Re:Writing Aids – What’s your favorite
Most writers blow their wad in the first 30-50 pages then lose interest. It’s very common.
While I’ve never used the program you’re talking about, I find it much easier to finish something when you spend the time to write out a story and character arcs including character developement. Then divide it up into chapters including what you want to accomplish in those chapters. Keeping in mind you’ll have an entirely seperate section for your character arcs, artifacts (unique technology or fantasy) you dont need to include those yet in chapter summaries. Keep it simple, don’t get too ambitious at first, and slowly add more and more details to the summary. Using IWHS for example, you’ll end up with something like this only more detailed to whatever you’re writing including notes for your own protection*:
Prologue
End of the Brunnin-G. Introduction of Kai, HDS. Developement of Kai the Hero. Transistion, death of Kai, destruction of Brunnis2. Setup for Divine Assassin.
Ch. 1
Introduction to Stan Tweedle, Divine Order. A lowely security guard is awakened in a uniform world with no friends, no hope, no justice. Hints of his past and why he is a traitor. (*Make sure you dont reveal too much here)
Then build each chapters setting and do an end-run before you start your dialogue.
Prologue.
Backdrop of Brunnis2. Kai and a group of rebels send a last ditch effort to destroy a massive ship called the Foreshadow. The Foreshadow is a large spider-web like machine capable of destroying entire planets (think death-star). Kais friends die all around him but he continues, finally crashing himself into the bridge of the Foreshadow, where he confronts HDS.
Chapter 1.
Stan awakens in a cubicle to the sounds of propaganda of the Divine Order. Once again defying the laws due to his protection status as a traitor, he finds himself accountable for his actions. (Maybe even add some irony here, like another Security Guard sentencing him or carrying out the punishment)
The point is, spending time on doing this doesn’t take long when you already have your story worked out in your head. And doing this will help you to develop it. Finally, it prevents me at least from running into the problem of hitting pg. 46 and realizing Im not sure where to go from here, or how to transition, etc.. But because now the story is already written, you need only peek over at your notes to know where to go next. It’s of paramount importance for other reasons too. Many writers finish the first couple chapters then spend months editing and filling in more details. Your notes should tell you EXACTLY what you what to accomplish in each chapter, where it should end, and what the transition should be.
It might be different for everyone, but this works for me.