Story Advice Wanted

Like a story? Need help writing your own? Post your thoughts and ideas here.
gagged1
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RE: Story Advice Wanted

Unread post by gagged1 »

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DarkLizerd
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RE: Story Advice Wanted

Unread post by DarkLizerd »

#3...Sound like this is your best choice...Just think of it like mythology...Regardless of how fantastic and unbelievable a myth is...There was a true story behind them...A fictional start with a true ending is the best way to describe what you did, and why...After all... no story ever starts at the end and works it's way back to the beginning... but you could wind up writing this way because you need to explain how the story got to this point... In short, just write it... 
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ruru67
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RE: Story Advice Wanted

Unread post by ruru67 »

<shrug> the answer rather depends on the stories. Given the mix of fact and fiction, separating parts 1 & 2 into separate stories, per (3), with a nod to the fantasy in the factual story. But if the fantasy and the fact are closely intertwined, stick with (1). I'm guessing that since you're even asking the question, the latter is probably not that good a mix.That said, I've tossed out  perfectly good scenes from stories because I couldn't get them to fit properly into the story being told.

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MsBehavin
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RE: Story Advice Wanted

Unread post by MsBehavin »

Option three works best for me too - as ruru says a paragraph explaining the relationship between the two would direct the reader to the other part.

Edit - Opps, was so busy reading your question and giving a reply I've only just realised this thread should have been in the story discussion section. Thread moved.MsBehavin2011-08-27 04:07:52

gagged1
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RE: Story Advice Wanted

Unread post by gagged1 »

Thank you all for your advice.  I will proceed with option 3.

gagged1
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RE: Story Advice Wanted

Unread post by gagged1 »

I have fleshed out my fantasy with a lot of extra detail and posted it in another thread under the title Prelude to Midnight.  Well that is what I wanted to do but there is a typo in the name of the thread, perhaps a moderator can fix it. I am not sure if the story has any merit; it might be, yawn, just another kidnapping story.  So feel free to make comments. 

Trystl
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Re: RE: Story Advice Wanted

Unread post by Trystl »

gagged1 wrote:Any suggestions?    
I would suggest that you consider placing the "prolog" explanatory material in flashbacks. Walking through a forest has the potential for long periods when not all that much happens--and this would make an excellent time to shake things up with a remembered scene.

The point is, instead of explaining the (author's) fantasy... have the character explaining their own fantasy, or develop that theme in some other way that is an integral part of the story. That way, the material becomes character development and serves to enrich the story rather than being an intrusion by the author. It doesn't have to be the main characer's fantasy either. He could simply relate some event (or discussion) that happened in the past, where someone else described or talked about the material in question. And the main character could think something like, "Wish I had that fantasy, I'd be loving this right now."

There are many viable strategies, but that would be my recommendation.

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