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Fixing Problem Endings
"...Too many good books, book series, anime, etc. suffer from Bad Endings."
-- A Frustrated Reader
THE #1 Most Common Problem:
“The story is already halfway written and I have no idea where to go from there!"
This most frequently happens when:
-- A) The author didn't know how they wanted to end the story before they started writing. They just wrote ... until they couldn't write any more. (AKA: Writing by the seat of their pants.)
-- B) They planned the end, but painted themselves into a corner by tossing in a major (head/heart/sex) problem they didn't know how to fix before they could get to the end. (AKA: Bit off more than they could swallow.)
Finding the End
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Stories aren’t just about characters Doing stuff, it’s about character’s Dealing with stuff and Figuring out stuff about themselves. The really good stories, the ones that grab us and stay in our memories the longest, all illustrate normal people problems and issues, and the SOLUTIONS they come across.
No matter how fantastic the setting or characters are, stories are still about people being people dealing with people stuff. It isn’t What they do, it’s How they did it, and what they discovered about themselves on the way.
Go back to the beginning and figure out what your main character's Problem was Internally (emotionally) and Externally (plot/quest). If you haven't solved them yet, then that's all you need to do -- solve the quest & fix their emotional issue.
Note: Your main character is the Point of View character that most of the story is told from.
FIXING the Problem.
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"HOW do I fix the problem I have right now?"
1) Written by the Seat of your Pants
-- When you've written something by the seat of your pants, the only way to fix it is by stopping cold and figuring out where you want it to end - then adjusting the whole story to suit your ending. This means extensive rewrites.
This also means making a decision.
What's more important to you as an author?
A) The hours you spent writing all those words that got you nowhere?
- OR -
B) Making a story your readers will swoon over?
2) Bit off more than you can Swallow
-- I've noticed that this shows up most frequently when you have an ANGST plot. Oddly, it also shows up when someone wants to write a smut scene, but never had sex before.
Fixing Smut
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- This is actually really easy. READ smut stories. (Porn movies give you the visuals but not what it FEELS like.) Just, for God's sake, don't copy someone's smut scenes word for word - that's plagiarism. Paraphrase instead -- that's perfectly legal.
Het smut - I recommend reading books by author Angela Knight for excellent graphic detailing without making you wanna hurl.
Yaoi smut - go here: Minotaurs Sex Tips for Slash Writers -
http://www.squidge.org/~minotaur/classic/eroc.html Read that.
Fixing Angst
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- This one's tough. If you're trying to fix a serious problem like Grief over lost loved ones begin by Googling 'stages of grief', so you know what your character is supposed to be going through, and follow the advice given for getting over it. If you're trying to fix a heart-ache like a break-up between lovers, the stages of grief still works.
If you're trying to get them back together again, then you have a real problem.
-- Here in the West, getting back together rarely ever happens in real life because it's just easier to end the relationship completely and not deal with it anymore.
-- In the East, it's another story entirely. People do get back together because they are taught from childhood that Family and Personal Honor is far more important than one’s personal feelings.
• Enemies WILL put their personal vendetta on hold until a common enemy is vanquished.
• Wives WILL go back to their husbands for the sake of keeping the rest of the family safe from harm; giving those husbands a chance to make their wives fall in love with them again.
In Conclusion...
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-- When you've come up with the most diabolical problem known to man (or beast) the only way to fix it is by finding out how REAL People fixed it and applying that to your characters. Ahem, RESEARCH. (Hint: Google.com is your friend.)
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DISCLAIMER: As with all advice, take what you can use and throw out the rest. As a multi-published author, I have been taught some fairly rigid rules on what is publishable and what is not. If my rather straight-laced (and occasionally snotty,) advice does not suit your creative style, by all means, IGNORE IT.
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Hey, thank you! I've been having trouble with writing a whole lot and this just opened my eyes to a lot that could help me fix my problems. Glad I stumbled upon it.
I'd like to add writing what you know is even better than research :3 If you've lived through a life struggle(like a breakup or job loss), writing what you felt and went through will connect with the reader just as much if not more than a well researched scenario ^^
Absolutely.
-- There is nothing like personal experience. Unfortunately, I've run across one too many youngsters writing about things they've never experienced. *caugh*sex*caugh*trauma*caugh* I'm not about to tell anyone NOT to write about something, but I have no compunction about pointing out that they missed a fact or two.
-- There is nothing like personal experience. Unfortunately, I've run across one too many youngsters writing about things they've never experienced. *caugh*sex*caugh*trauma*caugh* I'm not about to tell anyone NOT to write about something, but I have no compunction about pointing out that they missed a fact or two.
I must remember to bookmark your page or something for writing advice.
Thank you!
-- Fair warning, this is only the tip pf the iceberg. *grin*
-- Fair warning, this is only the tip pf the iceberg. *grin*
Ummm, I assume that's good.
So, you're a published author? Where can I pick up your books?
So, you're a published author? Where can I pick up your books?
I'm in hiding (from my publishers) so try to keep this under your hat, at least a little. This is me on Amazoin. You can google me too.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s.....986073-7109461
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s.....986073-7109461
"Here in the West, getting back together rarely ever happens in real life because it's just easier to end the relationship completely and not deal with it anymore."
