Comments on: Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 22: Idea to Story

By: Rashkavar

Rashkavar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:23:34 +0000

@Spudd86: I take it you haven’t listened to some of the earlier podcasts (it’s well worth going back to earlier seasons) – one of their first podcasts (no more than episode 12, iirc) is a discussion of organizational systems. I can’t remember who it was who brought up WikiDPad…I think it was Dan, cause Howard has all the formatting issues to deal with because of his medium, and I know it wasn’t Brandon, since he mentioned his Word document map system.

By: Stuart John Davis

Stuart John Davis — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:38:36 +0000

Spudd86,

I downloaded wikipad from that site; at first, I was a bit lost as to what to do, but, as I begin to fiddle around with it, it proved to be a very useful tool for not only brainstorming but creating a single document that holds an entire story’s worth of information. It’s literally a personal, offline wikipedia for your book. Great find, and thank you.

By: Spudd86

Spudd86 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:27:02 +0000

Brandon have you heard of Wikidpad? It might be a better tool for your brainstorming stuff.

http://wikidpad.sourceforge.net/

By: Sean S.

Sean S. — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:32:47 +0000

Great episode. I’ve been trying some of these methods recently, it is a good way to generate an outline directly from brainstorming. I may be able to put something together during NaNo using this episode. My problem is I have a very ambitious plot, but it lacks direction, and I have no ending. Has their been an episode done on focus?

Also, If anyone hasn’t read The Gathering Storm yet they’re missing out on a remarkable book. Thank you, Brandon.

By: Raethe

Raethe — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:18:54 +0000

I’m doing it, or at least trying. Don’t really have a plot yet, and this month should be busy enough to make things… interesting. But hey. I managed it last year. If I get desperate I can always do another marathon.

It should come as no surprise that I’m known as Raethe on NaNo. Link’s below if anyone wants to add me:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/447071

By: Patrick Sullivan

Patrick Sullivan — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:51:52 +0000

Trying to Sean, but working on filling in all the scenes I plan to do in the story and I’m just not feeling the ideas I’m hitting. Getting perturbed here. But the story continues on, with or without me

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:26:47 +0000

Saw Dan at World Fantasy today (in fact, I went and bugged him right before his panel, in flagrant violation of Howard’s con rules. ). Anyway, no offense to Dan, but it was a good thing he was wearing an “I am not a serial killer” t-shirt. That sinister profile, that haircut, the lighting… let’s just say that without the t-shirt, I would’ve been worried.

Had a good time at the convention. Learned a few things, met some cool people, managed to avoid spending bucketloads of money in the dealer room. Fun times all around.

Who else is doing NaNoWriMo?

By: Rafael

Rafael — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:12:41 +0000

Excellent podcast and a great way for anyone to come up with a last minute idea for NaNo 09 (which starts tonight at midnight-Nov 1st).

By: Stuart Davis

Stuart Davis — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:49:13 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed the Podcast (as well as every other one I’ve listened to) and decided for once that I’d post something that popped up into my mind whilst I went through the many topics here on Writing Excuses. For me, it’s almost impossible to write an emotion-evoking pieces without appropriate music going; it’d be very interesting to see your views on the power of music while you write your fiction.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:12:45 +0000

Brandon, you mentioned you use “The Book Guide” when working on a story. I was wondering if you have heard of a program for writers called: Liquid Story Binder? I just found this little gem myself and am loving it. It allows you to do outlines, storyboards, Character Dossiers, and much more. I think it might be helpful to you guys and any of the other listeners who are attempting their own literary project.

Great podcast, and have fun on your book tour!