Process

Episode #662

October 9, 2021

My writer’s group asked me what my process was for writing a story.
For a story to come alive it requires a process.

 

 

i use the same process for a fact or fiction story.
It is the same process for a speech or a consultation.
The process i use for a slide show or movie is the same.
This bLog is written using this process.

Think of a topic, moral or message.

Write a list of events, key words, descriptive phrases, ideas and concepts regarding the topic, moral or message.
Group the list into categories.
Organize the categories into an outline.
Reorganize the outline into a chronology.

Expand each outline bullet point into a mini story.

Add a predictive beginning and a summary ending to the expanded outline.
It is always more impactful when the summary calls back something from the beginning.

EDIT, EDIT, EDIT, EDIT…

Here is an example of the process:

Think of a topic, moral or message.
Write a bLog episode about the process of writing a story.

Write a list of events, key words, descriptive phrases, ideas and concepts regarding the topic, moral or message.
1. Examples of the process outline
2. The process outline
3. Steps taken in the process
4. Research into writing processes used by others.
5. List of kinds of writing that use this process (all of them).
6. Why am i writing this bLog?
7. What will my reader learn from this bLog?
8. How will the bLog end?
9. How will the bLog begin?
10. fiction
11. non fiction
12. slide show
13. consultation
14. movie
15. speech
16. story story
17. novel
18. bLog

Group the list into categories.
1. The list
2. The topics
3. The process
4. Chronology
5. The outline
6. Expansion
7. The beginning
8. The conclusion

Group the categories into a chronology.
1. The beginning
2. The process
3. The topics
4. The list
5. The outline
6. Chronology
7. Expansion
8. The conclusion

Expand each outline bullet point (except for beginning and end) into a mini story.
See the result in the story of this bLog episode.

Add a predictive beginning and a summary ending to the expanded outline.
See above for the beginning (introduction) and see below for the summary (conclusion).

EDIT, EDIT, EDIT, EDIT…
Spend as many hours and consult as many people as necessary for readability and understandability.
Write and rewrite.
Rehearse and repeat.

Conclusion:
This process is applicable to writing, speaking or thinking.
Every time you take the time to gather, research, organize and expand your thoughts the story you tell comes more alive.

 

4 Comments

  1. David Molina October 8, 2021
  2. Bill Dennis October 9, 2021
  3. Mark October 13, 2021
    • Rick Thues October 14, 2021

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