Writing Advice: On the Subject of Evolving Ideas

So today I'm here to talk about the concept of planned-out ideas for a story changing as the story is put to the page. My on-going story Finding Friendship will be used as an example, so you may want to read that if you haven't already. There aren't any spoilers here, so don't worry. This post was originally going to just be about that, but as I was writing it, I felt like I could use it to give some OK writing advice since I see so many people on this site asking about it.

While trying to figure out how to get Finding Friendship to where I want it to go (I have the destination, just not the path yet), I've been working on something special for the story.

A series of Interlude/Flashback Chapters that were originally intended to elaborate more on Twilight's past and how she became the pony she is at the start of the story. I have written three of these interludes so far. Without delving into spoilers, two of them are almost entirely centralized around Twilight's Relationship with Spike, with more interludes on the topic yet to come. And, even in the main story, Spike has slowly accrued more and more screen-time and importance to the overall plot.

For context: in the original draft of the story, that never got passed one-and-a-half-chapters long, Spike was about as relevant as he was in most episodes of Friendship is Magic. An important character for sure, but one who was originally in the background. His unique appearance in this AU (inspired by a Chinese Dragon, for those who didn't know) was originally intended to be just a gimmick. A vast departure from his canonical counterpart to drive home the fact that this is a different universe with different circumstances. But as I wrote and re-wrote that first chapter, I started thinking more and more about Spike's inclusion in the story. One thing lead into to another, and all of a sudden the story became more and more about Spike and Twilight's relationship, as I'm sure my readers have picked up on by now. And remember how I mentioned that Spike's altered appearance was just a gimmick at first? Well, now it has lore. Surprisingly rich lore that may-or-may-not be the basis for a possible sequel to the story. But I'm getting way ahead of myself.

I'm also getting off topic now. The point I'm trying to make is that the initial plans you come up with for a story may not always be the best. Until it is written and published, don't be afraid to go back and change things. You'd be surprised just how good of a story you can make just by tweaking your ideas ever so slightly.

Also read Finding Friendship because I am a shameless whore who will self-promote under almost any circumstance.