[Bleach] How far does the web go?

M.Austin said:

So I just finished reading the new Bleach chapter, and I have to say I'm so impressed. (Trying to keep from spoiling anything, so bear with me) Aizen just explained the hogyoku and how he effected every move that has been made since the beginning of the manga.

I have to say, it's brilliant. I'm utterly amazed at how somebody can plan everything out like Kubo Tite did.

So tell me: how do you think someone goes about this much planning? Do you think he worked from the end upward?

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Nope, you don't actually plan that kind of thing. The hogyoku as a concept probably did not exist in the writer's mind until the plot arc where it was first shown and named. I mean, you do occasionally see writers who have a large plan for a multi-book series before they start writing, J.K Rowling is an example. But even when they have this sort of a plan they make up 80% or more of the content of each book when they start writing that particular book; they don't know everything that's going to happen and all the worldbuilding from the beginning.

I'd say he planned out most of it.
having one guy in control is good thing for stories.

Doing a weekly manga is hard work, the scripts are maybe three stories ahead or more.
He's got to know where the story is going for production reasons.


A writer I worked with from DC said they would plan out whole arcs, but they got cut when the team changed.
That's why some stories ended quickly and plot directions suddenly changed.

I'd say he had it planned out from the beginning - if you look at one of the very first chapters (either in the chapter page spread, or in the background) there's Shinji, so...yeah, I think he's been thinking about it for a while.

And...it's not as hard to plan ahead as you might think. Depends on what your writing style is really, how much you want to give away, and if you want later stuff to tie into elements given at the beginning.