Has this ever happened to you?

[jaykaythree]

The story I've got going at the moment is based on one I wrote last year, and is in an unusual spot -- it's longer (8000 words) than that original (7500). Mind, this isn't a chapter series, but what someone on here called a Universe story, in that it's a slice of their "where are they now, what do they do in their everyday lives."

Have any of you ever had that situation, where a snapshot of life turns into something bigger than what inspired it? In the original, I was going for a "less is more" approach, whereas this one is detailed almost to the point of being tedious -- but I'm going for that "real life with real people" feel, a documentary rather than the drama of the original.

All thoughts welcome, none turned away.

 

[PennameWombat]

I write ‘universe’ stories so that I well understand. I also have plenty of views of getting through a day… after all, people wake up, fix coffee, eat, do BBQs, have classes, go to restaurants… I also commonly write longer (15,000 words and up) stories.

But I’m not quite sure what you’re asking. Your use of ‘tedious’ sticks with me. I don’t cover activities to ‘record’ the events. I do them to push forward a story. When it comes to ‘normal’ activities, you can elide out anything that doesn’t add to the plot or character development. Readers will understand. Whether I get that balance right all of the time, I leave it to my readers to judge. But I try. A ‘documentary’ approach isn’t automatically wrong, but even documentaries leave out the ‘tedious’ bits (well, good ones do.)

If it’s tedious, back up and rethink. You want us to ’see’ what your characters do and experience in their ‘real‘ lives. That’s fine. But don’t get caught up in that to the point you lose the ‘story.’ Most readers are here to escape, if only for a short while, their ’real’ lives. They want to relate to characters here, but not relate too much .

 

[ElectricBlue]

Have any of you ever had that situation, where a snapshot of life turns into something bigger than what inspired it? In the original, I was going for a "less is more" approach, whereas this one is detailed almost to the point of being tedious -- but I'm going for that "real life with real people" feel, a documentary rather than the drama of the original.

Constantly, except for the tedious bit. If it's tedious, why bother going on?

Most of my content here is connected in one way or another. Avid readers might spot some of the more hidden away joining up bits, but I have many side characters who get stories of their own, where the connection is more obvious.

I have vague plans one day to get them all together in one story, to see if I can keep their individuality alive. Theoretically, that should be the last thing I ever write, if I continue the method long enough.

 

[jaykaythree]

Constantly, except for the tedious bit. If it's tedious, why bother going on?

Most of my content here is connected in one way or another. Avid readers might spot some of the more hidden away joining up bits, but I have many side characters who get stories of their own, where the connection is more obvious.

I have vague plans one day to get them all together in one story, to see if I can keep their individuality alive. Theoretically, that should be the last thing I ever write, if I continue the method long enough.

Not tedious to me as such ... but it's got a lot of minor details, like describing going into the bathroom to sterilize a thermometer, and bringing out a glass of water and some Tylenol.

I also like to put in the occasional humourous moments, like the female lead drinking directly from a half-gallon jug of orange juice and saying, "Don't mind me."

 

[Kumquatqueen]

There's an audience for detailed stories - they'll hopefully say your story has 'well-rounded characters' and a 'realistic' universe.

Figuring out what details add to the story is an art. You might want more or fewer. And there's always multiple stories in a story (well, there is for anyone putting details in that aren't just about fucking). I've got a a Valentine's story about two guys planning a Valentine's dinner, but the background story is about their emotions, one is a widower, one has never had a good Valentine's before. So details explaining all their previous experiences are relevant.

I've also got a chapter of what became a long series, where our protagonist and friends end up shifting furniture for 5000 words, but there's also a lot about UK class structures and dialect code-switching to fit in. It's a bit indulgent, but says a lot about our protagonist who's been hiding her feelings for over 100k words by then, and it's not like I've been commissioned to write anything in particular here. The readers who'd got that far seemed to appreciate it.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I view a "universe" as stories that revolve around a central character or theme, but stand on their own otherwise. (The first popular example that comes to mind are the Jack Reacher stories by Lee Child)

If you share this view, then the question you have to ask yourself is, will the "where are they now" approach you are considering stand on its own for those who haven't read the original?

 

[MelissaBaby]

The story I've got going at the moment is based on one I wrote last year, and is in an unusual spot -- it's longer (8000 words) than that original (7500). Mind, this isn't a chapter series, but what someone on here called a Universe story, in that it's a slice of their "where are they now, what do they do in their everyday lives."

Have any of you ever had that situation, where a snapshot of life turns into something bigger than what inspired it? In the original, I was going for a "less is more" approach, whereas this one is detailed almost to the point of being tedious -- but I'm going for that "real life with real people" feel, a documentary rather than the drama of the original.

