[ratlaf]

This is the writing exercise I completed based on Stephen King's? "?On Writing.?"?  If any aspiring writers would like to read a very accessible book on the process and art of writing definitely read this.  It's one of four books that King has written that is any good.  It definitely helped my writing which is why I'm recommending it.?

I'm trying to work on my writing skills and where I'm weakest is in writing endings, so I'm revisiting some of my older, incomplete writings, and finishing them.  I know how this story ends, all that's left now is to get from where this part leaves off, to the ending.

Enjoy!

http://ratlaf.deviantart.com/art/Writing-Exercise-Part-1-101046025

I sure hope some of the other authors around here start posting new work.  It's been really, really quiet around here!!!  >:( (Hint, hint!) 😉

[AlexG]

I'm trying to work on my writing skills and where I'm weakest is in writing endings, so I'm revisiting some of my older, incomplete writings, and finishing them.  I know how this story ends, all that's left now is to get from where this part leaves off, to the ending.

This is not directed at you, ratlaf – bear in mind I'm speaking purely in a generalization here, but the subject of leaving stories unfinished seems to be a common failing with many of those that write on-line stories in the GTS/FMG/SW genre.  Most have a good idea for the starting off point since their focus is on a transformational (read: personal) fantasy.  Add in a sex scene, and it’s basically nothing more then a tale of auto-erotica.  However, once having reached climax (no pun or double-entendre intended) its not surprising that they never come back to give us any closure – because they never really gave any real thought to going beyond that part of their story.

Key to story-driven stories is to have a beginning, a middle (high point) and an ending well in mind before you start.  Some even prepare a formal outline (of sorts) as a guide to keeping things on track.  This has never worked for me, sometimes a story has a tendency to evolve in mid-stream, going off in a direction I never considered due to how the characters can seem to take on a life of their own.  And yet, they find their way back to where I originally intended for them to go as a conclusion.

I sure hope some of the other authors around here start posting new work.  It's been really, really quiet around here!!!  >:( (Hint, hint!) 😉

At the moment, I've returned my mythology-as-history Archon Saga series, which I haven't worked on in several yrs, all of which are strongly story / character driven.  The current one is a spin-off / sequel of sorts to one of the previous Power Couples novellas, which at the moment has yet to have a GT/GTS MMG/FMG scene.

I'm going slowly with this one, so I doubt it will be finished any time soon.

“I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

[Silent One]

Yea, I know quite a bit about wrestling with an evolving story.  They take on minds of their own at a certain point.  But that's also the point that to me, indicates that I'm doing something right.

Formal outlines have never worked for me though I've recently (wihin the last two years) developed a general outline/guideline approach.  It's a living document the sort of which probably wouldn't have been possible before the digital era (or at least very difficult to implement.)  I use it to set up story outlines including beginning, high points in the middle I want to reach and the end (which doesn't always get added before I start).  As I come up with more detail I know I want to use I add it into the guideline.  I have the guideline open parralel to the actual working document of the story both so I can refer to it easily and to add further notes to it as I think of them that don't apply to the current segement I'm actually "writing."

My actual "writing style" is still very chaotic and a lot of it depends on the simmering brew stashed on the backburner of my brainpan but on days where I can't get into the mood to seriously write I can fiddle with the outline and feel like I at least accomplished something productive.

And… The Necklace II is still in progress and I'm still alive.  You can all breathe a sigh of relief…

[Ravenderon]

I agree with AlexG. Stories must have a beginnig, a storyline and an ending. My personal failure is my bad grammar and vocabulary in English. My thoughts are all in German, so I have to translate them and this is by far the worst part.
I also have some points of interest in my story before beginning, but the way between them come naturally and sometimes chaotic to me while I'm writing. After writing for a long time in German (and without any transformations in it) I liked the idea of trying it.

I have this point of view for my own personal style, but it is up to you to find yours. Hopefully your Characters have an history and a future, because if not, they tend to be two-dimensional and can't evolve.
btw nice story…

[Robert McNay]

My biggest bones to pick with a lot of writers is their characters. They are mostly cardboard cut-outs with nothing behind them. Give me a little bit of something to make them seem real. Let me have something to pique my interest and want to know more. Get me invested in them.

Oh, and also, give me at least one LIKABLE character, someone I can root for and get involved with, jeez! I have read so many of these stories where the heroine gains all this strength and power and becomes a total a**hole. Then all the people around her are jerks, too. They victimized her in someway or want exploit her new condition. In just ends up, the whole lot should be rounded up and sent to the Danube at dawn.

I remember one story I read in the usenet newsgroups that involved lillies in the growth formula, protein being needed at the same time and other stuff. The guy who invents it is a total jerk, and ends being turned into a slave by his girlfriend, her sister and some other women. They torture him and use him in disgusting ways. Everyone in ends up being so despicable and nasty that I just couldn't read another fan fic about female strength for months.

[TC2]

Definitely agree with that Cpt. Matt.  Too many stories end up turning the characters into villains or have people who are bullies for no reason than to just simply be the antagonist.  If I get any time I'm planning on finishing a new story I started with the most realistic character I could come up with.  She's going to be as human as the rest of us, obviously with the difference being that her muscles can grow to enormous sizes.  So I'm looking forward to seeing everyone enjoy this new character once her story is done.

[ratlaf]

Here's my complete story and my attempt at bringing real characters and real plots/stiuations etc into my stories, while still keeping the women tall and incredibly muscular.  It replaces the previous incomplete posting:

http://ratlaf.deviantart.com/art/Writing-Exercise-Complete-102126105

Now onto another unfinished story!

[AlexG]

Viva la completion!  Viva de author! 

“I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

[ratlaf]

Viva la completion!  Viva de author! 

Thanks!!

[Author]

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