That was a great article to read; thanks for sharing.
I use the zero draft method on a white board. If I'm writing for a fest, as soon as I confirm my prompt, I get out my whiteboard and just write whatever comes to mind with no structure for an hour. For the rest of the day, I go on with RL, but if inspiration strikes, I write on the board. The next morning, I start scratching out what doesn't work and keep adding new things. On the third day, I type whatever is left on the board and form a tentative outline before I start writing. I tend to write scene by scene before stitching them together and making sure the story flows. It doesn't always work, but at least it's a starting place.
I picked: After believing Harry Potter died in the war, Draco Malfoy receives an unusual letter..
My thought process: My first question is what is Draco's relationship with Harry? Are they still enemies, friends, lovers? I think it's important to establish what they are to each other, or at least have it in the back of your mind.
For this particular prompt I ask: How and why does Draco believe that Harry died in the war? What does the letter say? Is it from Harry? How does he receive the letter? Howler, email, owl post, normal post? Then I think about what his social status is in the fic because it affects what he does with the letter. If he's an outcast, then he's limited in what he can do. Or did he get along with Harry, thus allowing him to show the letter to Ron and Hermione and ask for their opinion?
Once Draco makes a decision and demonstrates why he cares to the reader, then I start writing.
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Date: 2013-09-12 03:02 am (UTC)I use the zero draft method on a white board. If I'm writing for a fest, as soon as I confirm my prompt, I get out my whiteboard and just write whatever comes to mind with no structure for an hour. For the rest of the day, I go on with RL, but if inspiration strikes, I write on the board. The next morning, I start scratching out what doesn't work and keep adding new things. On the third day, I type whatever is left on the board and form a tentative outline before I start writing. I tend to write scene by scene before stitching them together and making sure the story flows. It doesn't always work, but at least it's a starting place.
I picked: After believing Harry Potter died in the war, Draco Malfoy receives an unusual letter..
My thought process: My first question is what is Draco's relationship with Harry? Are they still enemies, friends, lovers? I think it's important to establish what they are to each other, or at least have it in the back of your mind.
For this particular prompt I ask: How and why does Draco believe that Harry died in the war? What does the letter say? Is it from Harry? How does he receive the letter? Howler, email, owl post, normal post? Then I think about what his social status is in the fic because it affects what he does with the letter. If he's an outcast, then he's limited in what he can do. Or did he get along with Harry, thus allowing him to show the letter to Ron and Hermione and ask for their opinion?
Once Draco makes a decision and demonstrates why he cares to the reader, then I start writing.