tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post148131247509504313..comments2024-03-29T00:39:54.374-04:00Comments on The Alchemy of Writing: The End. What? It's Not The End?Bryan Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-47904728111800521172010-03-17T03:10:06.249-04:002010-03-17T03:10:06.249-04:00Lovely blog you guys have here! I am a fellow auth...Lovely blog you guys have here! I am a fellow author myself, and well, what I do is solve an issue quickly, in order to make way to the bigger ending issue. For example, there are books that put down an issue on chapter five, and the resolution only comes on chapter 15! If its not the main issue of the book, I like to solve it quickly, max 3 chapters later.Clarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00062728322162370588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-24101662531350983662010-03-16T22:25:07.427-04:002010-03-16T22:25:07.427-04:00That was a funny comic, and this is a good post. ...That was a funny comic, and this is a good post. :)<br /><br />I like what Susan said, too, although I might add that a really exciting book will have multiple onions operating simulateously. I've noticed alot of the books I enjoy have lots going on - all the characters have their backgrounds and life lines that are all proceeding along with the MC. Getting glimpses of those, or multiple story arcs - what is it, plot A, sub-plot B, sub-plot C, ect. makes a book really interesting.Mirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558405035294107657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-77860695457709425162010-03-15T15:50:03.084-04:002010-03-15T15:50:03.084-04:00Nicely said, Susan. Made me think of Gunter Grass&...Nicely said, Susan. Made me think of Gunter Grass's memoir, <i>Peeling the Onion</i>, which was sort of operating on that metaphor of the layering of the onion.Bryan Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-32288825938827699832010-03-15T14:09:47.049-04:002010-03-15T14:09:47.049-04:00I think layering is the key to moving the story fo...I think layering is the key to moving the story forward. Like working your way out of an onion, from the inside, each time a problem is resolved it reveals a larger problem/theme.<br /><br />The themes/problems need to be woven together and hinted at in the beginning, so that the reader knows the stakes. But if they are elucidated or resolved too early, it is just as you say - Is This The End?<br /><br />Bringing all those layers back together at the true end of the book is challenging, and something I struggle with. It's not just tying up loose ends or making sure all the details have some resolution, but rather finding a way to give that satisfying feeling, that we've consumed the whole onion (without the resulting digestive problems).Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-77582768343513793012010-03-14T15:10:02.925-04:002010-03-14T15:10:02.925-04:00Hmm - I like this, makes me think.
With my 1st no...Hmm - I like this, makes me think.<br /><br />With my 1st novel I did have a lot of conflicts - and some feeling that the MC had won that round and went on to the next round. <br /><br />The ending had four scenes to resolve all the conflicts. <br /><br />The second novel I deliberately left one of the antagonists unaffected. Just so I could use him in a second book.K. A. Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07020119815910396933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-69385756763522298562010-03-13T22:34:33.624-05:002010-03-13T22:34:33.624-05:00When I wrote my story, I didn't really dissect...When I wrote my story, I didn't really dissect it as I went, but I insisted that every chapter had to have SOMETHING that was new, moved the plot forward, had resolution of one thing or brought in a new obstacle, and ended each chapter in a way that would pique the reader's curiosity to keep going on to the next chapter. Not a cliffhanger per se, but some little crumb that tempted investigation further. It seems to have worked out well since I've gotten nothing but positive feedback so far (save a grammar issue or passive voice here and there). One author said to remove parts that you know you, as a reader, would skim or skip, and that's been invaluable. I can't assume a reader WILL read a long paragraph or boring section just because I wrote it and it's in the book.Christi Goddardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08590491851753709622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5423907132654588993.post-25357296720687246432010-03-13T22:10:31.736-05:002010-03-13T22:10:31.736-05:00I've been thinking about this, but I'm afr...I've been thinking about this, but I'm afraid it has to be a pretty awful book if I *don't* read to the end. I'm a compulsive finisher - at least in my reading. ;-)Deb Salisbury, Magic Seeker and Mantua-Makerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513482264195697450noreply@blogger.com