Writing random bits at a time

I've recently started writing my new story, aka novel attempt #247. xD The thing is, I'm writing it a bit weird - instead of writing it from beginning to end, I seem to be writing random scenes in no particular order, whenever I think of them, with no idea of how I'm going to link them all together and only a vague idea of what order they'll go in. Just wondering if anyone else writes in such a scattered fashion and if it works out for them? What works best for you?

I kinda do both, for the most part I write 'in order' but then there are those scenes that I have to write right then and there, so I write them.

I write random scenes in my head, and connect the dots then before I start writing it all. It's a lot simpler than just writing it all first, because then you'll have to stop, go "man," and have to go back and find a way to connect it all. I'm not saying writing random scenes out of order's a bad thing, necessarily; I just know I wouldn't do it.

Oh I did that for my novel's first draft. I wrote what scenes I had on index cards (keep in mind I used some of my smallest handwriting and sometimes a scene would take up five cards) and I'd just stick them in whatever order sounded best at the time. Id put in other cards, with much less written on them, for the scenes I realized would be necessary but that I didn't want to write at the time.

What you do after all that's done is you put the cards out and see what order they fit best in. You add cards, remove cards (but don't throw them away! Everything can come in handy later) rearrange them into whatever order you want, and you have a rough outline.

One thing to be warned about (this happened to me) is you don't focus just on those scenes and revise them. Actually think of what happens between the dots and keep thinking about how to string them together. You might get some ideas that way.

Usually, though, I'll do that for a first draft. When I go from beginning to end I get too exited and don't spend the proper amount of time on each part. Once I've gotten that out of my system, I hope I can write a work from start to finish. (I have yet to finish a draft of my novel since my first one, and even that was unfinished to a degree...)

~Rosey

I adopted this writing style a couple of years ago, and it helped me a tremendous amount. Due to my very ADD writing style (it sounds like you might have the same problem... novel attempt #247 ), if I try to write a story in order, I can't get past chapter two because my imagination will get bored and move me on to something else. Instead, I plan the entire story out in my head and write whatever I feel like at the time. To do this, however, you do either need to have a highly detailed outline or a precise idea in your head of where it's going.

Once upon a time, I got a really cool idea for a novel, (this happened about every 3 months back then) but I was trying to stick so hard to my last novel idea that I was denying I wanted to write the new one. This resulted in a couple of months (maybe it was less... it seems like so long when you're torturing yourself by not writing something that's screaming to get out) of mental outlining via daydreaming, and eventually, I gave in and wrote it. By that point, I'd spent so much time on the project that I knew my idea forward and backward, and I could write whatever part I wanted as the mood allowed. That was two years ago, and I've managed to stick with that project to this day (which, if you knew me, is an AMAZING accomplishment.)

So it definitely can work, and if you're an ADD writer, it can help tremendously. But you must be careful to either know your story very, very well, or be willing to edit out the plot holes when the time arises. The plot holes will probably pop up even if you know your story like the back of your hand, because things definitely change. I have my fair share, but I know where they are, and when the editing part comes, they will be attacked repeatedly with my vicious red pen.

So there's a very detailed, first-hand account for you.

Exactly, Imaginative! I get so bored after writing the first few scenes of a novel, this way it feels like every time I go back to my story, I'm starting a new project!

I think this works out. The first novel I ever finished (okay, second, but that other one doesn't count because it was only 30 000 words), I skipped one scene, which I had trouble writing, and another entire block of scenes, because I was getting bogged down and knew I had to do something else. I guess it's similar to how when people build a bridge, they start at both ends and meet it up in the middle, but you've got to have at least a vague idea of what's going in the middle.

Mostly I write in order. Usually, it hasn't worked much in the past, but lately it's been doing wonders. I'm surprised how well things have been able to flow, going from one scene to the next, the pacing being next to perfect (probably not perfect, since I'm only on the 8th draft ) but when I come to a scene that is particularly hard to write, then I tend to skip ahead, or at least plan an outline while I'm subconsciously thinking about the other scene.

I think this works for me, because I'm able to concentrate on the here and now, while simultaneously I'm ready to skip ahead to something to either a) keep me interested, which isn't much of a problem anymore since I've been working on one project for a year now, or b) keep my creative juices flowing. I think that if I work too slowly on one part, I tend to dig myself into a writer's block. Thinking ahead, I can get out sooner, not troubling myself with the current slow-poke problem.

Also, I think that during the course of the day I'm usually . . . not focused, but thinking about the sequel. That is, if I ever get around to writing a sequel. I think a lot about the plot, how it's going to work out, and individual scenes I know I want in there. I think that also helps my creativity and it spices up my current writing. Though, on the downside, it sometimes gets me discouraged, when I'm on chapter 10 of book 1 and I'm thinking of who-knows-what chapter of book 2 or 3.

~Sunny

It really doesn't matter what order you write stuff in, just as long as your plot and character details are consistent (e.g. in Chapter Three your protagonist has a purple dog, but then in Chapter Five he turns green! Oh no! But maybe that's part of the plot).

As the above contributor points out, pacing can be an issue if you write your novel out of order. However, this and most of the other problems (character change/development, conflict) can be sorted out if, once you've finished all your writing, you read it through, in order, in its entirety. That way, any inconsistencies can be picked up on quite quickly.

I write like that. If i get a fantastic idea, i write it down and i dont' care if it doesn't fit right that second.In the story that i'm wirting right now, i have varius scenes and parts wirtten sown in another notebook.Once i finish wirting them i start thinking how i can make them fit or how they can relate to what i'm writing right now. In the mean time i try to make connections bbetween them all or i continue writing what i feel like writing, in the samestoy obviously jijiji,lol

Matt Bellamy wrote:Exactly, Imaginative! I get so bored after writing the first few scenes of a novel, this way it feels like every time I go back to my story, I'm starting a new project!

Exactly!!!

It also helps curb writer's block, because when you get stuck on one part, you can just write another until the first part unblocks. I've also found that it's easier to write with your mood this way. If you're feeling anxious, write a suspenseful part. If you're madly in love, write the love scene. If something reminds you of a certain part of your novel, and inspiration strikes, write what you're thinking about at the time. To me, it just seems so much more flexible, if you know what you're doing.

When I began writing,I used to rely on these random thoughts because it seemed to have caught my attention and needed to be put down at that particular moment.Do not ignore such thoughts as they somehow tend to come out best.

When you purposely try to get yourself to write something in a particular order,the harder it will get for you to write it well.You really do not need to know what precisely should happen.Trust your random pieces because they tend to come out the best.

Do not force yourself into channeling your thoughts and you will be just fine.

Oh....and in this process you can build links and get ideas where you were previously stuck.