But here it is: you begin by writing the climactic scene, and then you work back from there to the beginning little by little. What an intriguing idea, I thought. Someday, I’m going to try that!
I guess the reason I am so interested in writing short is that I just finished a long. Eight days ago I typed The End on a book manuscript that has been haunting me for - no joke - six years. I sent it to my agent with a great sigh of relief. But to be fair, during that time, I also wrote six books for Harlequin. But even through the writing of all of then, the idea for this mystery series was simmering in my imagination. So, it was with great relief that I finished it. (It had been one of my New Year’s Resolutions!)
I took last week off. And for a week I did no writing. I just read. Sometimes we writers just need to fill the well. Partway through the week I took 'the idea’ down from the coat hook. It might be fun to write a book from back to front. I always write mine from front to back, and usually don’t even know who the murderer is until the second to the last chapter. And that’s a scary place to be.
I like reading short stories. I also like writing them and have had several published in anthologies and more online as eBooks, but I’ve never written a story back to front. I’d be interested in your experiences. Do you write stories from the beginning to the end? Or do you write the climax first and then work back from there? What works?
Here are a few links on writing short fiction:
Link 1
Link 2
I love this idea. I once read that in a mystery the story really belongs to the antagonist. So, if you know who the bad guy/girl is I would think you'd write a different story than if, as I do, and apparently you, too, write without a clue as to whodunnit. Thanks for the suggestion. Now to find the time to do it!
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring, Linda. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLinda,I'd love to do this in real life. I've often thought and wished to have my ending first and then go back to a new beginning. There, you do that.I'll be waiting for your new novel, Doris
ReplyDeleteI love that idea, Kate - that the story belongs to the antagonist! I'm going to remember that one, too. I think even for long mysteries, if I could write the dramatic ending scene and then write toward it, it might be easier!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat idea, Linda - almost like eating dessert first. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to reading the long story you just finished.
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