Oh, I know what you mean! That's totally what happened with my first fic, when I was foolish enough to write a multi-chaptered fic for my first-ever foray into fiction in general! I had planned to end Things Change after about Chapter 7, but then I caved to the demands of ff.net (and my only!) readers and what do you know, plot happened.
Overall, I generally go into a story knowing how I want it to end, how I want it to begin, and few of the more pertinent plot points on the way there. Otherwise, it unfolds as it goes. I find you need to leave room like that, room for what I always (only half-jokingly!) call the muses. Inspiration. Whatever. And characters don't always do what you had in mind; they grow and take on lives of their own. Ditto for plots! When I plan in too much detail, everything gets too stilted. Don't worry too hard about it. Know where you're aiming to go, but be flexible about that, too.
Example: Allegiance and Sedition. I went in knowing that I wanted the entire crux of the final battle to revolve around Draco being forced to make the very decision he spends the entire story trying not to make. And of course I knew in advance that he would choose Harry. But I wanted it to be a difficult choice even in the moment, so it couldn't get too mushy before then. I knew that Hermione would die and that it would be the thing to bring them closer together. I knew that Harry would spend most of the time in the war camp and that I wanted it to all have a rather grim and depressing feel to it. I also knew that I wanted it to be about 60% Harry's POV and 40% Draco's.
Other details, like Ginny's details, Snape and Lupin getting together at the end, Draco's first assignment, etc., came in later. The arrangement thing, too. Given the above paragraph, that's where I started. Plan, but don't stress about it. If I have any worthwhile advice, that's it. :) Your story is your dance partner, and it always gets to lead. Bear that in mind. You're the channel for something larger here - in essence, I regard the role of the storyteller as the medium, the translator for something that comes from outside. It goes through the filter of your cleverness, your wit, your intelligence, your own ideas, etc., but I still feel that it originates somewhere else.
/cheesy ramblings :D
Everything you've mentioned so far sounds great and I can't wait to read it! ♥
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-01-21 11:54 pm (UTC)Overall, I generally go into a story knowing how I want it to end, how I want it to begin, and few of the more pertinent plot points on the way there. Otherwise, it unfolds as it goes. I find you need to leave room like that, room for what I always (only half-jokingly!) call the muses. Inspiration. Whatever. And characters don't always do what you had in mind; they grow and take on lives of their own. Ditto for plots! When I plan in too much detail, everything gets too stilted. Don't worry too hard about it. Know where you're aiming to go, but be flexible about that, too.
Example: Allegiance and Sedition. I went in knowing that I wanted the entire crux of the final battle to revolve around Draco being forced to make the very decision he spends the entire story trying not to make. And of course I knew in advance that he would choose Harry. But I wanted it to be a difficult choice even in the moment, so it couldn't get too mushy before then. I knew that Hermione would die and that it would be the thing to bring them closer together. I knew that Harry would spend most of the time in the war camp and that I wanted it to all have a rather grim and depressing feel to it. I also knew that I wanted it to be about 60% Harry's POV and 40% Draco's.
Other details, like Ginny's details, Snape and Lupin getting together at the end, Draco's first assignment, etc., came in later. The arrangement thing, too. Given the above paragraph, that's where I started. Plan, but don't stress about it. If I have any worthwhile advice, that's it. :) Your story is your dance partner, and it always gets to lead. Bear that in mind. You're the channel for something larger here - in essence, I regard the role of the storyteller as the medium, the translator for something that comes from outside. It goes through the filter of your cleverness, your wit, your intelligence, your own ideas, etc., but I still feel that it originates somewhere else.
/cheesy ramblings :D
Everything you've mentioned so far sounds great and I can't wait to read it! ♥