Challenges in writing longer works

[EmilyMiller]

fair enough...

but it does sound like you have something that happened earlier in the story, and then is less important later...and you are trying to deal with that...and from your own admission, you wrote the ending first...

Again, I was just guessing from what I was told, and from my point of view...and giving advice from their...didn't mean to offend if I did..

You didn’t offend. But the issue I mention is more keeping track of multiple threads, and not to do with writing the ending early (not first).

 

[Rob_Royale]

Actually, it is quite easy. Just start telling the story. Then see where it leads you. You begin with any story and ask yourself 'what does the guy do next?' If you say nothing, then you close it out as best you can.

Yeah. Thanks. I'd never have thought of that on my own. I'm off to start my magnum opus now that it has been explained to me how easy it is.

 

[stickygirl]

I've found the research to be a motivation for longer stories. I learnt quite a bit about physiotherapy and football for my Goalposts series; I walked around Koh Tao and Nuuk on Google Earth ( how did we live before GE ? ). Currently I'm researching the Hebrides, but not for a story that will appear here.
The more I learn about a topic or a place, the more I can enrich the narrative, the more credible it becomes and, as I've said, it's fun.

 

[GrantBricksly]

You didn’t offend. But the issue I mention is more keeping track of multiple threads, and not to do with writing the ending early (not first).

Ah..I miss-understood.

I find it best then, as others have mentioned, to keep a separate file, that keeps track of all my characters, locations, current plot lines that need to be dealt with still, etc... I keep it open as I write. And I add to it as I write.

It makes it an easy reference when I need to remember something I mentioned in chapter one, that seems relevant all of a sudden in chapter 15... And I can look at it each day before writing and see "oh yeah, I still have this plot line that I haven't closed up... I should keep it in mind as I'm writing today..."

It's also a great way to keep the continuity tight.

When it comes to a plot line that has fallen by the wayside, like the one you mentioned (where she was worried about the murders being pinned on her...but then later she seems to have just forgotten about it) I have found that sometimes it can be as simple as one or two lines to deal with it. "She walked past a cafe, and noticed the news anchor talking about the police finally calling off the search for the murder suspect" (or taking someone into custody) anything like that can be quick and simple and take care of the issue without having to change much, or bring it all back up... Unless you WANT or feel the NEED to do so.

 

[Gamblnluck]

Yeah. Thanks. I'd never have thought of that on my own. I'm off to start my magnum opus now that it has been explained to me how easy it is.

Hey! Glad I could help. It really is that easy. The difficult part is getting to the end. A satisfactory end is hard. I tend to leave those long stories half open. I learned to not write an epilogue after one. I wanted to weave the characters into another story had to fudge just a little. I'm trying to conclude my 63 chapter saga, but I will deliberately leave it open to tell another story and use some of the same characters.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Ah..I miss-understood.

I find it best then, as others have mentioned, to keep a separate file, that keeps track of all my characters, locations, current plot lines that need to be dealt with still, etc... I keep it open as I write. And I add to it as I write.

It makes it an easy reference when I need to remember something I mentioned in chapter one, that seems relevant all of a sudden in chapter 15... And I can look at it each day before writing and see "oh yeah, I still have this plot line that I haven't closed up... I should keep it in mind as I'm writing today..."

It's also a great way to keep the continuity tight.

When it comes to a plot line that has fallen by the wayside, like the one you mentioned (where she was worried about the murders being pinned on her...but then later she seems to have just forgotten about it) I have found that sometimes it can be as simple as one or two lines to deal with it. "She walked past a cafe, and noticed the news anchor talking about the police finally calling off the search for the murder suspect" (or taking someone into custody) anything like that can be quick and simple and take care of the issue without having to change much, or bring it all back up... Unless you WANT or feel the NEED to do so.

I know, I have a file just like you say. I mention it above . I wasn’t after solutions, I know what I’m doing. I was after other people’s experiences.