I used to write a lot and recently I'm trying to get back into it. But I'm having problems making my ideas coherent, because I have notepads full of genuinely good ideas that would make interesting pieces but my story ideas tend to be rambling as opposed to being clear.

I'm not sure how to explain it. I think I'm struggling with the narrative, like I'll have great ideas for characters and scenes but when it comes to putting it together in a sort of beginning - middle - end kind of thing I kind of end up being too rambling. (Like I am now).

Any tips or suggestions?

I'm having the same sort of problem in finally tackling my 4th Fempiror story. Tons of good, but disjointed ideas that have to fit into a narrative. I've started by writing down all the ideas in chronological order. That way, all my ideas are there in the order they have to play in. That's already a structure of sorts.

From there, I look at two things. First, is anything really big going on? Big as in life changing, or do I just have a bunch of stuff? Then, if there is something big in the beginning, figure out how much needs to go before it so it is actually big. If there is something big that might function as the climax or 3rd act break, see if there's enough meat before it to make that part work.

If there's nothing really big, then there needs to be. Gotta look at the story and figure out what set that story in motion. If you've got nothing, see if you can find 1 or 2 things that got it going. That's not following a form; that's just life in general. Something had to happen to get someone to the point where they had a story to tell. If you've got conflict and characters, see what your characters have to say. What would get them from point A to point B (in those missing parts between those rambling ideas)?

That's what rolling in my head at the moment as I look at the holes in my story. I know what has to happen where, but I've got some holes to fill. I've got events without beginnings or missing exposition. Characters that come and go but serve some purpose. It's a mess.

I've found that if I don't plan extensively, I end up rambling.

You can use The Board from Save the Cat to help.  Just make a list of big events that you want to happen in the story (break in Two, midpoint, break into Three etc.) and everything in between those points are just segues.

You also have to accept the fact that some ideas just can't go together in the same story.  I know sometimes I'll want to incorporate an idea or event that is awesome, but just doesn't fit with this story because it changes the tone or there's no way to efficiently segue to that idea.

Again, this just works for me, and everyone's writing style is different.  But if you have your whole story planned beforehand, it's much easier to avoid cluttering your story and rambling.

Gage

Outlining is great. In fact it's the only real way I find to test an 'idea' an see if it can be made into a film. Every writer assumes an idea can instantly be made into a film. Just like all ideas don't make a successful business, not all ideas make a film.
     What's next? Conflict. If you don't have conflict you don't have an interesting story. What creates conflict? Well structured, complex characters with individual goals that oppose each other, both internally and externally.
Alot of people dislike Blake Snyder's formulaic ideas, but there a lot of useful ideas in there. His suggestion of testing your idea with a longline is very useful.
        You can also take a look at Hauge and Field for structure.

My amateur suggestions:

1) first, have a protagonist. One main character. You might have great supporting characters, but it helps to have everything revolve around the journey of one main character. A novel has more freedom than a script in this regard.

2) once you choose the protag, give him a clear arc. What is his flaw? What does he have to overcome in order to achieve his goal? What does he have to learn? How does he have to change?

3) once you've figured out the protag and his arc, pick out the key development points on that arc. Then build these development points into plot points.

4) stay focused. There may be other good stuff that doesn't serve the story of the protag. Learn how to lose your babies as they say. Stay focused on the journey of the protag.

5) but it's ok to have a story b(look it up if you're not sure what it is). Just remember story b should connect to the protag, should still be connected to the theme, might perhaps represent another side of what the protag has to learn.

What helps me formulate a coherent narrative is -- VISUALIZATION...



It's the best way I know how to "make friends" with a story to get it on the page.
Characters Arcs. Rules. Devices. Act breaks. I can play with the pieces here.
Distilling and refining the story's engine on the old corkboard works every time for me.

Regards,
E.D.

Whoa, Electric Dreamer, hell of a conspiracy theory you got going, haha. I use a close method except I just have a dry erase board that I write on. Also remember that as long as you have character's having revelations that lead to decisions and new revelation and new decision... you'll be on the track.

BLB