The Sounding Board

The Sounding Board

Bounce ideas off fellow writers!

  • 8 forum topics
  • 10 wall posts
  • Created Tue Jul 07, 2015 2:34 am

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10 posts — share updates and reply to club members.

  • Club
    The Sounding Board Club Update · Aug 2, 2015
    So, last week we skipped the official question because your club admin is a little bit silly. This week, a day early: Have you ever had plots that completely changed because of one scene? What about a throwaway line that made you rethink an entire character or story arc?

    Virgil replied · Aug 2, 2015

    Happens a lot while outlining xD


    Vervain replied · Aug 2, 2015

    This seriously just happened to me (actually the inspiration for this question). I have one project, working on a rewrite, and everything has happened in ONE order in this project in every draft. Now, all of a sudden, one of the main characters goes and changes his occupation and changes the entire freakin' plot.


    Mea replied · Aug 2, 2015

    I just decided to change a critical plot point in the story because I wasn't feeling like a particular scene was going to work. XD I think my plot is a lot better off now.

    But seriously, the thing I changed had been in there from the very conceptualization, when my main character was still a villian. o.o


    TriSARAHtops replied · Aug 3, 2015

    I'm not sure if this has happened to me, actually. Probably because I go into writing knowing so little about the story I'm writing. I don't know where I'm heading, so I can't really be surprised, as much as if I'd had concrete plans.


  • Vervain Creator
    Vervain · Jul 24, 2015
    Guys. Guys. Guys. Unofficial question: How do you make yourselves write even when you don't want to?

    I'm trying to write chapters 2 and 3 of an idea I have right now, and I know what I want to happen and what needs to happen character-wise, but I don't know how to write them and ugh. So much stuff going on.

    Evander replied · Jul 24, 2015

    I do WWs or I tell people "if I don't get this done in [x amount of time], then I shall give you [insert a whole bunch of points here]." Then don't look back on what you write until you're done.

  • Club
    The Sounding Board Club Update · Jul 20, 2015
    I'm going to try to keep this going as a Monday thing, so here's this week's general question: To you, are characters closer to people or closer to tools?

    Do your characters have more control over the plot? Do they have minds of their own? Or do you easily go without their influence and just follow what you know?

    Mea replied · Jul 20, 2015

    It kind of depends on the character. I never really feel like they're tools, but they don't usually just take over from me. I guess we have an agreement of sorts.

    Wait till I get writer's block though


    Vervain replied · Jul 20, 2015

    Writer's block is the death of characters xD

    Yeah, I'd have to say that it's somewhere in-between for me. My characters have never really completely taken over -- I can still change their plots, goals, and traits -- but they definitely develop lives of their own when I spend enough time thinking about them. It leads to a lot of interesting character development and figuring out new things.


    ThatAndalite replied · Jul 20, 2015

    My characters are much closer to being people - I mean, the whole plot twists because of what they feel like doing for that day, especially if they're evil or some crap like that. They each have a unique and pretty cool mind. I like standing in Kasza's sometimes.

  • Club
    The Sounding Board Club Update · Jul 16, 2015
    Whaaaaat it's been over a week since the last general question? KILL THE ADMIN AND SCORCH THE EARTH!

    This week's general question has to do with first chapters, considering a lot of us are finishing up the first week of LMS: What's the hardest time you've had writing a first chapter? The easiest? Why?

    Virgil replied · Jul 16, 2015

    Lms has made it easier to write, so has Word Wars, without those any time writing for me is dead.


    TriSARAHtops replied · Jul 17, 2015

    Like, singular hardest time? Ha. Haha. Most of my first chapters are like pulling teeth to get written. Especially after finishing Hayden, I struggled A LOT. Probably because I felt a pressure that because I'd finished something, I had to produce something new, if that makes sense?


    Vervain replied · Jul 17, 2015

    Sarah, I definitely know the feeling. Ever since I finished my NaNo last year, I've been feeling like I have to one-up myself and force new ideas so I can start and finish something new. (Of course, this is also to make it so that my NaNo isn't the only thing I've ever finished. Because ugh.)

    Lately, my hardest first chapter to write is on my Balance rewrite. I have so much new worldbuilding in my head that it's hard for me to reconcile this story with the story I had before, and I'm thinking of changing the title, but Balance is so short and simple. Bleh. xD


  • TriSARAHtops
    TriSARAHtops · Jul 10, 2015
    Toying around with some potential names for my LMD novel, and the one I'm gravitating towards incorporates the term joie de vivre. Problem is that I learnt this term a long while ago, so I'm not sure of how commonly recognisable it is. Is it too obscure and leave people feeling a bit whoa French whaaa? or is it a familiar enough expression for your average reader?

    Mea replied · Jul 10, 2015

    *shrug* I haven't seen it before, but I'm not exactly familiar with French. Does it mean joy of life?


    Vervain replied · Jul 10, 2015

    It's not familiar to me -- the only French I hear in everyday life or know from hearing it is "c'est la vie" and "l'esprit de l'escalier" -- but I'd say go for it if it feels right! It is just a working title for now, and I know that at least I would pick it up to check it out.


    TriSARAHtops replied · Jul 12, 2015

    Thanks! And yup, it means joy of life.


  • BellaRoma replied · Jul 8, 2015

    I just know when the name sounds right. It has a certain... flow when it's right.
    Normally, I come up with names, then fit a story around them.


    TriSARAHtops replied · Jul 10, 2015

    MC of Hayden gave me a bit of grief when I was first ruminating over the idea for that project. Finally settled,on calling her Liv, which I wasn't 100% certain about at first, but mow I couldn't imagine her being called anything else. It is a bit hit and miss with names for me, though. Sometimes the name is just there and other times not so much.


    TriSARAHtops replied · Jul 10, 2015

    *now not mow


  • BellaRoma replied · Jul 7, 2015

    Btw I will be complaining about my novel Imaginary Friends (only project I'm working on)


  • ScarlettFire
    ScarlettFire · Jul 6, 2015
    *rolls around* I have several things to complain about, so I'll probably just post an "in general" thread for all my writerly things. XD Which I should post soon.

    Vervain replied · Jul 6, 2015

    I should do an "in general" thread alongside Balance :P I know Balance is going to be a long-term project (I will see this damn novel finished xD) but I could probably use a place to complain about my LMS and other ideas.


    ScarlettFire replied · Jul 6, 2015

    Haha, that's what I was thinking

  • Club
    The Sounding Board Club Update · Jul 6, 2015
    Welcome one and all to the Sounding Board, your one-stop shop for plot mishaps, character misdeeds, and writer misfortunes!

    With a competition like LMS looming on the horizon, and one like Camp NaNo in full swing, what are some problems you guys are running into? Need any help with specific ideas? Let us know!


I see no reason to celebrate the random timing of natural events by eating poison and singing.
— Dilbert