Fic Talk > General Discussion
Question of the day part 10
mare:
--- Quote from: Sakabelle on July 29, 2013, 08:26:32 PM ---I have one!
I know a lot of us post as we write, but this question more applies to stories you're keeping to yourself. Have you ever gone back and restructured a story to change where the chapter breaks are?
It's kind of a weird question, but I'm thinking of doing that now because as I'm writing I'm finding some of my chapters seeming too short and like there's not enough happening in them.
I guess another question to ask is, how do you decide where to end and how to begin a chapter?
--- End quote ---
Questions like this one make me really stop and think about how truly spontaneous and under-thought out my writing process is. Zoinks!
Since I don't really write from an outline and just kind of wing it, I never really go into a chapter thinking about where I'm cutting it off. I sometimes don't even know what's going to happen until I'm halfway through writing them. As I'm writing that's when I start to see the clearer picture of where I want the break to happen and since generally I tend to write stories with multiple layers and points of view, I start to get a sense of "Okay I'm not sure when this will happen but my goal I think is to get to this point with this person saying these words!" and then I write until I hit that goal. I like to end things with a cliffy most times so right before my guy jumps over that cliff, I'll stop! LOL
I never really make a conscious effort to hit a certain number of words or pages but most of the time, the chapters do end up being similar in length. For me working this way avoids any filler. I really try to avoid the useless filler chapters or filler paragraphs as much as possible. Ironically the more thought I put into something the harder that is to avoid.
As far as works in progress and reworking chapter breaks etc... I do that more with my OF than my fanfics. I tend to have a harder time making those decisions mainly because I don't trust my abilities to write anything more serious then the Backstreet Boys and their zany adventures!
I have to say I have changed things completely around though, when I've waited to post things. Sometimes entire plot ideas if characters have come and gone if I wait too long!
Purpura Lipstick:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on July 29, 2013, 07:14:41 PM ---In a book?! As in, published fiction?? That's bad! I mean, you still find the occasional typo in published books, but to not catch something like that is a major fail on the editor's part!
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Yes a published book. I know occasionally you find them in published books but they aren't as obvious to me at least. I work with loan payments at work and cringe when someone says they want principle reduction.
julilly:
Principle reductions and moral cutbacks for all!
FrickingKaos:
You know something, I almost want to write that bus crash idea you guys had LOL. I was just thinking about it.
RokofAges75:
You should do it, Tracy! That would be a fun story!
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