A new approach to multi-chapter fanfiction · 8:00pm May 27th, 2016
A while ago, back when I first started writing MLP fan fiction and posting it here, I wrote a fanfiction called "Nightmares Never Cease". It was my first multi-chapter fan fiction and I was, for a while, very proud of it. I had a lot of excellent ideas for future chapters, or so I thought at the time. However, one day, I started losing interest in it. It happened gradually. I got used to writing one chapter or at least a significant amount of a chapter once a day. Then it was once every two days. Then once a week. Then I ended up writing half of a chapter and never touched it again. Of course, there was more than one factor: I got into the MLP comics around that time. It just so happened that the first or second one I read had a story that was very similar to the one in my fan fiction. I of course had had no idea at the time I started writing "Nightmares Never Cease". But this, coupled with my lack of interest, sealed the deal. I gave up on the story entirely. For a long time, I actually tried to force myself to continue. I'd open Microsoft Word and just stare at everything I'd written for a few minutes, willing myself to write more. But I just can't force myself to continue if I don't have the drive to do so.
Fast forward to my other attempts at multi-chapter fan fiction. As of right now, the only one I've successfully completed is "The Discord Parable". I was really passionate about it when I first started writing it and that passion only waned a little. It was also fairly easy to write, so I didn't stress out too much over it. However, my next attempt at what I thought was an excellent idea (Canterlot Mystery Company) fell through the floor due to both my lack of interest (again) and the unexpected interference of canon. At the moment, my latest ongoing fan fiction ("Braves of the Six Elements") hasn't been updated as of late. I haven't cancelled it because I feel I might get back into it eventually.
Reading certain blog posts and writing guides have helped me understand my problem. I'm too hasty when it comes to writing things with multiple chapters. I start writing before I figure out the big picture. I just think to myself "I want this to be more than one chapter" and start writing away without giving a thought to future chapters. So, in order to prevent this, I've adopted a new approach, which I kind of "tested" with my (finished) work "Lyra's Guide to Conspiracies and Secrets": I'm going to write as many chapters as possible (at least two) before I post the first one. I think that's a valid approach that will make sure I don't end up cancelling anything ever again, unless I absolutely have to for whatever reason.
Just wanted to make a blog post about this. I think it's an interesting topic and I didn't want to post it on any of the forums.
I do the exact Same thing. I get excited but don't outline or figure the rest out. I guarantee you that you're not the only one.