Just discovered what my novel is about

a_sharp · Dec 13, 2007

Full outline of my literary WIP in place, 10,000 words in, characters working well, good momentum, and I just discovered the secret my male MC is going to discover about my female MC. Suddenly I can see how this flaw of hers pulls together dialogue already in place, supporting character remarks and attitudes, the ultimate ending I envisioned. It ties together elements I telegraphed in the beginning without knowing where they would lead. Her new situation is not what I thought it was when I first conceived the story, but man is it powerful. I'm excited.

Has anything like this happened to you?

blackpen · Dec 13, 2007

i just realized that my novel doesn't have a plot.

AllyWoof · Dec 13, 2007

I just discovered mine was still here. I thought it had died.

Will Lavender · Dec 13, 2007

Happens to me all the time.

In fact, I just discovered who the killer was today.

He just up and...killed somebody. Shocked me, really, because I'd had the bad guy pegged as somebody else.

AllyWoof · Dec 13, 2007

lol That's funny.

LaceWing · Dec 13, 2007

a_sharp, it hasn't happened in the novel I've been mulling for a year or so (close, but not quite), but in short works, yes. There's the suspicion all these things go together for a reason, and when I find it, those little ducks line up just as they should. So, I know what you mean. I'm happy for you. I'm envious as hell, also.

Straka · Dec 13, 2007

One reason I like writing books in chronological order is I grow and learn with the characters and even surprise myself. I was writing this one character who was supposed to be jaded on women and after a while I stopped and said aloud, "You know, I think he's gay." Which wasn't what I was going for so I had to stop and go back.

Siddow · Dec 13, 2007

Feels great, don't it?

Ziljon · Dec 13, 2007

The subconscious is a wonderful thing. You plant a seed and let it grow. Well done.

David I · Dec 13, 2007

Since I don't outline, my books are just one little surprise after another. Not all of them pleasant.

But it's nice when you find yourself holding a key and, guess what? It just happens to open that door over there....

KTC · Dec 13, 2007

I find out as I go along. I get so excited sometimes it feels silly. I'm like, "ooh, ooh...what's gonna happen next?" And I have to keep typing to see the next thing pop up on the screen. I'm like, "Oh cool! I never would have guessed that!"

CheshireCat · Dec 13, 2007

a_sharp said:
Full outline of my literary WIP in place, 10,000 words in, characters working well, good momentum, and I just discovered the secret my male MC is going to discover about my female MC. Suddenly I can see how this flaw of hers pulls together dialogue already in place, supporting character remarks and attitudes, the ultimate ending I envisioned. It ties together elements I telegraphed in the beginning without knowing where they would lead. Her new situation is not what I thought it was when I first conceived the story, but man is it powerful. I'm excited.

Has anything like this happened to you?

With every book.

That's when I relax.

Zelenka · Dec 13, 2007

I realised the other day that my MC in my fantasy novel came from a family of alleged traitors and wants to try and regain some of his honour and status, and whole loads of things I'd been struggling to make fit suddenly work with no hassle now.

Love those moments.

Storyteller5 · Dec 13, 2007

a_sharp, I love when that happens! I love when the characters are moving around and surprising me. In my last novel (which is still awaiting edits), my MC husband attacks his wife which so upset me and put me in a funk for three days, but I knew that's what happened. It clarified how long the road before was and showed a ton of insight into my character.

I'm needing a bit of light bulb over the head in my current WIP. I hope I get that soon!

Claudia Gray · Dec 13, 2007

I have great fun with events unfolding and the surprises that reveal themselves. I tend to work from outlines, but the surprises can come while outlining! (Or later.) One thriller idea I have was well on its way to a final outline when one more twist came to me -- what I thought was the ending wasn't the ending at all. That said, I am keeping the outline intact up to that point. I think that if I'm writing the book with the structure/feel leading up to what is now only the penultimate climax, that final episode will come as a bigger surprise.

johnzakour · Dec 14, 2007

I always outline because I always have at least 3 books going on at once and if I don't outline I get confused.(I am old.) But even with pretty exact outlines I am constantly surprised the ways things unfold when I start the actual writing.

It's a fun process when the progression of a story unlocks new pathways for both plot and characters.(My hunch is outlining and writing bring into play different areas of the brain.)

Elodie-Caroline · Dec 14, 2007

When I outlined my work, I knew exactly why my girl was like she was, a stroppy cow who was a diva. My male MC finally found out why she was like she was too and fell in love with her because of it. Once the antagonist was out of the way and my FMC & MMC had delcared their love for one another, finally, that was supposed to be the end of the story, a traditional HEA.
But then I found out he had a twisted jealousy problem near the end of the story and the things that brought them together could tear them apart. My male MC has more issues with her awful past than she does and pushes her into things she doesn't want to face. I am now working on how the two of them are going to get through it, together.

Elodie

Charlie Horse · Dec 14, 2007

I discovered about 500 pages into my WIP that one of my characters was a robot. Does that count?

JustGo · Dec 14, 2007

I was just sitting on a bus one day, listening to music, and when one line out of the hundreds I'd been listening to drifted by, suddenly I realized - that's the theme of my book! It fit perfectly and didn't require me to change anything, and gave me a great idea for part of the epilogue.
I also notice random yet consistent pieces of symbolism that I didn't know were in there as I'm rewriting, and I love it. A round of applause for the subconscious, and congratulations on your discovery, Sharp!

Cassidy · Dec 14, 2007

I have vague ideas but they're staying uncomfortably vague. I'm hoping I'll find out soon as I'm nearing the end of the first draft.

Stew21 · Dec 14, 2007

This happens to me in every story I write.

I hadn't known when I set out that there would be ghosts. I hadn't figured out anything.

When my MC had an anxiety attack and said, "the girl in the trunk is wearing purple" I had no idea there was a girl in the trunk or who she would be.

I like discovering my story as I go and finding that not only does it have a plot, but a solid theme, too.

Storyteller5 · Dec 14, 2007

Charlie Horse said:
I discovered about 500 pages into my WIP that one of my characters was a robot. Does that count?

Absolutely it counts. Discoveries like that are the story leading you.

ACEnders · Dec 14, 2007

I don't outline, but that has happened to me twice now. I'm just writing with a basic idea in my head, but suddenly it becomes so much more and my characters do something or reveal something from their past that just makes it all fall into place! What a great feeling! congratulations!

johnzakour · Dec 14, 2007

Charlie Horse said:
I discovered about 500 pages into my WIP that one of my characters was a robot. Does that count?

Not to hijack the thread but 500 pages is a long novel, especially if its your first.

jannawrites · Dec 14, 2007

Hooray for you, a_sharp! I think that's fantastic. And yup, it's happened to me. In the particular time or two I can think of, my fingers were typing faster than I could think and before I knew it a surprise had unfolded in front of me. Amazing.

Man, I wish for some of that excitement right now...

Just discovered what my novel is about

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