keeping track of the little things

FIFTHWIND

I learned the hard way, that you cannot rely on memory alone to catalog all the details of your novel. As much as you my *think* that you can remember all the characters names, traits, and details about places and events, YOU CAN'T. (at least, I found out that I can't)

If you aren't already doing so, keep a notebook or a section of your digital notes, specifically for that purpose. Create lists or appendices for everything you can imagine from names, to the color of character's clothes.

Leave nothing out, prepare for that moment when you will inevitably say, "oh crap... where did Bob leave that letter? Was it at the inn? or is it in his pocket?"

NAMES
PLACES
SMALL EVENTS
HISTORY and BACKSTORY
CHRONOLOGY (how many days have gone by since the last major event)
PLOT ARCS (that will need revisiting or resolutions)
CLOTHING DESCRIPTIONS
INJURIES (this is a BIG one... for obvious reasons)
OPINIONS or STANCES (can't have characters flip-flopping on issues)

_________________
---Ken Kiser

mornara · ADMINISTRATOR Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 2890

Will you add this to the hints and tips thread please? It's a priceless little piece of advice!

_________________
To run from misery’s thrall to where only the knife-edged thrill stands before the endless fall…

To allow for the existence of one god, we must allow for the existence of all gods.

FIFTHWIND · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:54 am Post subject:

Done.

_________________
---Ken Kiser

mornara · ADMINISTRATOR Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 2890

Thanks! I'll add to the discussion when I'm not quite so damned tired.

_________________
To run from misery’s thrall to where only the knife-edged thrill stands before the endless fall…

To allow for the existence of one god, we must allow for the existence of all gods.

Grammer · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject:

It's a pretty important thing. I've taken to having a notebook next to me where I dot down such things as kill counts. It's bad to kill off more goons than what I said there was.

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The Knights of the Pink Slippers are now recruiting!

Cute: Anything that will kill unwanted visitors in a very nasty way.

Nameless One · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject:

I can't remember how many ideas, thoughts or phrases that remain in that wastebasket in the sky due to the fact that I didn't have a notebook to write them down.

Now, I take one with me everywhere. Well...almost everywhere Wink

_________________
-Nameless One

"I have no face, no identify.
I am form without shape.
I am feeling without thought.
I am darkeness within light.
I am timeless."