Forum: Author Hangout

I am two chapters in on a Christmas story that I find fascinating and completely drawing a blank on where to take it next.

The next day is December 26th. Lots of ladies go shopping. You also should prepare for New Years Eve. And New Years Day. Lots of football, in normal years, and some parades. There will be parties and probably special food or dinners. Some employers are closed and the workers are on vacation.

Usually, the story sort of writes itself and I am simply typing it out as I see it in my head. In this case, I am totally stuck.

That's a simple one: just make it sci-fi, where someone gets a time-warping Christmas gift, and the next thing that anyone knows, it's suddenly Easter! Suddenly, there's a whole new story crisis/conflict! ;)

On another note, in yet another soon-to-be-abandoned story, I start out with a transition point, which lasts for three chapters, before revealing the real transition, starting the actual story crisis/conflict. The first was simply to showcase the various characters, as they wrestle with a relatively minor crisis (lusting after siblings) before they're suddenly overwhelmed by something major (the whole family cracks and the underlying family dynamic fractures, leaving everyone scrambling. Unfortunately, though I know what supposedly happens then, I just can't get the scenes to flow the way they're supposed to. :( (It's easy to write a major conflict between two people, but tough to convey one between six different individuals.)

The reason I was suggesting a new forum is that under the forum title and in the forum header there is a description of the purpose of the forum. In this case; Story Endings: Where authors can get help with unfinnished stories and resolve story ending problems.

The reason I was suggesting a new forum is that under the forum title and in the forum header there is a description of the purpose of the forum. In this case; Story Endings: Where authors can get help with unfinnished stories and resolve story ending problems.

Except, your description of this new Forum puts it squarely within the confines of 'Author Discussions', as they'd be the only ones interested in questions of story endings (i.e. it wouldn't really appeal to anyone besides those interested in correct their current story problems, where users would list all the stories by other authors they wish would somehow 'magically' finish.

It targets no specific group and satisfied no one. It's not a bad idea, but until you can better target it, Lazeez is unlikely to recognize it as a likely and helpful new discussion group.

You make good points. How do you suggest getting help with story endings? The few stories I've written remain unpublished for lack of an ending.

The forum posting rules says: You may post short snippets (less than 3 paragraphs or so) for discussion.

Hi Eddie Davidson,
While I appreciate criticism, these we're not my words.

It targets no specific group and satisfied no one. It's not a bad idea, but until you can better target it,

I addressed the authors rebuttal and have asked that he suggest alteenative or better fleshed out ideas and hope that he will reply.

Hi Eddie Davidson,
While I appreciate criticism, these we're not my words.

It targets no specific group and satisfied no one. It's not a bad idea, but until you can better target it,
I addressed the authors rebuttal and have asked that he suggest alteenative or better fleshed out ideas and hope that he will reply.

I suspect that message was directed at my comments, as I distinctly said something along those lines, but I've already fleshed out my specific objections in a few earlier (more recent) posts here.

You said it targets no one

My idea targets people who have stories that remain unfinished and writers who are up for the challenge

You said it satisfies no one

It would at least satisfy me if some of those stories got finished.

There have been other people who agreed.

Again, there are two specific issues with your idea: 1) that it doesn't address a readily identifiable group, and 2) that it would mean that those ideas are then 'free' for anyone else to run with, potentially curtailing the original authors planned stories.

Thus, I'd suggest that such 'discussions' be held off-line, conducted with specific authors who are knowledgeable and have experience writing those particular types of stories, where it wouldn't expose the entire underlying premise of your work. Generally, this means holding the discussion via private emails.

I've done this multiple times in the past, and it generally works better (i.e. less hostile attacks and more honest suggestions) than it would receive by the Author's Forum in general.

You make good points. How do you suggest getting help with story endings? The few stories I've written remain unpublished for lack of an ending.

