@Shinoki:I'm guessing you're asking about the pacing of the story? Well, I'm going to answer within that topic (I hope this is what you're asking, LOL)...
I guess I'll write first with how I usually do the pacing for my stories.
Okay, so I make a small timeline to my story in my head. What's the beginning and the end is mostly important to figuring out when it should end and how it should end. The middle is obviously the juicy area where you can fill in with as much details and chapters as you want in order to move the plot. However, when I write my stories and there are certain arcs (Wandering Ship) or certain scenes (The Virus) that could be expanded, I try to not rush but at the same time not drag it on. It's somewhat hard to explain but you have to think about the readers. Imagine you reading your own story and reading a section of your story. Is it too long? Is it too short? It's hard to measure what is the 'right' amount of words and chapters you can expand on a particular scene, but depending on your story and how you want to play around with it, you should be able to have an idea of how long you want it to be.
Always think about the readers! If you feel that they have understood that one section well, then there's no need to write more about that and move on to the next scene/arc/section. If you feel that there's still more mystery to explain in that certain scene, then keep writing till most of the questions that readers could possibly have been answered by the end.
Let's take in an example: In my recently posted OS, "The Struggle (JuriMayu)", I've made the one shot open up with a normal high school scenario. Everyone's at lunch and certain characters are shown. So how can I pace myself for the story? I make a small timeline in regards to this story.
Beginning: Introduction to who the characters are (Watanabe Mayu and Matsui Jurina) + introduction to the problem.
End: Jurina saves and comforts Mayu.
So I have a basic outline of how to begin and end it. Within my one shot, I began by introducing the main characters of the story and the problem. Though it does start off with an everyday scenario, I made just enough details for my readers to understand where my main characters are and what they are doing at the moment. I wouldn't want to drag it on and start explaining about what the school looks like entirely and other unnecessary details that would still let the story flow smoothly if we removed them. I introduced them the problems/hinted the problems that the characters could be having and lead it from there.
For the middle, I just let my mind do its work. Imagining myself in my shoes of the main character and writing out what I would do if I were that person, it helped me pace myself for the rest of the plot. Even if it's in third-person mode (which this OS is in first-person from Mayu's viewpoint), you have to keep in mind of what your characters might be doing during that time. We don't want to write in full details (unless you want to, but that would drag the part) of Mayu cleaning up her room for five paragraphs! (exaggeration intended)
Now another thing you could do with your fiction is make little "time jumps" (or however you call them) in between scenes. You don't have to write how Yamamoto Sayaka walked from her house all the way to her best friend's house, Watanabe Miyuki's. It's not required and you can simply fast forward to Sayanee at Milky's house.
We can have another scenario where if you're doing well but suddenly feel like you're dragging one part of your story too long even if you didn't intend to, you can always have some sort of conflict or surprising factor play into the scene. Doesn't hurt to shake it up just a little bit to keep the story progressing forward rather than in one spot. Two chapters full of dialogue and chatting between the characters could definitely use some sort of conflict or problem somewhere soon.
....And when I read back the advice I'm trying to give out, it sounds more like I'm blabbering than actually giving an advice or two. I hope I'm not being too confusing and helped you out, even if a little bit. Most importantly, I hope I'm answering your question.
Topic: The General AKB48 Fanfic Discussion Thread (Read 333158 times)