Planning

When the Job is Too Big

Right now, my main goal for the coming weeks is to revise and edit a piece I first wrote about a year ago. I’ve had some insight and advice on how to improve it, and even in the earlier (I don’t think all that great) draft, some people have said I should try to publish it. So there’s that.

But in the meantime, I’ve been trying to work on my “grand science fiction epic.” I have an overall premise in my head, and have for a year or two. But I have no idea where to begin, so for this big monstrosity, I’ve decided to do some planning.

So, I wanted to say some of the ideas I’ve had for planning this piece. It’s been partly inspired by what I’ve read or heard about several authors have prepared for their own epic stories. Think Tolkien, for example.

I’m new to all of this, too, so I’m no expert by any means. I do teach writing to third-graders, but this is a completely different animal.

Planning to Create a New World

Here is what I’ve been doing so far.  Please feel free to comment below if you have any other ideas, or join  our FACEBOOK GROUP – Chapter One, Page One to join in the discussion.

1. Draw a map of the land, or a few maps (whole world, main cities/towns, etc.) It is good for consistency, and for coming up with plot. Like, “oh hey, they need to walk through this forest now. Wonder what’s in there?…”
2. Create character bios:  Basic info (name, age, gender), but also detailed personality analysis (you can take free tests online and answer as your character). And some basic backstory.
3. Outline the key events of the overall story, maybe using a pattern like the archetypal journey.
4. Take photos of anything that inspires you. For example, on a hike through the woods, I took a photo of the ferns and trees. Possible story location.
5. Keep a journal, either a notebook and/or on your computer. Freewrite – just ramble on your ideas. You’ll be surprised what you come up with.
6. Write “vignettes.” Without thinking they’ll ever end up anywhere else, write short scenes featuring a character or two. This is helping me get in the characters’ heads. One in particular, about a troubled painter, really made me like this character who I thought was going to be minor. I just went with it, without thinking, and now have a totally different idea for who she is.
7. Draw pictures of your character, or maybe look up photos of real people. For example, I have a dancer in this story who is inspired by real-life dancer Misty Copeland.
8. Write out lots of backstory. Even if none of it ends up in the real story, it’ll make it seem more real. Again, think of Tolkien, writing in the trenches of WWI, making stories of Middle Earth.

What About You?

So that is what I’ve been doing for now.  Apart from that, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Sometimes, a thought will come to me without warning. If I can, I’ll write it down. Or maybe I’ll record a quick memo on my phone. I hate hearing my own voice recorded, but it’s something!

Do you have other ideas? Comment below or join the group to chime in.

Thanks all!

-Michael Karpe