Again, it's all in how you phrase the request. Adding a Forum on 'Story Issues' would likely get acceptance, except that it's already covered under the larger Author Hangout forum. My main point, however, that launching a separate forum dedicated to 'unfinished stories' seemed a bit misapplied, as there's no central 'group' to which it might apply (i.e. users, editors, authors, readers or just general sick fucks ;) ).

Personally, I'd like to see which a 'Story Issue' forum, especially if we were free to discuss ongoing story issues that we're wrestling with, especially if that didn't then make the as-yet-unpublished story concepts 'free use' for anyone to steal outright. :( I've had numerous stories that I've had to abandon, often after writing the complete first draft, because I couldn't figure out how to correct one or more specific 'issues'. Being free to discuss it with other authors would definitely help us all.

Thanks for replying. I definitely don't want advice from general-sick-fucks; only specific-sick-fucks. LOL.
Your second point regarding theft had not occurred to me and after considering it have no workable ideas that would serve the authors and protect their work. :( I'll keep thinking on it though.

Thanks for replying. I definitely don't want advice from general-sick-fucks; only specific-sick-fucks.

Well, this particular sick-fuck appreciates that. ;)

Your second point regarding theft had not occurred to me and after considering it have no workable ideas that would serve the authors and protect their work.

Don't think too hard. In most cases, authors wouldn't need to reveal their complete story premise to address a specific concern. But, when if affects what you're requesting help with, then I'd try the 'offline' route I'd previously mentioned. Switch, Ernest and I have frequently had those sorts of discussions before, and they're excellent sounding boards for working out story problems/plot holes. (of which I've been suffering from a LOT lately).

Thus, if you can phrase it correctly, you might get a nibble from Lazeez, which would be nice, since no one is looking for personal attacks or spelling critiques when they're asking for assistance, but a separate location where authors could request help in resolving outstanding issues would help many of us. Especially those who frequently write themselves into corners.

P.S. that's my specific problem, but is one you see frequently among many SOL authors (i.e. those who don't plan their stories out in advance). Not that there's anything wrong with that approach, but if you plan ahead and write a first draft before refining the to-be-posted story, you're more likely to realize whether the story works as a whole or not, long before you start posting it.

Thank you. I'll talk to Lazeez in January and see what he thinks about it.

Water under the bridge?

Those bridges get routinely crossed, undermined, patched and repaired here on SOL. One minute we're sworn enemies, the next minute we're good to go and another we're off on yet another rant. You can't take any of it too personally. Writers got to fume!

Those bridges get routinely crossed, undermined, patched and repaired here on SOL. One minute we're sworn enemies, the next minute we're good to go and another we're off on yet another rant. You can't take any of it too personally. Writers got to fume!

My first impression was "wow! what a bunch of cranky old guys here. They like to correct every typo on the forum. Grammar nazis on steroids" And I may not be wrong but if I want to enjoy some hot SOL forum action then I need grow a pair (metaphorically!) and forgive and forget and don't let my panties get twisted over stuff that ultimately doesn't matter. (if all men and women went commando then nothing important gets painful!)

My first impression was "wow! what a bunch of cranky old guys here. They like to correct every typo on the forum. Grammar nazis on steroids" And I may not be wrong but if I want to enjoy some hot SOL forum action then I need grow a pair (metaphorically!) and forgive and forget and don't let my panties get twisted over stuff that ultimately doesn't matter.

Well, authors belabor their own word choices, so when you put them together, and they disagree on their basic approaches to writing, they tend to zero in on phrasing rather than content or intent. The worst, is when someone actually asks for advice, and everyone piles on, ripping the piece to shreds rather than focusing on the issue the author is struggling with.

I've said it many times in the past, the SOL Forum is specialized, and is more focused than more generalized writing groups, but there are much better places to get advice from. Here, it's mostly the blind leading the blind, fighting over which where they're going.

That said, when the sniping gets intend, just do like the rest of us, simply abandon the 'flame' threads and only pay attention to the first several posts on any given topic. It's the follow-up topics that grind discussions into the ground, when everyone starts sniping over minor, pet grievances, but otherwise, we generally offer pretty decent advice.

mostly the blind leading the blind

We aren't blind, if we were blind we couldn't read posts on the Forum.

