Fic Talk > General Discussion
The Writing Thread
RokofAges75:
I just finished through your last compilation of them in this thread (thanks for doing that, btw, saved me time!), and we're up to 740!
nicksgal:
Wow, so many questions! ???
What will you do now that you compiled them all? haha.
nicksgal:
Beginnings are almost always hard for me, and I have probably used just about all of the ways they say NOT to start a novel at one point or another. What are your thoughts on this list? Bad Ways to Start a Novel: http://www.wattpad.com/4667955-bad-ways-to-start-a-novel
That made me laugh. if I ever decide to un-fanficify this whole thing, then they're probably right that I should actually start with chapter two of PBox.
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 10:03:10 PM ---I liked this question a lot:
24. If you could pick two stories you have written as a before and after to show us how much you have grown as a writer, which two would you pick?
But I almost want to change it to a before and after editing question... How does the same story change after you edit? Give us a scene that isn't a spoiler!
--- End quote ---
I don't typically save old versions of chapters/stories after editing, and my edits don't usually drastically change a scene anyway. I edit more for mistakes, word choice, and sometimes adding in more description, body language, and that type of thing.
But I guess on kind of a related note, I came across this post I made in June 2017 in one of the question threads: http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3335.msg117928.html#msg117928
"Is anyone else super indecisive when it comes to writing? I'm usually not, but I just started a new story, and I have been having so much trouble making up my mind about basic things, like a title and events. I feel like I have a solid premise and some good character development going for me (and I do have set names for the original ones, which is usually something I get hung up on), but everything else I keep changing my mind about. I wrote two whole chapters of the story, then completely scrapped them and started the whole thing over, and I've made at least five different banners with different titles. I haven't even attempted to write a summary yet, but I feel like that may be a challenge for me too. Is this a bad sign that my story may be doomed from the start? LOL"
This was the story that would become A Heart That Isn't Mine, although I didn't have that title yet because the song (Don't Go Breaking My Heart) would not come out for another year. I have never struggled so much getting started with a story that I would ultimately go on to finish. I wrote three completely different versions of the first couple chapters. The first version started at a convention in Atlanta. The second version started at a concert in New Jersey. And the third and final version started at a bar in Key West LOL. Howie was also going to be the second main BSB after Nick in the original version, but I switched it to Brian in the second two versions. I also did make multiple banners with multiple titles, none of which I loved. What finally got me into a groove on it was literally Don't Go Breaking My Heart and the lyric "If you're gonna be someone that hurts somebody just for fun, then do it to a heart that isn't mine." Once I changed the title, I was good. It sounds so stupid, but I really can't write a story until I've decided on a title LOL. I am proud of myself for persevering and coming back to this idea because it turned out to be one I really liked.
Anyone else have a story they've struggled with and ultimately finished? Or maybe one that's still a struggle? What is it that tends to gives you the most trouble?
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 11:21:06 PM ---Wow, so many questions! ???
What will you do now that you compiled them all? haha.
--- End quote ---
Um, I need to go eat dinner (you know, at 11:30 p.m. LOL) and stop staring at this screen for a while. But I'm sure I'll be back at some point.
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