Fic Talk > General Discussion
Questions to ponder part 12
rebellious_one:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on August 03, 2014, 06:29:18 AM ---How flexible are you when it comes to plotting your stories?
I know some of us are planners, while others are more "go with the flow"/"fly by the seat of your pants" writers, so this might be more of a question for the planners, even if you just plan in your own head instead of in an actual outline. But when you plan for something to happen in a story, do you tend to be rigid about sticking to your plan, or do you often change your mind? What would it take to change your mind about something that was all but set in stone?
--- End quote ---
I need to learn to be a planner honestly. My problem with my writing was I'd come up with an idea, go with the flow of it, then my mind takes me to all these different places that I try to incorporate somehow. I need to definitely organize my thoughts; it's okay to go with the flow, as long as you stay on your flow path and not drift away, which is what I often do, lol.
RokofAges75:
I tend to plan similar to Mare in that I have a beginning and an end in mind and maybe a few plot points that happen in the middle, but the path it takes me to get to those points changes as I write. I usually only plan a few chapters ahead as I'm writing, sometimes not even that, but I always have that end goal in mind.
That said, there are times when I have my heart set on writing one of those plot points, whether in the middle or at the end, and when I get there, I'm not sure it even still works with the story I've written up to that point because of how things have changed. I have learned the hard way what happens when you force an idea that no longer fits the story, so I'm trying to be more flexible. It's hard to abandon an idea that you've had in your head for a long time though.
mare:
It is really hard to change something when you have your mind set on keeping it. I totally agree!
I just finished reading Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King which was an awesome book and I highly recommend it! But he did what I absolutely love doing myself but sometimes get criticized for, and that's leaving the ending very open.
So here is my question: How do you feel about open endings? Do you like everything to be tied in a neat bow before you actually consider a story to be finished or do you enjoy leaving some of it out for interpretation?
Another one: How do you feel about sequels? (kind of in regards to the first question and open endings) When you write a sequel do you know you're going to do it at the beginning or it is something you don't realize until you are done with the first story? What's the motivation behind your writing a series or a sequel to a story and have you ever regretted your decision to do it?
Rose:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on August 03, 2014, 06:29:18 AM ---How flexible are you when it comes to plotting your stories?
I know some of us are planners, while others are more "go with the flow"/"fly by the seat of your pants" writers, so this might be more of a question for the planners, even if you just plan in your own head instead of in an actual outline. But when you plan for something to happen in a story, do you tend to be rigid about sticking to your plan, or do you often change your mind? What would it take to change your mind about something that was all but set in stone?
--- End quote ---
I used to be a fly by the seat of my pants writer and have learned over the years that sometimes that can really bite you in the ass. It's a lot easier to write yourself into a corner if you don't plan at all. It really depends on the story. I usually know how the beginning will be, I know the end, and I know certain "fated" events that should happen. The rest I leave to the characters to tell me. Sometimes with certain stories I'll be rigid. I tried to be that way with Show Me but I've literally changed almost every chapter's plan as I went so whatever LOL.
Sometimes if it's something I had in my head for awhile it's a lot harder to change my mind. Most times though if it's too far out of reach for the character I'll let them change it. For example in RMTW Nick wasn't supposed to tell Kevin nearly as early as he did but as I was writing it I could just sorta "feel" Nick urging me to let him do it. I did and I feel like it worked out better that way.
Rose:
--- Quote from: mare on August 03, 2014, 08:10:52 PM ---It is really hard to change something when you have your mind set on keeping it. I totally agree!
I just finished reading Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King which was an awesome book and I highly recommend it! But he did what I absolutely love doing myself but sometimes get criticized for, and that's leaving the ending very open.
So here is my question: How do you feel about open endings? Do you like everything to be tied in a neat bow before you actually consider a story to be finished or do you enjoy leaving some of it out for interpretation?
Another one: How do you feel about sequels? (kind of in regards to the first question and open endings) When you write a sequel do you know you're going to do it at the beginning or it is something you don't realize until you are done with the first story? What's the motivation behind your writing a series or a sequel to a story and have you ever regretted your decision to do it?
--- End quote ---
Sometimes I do. He left the ending of the Dark Tower series pretty open but while it pissed most people off it fit the story oddly enough. I still find that to be my favorite thing Stephen King's written. Another fanfic example would be It Stays. There's no happy ending and the ends aren't all tied up but it's still a great way for it to have ended.
As a writer, I do tend to have things tied up. I might need to try an open ending sometime LOL.
Yes, I started a sequel I NEVER should have. Only one. Mainly because originally Just Another Day was gonna eventually become very angsty lol. I was gonna delve into Cally's relationship with Nick and then kill her off. Her death was gonna send Nick spiraling into a dark depression and I wanted to explore that. For some reason I decided it was too much for one story. (This was in my fly by the seat of my pants writing days.) So I ended JAD at a nice stopping point, planning to give it two sequels: their relationship and then the angsty third one after I killed her. Bad idea. Exploring their relationship wasn't enough for it's own novel (a common problem in most romances) without it being a soap opera. I don't even think it got past ten chapters.
So if I ever do a sequel again, I'm gonna do it knowing from the get go. Maybe then it'll actually be done properly LOL.
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