I’ve been trying to write a story for a while and, among other things, there’s a stupid thing that keeps annoying me.
I’m fairly sure how I want to plot to develop, the major themes. The problem is, I don’t want my story to be cliche or predictable. And for some reason, I keep thinking “someone is going to figure out where I’m going with this fairly easily.”
I’m alternativly thinking: “This could work verly nicely. It’s logical and interesting” and “This sort of thing has been done before”.
I think I’ve figured out why: Because I know what’s going to happen, at least in broad overtones, from start to finish, I can’t be suprised by it and so it’s hard for me to see if someone else is going to be surprised. I can’t just forget where this is going to end up as I’m writing, or maybe I’m not trying hard enough.
Part of the problem is that everything I’ve got has been done before(not in the same place though), though I’m not conciously copying anything. I’m just constantly reminded that there is nothing new under the sun.
Or am I completely overthinking this?(even though my thoughts aren’t particulary well organized at the moment)
Well, I haven’t wrote a short story since the 9th grade. But maybe this will help put your mind at ease:
English teacher told us to write a short story. (This use to be one of my absolute favorite things to do back in those days btw) So anyway, I’m in studyhall writing my story. I’m only about halfway through, the bell is about to ring, so I hand my unfinished story to the girl setting next to me so she can give me her thoughts on it so far.
So she reads the story, then abruptly throws the pages back at me with an exasperated look on her face.
Confused I was like “What?” :dubious:
her: “finish the damn story”
me: “Why”
her: “Because! I want to know what happens ya’ damn goofball!”
me: “Oh”
Hope that helps. If I can keep’em on the edge of their seat on a 9th grade english level; I’m sure you can do the same no problem.
You’re overthinking. Stop thinking, completely. You know the plot at this point, and hopefully you know your characters. Let them do the work; finish it. Get all the way to the end.
Then, set it aside for at least 24 hours, more if possible. Reread it. See if you still see a problem. You may be surprised.
Don’t sweat the ending. Especially don’t sweat how big a “surprise” it’s going to be.
One of my biggest pet peeves, for instance, is the temptation for some writers, especially in short stories, to have the equivalent of “then they left the restaurant hand in hand, smiles on their faces, secure in the knowledge that they’d live happily ever after…then got hit by a bus.”
Odds are the tone of your story will give the reader a good, if vague, idea of how your story will end (happy or sad), and there’s really nothing wrong with that. Stories, for me at least, are about the ride, not the ending. I mean, you reread or watch Romeo and Juliet and everyone knows how it’s going to end, but that doesn’t diminish its power one whit.
I agree with NinjaChick, just let your characters do what they’ll do. Don’t force anything, because that will probably hurt your story more than any attempt at a “different” ending. (Hard to say, of course, because I don’t know what you’re writing, but there’s my $0.02.)
You’re probably tired of hearing this, but: stop worrying about that stuff and just write it. I go through the same mental process you’re going through, every time. I usually end up not finishing it, and could use somebody badgering me. (“Badgering” in the sense of persistently urging and cajoling, not in the disgusting, perverted, illegal sense.)