Writer's Road Recap: Ideas to Words

Here is an abbreviated recap of last week's #WritersRoad chat on getting your idea into words: 

Heather McCorkle  The best way I've found to tackle the block of idea into words is to have a plan, a direction that I know the story is going. #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  I used to hate writing outlines but now I love them. They help me get the idea into words. Never thought I'd say that! #WritersRoad

Lori Prima  to @HeatherMcCorkle I like to sketch out any fragments of scenes or dialogue when I first am working on a new idea #writersroad

TS Tate (Tee)  to @HeatherMcCorkle I actually wrote a new one today. I love them. Make me really think about where I'm going. #writersroad

Heather McCorkle  to @teetate Me too. Outlines help me focus and keep me going when I would otherwise stop. #WritersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  I the most important factor in getting the job done, is doing the work. Don't let the idea linger, WRITE IT. #writersroad

Matthew Wilbur  I do this weird thing where I write a couple chapters (or more) and if the piece seems to be working, then I outline. #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  to @Nightveil I'd go crazy if I did that because I'd be constantly rewriting it! #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  to @Nightveil Sometimes you just have to get the juices flowing though, so I totally understand. #WritersRoad

Matthew Wilbur  to @HeatherMcCorkle This may be the problem with the current WIP. #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  Research can help motivate me to get words on the paper. It also sparks new chapter ideas & deepens the plot. #WritersRoad

Lori Prima  to @HeatherMcCorkle and  @Nightveil If I don't eventually outline, the plot bunnies get waaaayyy out of hand. #writersroad

Heather McCorkle  Do you ever make up playlists for your novels? Sometimes I've found the right music gets the words flowing. #WritersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  If you're 'stuck' and can't get past it, try relying on some craft books to help u think abt ur story in a new light...#writersroad

Matthew Wilbur  to @HeatherMcCorkle This is not something I've done. I don't think most of my music is conducive to writing. #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  to @Nightveil LOL! I know the feeling. That's why I go for music that makes me think of the book, like a soundtrack for it. #WritersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  I would highly recommend 'Plot and Structure' by @jamesscottbell (I know, I always rec that one). #writersroad

Heather McCorkle  What would the soundtrack for your book sound like? Who would the artists be? Those should be your inspiration. #WritersRoad

Ebony McKenna  I need complete silence. I need to hear my character's think. :-) #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  Pictures and art help inspire me. I like to find or take pictures that inspire certain scenes. Helps so much! #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  I often close my eyes to envision a scene, hear my characters dialogue in my head, wierd I know, but it works. #WritersRoad

Matthew Wilbur  I've finally got my head mostly around Scrivener. Still feels odd sometimes, but I'm getting it. #WritersRoad

Matthew Wilbur  to @HeatherMcCorkle The movie in your head. Not all that weird. If you can see it you're doing something right. :) #WritersRoad

Matthew Wilbur  to @HeatherMcCorkle It's a word processing program, but the basic metaphor is working on pieces of the doc rather than the whole. #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  to @Nightveil Sounds like something that would get me jumbled up. I use a table of contents and so I can go easily to chapters. #WritersRoad

Matthew Wilbur  to @teetate  and @HeatherMcCorkle For me it's the "focus on one chapter at a time" aspect. It's quirky but I'm getting used to it. #WritersRoad

Lori Prima  to @HeatherMcCorkle @Nightveil I use it and am a fan. However, I also find myself on many nights using basic word proc pgms #writersroad

Heather McCorkle  to @Nightveil In essence, using a TOC in Word would allow me to work on whatever chapter I wanted & not get lost. #WritersRoad

Brenda Corey Dunne  to @HeatherMcCorkle @Nightveil I've thought about it too, but am a big fan of printing off and separating into chunks. #WritersRoad

Lori Prima  to @HeatherMcCorkle I am right there with you. I sometimes find myself "acting" out the dialogue. #writersroad

Matthew Wilbur  to @teetate @HeatherMcCorkle Essentially. But you can move chapters around and it will eventually compile them and export them... #WritersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  What are some of the biggest obstacles you face in moving from idea to story? #writersroad

Heather McCorkle  to @teetate I always want that first page to be perfect. It's tough to get inspired for just the right beginning. #WritersRoad

Brenda Corey Dunne  to @HeatherMcCorkle Time. Lots of Time. or Lack thereof @teetate #Writersroad

Matthew Wilbur  to @teetate Where to start. Mid-scene, beginning of scene, end of scene? Where do I place the reader in the beginning? #WritersRoad

Brenda Corey Dunne  to @HeatherMcCorkle And not just time to write. Time to THINK about writing. To prepare mentally. #Writersroad

Heather McCorkle  What helps you get words on the page once you have your idea for your novel? #WritersRoad

Ebony McKenna  Took me ages to fall asleep last night, so chatted to characters who gave me GREAT ideas. #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  to @EbonyMcKenna That's a fantastic idea. I think I may try that tonight. #WritersRoad

Brenda Corey Dunne On the other side, thinking too much can be a hindrance to putting words on the page. :) #WritersRoad

Lori Prima  time and motivation, to be honest. So many competing priorities. I am my worst enemy. #writersroad

Heather McCorkle  to @teetate SO, would I be crazy to work on two books at once? #WritersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  to @HeatherMcCorkle Well, I'd say complete one draft of one WIP, then on your break from it, work on the second. #writersroad IMHO anyway

Heather McCorkle  to @teetate You're right, I know. It's just so hard with this one burning a hole in my imagination. ;) #WritersRoad

Ebony McKenna  to @teetate @HeatherMcCorkle I do that a bit, so that when I'm in one WIP, I'm in that zone. #writersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  to @HeatherMcCorkle Well then, instead of cheating on your current WIP, jot down the idea for the second and then wait. #writersroad

Heather McCorkle  to @teetate Fabulous idea. I've been researching and jotting things on characters down already. Perhaps I'll do a loose outline. #WritersRoad

Tracy Clark  to @teetate I'm totally working on multiple things at once! *crazy brain is cray cray* @HeatherMcCorkle #writersroad

Ebony McKenna  I used to jump from one WIP to the next and back, but it was me finding a way to not get it done. #WritersRoad

Ebony McKenna  I get THE BEST ideas for new stories when I'm about 80% done with current WIP. Oh the siren song! #WritersRoad

Heather McCorkle  to @EbonyMcKenna So true. It's a sure way to halt progress on the other. #WritersRoad

Brenda Corey Dunne to @TracyClark_TLC @teetate @HeatherMcCorkle I think I've got four ms's on the go right now. Need to buckle down and finish one... #WritersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  to @HeatherMcCorkle I keep a little red notebook w/ me at all times to write down lines, plots, chars, etc. #writersroad

TS Tate (Tee) to @HeatherMcCorkle I also keep one on my bedside table bc my dreams are vivid & slightly insane. #writersroad

Ebony McKenna I end up using the notes app on the phone sometimes, to jot down ideas. #WritersRoad Why don't I keep a notebook on me???

Matthew Wilbur  I think my biggest problem is that I write at work *all the time*, by hand. Don't want to do it when I get home. :/ #WritersRoad

TS Tate (Tee)  Bottom line: Get the idea on page. Make small goals & meet them & never, ever stop doing the work! #writersroad

Tracy Clark  I keep a folder/notebook for each project. Put notes/napkins/random stuff in them so I won't forget. Organization is my goddess.#writersroad

TS Tate (Tee)  First drafts should be ugly. Don't let them hinder you from FINISHING the story. Keep. Writing. #writersroad