Whatever It Takes
I see the light at the end of the tunnel! My current WIP had a mess at the end, where there was about 15K words of scenes and bits that, at one time, I’d thought would go at the end. Now that I’m at the end, I’ve deleted most of those bits, and needed to organize the mess left behind.
No two books write the same. Each book can have similar processes, but in the end, each book demands its own process. I both love and hate that this is never predictable. I hate the uncertainty, but love that every book is a new challenge.
This is why I think writers love to share their process and learn others’ processes. For this book, I was lost. I had to resort to pen and paper. I had to make a timeline of the plot, a timeline of the emotional arc, and as I read through the first 70%-80% of the book, I notated all the bits that would need closing.
Then I wrote on another piece of paper all the ending parts that would close those bits. Then I put them in order, albeit messily. Then I put them in order in synopsis fashion.
I have NEVER done all that for a story. Usually my stories aren’t so complex, I guess, or usually I don’t have such a mess. Usually my mind isn’t such a mess. Who knows? I’m not a plotter; I’m a pantser, but since half of these scenes were already written… it’s just what needed to be done.
With each book, when I get to the part where I have no idea how this particular book will need to be written, I go in search for new ideas on how other writers write their book. Who knows what will get me through the next book? So…
How do you start your books? How do you get through the middle? How do you close the ending? How do you keep things in order? Do you plot or pants? Do you outline before or after you’ve written the scene? Do you write a synopsis beforehand? What gets you through your books to the end?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I used to be a pantser, then I was an outliner, and now I’m a collaborator! I’m writing a screenplay with a friend. We throw out ideas together in my living room, figure out the scenes, and then I write what we brainstormed about. Once I catch up, we brainstorm again. I love this way of working the best. I think that deep down, I’m a Purple People Person.
Oh awesome, Robin! I bet you guys have a blast! Wow, I can just imagine what fun that would be! What’s it about?
Congrats on nearing the end! I write every book different. This one I jumped in with just a vague idea about what was going to happen. But weirdly, while I was writing the beginning, I got an idea of the dialogue just before The End. I’ve never had that happen before.
I write complicated plots, and it’s hard to remember sometimes what the characters have done. In my last couple books, I started writing chapter summaries and it’s very helpful. When I want to refresh my memory, I read the summaries.
Edie, I love those surprise bits ahead, like your dialogue! They are like little gifts, little promises that I will make it to the end.
I love that, Edie. That’s sorta what I had to do here, with the plot.
To be honest I don’t exactly write tons of books, but the few I have co-written have been plotted in detail first. With two people co-writing a mystery I’m not sure there’s any other way to keep plot, clues, suspects and so forth straight. However, even when I attempt, say, a short story on my own I plot first. I think that’s causing me problems actually. I feel like I need to know “enough” about the story before I start. I always feel that way about books too. But books are long. Even when I know a lot, which is “enough” that still leaves lots I don’t know and which is made up on the way. With a story I feel like I practicaly have to know the whole story before I write it, which is pretty much impossible. Middles and endings don’t give me much difficulty compared to just getting going in the first place.
Eric, that makes sense. If I had to plot it out first, it would take me forever to start page one! But since I don’t do that, I end up taking forever to get to the end, LOL.
I do notice that the less confident I feel in my ability to write a story, the more I pre-plot.
I’m a big time pantzer. Although I periodically stop in a book and plot a little ways ahead.
Me too, Charles. I pants along, and then burp up little snippets that will belong “ahead.” Then about 80% through, I have an impossible mess, LOL!
Usually, I outline like a maniac. But, I’ve thrown caution to the winds, and am writing this book as a pantster!
Oh fun, Barrie! I can’t wait to read how it works out for you, and how you feel about each approach!
I’m unsure about my ending right now. Things are tying up neatly in the second to last chapter, but i worry it’s TOO neat of a bow and there won’t be anything left for the last chapter. We’ll see. I’m almost there.
Oooh! The light at the end of the tunnel! I still have four more chapter to write, I think, so I wish I were where you are!
Good luck, Melanie! (I seem to be saying that a lot, lately. Are you rolling your eyes, yet? I’m totally rooting for you, though!)
I’m working on the first novel I’ve brought near completion. The first stage was that I didn’t need an outline, couldn’t force myself to sit down and write one, but I knew exactly what I wanted to say. I ran into trouble pretty fast and then I found I could outline. I have a paper notebook (with suede covers, got it on clearance at a sale of a branch of Barnes and Nobles that was moving) where I outline individual chapters, or just start a chapter when staring at a blank screen becomes counterproductive.