Did you ever?

Appalachian Writer · Aug 3, 2008

Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

smoothseas · Aug 3, 2008

If you start with a solid outline, you don't have to stop to ponder what happens next.

Just keep those fingers moving over the keyboard.

StoryG27 · Aug 3, 2008

Constantly, even if I'm working with an outline, my characters and plot twists often surprise me and leave me wondering what else might happen.

Fenika · Aug 3, 2008

I sometimes fight a scene to make it adhere to the outline... before giving in and letting the story take over.

Bufty · Aug 3, 2008

I finish chapter after chapter with no idea what comes next. I will know a situation needs to be resolved but exactly how - no idea.

Obviously, as one progresses deeper into the novel I can nudge the situation one way or the other so the threads start to come together, but subject to that, I prefer to let the characters and situations unfold as they choose and I wouldn't like it any other way.

When the tale is finished and I know both the beginning and the end, I can poke my nose in and tweak and twist to have everything fit together.

Not everyone's method...but to each his own.

ChaosTitan · Aug 3, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next?

All the time. It's what makes me want to write the next scene, so I can find out what happens.

Telstar · Aug 3, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

Yes, it happened once to me (so far). The characters took a different direction than it was planned in my outline.

I had to have a brainstorming for a couple of days discussing with my boyfriend (who is a great source of inspiration) which were the character goals and how to adjust the storyline to fit those.

Dont do the other way around, or your characters will seem forced to follow a plot that does not seem natural.

Appalachian Writer · Aug 3, 2008

I'm writing a historical literary piece right now, and I mentioned foxes then suddenly a fox turned rabid and what I'd intended to be a farm accident turned into the rabid fox biting the farmer. Now I've got tons of research on how best to handle it. I fought against the idea, but it just seemed to meld into the story. It gave me an awesome feeling.

Kryianna · Aug 3, 2008

I'm a pantster. I never know what is going to happen. Whenever I try to outline ahead of time, I can never actually write the book. I think part of the "fun" of writing for me is seeing where the characters will take me.

ishtar'sgate · Aug 3, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

I keep loose herd over my characters, forcing them in the general direction I want them to go. Other than that, they pretty much have their head so unplanned scenes are fairly frequent. Because I know where I want my characters to end up I pretty much know where those scenes will lead so, no, I don't wonder what's going to happen next. The next step follows quite naturally from the unintended scene.
Linnea

Karen Duvall · Aug 3, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

All the time. I start the story with the characters' ultimate goals clearly in place, but the directions they take to accomplish those goals change with the story. For every obstacle I throw their way, I determine the characters' choices to break through those obstacles based on how far along they've come in their character arc. As the characters change, so will the story, and it's hard to predict the twists and turns that are bound to come up. That's what I love most about writing. Knowing where you need to go, but finding surprises along the way of getting there.

LilliCray · Aug 3, 2008

Constantly. I very, very rarely know what's going to happen next. Outlining is for people with good organizational skills.

My many attempts at outlining my writings always manage to fail miserably...

Straka · Aug 3, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

That's generally how all my WIPs have been lately... I keep it loose with a general outline, then tighten as I go.

Stormhawk · Aug 3, 2008

I was writing a novella once, and about halfway through one of the characters confessed his love for another...it wasn't something that had been planned, it wasn't something that had happened in the first draft, it was completely out of nowhere. o_o

donroc · Aug 3, 2008

My secondary characters most often surprise me. Some are egomaniacs who demand I expand their insignificant role, and usually they are right to do so.

Clair Dickson · Aug 3, 2008

Yep. Pretty much everytime I sit down to write, I learn something new about my character and the lives they live. It's fun, sometimes. Except my characters don't always live according to plot structure... so sometimes their lives have to be edited and formatted. It's rare that I know what comes next, and infrequent that I know even where a scene will end up. I may have some ideas, but they are as fluid and ever changing as a sand dune.

roncouch · Aug 3, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

I start off with a few thoughts and life flows into the scenes. I'm 20k into my third book, and I honestly don't know what's going to happen next, but when I start, the words seem to flow!

DragonHeart · Aug 3, 2008

My current WIP is the first one where I haven't tried to do any significant outline, so basically every new scene has me wondering what's going to happen next. I'm finding I have a lot more fun this way, though I am worldbuilding a bit as I go. It's a fantasy so I want to at least try to be consistent.

For example, I recently wrote a scene that was quite far ahead of where I currently am in the story. This led me to reevaluate the beginning and I went back to add a scene that had an antagonist show up much earlier than planned and changed the dynamics of my two current protagonists.

And now I get to rewrite all the subsequent scenes so it makes sense and moves in the new direction. Fun!

~DragonHeart~

Appalachian Writer · Aug 3, 2008

I know that "theoretically" we're supposed to outline, but I can't seem to keep to one. I know the beginning and the end, but the trip between takes a millions curves. I work best that way, winding my characters in and out of their lives. It's more fun that ticking away with a stodgy old outline. Don't you think?

StoryG27 · Aug 3, 2008

I never used to outline and I swear it was easy for me to write, at least easier for me to get into my writing. Then on one manuscript, I decided to outline, and now I seem to "need" it and have a harder time starting stories because I feel like I have to come up with an entire complex concept at once. It does however, keep my stories very tight, which is good (even with all the surprises that arise).

amber_grosjean · Aug 3, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

That's why I love to write so much. Its in the not knowing that keeps pulling me into the story the next day. Some stories are better than others and some really keep me in the story. I've tried writing outlines but it takes away from the story for me.

I really love not knowing what's going to happen, like the reader in some cases. By giving the characters full control of the story, I think I am able to tell the story better. But that's me. Every writer is different, some prefer complete control. I have no complete control over life itself so why should I let my stories?

Amber

kct webber · Aug 3, 2008

It happens to me with everything I write. I know where to begin. I know basically where my characters have to go. It's pretty much up to them how they get there; I never know what they're going to do. I spend my entire story not knowing what's going to happen next. I love that. I've never been able to stick to an outline. Every time I've tried, my characters shoot me an annoyed look and say, "Screw you, dude! I'm not doing that! I'm going this way! Grumble, grumble..."

tehuti88 · Aug 4, 2008

Regularly. All the time. Then again, this is probably because I don't plot my stories out in advance.

Keeps them exciting, not knowing what the heck is going to happen.

"...write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves"--I'm glad you mentioned this, as I just replied in a different writing forum today about something similar, about stories "running away" with the writer. It usually feels like I'm not even making the story up, it's happening on its own and I'm the one who's just writing it down as it goes. It's almost an unconscious process, and in fact I think at times it is (this material has to come from somewhere!).

Rhea L · Aug 4, 2008

Yes - all the time. I'm an organic writer. I don't do outlines (though I will jot down ideas if they happen to come way in advance) so technically, I never know what comes after the scene I'm writing. I'm often sure I know, and just as often I'm wrong.

It's what keeps me going. I write stories to find out what they're about.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 4, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
Did you ever write a scene for your novel that left you wondering what was going to happen next? Does it seem your books take on a life of their own, write themselves in a way with you only serving as the method through which they express themselves?

This is my writing style. I don't outline (and in fact, find them restrictive), I just write and let the story go where my imagination takes it.

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