Comments on: What are Your Novel’s Goals?

By: Steve Coursen

Steve Coursen — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:42:50 +0000

I usually don't figure out where the stories going to end up until about 50 or so pages in. Luckily for me, it usually doesn't take much, if any, retconing to make the story work with the new goal in mind. What really stinks is when you change your mind again around page 200 and have to make sure it's not too radical a change. The "shaggy dog" story works well for comedy. Terry Pratchett's done it a few times -- the Luggage can be considered a shaggy dog. Steve Coursens last blog post..Python Round Up

By: Key

Key — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:50:09 +0000

@ DD

You should write a fantasy novel about your adventures with mines, dragons, etc. Oops, did I say fantasy? Sorry, I meant autobiographical!

By: Daggerquill Dwarf

Daggerquill Dwarf — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:05:04 +0000

@ John

A very common human trait, I hear. Apparently humans also have more curiosity than fear as well. True?

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:19:41 +0000

@ DD

I have more honesty than fear in me.

By: Daggerquill Dwarf

Daggerquill Dwarf — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:10:41 +0000

@ John,

Hey Human;
I’m surprised that you owned to being mistaken at times for a half-orc; you must know how popular that species is with us dwarves. Consider yourself lucky to be a human… you get all sorts of advantages, such as dental insurance.

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:11:34 +0000

@ DD

I am rarely mistaken for an Elf. I am far more likey to be mistaken for a half-orc, but in the end I am only Human.

By: Daggerquill Dwarf

Daggerquill Dwarf — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:06:29 +0000

@ John,

Hey Human;
I’m very surprised to hear you say that. An elf told me that once, but everyone knows that elves have no idea what they’re talking about and, if they do, they lie about it… you’re not an elf, are you? With a name like John I don’t think so, so I thank you for the advice. Next time I see a Dragon, I’ll try it out. I’ll read it one of my stories and, according to what you say, it will collapse into a miserable weeping heap.

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:44:56 +0000

@ Key

I think this is a fairly common approach. Many people aren’t sure where they are going when they start their novel. I have written two bad novels that really didn’t know where they were going, so I am hoping that having a clear plan will make this one go a little better.

@ DD

When confronted with a Dragon, I usually opt to hurt its feelings. A depressed dragon is all but harmless.

By: Daggerquill Dwarf

Daggerquill Dwarf — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:20:20 +0000

Hey Humans;
I was kind of hoping that my novel would become an epic tale and not a form of combustable fuel, and I think this article will help me. My favorite suggestion was not to look back, because it reminded me of something which happened to me a couple years ago. I was returning with one of my friends from our mine, when he suddenly starting running and screaming “don’t look back!”. Of course, being a Dwarf, Ilooked back. I’ve never been more surprised to see a dragon in my life. Anyway, how I managed to escape by sacrificing my friend is besides the point: this council applies very well to writing. If you look back at what you previously wrote, you may be shocked by how many horrible mistakes much worse than dragons are lurking in your beloved manuscript. That’s my experience, anyway.

By: Key

Key — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:10:23 +0000

Hmm, I’ve never really thought much about this before. I always find it tough to figure out where I want to end up. I usually have some sort of plot up until the climax, and then I kind of feel a little lost. It’s a bit of a problem, because if I’m not all excited about my climax, who else wil be? Maybe having a goal for my novel will help solve that problem.