Post AtqmOkpSbQcdvwc27s by iDGS@mas.to
(DIR) More posts by iDGS@mas.to
(DIR) Post #AtqjqfV1iBh7eMfp3Y by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-05-07T11:46:59Z
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Question #1 for writers who have *completed* a fiction book (I care if you completed to your satisfaction more than if it was publish or anything.)Is it a good idea to write the ending chapters when you have about half of the story down? I've seen this suggestion and now that I have a coherent plot and idea of what I want the ending to be this is possible. I obviously don't know all of the steps to get to that ending.
(DIR) Post #Atqk2Zf9EqIV1T5KIC by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-05-07T11:49:08Z
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Question #1 for writers who have *completed* a fiction book:I have multiple threads of plot. I initially wrote them as separate stories. Recently I've been weaving them together so you get a little of each story at a time.This has worked really well! As I write the rest is it better to just stick to writing one plot line and then break it up later, or should I try to write them as they will be presented to the reader?
(DIR) Post #AtqkZkQkE20dyTAMvQ by jacquiharper@mastodon.world
2025-05-07T11:55:04Z
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@futurebird I’m not sure there’s a right answer but John Irving does endings first
(DIR) Post #AtqkhoOvLXe0bc9yVM by muhkayoh@mastodon.social
2025-05-07T11:56:33Z
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@futurebird I don’t think it hurts but none of mine ever turn out the way I planned. The characters do things I didn’t know they were going to do and sometimes that takes things in a completely new direction. So for me any pre planning or writing ahead that I may do mostly serves to get or keep me writing. I have to be willing to let it all go.
(DIR) Post #Atql47yBGsbJfSI9y4 by mutinyc@ni.hil.ist
2025-05-07T12:00:35Z
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@futurebird Remember you will revise.Do what comes easiest to get it down first :blacker_heart: Too often, beginning writers over-think the first draft & do not put enough faith in the revising process, IME.
(DIR) Post #Atqm0vbYt2tgP7kZu4 by graydon@canada.masto.host
2025-05-07T12:11:12Z
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@futurebird Everyone is different and writes differently. ("There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays, and every single one of them is right!")If it works for you, it works for you. It is certainly not uncommon for writing the ending down as an anchor to the ramifying possibilities to be something that works for a writer.
(DIR) Post #AtqmOkpSbQcdvwc27s by iDGS@mas.to
2025-05-07T12:15:31Z
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@futurebird Sidebar: FYI, there’s a software thing called Plottr that might be of interest. E.g., here’s their latest blog post:https://plottr.com/plot-diagrams
(DIR) Post #Atqr5AYLkdmlh75cJc by mavu@mastodon.social
2025-05-07T13:08:00Z
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@futurebird hi @cstross could you spare a minute to help out this very nice person, ant enjoyer and writer with a question?
(DIR) Post #Atqru17QaShxCfk8bA by cstross@wandering.shop
2025-05-07T13:17:03Z
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@futurebird There's more than one way to do it! I'm currently writing a novel with two main protagonists, alternating narrative threads … but half are flashbacks alternating with current-time incidents. So more like four alternating protags. And I'm cycling through them as I come to each scene, although I may resequence some of them later. (Does that make sense?)
(DIR) Post #Atr41czXNHIi8mRq08 by peterfisherbooks@disabled.social
2025-05-07T15:33:00Z
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@futurebird the ants chow down on most then herd the survivors like aphids? did i guess correctly? love them ants: ruthlessly strong, amazingly fast, universally endemic and extremely tough to kill if you don't have any borax handy!
(DIR) Post #AtrVcgjz5zIxFH4NBg by davidtheeviloverlord@mastodon.social
2025-05-07T20:42:16Z
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@futurebird From my own experience writing three complete novels (and several dozen chapters that will evolve into novels one day, I swear), I say do it.Some writing rules work for some writers. Some don't. The thing every writer has to do is find the rules that work for them.
(DIR) Post #AtsJqOx11uezpjtgYa by irina@wandering.shop
2025-05-08T06:04:54Z
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@futurebird I finished two (three, if I count the one that needs a lot of work in the middle) and have never written the ending other than last. Mostly because the first time I didn't know what would *happen*, and the second time I didn't know where it actually ended (I tend to overshoot endings). Can't give any recommendations, only say how it worked for me, because other things might be better for you.