Plot holes, logic tangles, conflicting character motivations... right now, a friend and I are about halfway through edits of a novel, as I've mentioned before, and I've noticed we're definitely running into snags. Nothing we can't fix, thankfully, and I'm glad we're noticing some elements that we maayyyybe didn't think all the way through in the first draft.... but that's what edits are for, right?
When this happens, my friend and I generally go back to the beginning of the plot/character backstories and work through what we've already revealed, and so far that's been OK for us.
We've also decided on a format where we do one chapter per character POV, so it's a 3-character rotating perspective - it gives us a lot to work with, which is great, but I'm noticing there's a couple chapters that could, quite honestly, probably be axed entirely, but it would mess up the entire format.
So, while it's a bit discouraging, it's also kind of neat to be able to tackle the plot and characters from a different point of view.
What are your strategies for untangling pieces of plot or details in your own writing? How do you feel about sticking to specific formats/formulas?
2 people like this
Amanda Alencar Anytime. Until then, happy writing.
2 people like this
Amanda Alencar Yes! That is exactly how it works for me :) It's very magical.
2 people like this
I write for usually just a joke, then I discover, it could be a good story, and I have to expand it to make it something for tv or movie. Not the best way to write books. From there I try and come to...
Expand commentI write for usually just a joke, then I discover, it could be a good story, and I have to expand it to make it something for tv or movie. Not the best way to write books. From there I try and come to an open and a close.. and then try and come up with things that happen in between, laying out the scenes so far.. the open usually changes.. as well as come to more characters. If u have an open and end.. you have a story, then the missing middle shows a lot easier. I did a different process in Marathon. That one kinda wrote itself.. for direction of.. cause it follows an actual path the runner had to take, and has its own history u have to follow.. so I laid out a map and put different points he would have to be at and timed out where the sun would’ve been, based on a average time the running segments might take..then the middle between those is trying to come up with an assortment of added things happening. I think an outline of scenes works really well, and leaves you seeing questions like how’d it go from here to here, and let’s you add scenes more easily (on computer) or just putting a note between scenes to add content too. The most fulfilling writing is when a joke or sketch, you wrote for someone hits and the whole audience laughs and laughs. That’s what got me into writing.
3 people like this
I have written poetry since the age 10.
Recently published my first book and I would have to say what inspired me to write was wanting to get my story out the...
Expand commentAmanda Alencar I am new to writing stories.
I have written poetry since the age 10.
Recently published my first book and I would have to say what inspired me to write was wanting to get my story out there to help others who may have had similar lifestyle that I grew up in.
I want to inspire people so badly one day! I also feel writing down my thoughts is so therapeutic.
I would love support and feedback from everyone!
3 people like this
Like you I am a Pantzer. My writing comes to life when the character is born and I inhabit its being. It lives and I follow, never knowing where, like this comment, it will go until I reach the final word.