Sketches/Rough Drafts/etc.

If you're planning on writing a long piece and actually 'narrating' something, what's the best way to lay it out ahead of time? I've tried to write a few pieces like this before but I always end up getting lost and unsure what to do next. I'm thinking if I make a draft ahead of time so I know which parts, or which instruments are coming up while I'm writing it. Would you say that's a good idea, or a bad one, and if it's a good one, what do you think would be the best way of going about it? Thanks!

Do whatever feels natural for you. I know guys who do very detailed sketches regarding orchestration, form, melodic contour, etc, while others don't bother. Others will sketch out small, individual sections and rearrange the order and form as they go along.

I think, having some sort of basic outline and visual representation of what you expect will be the final outcome is a good idea. Nothing says you can't change drastically from one day to the next, but at least it'll give you some reference as you go along.

Here's what I often start out with:

Your sketches are so tidy compared to mine :laugh:

I am almost shocked by it :O

All my sketching goes on in my head, then once I have it al;most complete in my head I'll transfer it onto paper in a kind of abstract nonsense that only I understand. Then I'll move onto sections, phrases, harmonies et cetera.

Well what I do before putting note to staff paper is to layout a chronological plan on paper (similar to mahler) and take off add on with sub movements, or work from there.. check it out.

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/symphony-i-e-flat-major-please-respond-12520.html

Your sketches are so tidy compared to mine :laugh:

I am almost shocked by it :O

All my sketching goes on in my head, then once I have it al;most complete in my head I'll transfer it onto paper in a kind of abstract nonsense that only I understand.

Ha, tidy... :P

Keep in mind - that was after many months of internal cerebral contextualization before trying represent it visually on paper... :whistling:

Thanks for the ideas :). I think I actually like the idea of a physical sketch on paper, that'll probably help a lot. Thanks again!

I always have a blank piece with a flow of what's going where, and another piece of staff paper with my ideas, and I just keep building on all of those.