Thread: This way or that way

What do writers do when they finish a story, complete with beginning middle and end, then find they wished they had a different middle? I have been writing mine for about a year, just editing and finalising at the moment. But now I am sort of wishing I had done something slightly different in the middle.

I am going to rewrite some of the middle to reflect this, but then I will be left with a decision (which I am never very good at making), about which to select for the completed manuscript.

Anyone had this experience?

I tend to revisit my stories because there is never a closure on any of them.
that is what I am like.
I like to think I have that flexiblity because a word ,a sentence, a thought ,are never a fixed motion in my little world of imagination.
I like to think I can write something then think it is finished but then go back to it and alter it to change the beginning, middle ,or end and I enjoy every minute of it.
that is one the joys and wonders of the internet is that it allows me to do just that, the ability to change my mind is most exhilerating if not liberating, as oppose to printed/ published book where once it is closed there is no going back.
so I am happy to browse my stories as they are and I never feel worried that one day might come where I think up maybe or what if that ending needed this or that. I would not want to experience for a writer's mind is never that set.
that is where writing differ say to painting for once it is painted it is there to look at and that is it!
you see a mind is a very complex matter and unless you allow it to alter, change, delete, add or start again then there is no fun in thinking imagining or even beginning a story let alone a book.
it is not a fixed mind or an alteration to remove but everything is to do and redo for all else is never what it seems.

Thanks Nacian. A lot of your posts are very philosophical

I know what you mean about having the freedom to go back and change whatever you want. But I would like one day to complete something and have it published, and that would force me to finish my musings on it. I suppose I am too premature because this particular work I have only been writing for a year, so I've got plenty of time to change thngs if I want.

I suppose every writer is taking a chance when they send their work to a publisher.

Originally Posted by Robdemanc

Thanks Nacian. A lot of your posts are very philosophical

I know what you mean about having the freedom to go back and change whatever you want. But I would like one day to complete something and have it published, and that would force me to finish my musings on it. I suppose I am too premature because this particular work I have only been writing for a year, so I've got plenty of time to change thngs if I want.

I suppose every writer is taking a chance when they send their work to a publisher.

I did not realise I was being philosophical...LOL
what are you writing? a year seems a lot or not?

Originally Posted by Nacian

I did not realise I was being philosophical...LOL
what are you writing? a year seems a lot or not?

I am writing a SF novel. Apparently most novels take between 1 and 2 years to complete, but some longer and some shorter. Because my story is not set in the here and now, I needed to work out the setting very carefully, also do lots of research.

Philosophical is good.

Originally Posted by Robdemanc

I am writing a SF novel. Apparently most novels take between 1 and 2 years to complete, but some longer and some shorter. Because my story is not set in the here and now, I needed to work out the setting very carefully, also do lots of research.

Philosophical is good.

thank you.

I never knew as SF needs that long to accomplish.
glad I don't do SF lol...too surreal for me.
where and how do you do your research if I may ask?

Originally Posted by Nacian

thank you.

I never knew as SF needs that long to accomplish.
glad I don't do SF lol...too surreal for me.
where and how do you do your research if I may ask?

With SF you need to make sure you are not stating or implying anything that is not scientifically grounded. You can cut corners and claim its science fantasy of course but most SF readers will spot anything that is implausible scientifically (either in fact or theory).

My research is mainly done by reading non fiction, or trawling the web for info, lots of interesting documentaries on youtube etc. I have one of those brains that loves factual stuff and it gives me food for thought whenever I watch a documentary or read non fiction.

Originally Posted by Robdemanc

With SF you need to make sure you are not stating or implying anything that is not scientifically grounded. You can cut corners and claim its science fantasy of course but most SF readers will spot anything that is implausible scientifically (either in fact or theory).

My research is mainly done by reading non fiction, or trawling the web for info, lots of interesting documentaries on youtube etc. I have one of those brains that loves factual stuff and it gives me food for thought whenever I watch a documentary or read non fiction.

how interesting.
I thought the whole point of SF is that you can make things up because it is some kind of 'superfical intelligence' if you like.
things in SF are just beyond understanding and therefore this field of writing is opened to everyone who has that kind of imagination.
I mean I think of ''the hitchiker guide to the galaxy'' which is pure SF ánd it has all the superficialtiy of a SF imagination .
I mean the whole book contains descritptive plots and beings beyond beliefs but what made the success of the book was because it had a human elements all through and that is humour.
so isn't it easier for you to make up stuff to like names , robots ,aliens places and concepts ?

Originally Posted by Nacian

how interesting.
I thought the whole point of SF is that you can make things up because it is some kind of 'superfical intelligence' if you like.
things in SF are just beyond understanding and therefore this field of writing is opened to everyone who has that kind of imagination.
I mean I think of ''the hitchiker guide to the galaxy'' which is pure SF ánd it has all the superficialtiy of a SF imagination .
I mean the whole book contains descritptive plots and beings beyond beliefs but what made the success of the book was because it had a human elements all through and that is humour.
so isn't it easier for you to make up stuff to like names , robots ,aliens places and concepts ?

Everything in fiction is made up. SF is no different, what I mean is that if you make something up in SF it cannot, or at least should not, contradict the currently known laws of physics etc.

For me, writing the middle part of my story tends to be the most difficult. I can visualize the ending, I manage to type the beginning. It is the middle that I have problems with so I tend not to edit it even if it is not very good.

After a few days of uncertainty I have decided to leave it as it is and go on with starting a new story. I need a brief 'holiday' from that other story, so I'll come back to it in a few weeks.