Now that I have a rough idea of my character and how they fit into the world, I can start the process of actually writing my story. When I first get started, I create three documents: the manuscript, the draft, and the final. It is through a combination of these three documents that I am able to organize my story, keep my characters consistent, and remember important plot points or narrative devices to utilize later down the road.

The Manuscript

The manuscript is where I jot down all my thoughts and ideas. There's really not much organization or structure to this document, if I'm being completely honest. It's purpose is simply to act as a space where I can write notes that I can go back and review as I write the draft (see below). The manuscript is where I take note of my characters traits and characteristics, events that will occur in the future, and possible quotes or lines of dialogue that I want to use later.

Manuscripts are living documents. That is, they are constantly changing and updated in tandem with the writing of my story. I am constantly referring to my manuscript throughout the writing process, lest I forget some important detail that I needed to include in Chapter 1 that then pays off in Chapter 50. Because the manuscript grows and evolves as the story progresses, I felt it would be more advantageous for you all to see what a fuller manuscript looks like, as opposed to one for a story I am just beginning. For that reason, I've decided to include a glimpse of my manuscript from my MHA story, as opposed to the new Attack on Titan manuscript.

[Quirk: Photonic Manipulation

Allows control over photons on a subatomic level. Make sure all abilities granted by quirk are backed by scientific reason.

Energy blasts: photons are energy released by electrons changing orbital levels. Photons create heat and tangible energy as seen by incandescent lights. Large scale release of photonic energy would result in some form of heat blast.

Hard light: States of matter relate to atomic arrangement. Photons exhibit particle/wave duality, meaning they have some form of physical presence, theoretically meaning they have mass. Manipulation of photons could lead to hard light (liquid light? Gaseous light?)

Healing properties? Requires manipulation of more than just photons, probably don't include.

Time manipulation through time dilation theory? Time control would make character too overpowered. Do NOT allow.

Eyes emit powerful blasts of photonic energy that character cannot control. Causes massive damage both to surroundings and himself. Blindfold doesn't actually do much other than hide scars and act as a reminder to keep eyes closed.

Remember that character is not actually blind.

Open eyes in Season 3?

Yaoyorozu and Yotetsu running from Nomu in forest. Make Nomu more powerful, on par with Nomu that fought All Might. (L/N) fights Nomu. Regenerative properties means Nomu must be destroyed completely so that no part can regenerate. Opens eyes and vaporizes Nomu. Destroys mountain in background. How to ensure to casualties?

Opening eyes drains (L/N), falls into a coma for AFO events.

Aizawa to Yaoyorozu after Bakugou Rescue Operation

"And Yaoyorozu, (L/N)'s in a coma because of what he did to protect you. Risking your life seems a poor way to repay that sacrifice."

Forest Arc:

(L/N) finishes fighting through beast forest several hours before rest of Class 1A. Saves a plate of food for Yaoyorozu. Others are upset that he did not save food for them.

"I... uh... I thought you might be hungry."

"Uh, well... none of you have quirks that need you to eat, so..."

Sato: "I do!"

"Oh, um... sorry. I... uh... I don't know you."

Kiss on cheek?

Similarities between Eri and (L/N) act as catalyst for (L/N)'s character. Use to evolve relationship with Yaoyorozu and create actual drive to become a hero.]

As you can see, there isn't much organized structure to my manuscripts. Really, it's just a place for me to vomit ideas that I can reference in the future.

The Draft

The draft, or rough draft, is where I begin organizing my thoughts into an actual story. In the rough draft you might see a single scene written several times as I try to get a scene or conversation exactly how I want it. This can be something as big as two possible responses to a question that drive the story in different directions, or something as minute as where to place a pause or the choice to use awkward instead of uncomfortable.

A good example of this comes from my story "The Strength of a Soldier." In Chapter IV: Brave New World, the reader character has a conversation with Winter Schnee about conflicting ideals. I suggest you go read this conversation and find the following excerpt from their conversation:

[Winter sighs. It appears they're going to talk about her anyways. "Of course not." She answers.

"No, I didn't think so." (F/N) says, finally turning in his seat to face her. "I don't know why I asked really. Maybe I'm just... I don't know. Do you really never get tired of it?"]

This small portion of the larger conversation took me ages to figure out. The rest of the scene really builds from this initial part of their talk, and it was really just (L/N)'s response that was giving me trouble, and it was crucial that I get it right because the rest of the conversation is one of the biggest character development moments for (L/N). It's where the reader first gets to see him as a character. Him, not the stories about him within the larger story, but him, who he is as a person. And there were so many things I needed to happen in that conversation, so many lines that I wanted to use.

This conversation had to demonstrate (L/N)'s empathy and compassion as a person, but also his mentality as a soldier. Someone who did what he did to protect his family, and in doing so lost who he was as a person. I also really wanted to include the piece of dialogue that concluded the conversation:

["I'm not a kid!" Winter says loudly.

(F/N) takes a deep breath before proceeding much calmer. "No, you're not. But at least you got to make that decision."]

That last line by (F/N) was such a great line that I really wanted to include. I'm laughing as I write this, but it's just so goddamn angsty, but it also demonstrates a big part of (L/N)'s story. That he was forced into this role.

Writing this scene, I think I had six or seven different variations of this single conversation, but I just wasn't happy with any of them. It felt like the conversation wasn't flowing naturally from one subject to the other and I couldn't figure out how to proceed. As I kept rewriting it, it all seemed to start at (F/N)'s reply to Winter saying "Of course not." This was where the divergence kept happening so this was where I knew I had to get it right. And after writing and thinking for hours and hours, I came up with the line "... I don't know." And it's funny, because I just didn't know what to write, so I concluded that maybe (F/N) just didn't know what to say. It was natural, it was realistic, and as it turned out, it was the best way to have the conversation go.

The Final

As the name suggests, the final is simply the final draft that gets uploaded to Wattpad. It's where I make the final decision on what word to use, what question to ask, and where to put a period. It's where I've done all my proof reading (though obviously some errors slip past) and where I structure the spacing and paragraphs correctly. Please remember the importance of proper capitalization, grammar, spacing, paragraph spacing, punctuation and mechanics! Really not much else to say about this one.

All this being said, I'm now going to start work on the drafting the first chapter of my Attack on Titan story. I know who my character is, I know what drives them, what their backstory is, and where they belong and what role they will play. Now I just need to decide where I want to start writing. Because this is a fanfiction that follows the events of the show, it's relatively straightforward where I should start. Make no mistake though, there is still a decision.

I have decided to start the story with the training of the 104th cadet corps. This allows me to jump straight into the story without having to retell what the audience already knows. The other option would have been to start with the character's backstory, but I've already explained why I've chose not to do that last chapter.

My final piece of advice is this. DO NOT RETELL THE STORY! It's a mistake I see far too often, people just rewriting the events of the show. Dialogue from the show simply written on the page. And I don't mean just one line, because sometimes that's necessary. I mean entire conversations just copied and pasted straight into the story. Tell me, why would I bother reading your fanfiction if all you're going to do is make me read the events of Attack on Titan? I'll just go watch the anime or read the manga if I want that. I'm reading because I want something new. Something I haven't seen before. Remember that your fanfiction should be about the character you've created, the story you're telling, not the story the original author has already told. This isn't a retelling, it's a new story. It's your story.