I prefer reading from a female's perspective (one of the reasons I've read so much Anne McCaffrey) and I definitely find writing from it a lot easier. As far as cliched females go, I hate David Eddings' women. They are just a bunch of arch manipulators.

As far as men go, I can be very bad about fitting them into cliches - nice guys and **.

As for male points of view?

I like to read them better than write them. Writing a male character is too boring, because he always winds up being an idealized version of myself (Whether I want him to be or not...) The female perspective becomes an escape from the harshness of everyday life. Seeing any male character only makes me think of how crappy my life is....

when i read, i don't mind which gender the main character is, as long as there's something interesting about the main character. :) i think it all depends on how someone writes the character... not which gender the character is.

what i HAVE found, though, is that when an author (on FP, mostly) writes a character that is the opposite gender, the character turns out weird... (maybe this is just in my experience) because we're all "amateur" writers, we haven't exactly figured out all of the nuances of writing yet and getting into characters' heads.

so i think when a girl writes from a teenage/adult male's perspective, he either turns out acting like a wimp, he's gay, or he's just too perfect to be real. when a guy writes from a girl/woman's perspective, she turns out to be too perfect to be real, or too damsel-in-distress-y, or just annoying in general.

this is just MY experience, and there ARE some exceptions i've seen out there. but this is the general trend i've seen.

i've written a bunch of stories from a guy's perspective (especially for my short story class) but i don't really want to share them... they're not what i would classify as "FP stories..." XD and i'm still working on getting the character right. :)

-Lefty

so i think when a girl writes from a teenage/adult male's perspective, he either turns out acting like a wimp, he's gay, or he's just too perfect to be real. when a guy writes from a girl/woman's perspective, she turns out to be too perfect to be real, or too damsel-in-distress-y, or just annoying in general.

For a while, I wrote exclusively from a female perspective (I even did a lemon like that once.... I'll post it eventually....), I find it more entertaining to do as such. It also helps me understand the mindset of all the characters better.

I don't really pay much attention to the author's gender, so I couldn't really comment on how people react to writing from same/opposite gender.... I just look at it as somethiong diffferent, and now, I've come full-circle, where the inner workings of a male mind have become mysterious again....

i typically write from a female's point of view, because my men normally end up creepy/cliched/whiny. i've writen a few short stories from a male's pov, and they were...ok i suppose. i prefer to write from a female's pov, because most females in literature are always the same: pretty, big **, cute funny, charmingly naive and boring. there's been a few who weren't, and those books rarely get the attention they deserve. i try to make my female leads different. the atypical woman, if you may.

I tend to write from both gender perception. To me, it does not matter if a person is a male or female because I focus on the overall character, like their strengths and flaws. Once I create the basic of that character, I then add characteristic of what that person might do if he was a male or female.

In the end, you should write what you are comfortable with.

This will sound like a redundant question at first, but how do you write a story. I'm not asking how do you figure out what characters, plots, and what not. I'm asking how do you write your stories? Do you let them play themselves out or do you have the whole story set out in your head before you write it. I haven't had a chance to speak with many writers around my area so I'd like a little feedback.

I start with an idea in my head...write out a loose plan, then tighten it up...but it's never set in stone because I think you need to allow the characters to grow organically with the plot- so I don't plan out character development as tightly as I do the overall plot...

so I sort of use a modified version of the snowflake method I guess

I tend to start with an idea for some specific scene... Form there, I'll write a character, and just let things play out from there. As strange as it sounds, for me, writing is a passive thing.... I'm just as interested in what's going to happen next as my audience is.

In my case, I think of a group of ideas I would want to put into my story. I then create an outline of that story telling me what I want to happen. If it is a big story, each section would represent a chapter. The outline is just a guideline, however, I will make changes as the story develops. That is the way I usually write a story.

