Forum: Author Hangout

I'm not that type of author. I get an idea for a story and the basics of a plot and an MC. From there, my creativity defines the path the story will take, the characters, and the ending.

Alas, based on your description, I fit into your description of 'laying out a detailed plot' though I see myself reflected in Pullman's words, as 'letting the story unfold on its own'. It's surprisingly easy to simply define problems away (Oh, he's one of them!), while it's tougher seeing pieces of yourself in everyone, no matter how much they make your skin crawl.

I see myself reflected in Pullman's words, as 'letting the story unfold on its own'.

I suspect that for you, the story unfolds as you prepare the outline. They writing is just adding details.

One huge problem with "train of-thought" writing begins when you try to publish. A large percentage of publishers, when receiving an unsolicited manuscript,respond by asking for the initial outline. They know that an outline forces a definite beginning, middle, and end of the story - no rambling tangents, disembodied side-plots, nor near-infinite loops that destroy continuity. Telling a publisher that there is no outline is almost a sure rejection.

Again, with most 'train-of-thought' postings, each chapter is often a single day, of variable length. Thus it's often difficult to simply state the sheer multitude of crap they shove into a single massive chapter.

With 'Event-based' chapters, each chapter represents a single event (ex: meeting a cute girl, getting into a fight, make-up sex, etc.), so they're pretty easy to summarize by topic--even if you only compile the chapter outline after the fact.

I never know how my stories will end until I'm half way through!

I always know how my story will end before I start writing. I don't know how I'll get there, but I know what "there" is.

I always know how my story will end before I start writing. I don't know how I'll get there, but I know what "there" is.

I just finished the first draft of my next book, only days before the last is published, and I'll admit, despite knowing how the story was going to end, I just added a surprise in the final epilogue, where it turns out the 'bad guy' is actually someone else, although the lead in the the unplanned next book was planned.

If a story doesn't continually surprise you, then you won't be as driven to write it, and if it doesn't excite the author, readers certainly won't be any more impressed.

I never know how my stories will end until I'm half way through!

Heck, a lot of time I don't even know what the characters are going to say or do until I'm typing things out.

Perfect example is my first long story on here. You'd think that since it is based upon an actual video game, with the world setting already done and well known, that I wouldn't have that problem. Nope, characters will go and do whatever they will go and do.

I've 8 chapters posted in my second long work, also based upon a video game. Characters say stuff, and next thing you know, from my latest posted chapter, my main character is now the self declared legal government of the entire province. And no, I hadn't intended that in the least when I started writing this.

You'd think that since it is based upon an actual video game, with the world setting already done and well known, that I wouldn't have that problem. Nope, characters will go and do whatever they will go and do.

It isn't that you don't know what they'll do, it's that while writing what you intended for them to do, they'll let you know whether that isn't in keeping with the personality you gave them. If it's not, they'll step outside of your expectations, and stick to their inner principals.

Working (albeit slowly) on the first one in two decades for me. Back then, as is now, the first three chapters are usually the slowest, with the first chapter being tone and concept. By the forth chapter, the MC and story are guiding the words.

That's why, once you've written the first several chapters (typically once you've gotten a first draft for best results) it's best to step back and consider restructuring the opening chapter. If another chapter is stronger, it's often a sign you should start the story with that chapter, filling any holes (from the missing chapters) as the story unfolds.