Planning, Plot Twists, and the Reader/Writer Bond

Ranting & Raving
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Planning, and the Reader/Writer Bond

 

I respect the hell out of writers that can wing it. I really do. The ones that sit down and free write, and a beautiful story emerges. I think that's awesome, but I can't do it. I plan, I plot. I know the beginning, the end, the characters, the conflict, the resolution and most of the details in between before I ever type a word. I have to do it this way and some of you should as well. Otherwise, you could end up writing yourself into a corner and not be able to get out of it. Due to your lack of foresight, you've set up the circumstances where you only have cliche in the path of your characters.

 

Plot twists: If you could have ended the story at more than two plot twists ago, you should have. Stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. They don't need to have five potential endings before we find out that they were vampires all along.

 

Planning is also important because of consistency. There's a story I finished last night(because I HAD to finish it. Even though it's the main cause for this rant you are being subjected to) that started off simple enough with a vampire being in love with a girl, so he became her teacher to get closer to her. Okay, a bit over done, but fine. There was the requisite love triangle with a guy who turned out to be a vampire as well. Oh, and her bestie was a vampire too. And she didn't know any of this. Still okay, though.

 

And then there began a clan war, and a ball of power that the girls soul needed to be added to in order to increase the power of the clan. And then she was in danger, so they moved her into the clan mansion where the teacher came out about his vampireiness. And then a fourth guy used a spell to make her forget about the teacher/boyfriend so that he could have her all to himself and/or turn her over to his master. Plan gets thwarted and she goes back to boyfriend/teacher. But then, the head of the dudes clan, his father, took all his money away and disowned him because he wouldn't kill her and take her soul. So they go to live with her mother, And her mother inexplicably was revealed to be a vampire hunter, and then the girl was suddenly under age(1

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Baekhyunsoul #1
Chapter 20: I can only wish more people would use beta readers, especially if you are putting all this work into something that obviously means something to you. It only makes sense, if you’re in a rush to publish and don’t have the time time put it away to reread later when you’re not so close to it, then use the fresh and objective eyes of beta reader. Thank you for putting that out there
Baekhyunsoul #2
Chapter 20: I can only wish more people would use beta readers, especially if you are putting all this work into something that obviously means something to you. It only makes sense, if you’re in a rush to publish and don’t have the time time put it away to reread later when you’re not so close to it, then use the fresh and objective eyes of beta reader. Thank you for putting that out there
meowzwrites #3
Chapter 26: Omg yes @ mpreg just please stop
meowzwrites #4
Chapter 14: Lol @ 16. I do idol fics, and I used to give characters with very little training in one area really strong twins but now I just want to punch myself and everyone who does that in the face.
haaitje #5
Your rants and ravings are so very informative. I will revisit it when I have/find the motivation to write again. I agree with most of your opinions about the stories on AFF. I have to say I like reading your stories, I like your characters and how you "build" them. I could care less if they were black, white, purple or whatever color; race or ethnicity, I like them for who they are. How they develop. And of course their background is an important part of that but I don't think their color is key. I hope that you get what I mean, it's difficult to explain without seeing your reaction ^^. You asked about angsty stories and I just read a lot of angst stories by the same author. The stories were compelling and I couldn't stop reading them but I also thought that it was a bit too much. Too much pain and heartache never any form of relieve for the characters. I felt drained after reading their stories back-to-back, no matter how interesting I found the stories. I contemplated telling the author that, how I felt about the stories but I was to chicken to actually do it. After reading your R&R I decided to tell them anyway. It's upbuilding criticism and not a bashing. Thanks again for your insights and keep writing these interesting funny and heartwarming stories. Who doesn't want to be Luna, I sure wanted to be. ^^
PrinceOfAbstraction #6
Chapter 35: A good story will have one or more of the following - good plot/interesting characters/attractive writing style/inexplicable something that makes you relate to the story at once.
NeoCaratTypo #7
Chapter 32: I’m CHOKING I’m pretty sure that chpt 31 (Consistency) was my story ? I specifically remember thinking that it was so innovative. I hated that decision too after writing two chapters because It got so tiring to write. I do still like the concept of the story so I’m thinking of revisiting it. Hopefully I don’t make the same mistake ?
milkia #8
i've honestly read this through several times and i still can't get over how good this guide is. guide/rant, anyway. i love it, thanks for posting!
MinhosAegyo #9
Chapter 41: girl i've been off this site for years (was in like middle school when i created my account) and i come back out of curiosity (now graduated from high school) and you still spilling hot fiery teaaaa. love it. now let me go catch up on your stories cause i remember them being bOMB!
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