Writing to the End
A joy working with a writer who looks to the end of her story for clues as to what belongs in the beginning.
Do you know the ending for your story?
How many books have you written from the beginning all the way to the end?
How many times have you written the beginning quarter of the book you are writing now versus how many times have you written the final quarter?
Would you call yourself someone who finishes what she begins? Someone who achieves her goals?
If not, what or whom is stopping you?
When do you predict you will finish the story you are working on now?
For tips about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. A directory of all the steps to the series is to the right of this post. Enjoy!
Yes, better get some planning in before you start. That brilliant idea can lead to years of drafts because you haven't put thought into it before starting.
Doesn't mean you have to blueprint the thing down to the scene length — each writer works differently. What it does mean is that you'd better know where you're trying to get before you take that first step on the road. Otherwise, which direction on that road do you take?
I always know the beginning and the end of a story. It's the stuff in the middle that changes on me, but everything usually comes together. I've written and rewritten 11 books this way. I'm anticipating that my current WIP will be finished in another month. Thanks for all the useful sites.
Thanks for your comments, Bruce. I agree whole-heartedly.
Lucky you to know the end before you begin, Laila! Truly makes a big difference with staying on track and finishing. Congratulations on your current WIP.
Knowing the end is vital to crafting a cohesive story arc. You can write your way through the first draft, discover the ending, and go back and edit, of course. But it's so much easier, and more efficient, to know the ending in the beginning. This is one of the main reasons I rely on outlining. In an outline, I can figure out my entire plot in a couple months, compared to the year(s) it would take me to stumble blind through a first draft.
I am in complete agreement with you, K.M. I do appreciate everyone has their own approach to writing a story but knowing the end is critical. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the link!