See the way I write is i honestly don't know what will happen next when I write until the pencil begins to write that part. Its kinda weird to me. The last story I wrote I had intended for the main characters to stay good, but two turned evil in the end. It surprised me that thats how it ended up. Also when I typed it after writing it, I added in a new character into the main story line. It was interestin to write.

when i write stories, it's kind of like i'm just reading them, not writing them. XD new things come up and the characters just take me along their own little plot. basically, i set up the beginning, and know where i want to end, and the characters take it from there.

or, at least, that's what i do for my writing on FP. for english class, i actually plan out what's going to happen and stuff so that i can have "good" writing in there. XD

-Lefty

when i write stories, it's kind of like i'm just reading them, not writing them. XD new things come up and the characters just take me along their own little plot. basically, i set up the beginning, and know where i want to end, and the characters take it from there.

I do the same thing. Only, sometimes, I have a lot less to work with... I should really plan things out more.

I guess that's why I hand write everything first.... Does anyone else do that?

Thats what I do. I write my stories on paper before I type them. During the process of typing it I sometimes change scenes, the plot line or maybe even add characters. Its fun doing it that way.

Thats what I do. I write my stories on paper before I type them. During the process of typing it I sometimes change scenes, the plot line or maybe even add characters. Its fun doing it that way.

Why/how did you double post?

Anyway,

During the process of typing it I sometimes change scenes, the plot line or maybe even add characters. Its fun doing it that way.

I do things the same way in my process. I don't really like typing, I'm old-fashioned that way.... I write in pen and paper because It lets me "feel" the storyline as it happens.... You know what I mean?

Definitely. Its a lot easier to get into the character I'm creating when I write it down.

*Accidentally refreshed the page and it reposted*

Definitely. Its a lot easier to get into the character I'm creating when I write it down.

I know, sometimes, I walk around thinking I am that character....

[really awkward when writing a female character....]

I try to stray away from writing female characters because they would probably end up being really butch.

Mine are usually just the opposite. Perhaps a bit too girly?

Topic - Endings

What kind of endings do you dislike? What never/rarely works (at least for you)? I am just curious :p

Or does it depend on the story? If the story has been very tragic and dark, must there be a nice ending in order to compensate and balance out? Or vice versa with a happy themed story?

How about open endings?

I like open ended endings...I don't like it when things are put into tidy little packages, it sometimes feels rushed when EVERYBODY gets together and has lots of babies (teen writers are the worst...there is a whole world between highschool and marriage- dont make the high school sweethearts be in love for ever and ever)...epilogues are kind of icky too

epilogues are kind of icky too

I disagree with that part. An epilogue is an optional bit, anyways... It ties up loose ends, but if you prefer an open-ended piece, then don't read it.

AS for my preference: I like open-ended pieces better, but something about a full, well-rounded ending makes me happy. It depends on the writer's personal style, I guess.

Wow, I feel the opposite way!

I want things to be resolved. Ie, in a romance story our main character have been lusting for guy X. I don't want it to be unclear where they stand where it ends. I want all the developments to show in the ending.

Everything doesn't have to be resolved, of course. I have no issue with the "life goes on" feeling, but I want all the major issues (or issues that grabbed me) to get a solution. It feels empty otherwise...

Unless the two of us have different definitions of open endings?

I have no problem with epilogues, but they are certainly not for every story! I think epilogues fit more to goody-goody endings, and should only be made if necessary to give a pay-off to the readers.

Cliffhanger endings should also only be done if a sequel is due. Never otherwise. Again, because I want to reach the climax and find a resolution as a reader.

I think that "open-ended" means that something is left unresolved for the reader to think about.

I don't mean the main conflict, that would be a waste. Just leave some of the side-stories unresolved, or leave the main pairing just about to get together.... But not quite there yet...

Open ending is dangerous territory in my opinion. Of course, not everything has to be said (I quite like the implied things), but some endings annoy me when I don't know whether or not the main character is dead or not, etc.

Minor characters can have unresolved issues, but if it is left unresolved, why was it brought up to begin with? At least give a hint how it went. Yes, I know, I am a big disliker of pure open endings :P

For sequels and trilogies and such, it is a very good instrument (if you plan on using the same characters/plot in the next book).

