How megatarget Writes

Wise words from one our admins!


How do you plan your story?
My methods have changed as I have gotten used to the experience of writing a full length novel. When I started, I was very spontaneous. I had an idea of an opening scene and I had an idea of how I wanted the book to end, but little planning in between. Over the course of my writing, that rapidly changed. By about my 6th chapter, I realized the need to plan ahead.
Now, I plan an outline of every intended chapter. Under that outline, I give each chapter a tentative title and a short description of what I plan to have happen. The writing software I use also allows you to break a chapter into scenes. I usually scene out about 3 to 4 chapters ahead of my current WIP, as specific events become more clear as I approach each chapter. I also do not hesitate to split an overlong chapter or merge two short chapters.


How do you construct your characters?
While I plan my story events, my characters are far more spontaneous entities. I usually start with a vague concept, usually inspired to some degree by a real person I have met or have read about. I then introduce what is absolute necessary for the story, then start. As I write out scenes and chapters, I get a better and better gut feel for the characters, which sometimes leads to some radical story alterations as I go along. In just my first two manuscripts, I have had one throwaway antagonist become one of the two main protagonists and another throwaway character added in an extra scene become vital to the overall plot. The biggest bit of advice I can offer here are to try to make your characters, no matter how unreal the setting, feel real. If you read back their dialogue and it sounds fake, you need to make changes. Also never be afraid to follow the natural tendencies of character action, even if it means altering your plans as a writer in the long run.


How did you start writing and why?
I started writing when I was really little, if you count making 4 panel crayon comic books! More officially, I really got into the concept of writing stories when I was six and I have always had it close to my heart, though I had a long hiatus of not really writing anything original for years. I picked it back up this year at the encouragement of my dearest friends. I started doing it and am doing it now for the same reason: it makes me happy to tell stories.


What conventions do you use?
Just because it's a trope doesn't mean it's bad! I have no problem using all sorts of story devices and general conventions if it suits the story.


What's most important to you, when writing a story?
The characters. They are the touch point for the readers to connect to your story. If they can't relate or don't want to relate to your characters, they won't enjoy the book and they likely won't finish, even if you have the Best Plot Ever (tm).


Which author(s) inspire you?
For creative inspiration, as cheesy as it sounds, anyone with the courage to put pen to paper. More specifically, I have a special place in my heart for superhero tales, so I can't help but put people like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and William Moulton Marston on a pedestal as the creators of the genre.
Specifically, for the inspiration to keep writing, I do have a special place for J.K. Rowling as an example that there really is a chance for good writers to make it in today's world.


What's your writing strengths and weaknesses?
I don't really know what my strengths are, outside of the fact that people seem to like what I write. I'm really not trying to be humble. I just try to take after what I feel is strong writing and try to put my personal spin on it and it seems to work.

My greatest weakness is easy. I have a bad tendency to be excessively wordy. I do this in my speech as well, so it's not just my writing. It leads to word bloat, repetitive statements, and obfuscating layers of text that can just be cut out. I think I am starting to get better, but I have to be ever vigilant against it.