The Trouble With Writing Long · 11:20pm Feb 1st, 2015
Okay, maybe the better title would have been "My Trouble With Writing Long," but whatever, it's too late to go back now.
I have written two long stories for this site, and for the most part concentrated solely on just those stories while writing them. This isn't because I have nothing better to work on, only because I worry if I start something new, I'd lose that certain tone or voice I had been holding onto for so long. (And sometimes I still do.)
There are hundreds of authors on this site that seem to be able to balance multiple long stories that they've written about for years, similar to what Stephen King did with his "Dark Tower" series or George R. R. Martin did with his "A Song of Ice and Fire." I commend them for that ability.
"Regarding Falling Villains" was supposed to end after chapter seven, but do to it being my most popular story (and the fact that I'm a junkie for comments--like any honest writer) I brought it back for a second round. And it's still going...
That might be my second writing problem. Not understanding the length of an outline before starting.
The Canterlot arc was around 23k, and I wanted to write something between 20-30k for the second arc. Taking a quick glance at the rough draft, the second arc now sits at just over 60k. Damn it.
Where am I going with all this? I dunno. Just musing, I guess. And also to let you know that an ending is actually in sight for this never-ending story. (As my editor cries tears of joy.)
So maybe that's my question for this blog. Do you have trouble picking up old stories and adding to them? Or do you need to concentrate on one big idea at a time? Starting "Regarding" again, I re-read the first part and found writing the first new chapter like pulling teeth, almost wondering how the old me wrote in such a way and how I could tap back into that.
And just so you don't think I'm lazy, here's a list of stories I'd like to do once "Regarding" is done. (And also to see which ones I actually get to.)
The Last Day of School (One shot, horror)
Please Open the Door (One shot, horror)
One Chaotic Little Secret (Three chapters, romance/comedy)
Telephone (One shot, romance/comedy)
The Backwards Party (Five to seven parts, dark)
The Envious Type (Anywhere between one chapter to thirty, dark/alternate universe)
Forever Young (One shot, dark/sad)
The Mare That Saved The World (One shot, sad)
Sombra The Highly Unmotivated (One shot, comedy/random)
Allergic To Cuteness: The Game (One shot or a dozen small chapters, comedy/random/probably a better story for my other account)
Thanks for reading. Sorry your weekend has come to an end.
Being an author of several stories myself, the problem I most often run into with longer fics is keeping the universes all straight. That and trying to figure out where the story is ultimately going without spiraling off on a tangent.
My advice to you, if you're coming up dry, is to let it stew for a while. Think about story ideas while you're exercising or at work. I can't even tell you how many times I've had inspiration while at my job. Or maybe even read other stories. I know I've gotten plenty of ideas just by reading other people's work.
If worse comes to worse, take some time off from your story and put it on hiatus.
Although I haven't written much on here, I have been writing on and off for a long time. Speaking personally, if I let something sit for too long, then when I finally do go back to it it usually doesn't fit anymore. By that I mean my way of thinking has changed too far from when I was writing it. I've also learned that a story is as long as it is. Trying to stretch it, or cut it short just lessens the value of it. When you set foot (or hoof), onto a new path, follow it until it ends. If that means it turns out to be a one shot, there ya go. If sequels are called for, rock on! I do tend to want to finish one idea before starting another, one reason is so I don't end up with two half written stories, and another is so I don't lose any of the inspiration that made me want to write it in the first place. On rare exceptions I'll start a new project simply because I don't want to lose the ideas while they are fresh, but once I get my thoughts pinned down, I'll generally just finish my 1st one.
And as for Mr. Martin, Mr. King, and I'll also add Mr. Phillip Jose Farmer... Mr. Martin writes slow... I'll overlook that, Mr Farmer writes well, I'll overlook that, Mr. King churns out a book a month, and they are usually large enough to make 'War & Peace' feel small and inadequate. So how in seven hells can it take him twenty-six years to write seven freakin volumes?!?!?!? People have grown up, married and had kids waiting for closure on the bloody thing. I mean really...
I love you
2808655 Considering your picture is a cup of coffee, I love you too.
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Take a big whiff, whats that you smell? Delicious hot coffee, freshly brewed using those beans that monkeys pooped out. Goddamn does it smell good. So good that you decide that nah youre not gonna work on those tiny one shots but instead continue working on Regarding till you die at the ripe age of 69
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I'm laughing so hard right now. You have no idea how much I love coffee...
"Regarding" isn't dead. There're two bonus chapters coming soon and the third arc is in a brainstorming/outlining phase. If that's all I worked on, I'd go insane--thinking like Sombra all the time in a semi-idiotic/semi-dickish fashion.
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Look at me, what do you see? A talking cup of coffee, I think your insane. Now look down, You are now Sombra, a idiot whos thousands of years behind on social behaviour.
No but really I understand lol. Take your time and enjoy the break (Y). God knows you earned it pumping out chapters every couple of days.