Formatting, length and all of that good architectural bits

[narkoleptik]

Sorry if this post comes out not very well defined- multi tasking just isn't possiblel to me anymore, haha.  But anyway:

How does one plan out their stories?

I've come across a lot which are like- 'this is gonna be 20 chapters long' or whatever, but does that actually work?  I know people work in different ways when it comes down to planning, with

Comments

[narkoleptik]

What do you mean that you write before posting? Isn't that what everyone does? what does this mean????

haha, sorry, it's early over here, but anyway. Yes! I'm into tiny details like that too, except I go out of my way to NOT name something in my story that would date it in any way- it's almost ridiculous by how vague I make people, like, if they're mentioning that they wanna go see a certain movie, I do this whole, 'That new movie with that guy in it- heard it was awesome,' because it's a plausible statement that I've used myself, but I figure it's not an important detail anyway. It totally takes me out of the story/moment when I'm reading something that makes a nod towards something that, at the time was really cool- yet so... . (examples include any 50 cent songs, a thinly veiled authors compliment towards the movie Batman Begins, etc.) If you're gonna date it, do it with conviction- like you.

I'm surprised myself that I'm still writing this story because I didn't think I could stick it out either, but now it's at the point where I'm going to finish it no matter what, it's gone so far.

Haha, dunno about those people- was hoping I'd hear from people here.

[zorrille]

Bum. This is why I should never write anything past ten at night. I mean I write a lot of the story before posting it--like I usually have at least ten chapters in hand. Right now I believe I have like 14 or something ridiculous.

Tiny details make the world go round. Although I quite like things to date. I guess I'm weird. I mean, I end up hating most of my stories anyway, so it's fun to go back and think 'Oh God No!!!' once in a while. I reference things a lot unintentionally. Like WAY too much. So yeah, my embarassment follows me around like a particularly evil little puppy.

Glad you're going to finish! I kind of abandoned my longest. Planning to return eventually but... yeah it will probably be a 60 chapter jobby :)

I think most people who actually want to read something aren't scared of length; I know I'm not. I mean, long and short stories are pretty much the same to me readingwise (although I guess I feel more useful reviewing etc if it's still in the early stages because a) if it's been going a while, it's probably been editted more / reviewed more (in my very simplistic way of thinking) and b) I'm really slow at reading, and updates spur me on if they're for the next chapter or whatever). Wow, long brackets. And bookwise, the fatter the better.

What's your story, by the way? I'm sorry; I've been on here so long I should probably know this, but alas, my brain is nonexistent and I'm hardly ever on FP anymore.

[narkoleptik]

Haha it's okay- that makes sense. I used to work like that also, and I still kind of do because when I post a chapter, I have another chapter up for revisions or half written, but I like to step away from writing in general for several days after. And then I go back to the posted chapter to see what I've committed to, and then more often than not I end up rewriting the next chapter anyway (I have 3 versions of almost every chapter, which I suppose is my punishment for not planning).

Haha yes! It's so hard to not poke fun at something that's like, a pop culture joke because I know I'd regret doing it later. What usually hurts me is age- as in, perhaps the reader may not know, but I know exactly how old I was and/or my mentality at the moment I wrote a chapter, and this is damning to me because I always want to kick myself for my immature actions, not even a year ago, you know? 'Oh GOD it hurts to be me!' haha. You may have a cute little puppy following you around, but I have... my shadow... heh.

And on that note, I was actually hoping nobody was gonna ask this, since.. well now that I admitted that I didn't plan (or at least, not plan diligently- man I should've been more descriptive- Damn my two day younger self!!) and that the story itself is over three years old.. this is what I was referring to when I say it hurts. But again, I am committed and I didn't wanna go around editing until I was done but alas. So on that note, chapters 1-9 I can't even look at anymore without cringing, and all author notes I put in are severely self indulgent, oh god, it hurts. D: cringe cringe. blah, fic whoring...:
http://www.fictionpress.com/s/1980784/1/So_I_was_Hit_by_a_Car_the_Other_Day