a dream so devoutly I never noticed its decay.
I have held it a sin to kill, yet did so a thousand times in dogma’s name, realizing too late, that evil carried out in religion’s name stains the soul just the same.
I was born a prince, and shall die a monster, cast aside by father, and brother alike for honoring a moral code that did not extend to the unbelievers.
For the kingdom of my father I have been soldier, saint, and in the end a martyr. Leading his armies so sure of myself, I never stopped to question the chaos I unleashed. Over throwing warlords, and false gods alike, nothing seemed beyond our grasps. All creation was ours to reshape and conquer.
Yet when we marched out into the unknown it was under banners of faith. We were saviors rising up to bring a new dawn. But when I stopped to take stock of where I stood, it was onto a mountain of death and decay. We looked to all those not like us, and decided they had no right to live.
In the end we proved ourselves no better than the warlords we replaced. By the time I found the courage to object, the momentum of the war was too great, and those who stood against the tide were swept out to sea.
So here I write a traitor. So I shall die a villain. Bearing a love for my father so great I damned my very soul trying to save him.
It is the truth I write here. History, too often written by the hands of victors. But read how a favorite son became so hated; how the light of hope became just another shadow of oppression; how among the sun, the moon, and endless stars there are no gods, only tyrants.

Fate of Israel on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QF1MFWG

Query letters take dozens of drafts and a lot of effort. Don't be discouraged! You can start here.

off topic

Who has lit your imagination on fire? Is it a new unknown or a classic you just got to know?

How do you build a novel? How do you prepare before you write? Outlines? Brain Storming? We want to know here

Want an opinion on a pivotal scene? Wonder if that description was slowed down by details? Ask a friend here.

How do you build your world? How do you find the people in it? Share your method or madness here.

Lost in your own story? Ask other members what they think.

Welcome,
Happy to be starting my writing blog. I want it to be a place for authors to exchanged methodology and hard earned experience. I will try to help new authors promote as much as I can, and please feel free to tell us about the madness to your method.

Get to writing!
Steven Lost The Story Forge