We aren't blind, if we were blind we couldn't read posts on the Forum.

I know several VIPs (Visually-Impaired Persons) who'd disagree. They may not frequent SOL, but the blind are typically voracious readers, not as easily distracted by other electronic gadgets like TVs, movies (which both have to be explained as they unfold by someone else) and or games.

My editor just has hairy palms and he does a terrible job of proofing my stories.

I am kidding. I don't have an editor. That is me with the palms.

Hairy palms are a clear symptom of not masturbating enough. If you use it daily (hourly), you'll eventually sand those hairs right off! ;)

No worries. We're good.

I've had numerous stories that I've had to abandon, often after writing the complete first draft, because I couldn't figure out how to correct one or more specific 'issues'.

Do you have a decent editor you work with regularly? Perhaps you could seek feedback from someone who knows your writing well enough, but is also different enough from you to think of something you missed?

I have more than a few "works in progress" that I have sitting around. And sometimes I revisit them, and may add a bit more to them. But some have actually been lingering there for over a decade.

Even worse, I've got an entire virtual drawer full of abandoned stories that I personally loved, but which others convinced me not to publish! And rather than keeping them to reuse bits and pieces, I tend to shove them aside and Never, EVER glance at them again, as they're simply too depressing to dredge up again.

Then again, maybe once I die, someone (a kindly editor, perhaps) will go ahead and post my older abandoned stories, just to keep my stories in front of readers, if nothing else (per the five-year firewall).

I have a decent number of stories like this too

Would an indecent number of stories be more, or less?

Wouldn't that be subjective, depending on ones morals?

:)

it would even be subjective

Really, why 'sub'jective? How do we not have domjective?

Really, why 'sub'jective? How do we not have domjective?

Because doms are inent. Subs are jective when they write their missive.

Really, why 'sub'jective? How do we not have domjective?

Maybe we need a few PSAjectives to counter all those addjectives?

Would an indecent number of stories be more, or less?

Well, they'd definitely be on SOL, the numbers be damned!

I have a decent number of stories like this too. Sometimes, I find that after re-reading one of these stories, I get an idea that I didn't see at the time, which allows me to finish them. It doesn't happen a lot, but it has happened a time or two.

In these kinds of cases, stepping away from a story for a while might give you some perspective or insight.

Unlike many here, rather than repeatedly editing a chapter just after writing it, I'll let it sit for some time, to ensure I'm not anticipating what the story says but seeing what's on the page, which helps.

But your 'getting a new idea' is what frequently happens to me after I've finish a story, when I suddenly see a new way to continue the story, which typically launches a new sequel.

Another reason to know the ending before you begin. If you would have chosen one of those possibilities up front you would have written toward it and finished it.

I typically write towards the ending, setting it up and keeping the story's focus tight, but I get tripped up by the unexpected plot holes that simply never occur to you until someone else points them out. And after a bit, you decide the any way to correct the story is to complete rewrite the entire thing, but after investing that much time, you decide you'd rather make more babies than drowning them!

@Eddie Davidson

Maybe what we need is some sort of authors round table then. I have a whole bunch of works in progress that I've abandoned too.

That's an excellent suggestion, but given the wide divergence over styles, plotting and approach, I can't see having it on an open forum like this.

If anything, I think it would need to be: 1) limited to a few specific individuals (to prevent infighting from taking over the site) 2) be private from public, so we don't prematurely expose the plot holes before readers have even seen the story and 3) continually rotate new writers in, so the 'group' doesn't keep repeating the same issues over and over.

But generally, if the author gets bored with a story, you know the readers will too, which is a sure sign that your story has gone astray. A beta-reader could possibly spot where it went wrong, but it's so difficult finding honest and competent beta-readers, it's akin to shooting apples from someone's forehead in the dark!

Probably, it's best to create a private group to review each others 'abandoned' works, to see whether they'd rescuable, or whether someone else would like to take a crack at the premise instead.