#writer question

If you're a fan of my blog you know I usually work from prompts, sometimes a string of them just kind of work to form a series. That's why I love prompts it takes you in a different direction from the norm and people quite enjoy that aspect of my work.

If I do 'plan' one it usually starts with a specific scene or idea in mind.

I think Dean Archer's The Study started with the idea of what would Dean do if Jack Dayton fell in love with his wife and then I start putting together the parts of how that happens and that usually generates the conflict. Like how do they end up in close proximity - ok so they're working on this study together, it's very important to Isobel, ok... why is it important to Isobel, does that override her ability to see straight when it comes to Jack. What does Dean do about it? That's the kind of thing that builds up the additional parts and formulates how it progresses.

I usually have an ending in mind that I work towards but as the story develops the characters usually change it and that's fine, it's having the goal that helps, like a little guiding star. I never start with this piece is going to be six parts. I never know how many parts it's going to be.

As for the motivation I try to live and breathe it, usually it will be the only thing I work on for a few days. I usually have the show on in the background, so I'm not distracted by something else. I think that plays a big part.

I try not to release a series before it's completed or it has at least five parts. If I'm around five parts usually I need a little break from it so I immerse myself in other stuff. That gives me five weeks to work on the next few pieces when I'm ready, depending on where they are in my schedule. I usually come back to it after a few weeks, read through it and continue because by that point I've had the brain space for it to be fresh again.

Main Tips to Take Away From This:

Have an ending in mind, it doesn't have to end up being the actual ending but it gives you something to work towards.

Live and breath it for a few days, make it the project you focus on. Give it the time it deserves.

If you need to take a break, that's fine, come back to it in a couple of weeks with fresh eyes.

Be wary of release pressure. If you start releasing it straight away you can’t go back and change something if the character reveals something new later on. Also the pressure of releasing it straight away is that when people want more, and you’re having an off day, that pressure can cause writer’s block and you feel like you’re disappointing people. What you really need is brain space so reframe the thought like  - wow people are interested in this story, they’ll wait for the next part. Reframing takes that pressure away.

Use Cause & Effect to build conflict, if your character is doing A, question why and what led them to this moment and consider how it effects their actions moving forward. Do this for all characters. The Study is an excellent reflection of this because each character has their own motivations which causes them to react the way they do.

- Isobel becomes obsessed with the study because of her history, effectively ignoring her husband and putting her in the proximity of a man who is in love with her.

- Her history is the reason Dean chide her about the situation, but he’s also going through his own shit and is struggling to tell his wife about it because of the distance, which creates more distance. What will Isobel do when she does find out about Dean’s illness?