#plotter

*In writing terms, an architect is someone who plots out, plans, and outlines things before drafting. A gardener is someone who takes an initial idea and then just writes, seeing how the idea grows without specific plans.

threadSheet Each thread is more or less simple, but always random

#p5js generated. Noised trig objects in grid Plot with GellyRoll 0.8 over 230g black A3. Original music.

Writing tips time? Writing tips time!

This is for those lovely creative folks that struggle not for a lack of ideas, but for an absolute overabundance.

Do you have stacks of concepts, OCs and fantastic worlds gathering dust all over the place? Do you feel crippling guilt whenever you pick a WIP instead of another? Do you overthink which story could actually be the best, or just struggle to start writing?

Here is a bunch of advice from a very ADHD writer who, thanks to 6 years of ghostwriting, had to learn a bunch of stuff about starting (and finishing) projects real quick. No work = no food was a very effective motivation.

Of course, this is very personal, but comes from a fellow chaos goblin that somehow made it through (now I am in academia, and it is kind of the same, just with more theory and slightly less ghosts). 1. Come to terms with the fact that there is no perfect story. Your other ideas are not better or more interesting -- it will be the execution that makes the difference. The best story is the written one. Put the others aside and think that it is a "later", not a goodbye forever. 2. Once you set the world and have a general idea of the characters, begin writing. You don't need to have the full story planned at this point. Just step "inside" your character and drop them in a random scene. It could be something super mundane, like waking up, cooking, and getting ready for their day. The world and its relations will emerge through the action.

Example: Your main character is 22 years old college drop out Sofia. Your world is a massive, empty cruise ship, navigating in the liminal space between life and death. Drop your character into the world. What does Sofia do? She may panic, check the room for clues, and then worry about important things, like food and water. This is already the story.

3. At this point, the world should have become much more "material". It is usually when I switch to hyperfocus. I need to know how my story ends (and get frustrated at myself when I am too slow). This is when I outline the broader, major story beats, as they can be "grounded" in the world.

Example: You decided that the ship is haunted by ghosts, but also inhabited by other 5 living humans, all coming from different time periods. Their values may clash, but they will have to find a way to collaborate to escape. 4. Now you can begin the (slightly more) detailed outline. Break it down into smaller milestones as you go.

Example: Milestone 1: Sofia meets the first survivor. Milestone 2: They discover the ship's impossible geography together. Milestone 3: The ghosts appear with a deadly ultimatum. 5. Back to writing! Step back into Sofia and start connecting the dots between your milestones. Where could she meet her first companion? Maybe she explores a mysterious library, or heads to the dining hall looking for food—and discovers she's not the only one who had that idea. Let the scenes unfold, using your milestones as guideposts, not rigid checkpoints. 6. Let characters emerge. You might have a fully planned cast, some vague idea, or even meet the inhabitants of your world as you explore it. Ghost number 6 might actually turn up to be Sofia's new love interest (let's get some drama going)! 7. Don't sleep on character studies! I love them. They are a wonderful way to explore your world. You can write snippets (that you might not use) from different points of view, to help you understand the characters better and get a "feel" for how they are as people, not plot devices. You can also post those as extra bits for your fans. 8. Remember that you can always edit! Nothing is set in stone, not even fan fiction (readers of serial/archival publications know that they are reading first drafts, so they will understand if you revise in real time). After all, as you explore and engage with your world, you might find that things you thought were trivial are instead absolutely crucial. Example: That vintage phone Sofia had on her desk? Sure, you wrote it for atmosphere -- but it could be the perfect means for her to talk with the other side. What a genius of foreshadowing you are! (not aha). I love it when "it clicks". For me, the plot "weaving" is a continuous back and forth. 9. Set up for your writing :) To keep yourself in the zone, you have to make the zone. Make a playlist of (non-distracting) ambient music, get yourself cosy. Make it match the story you picked for that extra focus.

This started as a comment to a post in one of my communities, but people found it helpful. So here it is, for the world to enjoy. A complete guide to goblin writing.

PDP-8 Computer Art – David Gesswein

And is that @regretsretrotech talking to David in one of those photos?