strange way of setting up novel

[jedimaster107]

I have a question. I have this idea for a story. i have the plot written and probably start an outline soon. What the story is about, i came up with a different approach. The story takes place in a theater (stage). The story is going to be in 2 parts and no chapters. but instead of like "Part 1" or "Part 2", i was going to have be "Act 1", "Act 2", etc. Just by the tone and nature of the story, having it be Act 1, Act 2 fits it better then part 1, Part 2, etc. I also have about three different endings for the novel. I was planning on the story ending one way. Then have alternant . ending 1, alternant ending 2, etc.

It would look something like this:


page - Act 1
story
page - Act 2
story
alternant ending 1
story
alternant ending 2


The question is, has something been done like this before? Is this a good idea where people might like it? Or should i just forget it?

[IrishScribbler]

If it works, why not? I've seen novels in which chapters were called "days" to help establish the timeline.

I say go for it and see how it works.

[maestrowork]

I am sure someone has experimented before. Not sure about the alternate endings -- some readers might be bothered by it, like "Will you make up your mind and give us a definitive ending?" What you have in mind might be more suitable for an interactive storytelling medium, such as hypertext, etc. to allow the readers to move around the plot and determine the ending they want...

Or something like that.

The Act I/Act II without chapter breaks can be off-putting, too. I know for sure there are books written without chapter breaks, but personally I don't like to read them. I need breaks. If I see a big block of text going for pages -- I'm physically scared. :)

But like Nicole said, why not just write it and see if it works?

[Will Lavender]

When you get into alternate endings, you're into meta territory.

Unless you're extremely deft, you almost ruin your chances at selling the book to a commercial publisher when you try your hand at metafiction. One of the finest writers of the last century, Robert Coover, toiled away in virtual obscurity because of the way he experimentally structured his works.

[kristie911]

I'm with Maestro...I don't like books without chapters (or some kind of break). Huge chunks of text without breaks tend to freak me out and generally, I won't pick up a book that doesn't have some kind of break. I don't care what you call them, as long as there are breaks.

As far as alternate endings, I hate them in movies, I don't think I care for them in books either. Makes the author seem wishy-washy. :)

[Will Lavender]

When you get into alternate endings, you're into meta territory.

Unless you're extremely deft, you almost ruin your chances at selling the book to a commercial publisher when you try your hand at metafiction. One of the finest writers of the last century, Robert Coover, toiled away in virtual obscurity because of the way he experimentally structured his works.

Let me add to this:

I think the "act" idea is pretty cool.

[rugcat]

One of the finest writers of the last century, Robert Coover, toiled away in virtual obscurity because of the way he experimentally structured his works.The Universal Baseball Association was a great favorite of mine. And speaking of obscurist literary, have you ever read Harry Mathews?

[Kaytie]

You could always do an "Act One, Scene One" kind of breakdown to allow the reader breaks and for transition, but maybe that will follow a more common chapter structure that you are trying to avoid?

As for the endings, I'll echo what has already been said, although if one ending was for the stage and one ending was for backstage, that might be intriguing.

Definitely try it. You'll probably come up with other ideas as you go.

[katiemac]

Varying structure is fine. The alternate endings is probably going to receive more controversy about whether it's "right" or "wrong." Some people like alternate endings, some don't, so you'll just have to experiment.

At least you're not planning to stop the book prematurely and cut to a black screen.

[althrasher]

In response to what everyone says about alternate endings, I think they can be pretty cool. I think it's best used in comedy (the number one thing that pops into my mind is the last scene in Clue,) but I suppose it would be alright in other generes.

[Will Lavender]

The Universal Baseball Association was a great favorite of mine. And speaking of obscurist literary, have you ever read Harry Mathews?

I own Universal Baseball, but have never read it. I've read a few stories in Pricksongs and Descants; Coover's "Beginnings" is one of my favorite stories.

And I've read bits and pieces of Matthews. He was a hero of a lot of the people I studied with at Bard, and they were always recommending him to me. If you like Matthews, you might like one of my teachers, Lydia Davis. (And perhaps you've read her already.)

BTW: there's an interesting book called Disappearing Through the Skylight, by O.B. Hardison. The book is about change in all facets of culture, and he devotes a chapter to L*A*N*G*U*A*G*E poetry and Oulipo.

[JoNightshade]

Yeah, I have to say I do not enjoy alternate endings. The writer is boss and I expect him/her to decide which is best. Regardless of which ending it is, I want to be satisfied, not left hanging. Having multiple endings is like... Like God saying, "So, I decided not to end the world with armageddon after all. It's just going to be silence and nothingness. No, wait-- yes, I will. Oh shucks, you decide! I just can't make up my mind!"

[Mac H.]

I've enjoyed alternative endings in stories when the second one doesn't 'undo' the first one.

For example, the story ends with the hero saving the girl. The End.

Instead of the 'alternative' ending have the hero not being able to save the girl, it could extend it just a bit longer .. so that we reveal that he has saved the girl, but she's mortally wounded. (For example)

I read one a while ago where the last chapter was titled "How the story ends." It was a satisfying ending.

There was a tiny chapter after the last one titled "How it really ended." .. with a reveal that changed things substantially.

If my brain worked I'd be able to remember what the story was.

Good luck .. although I'd be careful about trying anything too radical !

Mac
(Oh yeah - I think 'The Mysterious incident of the dog in the nighttime' numbered chapters only using primes .. but it made sense for that book)

[katiemac]

I read one a while ago where the last chapter was titled "How the story ends." It was a satisfying ending.

