Those darn endings sure spoil the beginnings.
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
August 29, 2008 12:52pm CST
As many of you know I have been writing on a fantasy novel =something about the Bermuda Triangle where the hero disappears, has marvelous adventures, and he returns. Well instead of going to where he heading across the Triangle for one reason, I made it a different reason, but that impacts the motive why he was there in the first place and makes that the location he was going to at the end of the story different.
So has that happened to you? Have you decided that your character is going to Saskatoon to visit his aunt, and at the end winds up in South Dakota, you know have to change the story that his aunt sent him a bus ticket? Or did your character join the police force, but at the end, he was in reality a fire chief? Or was he planning to climb Mount Everest, but at the end, he and his friends walked across the Gobi Desert?
So did the intention of your character changed because of the conclusion of the story and did you prefer the original or the last one even though it meant more work for you?
3 people like this
5 responses
@caussara (53)
• United States
29 Aug 08
Hi suspenseful,
I too am working on a fantasy novel and yeah, something like that has happened to me, to the point that I had to go back and redraw some of my map for my world. And I had one character that was suppose to be a secondary character that took on a life of his own and insisted that he wanted a larger part in the story. It was an interesting experience to realize that he really needed to be an integral player in it when he just started out being a city guardsman. Keeping good notes of your characters and how everything entwines is so important I have found. Good luck with your work and keep writing!
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Aug 08
I had a character like that. He wanted more and more involvement even though he was a minor character. I also had a minor character, a freeloader that kept cropping up at every banquet or celebration, so I had to give him a name. Then I found that the hero could not say "hey you" to everybody. And I have a main character whose name I have changed at least twice. And I decided that even though they live on another world, they cannot just stay in the middle ages or ancient times, they have to make some progress.
I also decided to make a character chart and combine it with the travel chart so at least I know where they are going. It is working out fine.
2 people like this
aw ok I see.@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Aug 08
On my other novel, the one that I put aside, it was supposed to be a military suspense novel and I just happened to mention that the hero had a wife, and then someone asked why I did not put that much detail about her, and I figured that person wanted me to turn it into a romantic novel.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
30 Aug 08
I tend to write non-fiction so I don't have the problem you mentioned, but I liked the way this was written. Your title put a smile on my face. Thanks for brightening my day. I look forward to when your book is finished and published. Please be sure and let all of us on myLot know what happens.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Aug 08
I got two more revisions and I have to save more money to get it published (I mean with the price of stamps are nowadays) and I have to do so much research. After all the guys have to take breaks and not keep riding horses all the time. 
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
30 Aug 08
I am sorry dear I am totally lost on this one - I don't write fiction like danish but the story sounds fine for me although I'm not big on fantasy either. Ok, I'm just batting a total zero here but please know I'm wishing you the best and much success with your novel. I may someday get around to writing mine :(
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Aug 08
I decided to do a novel concept, write Christian fantasy. I mean it is not an allergory like the Pilgrim's Progress, but it is not when the hero relies on witches and spells, although there is a couple of really nasty demons in the story. I mean he not only has to fight against physical enemies, but enemies in the spiritual rein, paganism and I do not just mean the neo-paganism of today, but the old kind. It is a wonder he survives to the end of the novel.
@doubleloveyou (2466)
• United States
3 Sep 08
Granted, my book is in a little different setting, but I too have had a change in "ending locations" Which for the type of book I am writing is actually a change in time. But none the less. A simple change in location at the end of the story has a profound impact on the whole character. Where or when he ends up does not just change a motive but his entire reason for existance. (in my case at least.)
2 people like this
