| Many like to read novels, and will read them again | | | | The third approach to preparing you ideas for a |
| and again, but have the desire to do much more, | | | | story is to create the characters. Identify and |
| such as write a story themselves. The place | | | | write down all the personality traits, interest, to |
| where many get stuck is at the very beginning, | | | | really make them something genuine! Do not be |
| where do I start? There are about five different | | | | afraid to get too in detail, the more you know the |
| ways to help yourself brainstorm and get your | | | | characters the easier it is to write about them, or |
| ideas down on paper before any actual story | | | | even to create the dialogue of the story. You can |
| writing takes place. This allows you to organize | | | | make them a profile, which includes likes, dislikes, |
| your thoughts, and acknowledge all the possibilities | | | | hobbies, and lifestyle. Another important factor |
| to maximize the chances of getting your story | | | | with this system is to know the relationships of |
| off the ground. The techniques are not all | | | | each character to the others and how they |
| separate though. They can be used in order to | | | | intertwine. One last part of this method to |
| help you through the creation process. | | | | remember is the perspective! There will be a main |
| The first method that can be used is what is | | | | character, maybe one, maybe two, but is always |
| commonly known as free writing. This can be | | | | good to establish how you want the story to be |
| done one of two ways. You can allow yourself as | | | | told. It helps if you imagine the story from all |
| much time as you want to just let any ideas that | | | | different viewpoints, to really expose yourself and |
| come to mind to be jotted down on the paper, | | | | get a better understanding of what you really |
| or you can time yourself. You can take five to | | | | want. |
| ten minutes, and everything that comes to mind | | | | Next is a plot line. Every story has background |
| that would fit into your story gets written down | | | | information, an introduction, rising action, climax, |
| on your paper. Do not worry if it does not make | | | | the falling action, and finally the resolution. It is |
| sense that is not the point of the exercise. The | | | | great to vaguely plot out these sections, so that |
| point is to get the creative juices flowing, and | | | | you have a basic understanding of where the |
| giving you the opportunity to branch off any idea | | | | story is going. Of course the events can change, |
| you may have put down. Many of the comments | | | | with fiction writing nothing is set in stone, but it |
| you write down will not be used at all in the story, | | | | definitely helps keep your thoughts on track, and |
| but the more you have the more chances you | | | | progressively going towards your goal. Getting a |
| have of inspiration, and an idea you can work | | | | little bit detailed can benefit you when you start |
| with. It is a great exercise, and it may also help if | | | | the writing. A paragraph or two should suffice |
| you run into a writer's block. This may get your | | | | though. |
| ideas on paper, but the next part is choosing and | | | | Finally the last part is creating an outline. It |
| organizing the ideas you want to include in your | | | | significantly helps if before you go on to a full on |
| story. | | | | book to try writing a few short stories to help |
| Which brings us to the next technique, mind | | | | get you familiar with the process, and to enhance |
| mapping or the old-fashioned cluster. It starts out | | | | your writing ability. You can start with the intro |
| with a circle in the middle of the paper. If you | | | | and then go into chapters if you want. They do |
| know what you want your story to be based | | | | not have to be ten paged chapters, but for a |
| around or at least have somewhat of an idea | | | | short story they can be about two to three |
| from your free writing exercise then you can use | | | | paragraphs long and just bullet the important |
| that in the middle of the circle. After that is all | | | | items you want within that section. You can go |
| done it is time to start branching out. You can | | | | about doing this for the whole story, and voila! |
| draw a line from the middle circle connecting it to | | | | You have a very basic rough draft of what you |
| another one that is located towards the outside | | | | want your story to look like. Now all that is left is |
| of the paper. In this one who can put an idea that | | | | putting words around it and details! |
| deals with the main story, such as the main plot, | | | | Since this process can vary from person to |
| or perhaps character introductions, anything really | | | | person, you may want to add your own personal |
| that relates directly with the main idea. You can | | | | flavor to it or perhaps you feel comfortable |
| make as many as you want connecting to the | | | | skipping a step, it is simply your choice. Do not |
| middle circle! Now you can also branch off the | | | | forget though to use the resources that you |
| secondary ideas, and just keep going, this will give | | | | have, such as a dictionary, and thesaurus. If these |
| you a rough representation of how your story will | | | | techniques are applied to the creation process, |
| weave together, and how it is all interconnected. | | | | you will be well on your way to writing a mystery |
| This works great for very visual people! | | | | novel. |