There was a tiny chapter after the last one titled "How it really ended." .. with a reveal that changed things substantially.

It's probably not the same book, but the Princess Bride does this.

[javili]

you almost ruin your chances at selling the book to a commercial publisher when you try your hand at metafiction.

That is not what metafiction means.

[JamieFord]

The play Noises Off takes place entirely on a stage (I know, ALL plays take place on a stage), but this one is sort of a play within a play.

Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler takes place withing a 24 hour period. I think it had chapters, but was broken down into a couple of main parts.

Not sure on your alternative ending thing...

[Nakhlasmoke]

Try it and see if it works. Nothing is set in stone, if your betas find it confusibng and irritating, then write it off as a failed experiment, but don't *not* try.

And Terry Pratchett doesn't even have chapters, hasn't hurt his sales. :)

[job]

Hey. This sounds like it would be fun to write.
You would learn a tremendous amount about structure.

Whether you could sell it or not is a bit moot, but then (jo says cheerfully) the only way to find out is to write it.


Go for it.

[Inkdaub]

I say go for it as it sounds pretty cool to me. The story is king, though, and as long as the story is good and the structure emphasizes the story then all will be well.

[Willowmound]

Then have alternant . ending 1, alternant ending 2, etc.


The word is alternative.

This sounds like a fine way of doing it to me. If it works, great. Most things have been done before. I'd be surprised it this hadn't.

[catephoenix]

I like the idea of Act 1, Act 2 with perhaps Scene 1 etc (as Kaytie suggested) to break up the text. Not certain about the alternative endings though, seems a little gimmicky - reminds me a little of the Choose your Own Adventure books.

[jedimaster107]

Thanks for the advice. What i was planning for the endings was how the main character ended up. Complete opponents to each other. One way he dies. Another he lives.

When i first thought up the idea for the story, i did think about "Scene 1" break but dismissed it. I might still give it a try.

The story is going to be a horror story. At first i was going to try to brake it up into two books but i don't think my brain will allow that.

[Will Lavender]

That is not what metafiction means.

Metafiction is literally fiction that calls attention to the fact that it has been created. When the author steps inside the story to announce that he is controlling things by giving the narrative more than one ending, then another layer -- the meta in metafiction -- is created for the reader.

[WorldPlanter]

I concur with many of the other posters here. I don't like alternate endings for books or movies. About the only medium where I find them acceptable is in games since they're an entirely interactive medium.

Like others have already stated, having alternate endings gives readers the impression that the author wasn't really sure what they wanted or confident with their work. For me personally, it breaks my suspension of disbelief. I only want one reality.

As far as having Acts instead of chapter goes, I don't see why you couldn't except I would suggest breaking the acts down into smaller sub-sections such as scenes if you only plan on having two or three acts. A lot of text with no white space or breaks appears daunting to all but the most determined readers.

[maestrowork]

The play Noises Off takes place entirely on a stage (I know, ALL plays take place on a stage), but this one is sort of a play within a play.

Noises Off is brilliant in that they do the same "play" over and over, but each time different things happen and the plot escalates into a huge farce, plus you get to see both onstage and backstage, so it works beautifully and the whole thing is hilarious.

I'm not sure how you can accomplish something like that on paper, though. But never say never -- intricate structures can work, if the writer is deft enough to pull it off.

[maestrowork]

Thanks for the advice. What i was planning for the endings was how the main character ended up. Complete opponents to each other. One way he dies. Another he lives.

I have to ask: Why? What is the purpose of these two alternate endings? How would you satisfy your readers if one ending he dies, and the other he lives?

I am curious about your thought process. Why do you think that would make it an interesting story?

[Willowmound]

Unless the endings actually alternate, the correct word is alternative!

(no I refuse to let go my peeve. my peeve is my friend.)

[maxmordon]

You asked if someone have done this, well I recomend you Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges. Is a series of short tales based on fictional books, one or two of them are based on this concept

For example:

A platoon crosses a canyon, in one chapter of one of the books the platoon goes and defeat the enemy, in the next chapter an alternative way were the platoon finds a castle and have a party there

[jedimaster107]

I have to ask: Why? What is the purpose of these two alternate endings? How would you satisfy your readers if one ending he dies, and the other he lives?

I am curious about your thought process. Why do you think that would make it an interesting story?

It's how my brain works at times. It's how it develope the story. I'm weird. What can i say? :tongue

[Akuma]

I think the only person who ever used the alternate ending successfully was Stephen King with his Dark Tower series.
And he even gives you the choice: stick with the happy ending or see how it really ends and probably end up hating his guts.

[maestrowork]

It's how my brain works at times. It's how it develope the story. I'm weird. What can i say? :tongue

It's okay to explore alternative plots, endings, etc. At the end, though, you will have to come to a decision what kind of story you are going to tell, and what kind of story makes sense to your readers.

[Bubastes]

This is probably more extreme than what you have in mind, but Harper Collins recently published a novel with over 100 possible endings (like an adult Choose Your Own Adventure book):

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061133220/Pretty_Little_Mistakes/index.aspx

[javili]

Metafiction is literally fiction that calls attention to the fact that it has been created.

No. There is nothing in the "meta" prefix that has anything to do with "calling attention".

What it means is, essentially, "fiction about fiction". A novel about writing a novel maybe. A book inside the mind of an author. etc.

Children's books have alternative endings, it has nothing to do with what metafiction treats of.