Rewrite tips

[Rezcore]

So, I've been rewriting my story Sonata of Lust, including a name change to Sonata of Life or Love haven't decided. Admittedly I hadn't gotten very far, but I felt the direction I had been heading was a dead end. I currently keep a story bible (aka a file of notes, character sheets, plot ideas, checkovs gun and other such important information).

I said that to ask this, what're some tips to keep on track and not run into the dead end story problem?

 

[Corty]

These are just my personal tips as to how I approach writing a story:

• Have a definitive end for the story. Or even multiple ones, and while you write, you can decide which one you will go with.
  • Have (at least) a vague idea of what the MC's and his/her companions' fate will be at the end.
  • What type of character growth are you looking for, if any, so that there is something you are working/writing towards?
• You can break the story into arcs/volumes.
  • You could set up little scenarios within these volumes. Have a conflict or event that the story revolves around. Think of it as a story within the main story.
  • You can bridge the arcs/volumes with their growth as the story goes forward and the characters evolve.

This way, you can write the story in small chunks and not lose focus, constantly working towards the literal end goal, the story's ending.

 

[Syringe]

Visualize your story. Make a flow chart so you can actually see where your potential pit stop is so you can create naritive devices to keep pushing the story forward.

Take this for example: My extremely outdated and ancient outline I made during the planning process and the first arc of my story.

When you introduce something new, it has the potential to become its own plot line rather than chekov guns. One little blip of someone mentioning X elsewhere can break through dead ends since you'll have something to work towards that was previously alluded to.

Basically, if you're heading towards a dead end, then take an alternate route.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Write your ending first.

 

[TASTYLEADPAINT]

Visualize your story. Make a flow chart so you can actually see where your potential pit stop is so you can create naritive devices to keep pushing the story forward.

Take this for example: My extremely outdated and ancient outline I made during the planning process and the first arc of my story.
View attachment 18553

When you introduce something new, it has the potential to become its own plot line rather than chekov guns. One little blip of someone mentioning X elsewhere can break through dead ends since you'll have something to work towards that was previously alluded to.

Basically, if you're heading towards a dead end, then take an alternate route.

Me a discovery writer

 

[Sola-sama]

Me a discovery writer
View attachment 18555

Absolutely relatable

 

[Rhaps]

Since my two brain cells are fighting to the death every waking moment, my writing is fucking messy.

This is my rough draft/ digital version because I writes the actual draft in my diary

How it should've gone

How it's going

Did I intended to make it this fucking mess of a Gordian knot? hell no, but is it fun? Fuck YES!

The moral of my story: as long as you plan the spine first, the begining and the end, you can do whatever you want, but remember to always have the main storyline in mind.

 

[Succubiome]

So, I've been rewriting my story Sonata of Lust, including a name change to Sonata of Life or Love haven't decided. Admittedly I hadn't gotten very far, but I felt the direction I had been heading was a dead end. I currently keep a story bible (aka a file of notes, character sheets, plot ideas, checkovs gun and other such important information).

I said that to ask this, what're some tips to keep on track and not run into the dead end story problem?

What kind of dead end were you running into?

What's a dead end story for you?

 

[Rezcore]

What kind of dead end were you running into?

What's a dead end story for you?

I'm my view it's a story that as you read it you feel like you're trudging through cold molasses in Alaska at winter time. Or realizing that you've written yourself into a corner with no way to actually reach your planned out ending.

 

[Succubiome]

I'm my view it's a story that as you read it you feel like you're trudging through cold molasses in Alaska at winter time. Or realizing that you've written yourself into a corner with no way to actually reach your planned out ending.

Mmm... trudging through cold molasses at winter time doesn't sound like a pleasant time, so understandable.

If it's writing yourself into a corner as far as a specific end goes, you can take a moment to consider if there's another ending that would fit with the story so far and you'd also enjoy writing the journey to? But if you're set on that ending, valid.

I don't have a fixed plan to the very end of my story, so I guess my writing style is a little different than yours... but I do tend to look at the next chapter idea I have and be like "does this step take me towards a place I don't actually want to explore?" I guess you could maybe use the question "does this step lead me away from the ending I want" each time you have an idea of where to go for the very next thing.