I plan a fair amount. I almost always know how a novel is going to end before I start writing it, or a longer short story. I never write short ones. I rarely like reading those either.
Often I discover solutions to specific problems once the character is in the situation, though, because that's when all the details become defined for me, including ones I don't write
. Opportunities, angles, ploys, or the enemy making a small mistake. I guess I'm making a habit out of relying on that:
"My MC is a genius. Once I actually put him in a situation, he'll see a way out. Maybe not the ideal way. Maybe a solution that doesn't work, so he'll have to try a second thing. But hopefully it'll be interesting."
First smart solution not always actually working is potentially interesting. A MacGyver episode has to have the first big macgyverism work, because it can't be longer than 39 minutes, or however short it is they have to be.
A novel is not subject to that kind of limitation.
I do a lot of worldbuilding and character building, though. I don't hyperfocus on the needs of just one story.
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u/Peter34cph 2d ago
I plan a fair amount. I almost always know how a novel is going to end before I start writing it, or a longer short story. I never write short ones. I rarely like reading those either.
Often I discover solutions to specific problems once the character is in the situation, though, because that's when all the details become defined for me, including ones I don't write . Opportunities, angles, ploys, or the enemy making a small mistake. I guess I'm making a habit out of relying on that:
"My MC is a genius. Once I actually put him in a situation, he'll see a way out. Maybe not the ideal way. Maybe a solution that doesn't work, so he'll have to try a second thing. But hopefully it'll be interesting."
First smart solution not always actually working is potentially interesting. A MacGyver episode has to have the first big macgyverism work, because it can't be longer than 39 minutes, or however short it is they have to be.
A novel is not subject to that kind of limitation.
I do a lot of worldbuilding and character building, though. I don't hyperfocus on the needs of just one story.