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I Can't Plot - How Do I Improve?

@SingSongKV group forum 5 comments schedule
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@SingSongKV group

My ADHD is really testing me, I'll get the most exciting and fun writing prompts and character ideas and I'll want to write it, but then when it comes down to it, plotting, character development and arcs, conflict, when I get technical about it, I just can't do it right. It's like i don't know how a story should work?

Is there any way/ways that I can get past the "idea" stage and actually begin finishing a entire story rather than a premise? (Starting to think writing isn't for me…)

@FallenSinAza

Maybe start simple with short stories for practice, when you come up with prompt, say pretend to be my bf, come up with what happens before you start writing. Will the two fall in love or break it off. Another good tip is stick to the characters personality, if they clash, add more fighting, write as if you're the characters, instead of just writing really but your brain to it, literally be the character. My ADHD runs fast so I usually don't know how to put into words what I'm thinking so my stuff usually don't make sense, so I hope this helped in some way

@Masterkey

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to share YouTube links so I'll just tell you how to find this video. It's titled "The Four Types of Novel Writers" and the YouTube channel is called "Ellen Brock." She's a novel editor and she gives AMAZING advice! I'll give you a sneak peak about what this video (and its connecting videos) is about.

Basically she divides all writers into two continuums: Plotter vs Pantser, and Methodological vs Intuitive. So then that leaves us with four different types of writers:

  • The Methodological Plotter
  • The Methodological Pantser
  • The Intuitive Plotter
  • The Intuitive Pantser

You don't have to squarely fit into just one category either, you can definitely be a mix. That's because some people might lean slightly more intuitive than methodological, and some people might HEAVILY lean more intuitive, and so on and so forth with both continuums. But still, it is helpful to try to identify which of the four kinds of writers you are most like. I would recommend watching that video to understand what is meant by all these words, and then go on to watch her extensive and detailed advice for each kind of writer! She has four other videos dedicated to each type of writer and they're epic. I hope that helps!

@Masterkey

She also has tons of other advice videos that can answer your other questions beyond your question about how to plot. Also I realized I wanted to add more from my own experience about trying to become a writer in addition to what I said above.

What you said sounds exactly like me several years ago when I first started seriously trying to write. And I felt like a sucked so bad (and I did lol). It felt like I had no idea how a story should go, either, even though I read so many books! What really really helped me was to take a step back from trying to write for a little (although @FallenSinAza 's advice about just practicing writing with short stories is great too for when you're ready to sharpen your writing skills) and try to just think and learn about writing. I researched a lot of stuff online, and that was helpful to an extent, but there's a lot of bad advice along with the good advice I've found lol. The thing that helped me the most was to think about my favorite books, movies, and stories in general and then try to pick them apart and answer WHAT exactly I liked about them and WHY. That was mind blowing for me. As I got more used to dissecting my favorite stories, I could start breaking down my favorite characters, my favorite plot points, my favorite worlds, etc. Eventually I started to see patterns emerge in my preferences and after that I started to come up with ways for how to execute myself the things I liked in other stories.

Ultimately, you should be writing what you would love to read, so go find the things you love and dissect them!

router
Mt. G router

Hey there, don't give up on writing just yet! Plotting and character development can be a challenge for many writers, especially for those with ADHD. There's a lot of good advice here already, but here are a few more tips:

  • Break it down - Plotting can seem daunting, but try breaking it down into smaller parts, such as brainstorming character traits, or listing out the main events of the story.

  • Outline - Try creating an outline, which can help you see the story's structure and guide your writing.

  • Find a writing buddy - Work with someone who can help keep you on track and help you bounce ideas off of each other.

  • Experiment with different methods - Everyone's writing process is different, so try different methods until you find what works best for you. Great suggestions above, but I also wanted to add the "Snowflake" method. Don't be afraid to look at existing story structures like the Hero's Journey or a 3- or 4-act structure, too.

Remember, writing is a journey and it's okay to make mistakes along the way. That's what editing is for!