I hate rules when it comes to writing. That’s probably apparent if you have already delved into the Barbarians of the Storm books. Many have been critical of my use of present tense, for instance. However, that was a conscious decision (and a risk), as it allowed for my stories in the BotS series to have the pacing and feel I was looking for. I wanted my scenes to play in the reader’s mind like a movie in real time. I’ve talked about this before, though.
The reason I bring up rules and my thoughts on them in general, is because there is at least one that I think is actually very, very beneficial in regards to writing fiction. That is the commonly used rule about knowing what your ending is going to be.
If you are writing a series, this is almost always something that you should do. Don’t be like those who give us things like the television series Lost. If you watched that show to its end, you know what I mean. And while it is not a book, it and other J.J. Abrams produced things are the best examples I can think of when it comes to this problem. *cough cough* Star Wars sequel trilogy *cough cough*
You see, I know how the Barbarians of the Storm saga is going to end. Well, the saga I am writing now, as there could be sagas within the IP that branch off from it in the future. Regardless of that, I know exactly how the story will end for Fenrik, Dan, Erzulyn, and every other major character that I introduced in the first book, Dan the Destructor. In regards to the side characters, I had a very clear idea of how they would all fit into the bigger picture and a general idea of what their fates would be, as well. Granted, things do shift from time to time and I switch gears during the creative process, as new ideas and concepts come to me. However, the end of the saga still remains exactly how I planned it, and the changes don’t alter that preplanned endgame.
Many writers working on their own series take it even further than I do and have the exact number of books mapped out with what is supposed to happen in each. While I have a general idea, I like to keep things open and flowing, as I move towards the finish line. For me, this is more fun, as I often times surprise myself with things that I come up with. Conversations in my stories can take on a life of their own, and often times, this leads to a change.
For instance, Swords Against Bastards was originally going to have more death in it, but as I wrote it, I understood that too many deaths would diminish the impact of the really, really important one. Also, while writing that story, I developed new ideas for some of the characters I planned to kill off. So, they survived because I found a way to utilize them in an important way and to enrich the saga as a whole.
The point here, is that you should know what story you are going to tell before you set out to do it. Sure, some things will and should change throughout the process. In a series, for example, a certain character may become really popular with your readers and it may benefit you to emphasize them more or use them in a way that will connect with your readers more deeply. But ultimately, you should definitely know where you are going. And really, this doesn’t just apply to writing books. It applies to storytelling, as a whole, because you shouldn’t want your final chapter to be The Rise of Skywalker, you should aim to make it more like The Deathly Hollows or The Return of the King.
As for me, knowing the ending but then having to massage in the new ideas and concepts to fit properly within the larger story is the most enjoyable part of writing for me. I like solving these problems and putting the pieces together. In fact, I often times subvert my own expectations. That is actually happening right now, as I write the first story to feature the character of Elizabeth, who readers of my first five books already know is a legend in the history of my universe.
Just know your destination, but also have some damn fun getting there.
I agree. Without knowing your ending, you will be stuck in an endless loop.
My current "A Broken Woman's True Desire," is almost over. I always knew that she'd get what she wanted, that there would be a set back, she'd be disappointed, then in the end, it would be good.
however, that's not the end of everything. While in the midst of this one, I set the seeds for the next one. Two seeds actually. How will they turn out? I don't know yet.