Hmmmm, does the ending in the movie "Casablanca" fall into this?
Hmmmm, does the ending in the movie "Casablanca" fall into this?
Hmmmm, does the ending in the movie "Casablanca" fall into this?
Yes. Rick allowed his relationship with her to end, even though it was obvious that he could have fought on and actually won her. Basically, all he had to do was go to her husband and say, "You know, she's a really great fuck. You're a lucky guy." That would have ended her marriage in seconds.
If you're thinking about her point of view, you have to remember that women were conditioned to think Family First back then. She was MARRIED to that other guy. She used every trick in the book to manipulate Rick into helping her rescue him -- a regular Mata Hari. However, she DIDN'T expect to actually fall in love with him. THAT'S why she disappeared on him. She couldn't stand using someone that she loved.
Yes. Rick allowed his relationship with her to end, even though it was obvious that he could have fought on and actually won her. Basically, all he had to do was go to her husband and say, "You know, she's a really great fuck. You're a lucky guy." That would have ended her marriage in seconds.
If you're thinking about her point of view, you have to remember that women were conditioned to think Family First back then. She was MARRIED to that other guy. She used every trick in the book to manipulate Rick into helping her rescue him -- a regular Mata Hari. However, she DIDN'T expect to actually fall in love with him. THAT'S why she disappeared on him. She couldn't stand using someone that she loved.
An interesting couple of points. May consider using the first one in a story.
The second one is intriguing, may have to see about writing it into another story.
The second one is intriguing, may have to see about writing it into another story.
By all means, use as you see fit!
-- I'm glad I proved inspiring. *wink*
Here's another point you might like to use.
-- In Casablanca, She learned the hard way that just because you are in love with someone, doesn't mean you're immune to falling in love with someone else -- simultaneously.
People are more than capable of loving more than one person at a time -- in exactly the same fashion that parents can love ALL their children. The Emotion is the SAME. Only the Expressions are different.
-- I'm glad I proved inspiring. *wink*
Here's another point you might like to use.
-- In Casablanca, She learned the hard way that just because you are in love with someone, doesn't mean you're immune to falling in love with someone else -- simultaneously.
People are more than capable of loving more than one person at a time -- in exactly the same fashion that parents can love ALL their children. The Emotion is the SAME. Only the Expressions are different.
I'll go with that.
I guess the thing about Casablanca would be (Other then having only the two transant "passes") would be the mindset of "You are married to only one man." Though, from looking through more then a little history that doesn't seem to stop men AND women from having one or more other lovers (Mates?).
I guess the thing about Casablanca would be (Other then having only the two transant "passes") would be the mindset of "You are married to only one man." Though, from looking through more then a little history that doesn't seem to stop men AND women from having one or more other lovers (Mates?).
"You are married to only one man."
-- In the mid 1940s when this movie came out, that was a VERY strong value.
Though, from looking through more then a little history that doesn't seem to stop men AND women from having one or more other lovers (Mates?).
Correct.
-- Believe it or not, it's actually biological.
Human life was VERY short for a very long time. People lost husbands, wives and children on a regular basis. If they mated for life, they'd commit suicide when they lost their mate -- and dramatically decrease the human population. Instead, people go on, they step past the deaths of their loved ones to find new love.
That biological urge is STILL in effect.
-- In the mid 1940s when this movie came out, that was a VERY strong value.
Though, from looking through more then a little history that doesn't seem to stop men AND women from having one or more other lovers (Mates?).
Correct.
-- Believe it or not, it's actually biological.
Human life was VERY short for a very long time. People lost husbands, wives and children on a regular basis. If they mated for life, they'd commit suicide when they lost their mate -- and dramatically decrease the human population. Instead, people go on, they step past the deaths of their loved ones to find new love.
That biological urge is STILL in effect.
"Human life was VERY short for a very long time."
True. Thing I remember something about the verage life expectancy in Athens (Predemocracy) was 15 or 16 years. Is History Channel's "History of Sex: The Middle Ages" they made mention of a lot of Europian farm guys have several wives if they could.
Also, I remember a science fiction book I read many, many moons ago where a ship's crew (Mix of men and women) was investigating the disappearance of several starships. They found one or two. The crews an passenges had died in BAD ways! After seeing this a lot of the the guys and gals "paired off" (At the request of the fems) and got down to serious sex. Someone commented on this and one person's answer was "They have the NEED to 'create' in the face of death."
I have noted a LOT of baby making happening after disasters and wars.
True. Thing I remember something about the verage life expectancy in Athens (Predemocracy) was 15 or 16 years. Is History Channel's "History of Sex: The Middle Ages" they made mention of a lot of Europian farm guys have several wives if they could.
Also, I remember a science fiction book I read many, many moons ago where a ship's crew (Mix of men and women) was investigating the disappearance of several starships. They found one or two. The crews an passenges had died in BAD ways! After seeing this a lot of the the guys and gals "paired off" (At the request of the fems) and got down to serious sex. Someone commented on this and one person's answer was "They have the NEED to 'create' in the face of death."
I have noted a LOT of baby making happening after disasters and wars.
Sex is a very natural reaction to danger. It's in all kinds of scientific journals.
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