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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/6475
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I gues I could say I am decently good at writing, for someone who doesn't write much besides English 101/102 classes.

I have a couple questions, which may proceed some background information to why I am asking the question.

1.   
_Background:_ I want to write a fictional story that I thought origanally should be a short since I haven't written a lot of stories; I however, have a **lot** of storyline and details. The story runs through multiple parts of the main character's life and the beginning part is a lot of background information while the middle and end is where the main story and adventure takes place to the climax of the writing. The begining is supposed to build information and characters that you would not have expected to do be in the story later on.  
  
_Question:_ Should I write a short story first and then make it into multiple stories like a **series of books** or a series of **short stories**? If I take the write a short story route, should I condense the short story into all the stages of the story - young begining, exciting middle and end, or just write a detailed short story about the early years, and expand it to a story with added details into the later life with the main story and plot?... When I say main, I mean like what the story is all about.

2.   
_Background:_ I have a lot of details for the plot, characters storyline. I started out with my own main ideas for the main story (which is sort of in the middle where it get's intense) and later on; however, I wanted this preceding story about the characters upbringing. Not to be reduntant, but hoperfully assuring you that I am not copying verbandom someone else's story, I repeat that I got my own ideas for the begining part's setting and character's, but I am using **documentary** videos of the real grim stories of people's ubringing.  
  
_Question:_ Should I gather details about the circumstances of the people in these documentaries and the grim cruel cold world they live in and can't escape, and use some of their stories into mine?

3.   
_Background: Same as in Question 2._   
  
_Question:_ Regardless of whether should gather details from the documentary, in the case when documentary's (videos articles first person ) are a good sources, should I **FIRST** know some **"writer's secrets"** of what details to look for when seekign detial from sources for my stories?

I have some books on Writing and was wondering if read such material would be highly recommended **even before grabbing ideas or makeing your own?**

My question is should I read such material as cited below, to help me use documentaries and other sources for stories in the most usefull manner ( read description if it helps )?

- [Plot Versus Character A Balanced Approach to Writing Great Fiction by Jeff Gerke](http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-books/plot-vs-character)

- [Elements of Fiction Writing - Characters & Viewpoint:](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1599632128)

Original score: 1