Getting started (to me, no matter how) is the key to understand where to begin.
If writing character bios gets the ball rolling, then heck yeah do it.
There is no wrong or right or best way, we each invent the tools and methods of our own creativity.
Discovering what these tools and methods are is part of the journey.
If you have a ton of ideas, then as Wheat is suggesting, Logline them and see what takes.
I sometimes (not always) start with various forms of pre-writing to bring an idea into better focus. (Here are a few random examples)
General:
1. What Vs. What in 3 words:
Man Vs Man? Good Vs Evil? Cat Vs Mouse?
2. Story in one sentence or less:
3. Logline in two lines or less:
“51 people on earth know about the subterranean city beneath the great lakes, only 50 are supposed to.”
4. Title:
Surface
5. Genre:
Action
6. Plot types:
QUEST? - PURSUIT? - ESCAPE? – TRANSFORMATION?
7. Tagline:
Theme stuff:
1. What do I want the audience to feel at the end:
Happy
2. In the form of:
Relived/Triumph
3. As demonstrated by:
Against overwhelming odds- The protagonist finally escapes.
4. Theme:
Perseverance
5. What obstacles could prevent the character from realizing the theme:
Fear, Phobias, Frustration, Inexperience, Lack of physical strength, Injury, Dehydration, Starvation, Capture, Death.
6. In the end, what is the story really about (thematically):
The protag’s escape is about overcoming self doubt, he emerges from underground
and from in himself a changed man that has found strength from within through
perseverance from without.
In some cases I might consider practical matters:
1. Budget range:
2. Ideal number of pages:
3. Ideal locations:
4. Ideal Characters:
5. And so on.
Then maybe basic character info:
1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Height:
4. Weight:
5. Nick name
6. Left Handed/Right Handed:
7. Location of birth:
8. Parents names:
9. And on and on and on.
* You can write these into the hundreds if you wish.
Then I might create some character back story:
1. Was abandon by his drug addled suicidal mother as an infant.
2. Was raised by two blind hippie lesbians in the desert.
3. Can only read in Braille.
4. Has the Grateful Dead mixed up with the bible.
5. Has always liked drums and music.
Any possible scenes, explanations or attributes derived from back story?:
1. As an infant his mom took him on a hang glider ride bent on muder/suicide.
2. That day the blind lesbian women wished they had a baby, and one fell from the sky.
3. He is always tapping on things, in thought, when nervous, in curiosity of their sound.
Sometimes I will look at a character in a condensed way and consider back story:
THE INVENTOR
1. Was once married to a woman who was physically challenged.
2. He began inventing things to assist her day to day.
3. Many, of his inventions were very successful, and one in fact accidentally killed her.
4. Because of the accident he gave up tinkering and instead took up gardening.
5. While gardening he saw the niche for mechanization and again the inventing bug bit.
6. Not long after, the idea for Grow Bot was born.
(A) I might create many 3 part units of thought specific to a characters mind:
1 Unit:
1. “Freebird” is stuck in my head, where did I hear it? Oh yeah, a passing car.
2. Damn my gums itch!
3. I should get some tacos for lunch.
(B) I might apply these units of thought to scenes later, and see what happens:
Maybe the character will run his tongue across his teeth and say
“No way Jose” to the bad guy, because of the tacos and itchy gums.
I never know what might happen.
Once I have a ton of pre-written info I might:
1. Rough out the story in 2 line blocks:
2. Rough out scenes.
3. Rough out sequences.
4. Rough out acts.
5. Start writing.
My examples are just a few random things based on the limited way that I see
things you can have dozens of criteria of info filling pages in the pre-writing,
and there is no right or wrong.
The cool thing is it can be fun and harness and hone creativity in you while assembling it.
-Thanks-
