Strategies for Tackling Longer Stories (Advice Appreciated)

Quote by VioletVixen
Also, how do those who layer large social issues and themes over the plot plan it out?

Do you decide before you write that you want religion/ politics/ insert a large overarching theme here to be the background noise to all the action in the forefront, or do you find it naturally reveals itself to you while you tinker around with the first draft?

Quote by VioletVixen
I don't have much experience writing stories and am good at leaving things unfinished.

I think I understand the basic rhythm of intro>rising action>climax>cooldown>hotshower, but what about when you want to be more experimental?

I'm wondering specifically about incorporating flashbacks while still advancing the overall plot.

Specifically, on this website where people often break their longer stories into parts, do you think it's better to have flashback chapters stand-alone or be posted in tandem with a chapter from the present era?

Also, how do those who layer large social issues and themes over the plot plan it out?

Do you decide before you write that you want religion/ politics/ insert a large overarching theme here to be the background noise to all the action in the forefront, or do you find it naturally reveals itself to you while you tinker around with the first draft?

Any advice relating to the above or worldbuilding is appreciated

Much love,
Violet

Quote by VioletVixen
Mr. Mushroom,

First, I must say I love your avatar.

Also, thanks for the advice. One of the things I've enjoyed since coming here is seeing all the different authors' styles. There's a lot to learn and a lot to aspire to be. I don't know if I want to overlay a large message over what I'm writing yet, and it's nice to read your take on tackling long multi-chapter stories.

Now back to the drawing board!

Quote by TheTravellingMan
I've written two that were recognised as worthy of an Editor's Pick.

This is going to sound mental - less is more even when writing longer stories. Leave conclusions for the end of the story, not the start.

Also, don't do it for the votes, they will peter off. Longer stories do pull in readers over a longer period of time.

Any advice on how to do it:

Set out the premise in the first chapter and make it a simple one to understand. Either the intent of the protagonist, an object, a feeling to resolve... whatever it is, make it very clear.
Do not economise on character development but make it a dance of many veils, people are complex, they are contradictory and put that out there - keep readers guessing.
Last, don't be afraid of throwing a spanner in the works during the main narrative, not a Deus-Ex moment, more an underlying second narrative that is rational and surprise your readers.

If you really want to keep readers engaged, weave narratives together, or set a theme for each chapter and explore it to a conclusion. This is complex, not for the faint-hearted but very rewarding if it comes off.

Quote by utterchaos
Firstly, accept the readership will dwindle as you continue. That just seems to be a given with long series due to time constraints of readers. I'm currently on chapter 24. I actually skipped over part of the book when I posted here and summarised what had happened between the first 4 chapters so they're more snap shots. The rest is in chronological order although I skipped one small part due to it being a fairly aggressive fight.

My entire plot is done and the key parts are written as drafts. My story centres around someone who is highly flawed, and has concealed his sexuality to the point he did some unpleasant things to maintain that secret. The story is about him discovering himself, experimenting, making mistakes, realizing what is important to him, and finding a way to be happy.

From the feedback I've received mine is quite twisty and no-one is sure how it will turn out. I've been very careful at making sure those parts are noted down in my drafts. I don't reveal everything instantly, but I do give some indications earlier on of what will happen.

Quote by utterchaos
I think one glaring problem with a long series is that after readers invest time reading, there's an expectation that it'll end the way they want. Not everyone will be happy with the conclusion. With short stories, as long as it fills the need to "get off," then the reader will be relatively happy regardless of what happens. It's getting that balance right between twists and giving readers what they want.

Quote by Twisted_Skald
I've only done one shots so far, I'm planning on doing a 4 part tale.
Just a little dip into what's required to string the sequence together.
I may find I have something that happily keeps running or totally runs out of puff by the end.
Jack isn't trying to run a marathon in one training session from cold, he's slowly going further and further so he can build up to the full distance. Try the same with writing. Take it slow and build on what you know.
I'm fully expecting to find 4 parts much much harder then 4 single tales but I'm hoping it helps me lay out bigger plots and have more room for complexity.
I think you're a much more focused writer then I am so this may not apply to you.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn
come up with a situation, place the characters in it, and then let them tell the story. He also comments that they often take the story in very different directions than he expected, or sometimes than he wanted.
He sets up the situation and characters, then just starts writing, and keeps writing until it feels like time to stop. Then he goes back and starts working on the story, weeding out the bad bits, re-writing the prose, correcting mistakes, and so forth.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

A story is a story is a story.

Decide what your story is, what it's theme is, and roughly what you story you want to tell. Then decide how to break it up into parts that build towards the whole. Then structure the parts.

However, once you start telling the story, let it tell itself. I like and recommend Stephen King's book about writing, "On Writing". In it he says that the way her writes is to come up with a situation, place the characters in it, and then let them tell the story. He also comments that they often take the story in very different directions than he expected, or sometimes than he wanted. I'd recommend reading his book, because I'm not doing it full justice.

It was from his description that I developed my motto: "Write fast, edit slow", because that's what he does. He sets up the situation and characters, then just starts writing, and keeps writing until it feels like time to stop. Then he goes back and starts working on the story, weeding out the bad bits, re-writing the prose, correcting mistakes, and so forth. That's the "Edit slow" part (and yes, I know it should be "slowly", but I like the parallelism.)

However, there's another, more important question: Why?

Why do you want to write something longer? I don't try to write long pieces, they just happen. The fantasy I'm writing for Bonnie started as a single story, aiming for about 4-5,000 words. When I got to 9,000 and still hadn't finished telling the tale, I realized I'd have to break it into pieces, so divided it in half. And, like bread, it just kept rising and expanding to fill the available space (Parkinson's Law), so I divided it into 4, which is where it is now.

Unless you are deliberately setting out to write a book, for whatever reason, or a novella, or whatever, don't worry about the length. Write the story, and let it tell you how long it wants to be.

As I say, that's my 2¢. And, as I tell my clients, free advice is sometimes worth what you pay for it.

PM me if you want to discuss further. And good luck. You're already an excellent writer. I wouldn't sweat the small stuff, but, as Michelle said, just work on expanding what you are doing rather than trying to climb Everest on the first try.