All thoughts welcome, none turned away.

I think the key is that each bit of detail must serve a purpose. It either draws a clear picture of the setting for the reader, or illustrates something about the characters, or both. The "secret" is to figure out exactly how much detail is necessary, without including too much.

Example; my character is getting a coffee at a rural general store:

She went to the counter to pay for it and waited while an elderly man in a Celtics jacket and a Navy veteran cap debated which scratch off tickets might be the luckiest.

Most readers have been in a situation like that. You've got somewhere to be, and this guy is holding you up. By drawing a quick sketch of the man, I am attempting to remind them of a time it happened to them, and impart that feeling of resigned impatience they and the character felt.

So, some discription of the man is needed. "She waited while the cashier served another customer" doesn't cut it.

But the old guy in the local team jacket and the veteran's cap buying lottery tickets? I think most of us have waited behind him at one time or another.

But what is the point where enough becomes too much? I'd say it's that point when the additional detail doesn't add anything. So, I tell the readers what team his jacket represents, because that adds a sense of place, (New England) and touches on a bit of a stereotype the reader may be familiar with (the irascible old Mainer). I don't bother telling the reader which Navy ship is honored on his cap, because that doesn't really add anything noteworthy to any but the tiniest portion of readers.

Adding details to your writing is like adding spice to your food. The trick is to use just the right proportion.

 

[JBEdwards]

Excellent advice! BTW, I loved White Castle Christmas! ~~JB

 

[MelissaBaby]

Excellent advice! BTW, I loved White Castle Christmas! ~~JB

Thank you, on both counts.

 

[MillieDynamite]

When I wrote The Case of Richman’s Wife, I tried to imbue the story in the atmosphere of NYC in the 1940s. The following takes place as our heroine enters her favorite eatery.

“The scents of the kitchen were almost overpowering. Inviting Aromas lingered in the air. Wafting through the place, fresh bacon, while sausage sizzled and popped as the cooking hen’s fruit added its ambrosial. The aromatic mixture drifted their yummy invitation. Oh, how I love my running eggs first thing in the morning.

Mmm, man, the pancakes and waffles, all the temptation necessary to let you understand the food was tasty.

The best perfume of all, their coffee, deep, dark, and oh, so delicious.”

 

[jaykaythree]

When I wrote The Case of Richman’s Wife, I tried to imbue the story in the atmosphere of NYC in the 1940s. The following takes place as our heroine enters her favorite eatery.

“The scents of the kitchen were almost overpowering. Inviting Aromas lingered in the air. Wafting through the place, fresh bacon, while sausage sizzled and popped as the cooking hen’s fruit added its ambrosial. The aromatic mixture drifted their yummy invitation. Oh, how I love my running eggs first thing in the morning.

Mmm, man, the pancakes and waffles, all the temptation necessary to let you understand the food was tasty.

The best perfume of all, their coffee, deep, dark, and oh, so delicious.”

Now that sounds like the way to do it ... hopefully this one I'm working on will be like that, in the end.

 

[jaykaythree]

I'm wrapping this one up ... yeah, "tedious" is the wrong word to describe all the details. "Mundane" would be more accurate, but I think I'm doing passably at capturing the fly-on-the-wall feel I want, that slice of daily life.

And yeah, I've found that if, during the writing and drafting processes, we listen to the stories themselves, they'll tell us when it's time to wrap up and tie the bow. And that's just about where I am.

(a little while later) I completed it and have it Pending now.

(Thursday edit) It goes live on Friday, 12/2.

 

[Rob_Royale]

No, not yet, as I'm only three stories into my erotica career. But I can definitely see it happening, as you describe. Stories are a snapshot of a moment and wanting to flesh out the before and after is just a sign that you've really committed to the characters and their lives. I'd say that's a sign of a good writer.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

This happens all the time.

What had started as a simple roleplay idea of a casting couch scene is now a sprawling plot outline for an entire novel.

My Hallowe'en entry idea of a witchcraft scene ended up with so much details and parallels that it didn't have a hope of getting written in time.

I have many other examples.

 

[brodieloads]

I have a habit of turning epilogues into full fledged sequels. Less so with erotica, I'm a lot better at tying these kinds of stories up in neat little "They lived happy and horny every after" bows.

However, a one-off project from a Creative Writing class in high school stayed in my head long enough to become a full novel. Not written down of course, but I could tell you everything that happens. I decided to celebrate "finishing" it by playing around with a Where are they now? segment. That just started the cycle over again and it's now a five book series perpetually taking up hard drive space in my brain.

This has happened more than once.