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sequels and conclusions
Jan. 29th, 2025 11:40 pmThere I was, trudging up to the end of the story.
Then it stopped.
I looked at it. I knew what happened after the event I described. But I knew it wasn't part of this story.
I considered the possibility of sequels and jotted down notes. Ah, how the prospect cut down on a long denouement.
Then it stopped.
I looked at it. I knew what happened after the event I described. But I knew it wasn't part of this story.
I considered the possibility of sequels and jotted down notes. Ah, how the prospect cut down on a long denouement.
correcting the build-up
Jan. 27th, 2025 11:59 pmIt's not enough to establish the villain, the perils, and the duty of the heroine.
I have to build up to what she actually does at the climax to save the day. Fortunately, it's difficult.
I have to build up to what she actually does at the climax to save the day. Fortunately, it's difficult.
exit, stage left
Aug. 25th, 2024 11:16 pmAh, ending the draft -- and realizing that you had completely forgot to remove some characters from the scene, or give them somewhere to be.
Ended up searching backwards to find the last time they had appeared, and then having them leaving. Good thing they were mysterious folks who could do that.
Ended up searching backwards to find the last time they had appeared, and then having them leaving. Good thing they were mysterious folks who could do that.
the end, the future
Feb. 23rd, 2024 12:17 amI know where the story will end.
So it's going to end there.
Despite vague knowledge of what will happen after that. That gets to be its own story after it coughs up the rest of itself.
So it's going to end there.
Despite vague knowledge of what will happen after that. That gets to be its own story after it coughs up the rest of itself.
crafty climaxes
Nov. 16th, 2023 11:40 pmIt's unwise to make the climax a purely intellectual problem solved.
Even a mystery ends, usually, with a show-down with the culprit, who is often forced into confession. The classic summing up scene features all the major characters and forces them all into new relationships. I have read mysteries that end earlier than that, but in scenes where a cop is persuaded to bring charges -- usually not only by the strength of the evidence, but by unwillingness to let such evil go unpunished, or the realization that the murderer has someone else he has enough reason to murder by his own standards.
Human reaction to the realization is an integral part of the climax. A villain screaming out in impotent rage is a cliche for the excellent reason that it brings the story down from the intellectual level to the level of emotions and sentiments, fiction's natural and necessary field.
Even a mystery ends, usually, with a show-down with the culprit, who is often forced into confession. The classic summing up scene features all the major characters and forces them all into new relationships. I have read mysteries that end earlier than that, but in scenes where a cop is persuaded to bring charges -- usually not only by the strength of the evidence, but by unwillingness to let such evil go unpunished, or the realization that the murderer has someone else he has enough reason to murder by his own standards.
Human reaction to the realization is an integral part of the climax. A villain screaming out in impotent rage is a cliche for the excellent reason that it brings the story down from the intellectual level to the level of emotions and sentiments, fiction's natural and necessary field.
outlining out of order
May. 1st, 2023 11:54 pmOne advantage of a plot structure -- Save the Cat, Hero's Journey, Lester Dent's, what have you -- is that it gives you a place to put story ideas in order when the story is incomplete.
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On reflection, death is only one facet of a major problem with superhero stories: change.
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abduction and inspiration
Mar. 23rd, 2023 11:15 pmAbduction is useful when starting out with a story.
By which I do not mean stealing a story idea from something (even something copyrighted) and then running off with it slung over your shoulders, though abduction is good for that, but logical abduction, where you start with things and try to fit them together.
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By which I do not mean stealing a story idea from something (even something copyrighted) and then running off with it slung over your shoulders, though abduction is good for that, but logical abduction, where you start with things and try to fit them together.
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denouement discovery
Dec. 17th, 2022 11:25 pmWrapping up the tale in the denouement. The easiest thing to revise usually. . . .
The marrying and the burying, as Twain put it, although in this tale, it's the marrying after the disenchanting -- some characters finally have the spells on them broken.
And I'm revising along and realized that I had characters discussing something that was hidden by an enchantment without actually learning it. . . another character could now tell them because the spell had been broken, but it won't spontaneously be known by any other character.
sigh. The things you miss in the first draft.
The marrying and the burying, as Twain put it, although in this tale, it's the marrying after the disenchanting -- some characters finally have the spells on them broken.
And I'm revising along and realized that I had characters discussing something that was hidden by an enchantment without actually learning it. . . another character could now tell them because the spell had been broken, but it won't spontaneously be known by any other character.
sigh. The things you miss in the first draft.
conclusions, near and far
Nov. 19th, 2022 11:35 pmHmmm. . . denouement
Some of it immediate, some later. As in, the hero asks the love interest to marry him shortly after the fight. And so we need a wedding and also the big court scene where the hero and his associates get pardons. In some order. And with due speed, since the big fight is over.
At least the epilogue of small children and another romance is easy to place in time.
Some of it immediate, some later. As in, the hero asks the love interest to marry him shortly after the fight. And so we need a wedding and also the big court scene where the hero and his associates get pardons. In some order. And with due speed, since the big fight is over.
At least the epilogue of small children and another romance is easy to place in time.
juggling ideas
Oct. 13th, 2022 11:46 pmGot ideas. Got a lot of ideas. They go together nicely but do seem to spell out a series.
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series and structure
Oct. 11th, 2022 06:57 pmAnd how long can you make a series? Was pondering this question and hit on a blog post that made me think more on the answer.
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