I am nearing the end of my current work in progress, and while typing up the latest chapter, I suddenly had this weird idea… I needed to swap heads.
The end of any story has to be right, right? But what if this is beginning to look unlikely? Should I stop writing and read through to get a better idea?
It’s not exactly an edit, where all those loose ends must be tidied up, nothing left unresolved, and all the characters are in a better place than when they started. A roll call if you like. I needed to ensure everyone was where I intended and, more importantly, doing what I intended.
Speaking of the characters, I feel my baddie is too mysterious. Another reason to stop writing and evaluate. Even before I start, I know that another one of my characters needed to be more present and vocal.
I already know that editing this masterpiece (I am allowed to be optimistic) will be far more challenging than writing it in the first place, as I fear I have tied myself and the story into knots with all the complications.
So, I thought, why don’t I read it now, leaving the writing of the last chapters until I am in a much better position to finish it?
Is this normal, or am I losing the ability to be objective?
I would love to hear your opinions and/or suggestions…
I’m with the majority. A good read through may help sort your ending. 🙂 xx
I really think this will be the answer, Debs. It has taken so long to write this one, I have probably forgotten some of the major points…
Absolutely time for a read through. Good luck and keep us posted. <3
I will, Debs… and I will be asking for help with the launch too, when I get there… 💖
I’m at the same point in my WIP. You have a good point here. Perhaps if I read the manuscript through, I’ll actually be able to wrap it up. Right now, I’m at a standstill.
I really hope it works and early indications are that it will, Darlene. Perhaps for you too? 💖
It might be an idea to note the main points of the ending you already have in mind, just in case. There’s nothing like a forgotten idea–after it’s gone, you always think of it as the best one ever!
Thanks for the tip, Audrey… my brain needs all the help it can get these days!
I think that’s an excellent solution, Jaye. Then you can finish it off with a bang!
That was my thinking, Jan…
Hmm! It’s not a problem I’ve had (yet), but maybe will have sometime. I think reading it through with your reader’s head on would be a good idea, before you go through all the work of writing the last chapters Then deciding you need to make changes.
As Jan just said, I can then finish with a bang !
Navigating the unsettled waters near the uncharted coast. Ah Captain.
Forge ahead to make landfall then birth to make good the ship after the long voyage (editing)?
Or steer out to open known waters and take another approach?
Ok dodgy Maritime metaphors aside.
There are times when you can take a deep breath and go back to the start, reading the whole while doing a mix of editing and re-writing. It can be something of a joy as you get to know the characters a bit more, and of course they will be there with their suggestions (mine will in the fullness of time say to me ‘Seriously? Have you not read the sub-text?). In this situation new ideas will turn up to not necessarily change the ending but nuance it. That was the part I enjoyed those ‘Oh Yeah. Of course,’ interludes.
Another thing I discovered was if writing with a Word Doc, to selecting ‘Review’ and then choosing ‘Read Aloud’. It’s surprising what the apparently sterile voice computer generated voice can reveal (Again in my case; terrible errors in syntax).
So overall since Editing does beckon a revisit to the project thus far might prove beneficial.
Just a thought.
Best wishes with this one.
Roger
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Roger…
Best wishes for the project.