Quote Originally Posted by Daes
Hello, my assignment is to participate in this discussion, so I guess here is my two cents. ^_^

I have no experience with novel writing, and my short stories (to me) are too short to be short stories.. I haven’t written a real short story since I was in high school hehe. But, I do a lot of rping and of course that’s just another way to go about storytelling, instead of characters from one author, you have many that all work together in order to make the story interesting for everyone.

I’m more of a fantasy writer, it’s a part of my style and in creating stories, the first thing that immediately comes to mind is character creation, this is different than writing about yourself but it does have similarities because how you introduce yourself or your character is an important part in creating a mood. The environment and the feeling of that setting should also require attention, it plays upon what is happening behind the actions and dialogue.

When I begin making my stories, character first of course, then choose a theme or mood for my environment that would harmonize with my character. I can write pages about character creation, but that isn’t what this is for. These are just the things I focus on before even contemplating what’s going to be happening in my story- I’ll have a vague idea, but nothing too specific just yet. If the characters and the environment don’t work together then my story won’t flow properly.

Now, once characters and mood have been decided, need something that contrast their normal ideals or endeavors, create a problem that would bring out how this character is, how she feels, reacts, thinks etc. Your antagonist can do this or even the mood itself. =)

When your problem has been established, then comes the fun part. What’s going to happen, what’s the goal for the story? In my last assignment for level 2 the goal was for my antagonist to convince an otherwise innocent, strong hearted girl to submit to him without forcing her to do so because it would give him more satisfaction than simply forcing her to do so and creates loyalty in the process. How you go about obtaining a situation to place your characters in, is up to the author and really depends on how your characters are in my opinion. ^_^

Here’s an excellent example. I am currently working on creating a new roleplay on Adventure Quest’s rp forums. It’s supposed to be a romance roleplay, I don’t know what characters are going to be involved, I just know that I need a good storyline that won’t be soo corny that no one will participate. Hmm.. –takes ten minutes to think-

It has to be fantasy (AQ rules), I plan on this being a tragedy/drama kinda romance and I’ve already decked out a few characters in mind. One is a female mercenary (a lesbian), and a princess (her lover), and one more girl that I haven’t decided on yet. Thing is, when I come up with stories, they just flow through my mind while I’m coming up with the characters and the world around them, in other words, I have a blurred sketch in my mind about what my story will have in it- but as I write- right now- the story will begin to form.. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen yet, I don’t know myself. Just let it flow ^_^

Right now… I’m imagining my mercenary is in love with a princess who was born with a curse (that neither of them know of) that will slowly eat away at her body until she turns into a demon (>.> see I didn’t even know it was going to be a demon, but demon sounds good <.<.. carrying on). The royal family wants her sealed away so she can do no harm when the time comes for her body to begin to change, but her brother (the king) has prevented them from doing so. See the simple story of how the princess came to be what she was could be a short story, or how the king saved the princess from the rest of the family could be a short story as well. That doesn’t even include her lover ^_^ Endless possibilities.

So (for me) this is how I go about short stories:

Character Developement
-Appearance
-Personality
Mood and Environment
-Theme
-Emotional Impact
Problem and Solution
-Harmonize with Environment
-Contrast or Harmonize with Character
Character Interaction/Dialogue
-Affected by Mood
-Work towards solution
Very good so in effect you are sort of using an outline---many authors do --and in using one it helps to keep your story going ---by going back and you can easily create chapter two and three----just by changing the mood and enviroment---coming up with new problems and solutions ---and then add characters or things to make it flow---do not be afraid to try this ---after readers --read a story and become comfortable with certain characters it is easy for them to accept them in different situations---some of the greatest novel writers use this ---John Sanford for one, Kay Hooper---just to name a few---

Now using what you learned in Level one which is basicly details and making your reader feel they are there---being famaliar with the characters is a plus
If you have ever read any John Sanford novels you will be like most of his fans and can not wait until his next (Alex Cross) novel comes out--

Level two was basicly common errors and spelling most new authors make ---the importance of Proof readers is pointed out... not proof reading it yourself--let someone else read over it for you.

When I write I see my story ---I am there and try to bring my readers there with me---if they can feel what you feel, see what you see, smell what you smell ---then you have accomplished your task.

I have posted so good articles in the levels to help. Some you may be able to use ---some you may not as no two writers do things exactly the same, although most classes try to make you use a written outline ---and go thru the steps that have worked for others.

I suggest you read some of them----use what you think will work ---forget what you don't think will work for you ---

Earlier I have decussed my methods for writing a story ---and you can see Aesop's and Subwife's---as well as they see yours---this is a sharing of ideas between writers---you may find something you would like to try


Now a question ----do you write you outline down before you start your story?