I don't make plot outlines or rough drafts because they're not my style. I start my story once naisip ko na yung essense or gist ng story at may possible ending/endings na akong nakikita. I sometimes write some lines habang nagsusulat na ako kapag naiisip kong pwede silang idagdag sa story. Hindi ako gumagawa ng elaborate plans bago ako mag-execute. So what you see on my updates, yun na yung first and only draft. Which is why my works sometimes fall short, but they're as raw as they can get.
What do I do? I imagine the story as a whole, may certain highs and lows at may ending, tapos... saka ako magku-connect the dots. It works for me but if you know you don't write like me or baguhan ka pa lang, yung as in hindi pa years yung experience mo sa pagsusulat, better make rough drafts.
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What to consider before writing?
1. the beginning - your beginning should kickstart the plot. Kumbaga, kung ang kwento ay magsisimula dapat sa isang aksidente, simulan mo sa isang aksidente. Hindi yung gigising muna si character, papasok sa school, and all those boring fillers tapos sa gabi pa pala sya maaaksidente. Your prologue should be a glimpse of what would happen in the story. Your first three chapters should be interesting enough kasi if you fail to catch your readers' interest in those first three chapters, wala na. Hindi na na nila babasahin. Make your first three chapters some of the most interesting chapters of your stories.
2. introduce all the possible characters in 3 chapters - nakalimutan ko na kung kanino ko 'to natutunan pero may nagsabi sa 'kin na dapat kilala na ng readers mo lahat ng characters sa first three chapters pa lang. This is so on the fourth chapter up to the end, you can work on them investing in those characters. Kumbaga, the first 3 chapters ang setup. Sidenote: world-building should also happen in the first three chapters.
Pero dagdag ko lang din na may special cases na kailangan mong mag-introduce ng bagong character sa kalagitnaan ng story, but if you must do so, then do it with a little foreshadowing sa bandang una para may inaabangan si reader. Na mapapaisip sila bigla. "Wait, parang ito yung sa chapter 4." "Ohhh sya pala yun". Ganon. Hindi yung kukunot ang noo nila at mapapatanong ng, "Sino na naman 'to?!"
3. have several potential endings - writing with only the beginning and not an ending is like riding a vehicle with no particular destination in mind. Which, I guess, is okay too. But if you have a clear goal, it's so much easier to write. And if you have an ending in mind, huwag na ninyong pahabain pa o dagdagan pa dahil lang nagdi-demand ang readers. Your job as a writer is to tell a story of someone else, albeit an imaginary person. Kapag nagkikwento sila sa 'yo, parang ang disrespectful naman na may dagdag-bawas na nangyayari, di ba? So kapag sinabi nilang "hanggang dito na lang ang kwento ko", irespecto mo yun. Tumigil ka na. At magsulat ka na lang ng panibago.
4. have story highlights - para hindi mapuno ng fillers ang kwento mo, magkaroon ka ng tinatawag nating highlights, yung dots na iku-connect mo to paint the bigger picture. These dots should be moving the plot towards the end. Hindi sila highlight dahil lang nakakakilig o nakakaiyak o tingin mo may shock value. It is important to give them meaning and substance.
5. get the right feels - writing fiction requires emotions. Kasi kapag may heartbeat ang story mo, masarap syang basahin. Nakaka-engganyo. Aanhin mo yung technically sound nga pero wala namang buhay na story, di ba? So, get to that "writer place" first before you crack your knuckles and type. I suggest you make a playlist of songs that has the vibe of your story. Kumain ka muna. Maligo. Mag-procrastinate kung kailangan. So when you get in the zone, hindi ka na madi-distract.
