Writing Tutorial: Basic Story Construction

VividEnigma · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:32 am

Dragon Tamer wrote:

VividLegacy wrote:

Dragon Tamer wrote:

I do indeed plan to post more, and more detailed, tutorials as the opportunities present themselves. So far, I have one well underway about some of the dos and don'ts of making a story more engaging, with plans for another on character development.
I also may find the chance to take a look at your stories and offer some precise feedback, but here's one tip I was given when writing a book: Use body language. Describe the characters' posture, gestures, etc. This does not, admittedly, decrease the amount of dialogue in and of itself (I myself often find myself shaking my head at the amount of dialogue in my stories), but if your characters communicate visually, it might take some of the load off of their words if only slightly. For example, an animal describing an object, a path, or anything involving direction could use fewer words if they used their head, paws, or tail to indicate what or where. Or, for that matter, things like a shrug or a facial expression can expresse beautifully with no need for words. See what you can come up with.

Thanks for that DT. Using body language in my stories should be quite easy, because I learned a lot about canine expressions, body language, psychology etc. in a book I read called The Secret Life of Dogs but I've forgotten who it was written by. Anyway, I am pretty clued-up with canine expressions so that should help me a lot.

No problem.
I admit, I've never done that kind of research when it comes to canine communcation. In the case where I was encouraged to use body language, I was writing about dragons, so I more or less made it up as I went along, lol. You'd be amazed how expressive dragons can be, especially when one has so many limbs to work with.

Oh yeah, I guess a dragon would be interesting to work with (in terms of writing OR drawing, I suppose) because you can make it up on your own and no-one can tell you otherwise.
But yeah, canine communication is actually really interesting to learn about. What I found eve more interesting is how dogs that are house pets and grow up around (happy) humans learn to copy the human smile when they are happy. Actually drawing their lips back and exposing their teeth, but in a calm, ears-back way. I might make a topic in the 'animals' section about it.

Jake Razor · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:54 am

I find that pretty believable. We know human behavior tends to influence animals, so it's only natural they pick up an expression or two. I've even seen dogs that could repeat a word or two in English.

VividEnigma · **Posted:** Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:40 pm

Dragon Tamer wrote:

I find that pretty believable. We know human behavior tends to influence animals, so it's only natural they pick up an expression or two. I've even seen dogs that could repeat a word or two in English.

Oh yeah. I've seen some of those videos on youtube. AND I've seen some with cats as well.

Jake Razor · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:36 pm

THAT's new on me.

I love Jacob Black · **Posted:** Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:46 am

I loved it!!! Next, can you write one on how to create characters?

Jake Razor · **Posted:** Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:22 am

Alice Cullen wrote:

I loved it!!! Next, can you write one on how to create characters?

Gladly. I already have plans for something of that order in the works.

Windancer · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:40 pm

I have a hard time of thinking of names that fit personality and looks. I usually try to think of a name first, as it is easy to build off one, but I blanked, and ended up doing looks, history, etc. first.

Jake Razor · **Posted:** Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:53 pm

wolflover10 wrote:

I have a hard time of thinking of names that fit personality and looks. I usually try to think of a name first, as it is easy to build off one, but I blanked, and ended up doing looks, history, etc. first.

Well, the tutorial is mostly guidelines anyway.

MudTheWolf · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:48 am

VividEnigma wrote:

Oh yeah, I guess a dragon would be interesting to work with (in terms of writing OR drawing, I suppose) because you can make it up on your own and no-one can tell you otherwise.
But yeah, canine communication is actually really interesting to learn about. What I found eve more interesting is how dogs that are house pets and grow up around (happy) humans learn to copy the human smile when they are happy. Actually drawing their lips back and exposing their teeth, but in a calm, ears-back way. I might make a topic in the 'animals' section about it.

That is quite an interesting fact, I always wondered why it looks like my dog is smiling when she sits infront of the air conditioner. :lol:

She also smiles in her sleep.

WolfPaws · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:28 pm

VividEnigma wrote:

Hmm, maybe in upcoming tutorials you could focus in greater detail about these particular areas? Characters come as natural for me, because I have so many influences (ie; real people that I know, characters in various cartoons/TV series/movies, various celebrities etc...) but plot is quite a problem for me. I enjoy writing romances, but have trouble making them unique. It's not really the general idea that I have trouble with--- it's the finer points and plot twists.

It's as if I was the one who just said that! Same problems for me. I either have a really trite and overused plot, or one that is just plain...not good Dx

VividEnigma wrote:

And another thing. I also have a problem with 'excessive dialogue'--- too much talk and no action (just like in real life for me).

^ Right there. These are the exact problems that come up to meet me in my own pieces. Or the other way around.

I watch waay too many fantasy movies, and I like them so much i'd watch them over and over and eventually, the idea seems stale. OR, this happens:

I'm writing this great book that has an awesome plot and well-developed characters. It's about people who have strange abilities and are feared and hated by the average human, so they are sought after and the government is trying to find them and kill them. The government is trying to keep their people safe, but what they're actually doing is making all the bad Differents (the people with powers are called 'Differents') get angry and attempt to overthrow humanity...

Sound familiar? (Look at avvie for a hint)

But this was WAY before I even HEARD about the X-Men, and I thought I could actually publish this novel! But no, my brilliant idea was taken, and Marvel seemed to hit it perfectly at every point, leaving my story no trace of originality.

This happens to me all the time and I hate it! Whenever I think I really have a good idea that can actually get me somewhere, I find a movie or book that has the exact same things. I swear Marvel is stalking me @.@

Jake Razor · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:11 pm

VividEnigma wrote:

And another thing. I also have a problem with 'excessive dialogue'--- too much talk and no action (just like in real life for me).

Well, let's see. I can cover that in the future, but for now I have a few tips off the top of my head (maybe when I write the tutorial I can supply some story excerpts too).

1) Put in some body language. It often feeds more into conversation anyway.

2) Delve into the charcters' thoughts. Give the readers a glimpse of the characters from the inside out, not just the outside in.

3) Balance it out. My first book (the same one I'm working towards sending out now) includes a lot of straight-on dialogue and a lot of very detailed battle scenes. To put it simply, there's a time for talk and a time for action.

Tregg · **Posted:** Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:48 pm

This tutorial is really helping me out a lot with the stories I'm writing presently.
I like the pointers on 'Characters and 'Who Your Writing for.

Well, thank the heavens for your topic, DT!

Darn! There should have been a topic like this years ago.

Jake Razor · **Posted:** Mon Apr 01, 2013 10:16 pm

Tregg wrote:

This tutorial is really helping me out a lot with the stories I'm writing presently.
I like the pointers on 'Characters and 'Who Your Writing for.

Well, thank the heavens for your topic, DT!

Darn! There should have been a topic like this years ago.

Well, actually, I posted it years ago. Never the less, you're welcome.

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Writing Tutorial: Basic Story Construction

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