#IWSG Crafting stories

Articles on writing, Visiting Authors

This article is for Alex J. Cavanaugh’s The Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

The goal of the support group is to share doubts and concerns, and reassure other writers who have struggled by offering assistance and guidance.

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day where we post our thoughts on doubts and the fears and how we triumphed. There are other bloggers listed who share their writing journey and I encourage you to check them out.

Here’s this month’s question:

August 4 question – What is your favourite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?

I missed the last #IWSG post due to busyness. I’ve taken a little creative (pardon the pun) licence with this month’s question and going with how I craft my stories.

When I get an idea for a story, I write a few lines and then do a brainstorm to determine whether it has ‘legs’. If there is enough for me to craft a story and can visualise characters, I develop the concept further and create storyboards. Mostly dot points as I don’t like to be too prescriptive with my writing.

The awesome co-hosts for the August 4 posting of the IWSG are PK Hrezo, Cathrina Constantine, PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, and Sandra Cox!

Twitter @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

How do you go about crafting your stories? Are you a visual or ‘pen to paper’ writer?

Thank you for your continued support and as always, I look forward to your comments and will respond.

Historical fiction novelist and a secondary teacher, Luciana Cavallaro, burnt out but not done… yet.

16 comments

Add Yours
  1. Jacqui Murray

    I’m going to start a new trilogy in about four months so I’m interested in how you start a book. You say ” I write a few lines and then do a brainstorm”. How do you brainstorm? With yourself? Research? Definitely curious!

    I couldn’t click the ‘notify me’ button so I may take a while to get back here!

    Liked by 1 person

    • cav12

      I am very much looking forward to learning about your new trilogy, Jacqui :D. I tend to use pen and paper and think about the characters, setting, plot, potential adversaries and antagonists in the story. Then I branch out further, as to how many characters, male, female, whose the main character, etc. I then set it aside for a few days to a week, and go back and work on it further. Do some research, set up scenes, more research and then begin the story. I hope that makes sense!

      Like

  3. J.S. Pailly

    I’ve had a lot of story ideas that turned out “not to have legs,” as you said. But I still hold on to them. Sometimes they turn out to be good B-plots or C-plots for other projects I’m working on.

    Liked by 2 people

    • cav12

      Never considered that idea. I have a notepad with potential stories, some that will be fleshed out, others not so. I like your idea of recycling those sub-plots 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • cav12

      I’m not a fast writer and have to find time around working full-time. I like to outline my stories but find I never stick to them. The characters take over the story. Thank you, Louise 😀 I look forward to reading your memoir.

      Like

  7. G. J. Jolly

    My favorite craft book is On Writing by Stephen King. He doesn’t pull any punches and gives lots of room for individuality.

    I usually start an idea with a location and the main character, and write approximately half a page of the 1st scene. If it still feels okay, I go back and write summaries that describe the location, and a few if the main characters. After that, I start writing where I left off.

    Liked by 1 person

    • cav12

      That is a good book, and one that pops up often with other writers.
      Its nice to hear about how other writers go about their writing process. Similiar approaches, yet different.
      Thank you, Glynis, for sharing 🙂

      Like

Comments are closed.