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!
2 Comments on Writing to the End, last added: 6/13/2011
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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.