I am attempting to write the saddest novel ever written, but without killing any characters. The ending is what accomplishes that. I know exactly how it ends. The ending is actually the most important thing to get right. Writing the rest of the novel is basically an exercise in creating a perfect set-up for the ending. I am developing a suspicion that beginning with the perfect ending and working backward is a better way to develop a story than beginning with an interesting premise and seeing how it develops. I have no idea whether that holds water in general. But it seems to work in this case.
I tend to know the endings very early on in the planning and/or writing. They often change quite a bit over time, though. And I have no rule that I need to know the ending, nor so I think there's one tactic that works for every story or author.
My main novel started four years ago. And after twelve (yes, twelve!) major edits and reimaginings, I developed an ending that worked for me. Long story short, kid gets killed, she dies, he kills himself, the other guy goes on a rampage killing everyone else and nobody sees her murderer again. Oops.
My endings (scene, chapter and whole novel) always come much easier to me than the beginnings do. The temptation with a beginning is to include too much, or start the story too soon, or in the wrong place with the wrong people. An ending, on the other hand, wraps up all loose ends. I really struggle with beginnings. Endings no. I guess I find it easier to deal with stuff I've already set in motion, than getting it in motion in the first place. I wrote my first novel's ending a LONG time ago, and it's the only part of my story I've never edited or changed in any way. I already know what the ending of my second novel is going to be as well.
I usually have the vague idea of the plot (including end), and then start writing. It seems to evolve a little as I write it
I agree. Maybe it's because of the momentum that builds ahead of time that helps the story reveal itself. I have a terrible time with beginnings also, I think because there's nothing to build on as yet but a blank page. I know the details of my MS to a tee, and I know exactly how it will end, but I'm waiting to know my characters better before I go back to fix their beginning.
For me it's kind of the other way around. Currently sitting with an almost finished story. I think as little as 50-100 more words for the end would be enough, but they just refuse to come to me.
I'm 70,000 odd words in, and I have a rough image of how it will end. Other than that, no I don't. Although it'll be a "win" for the antagonists. Granted, I do plan to make a series, so I won't spoil anything for potential future readers.
I couldn't do that. The idea of following a single concept through an entire book makes my head spin. Hence, short stories for me.
I'm not following a single concept, although I see where that impression is made. In actuality I just thought, "Antagonists win in this book." and then everything else from then on was all made up on the spot.
for my current suite of projects: yes, always have, though haven't always been clear how (or if) it was possible no freakin' idea sort of--have a general idea, though there's a lot of variables, including whether I want to try for sequels yes, set in stone no freakin' idea
I have a basic idea. Team of Anti-heros and a badass army defeat the main Big Bad. It is hinted that one of the main big bads who is still alive is actually his father, and villain in a future story.
I have a habit of mulling over an idea for months before actually getting down to writing it down. By then I have a pretty good idea of what is going to happen. I don't like to jump into a story before I know the end of it and I find it quite helpful to do this. Having said that, sometimes I am liable to change it once I have started. My most recent story I had in my head for five years, with a story I had thought out, chopped and changed many times. I started writing it and when I was finished I was happy with it. But then I realised that there was a better (and more dramatic) way to end it and I am now going back to change the ending. However, I do feel it is a good idea generally to have a basic idea of what is going to happen in your story. If not you can't really lead up to it. Think of it this way - if you have a villain who has a well thought out plot then they will have that plot from the beginning of the story. If you don't know that plot then how could your villain know it? How could you make them act in the most fitting way to what their end goal is?
I know my story will end with the narrator killing herself as sharing the story of her life was to be her final act, as she could not live with the guilt she had over the events of the story.
For me, I usually have some idea of the end (the actual event/scene that ends it all), but I always have trouble putting it on paper. Those last words, tying everything together, just doesn't come out right (or at all)... Though maybe I'm just over thinking it too much.
Touche Guess it's more "can you do it well" than "has it been done before" Edit: one of my short stories is gunna be the classic "nazi occultism"