I agree with Ragnarok about his definition of an open ending. The main conflict itself is resolve, but some of the smaller issues are left unclear or unresolved. It really depends on the story if an open ending works.

In my personal opinion, I tend to like open endings the best. Those who want a full resolution to a story always seem to go too far. The main character is either dead or married to their life partner with kids and living the perfect life, and all the evil of the world has been vanish. These endings are rush and very unrealistic to me. It is always good to leave something open for the audience to think about instead of your typical happy or sad ending. However, once again that depends on the story.

On the subject of epilogues, I always liked them. It gives you a glimpse into what has happen to the cast after the conflict has been resolved. It is especially good for stories that are a series since it sets up the next book.

It really up to the author to decide what they like best.

has anyone watched the movie "besieged?" it's based on the book by the same title. worst open ending ever.

well actually... song of solomon by toni morrison was pretty vague, too. i was like: SO DID HE DIE, OR WHAT? it was frustrating.

open endings are okay if they imply what happened... but they have to be specific enough to allow the reader to have a sense of what happened (or at least a feeling.) my first story on here, "happiness lived next door" had an open ending, but i thought it was good enough to give the readers some closure. :) aha, that's it! the ending actually needs a sense of closure... stories need endings that effectively END the story (woo... big surprise there).

harry potter was THE WORST epilogue i've ever read. seriously. i was like: this is like crappy fanfiction... T_T but generally, i like epilogues. :) i use them a lot. it helps bring closure.

-Lefty

Well, that is kind of harsh about Harry Potter. I thought the epilogue was very well done and did give closer to Harry's adventure. It was nice to know that after all the crap that has happen to him that he did find happiness and now he living a peaceful life. The only thing I did not like about it is that it did tell you what happen to everyone. However, that would had been to wordy and unnecessary in the end. To each their own:)

Back on subject, any ending is hard to make because you will never make everyone happy. They will always be someone who says that the ending wasn't good. Open endings possibly get the worst end of this stick because people wants everything answer for them. They do not want some mysteries to remain unsolved.

As long as you write an ending that is realistic to your story and characters, I do not have a problem with them. As the author, you have the right to end your story any way you chose. You should never let any one influence you otherwise.

This might not be the best place to ask, but what is the best way to post a multi-chapter story.

I have written a story on FF that was 50,000+ words and posted it all at once. I'm currently writing a 5 chapter short story and want to know if I should post it chapter by chapter or all at once. Should I post chapters as they are written or have it all completed and post new chapters once I think it is appropriate?

I have to admit that 50,000 words is little to much all at once. Especially, if the story is not completed yet. If you have a multi-chapter story it might be best to post it a little at a time. Depending how big your chapter are, I would say no more than two chapters in a week.

People tend to get overwhelm with stories pass the 20,000 mark. This mostly because they will to invest some time into reading the story instead of the fast and simple oneshots. This is even harder when your story is not completed because the reader does not know if you will ever finish posting. Any who goes to fanfiction.net will know what I am talking about. To get more readers, you should not post the story until it is close to completion and put that into your author's note. It actually works for me:)

@Distilled

Posting your story all at once is suicide for anyone who wishes to get feedback. Your chances of getting reviews (aka, feedback) increase dramatically if you post your chapters gradually. One chapter per week, maximum! Why this rule? Because people have busy lives and having a big story to catch up to is overwhelming. It is much more reader-friendly.

Even if only a short story! Also if you have more updates, you are more likely to get more people to see the story (and thus, again, increased chances of feedback).

Your five chaptered story should also be posted gradually if you wish for readers/feedback. One chapter per week, or per two weeks seems like a good time span.

@endings

As the author, you have the right to end your story any way you chose. You should never let any one influence you otherwise.

You seem to think every wannabe-writer (which what we all are on this site) knows how to do it right. They don't. We don't. Ending a story is an art in itself. There is no author-intuition and just because an author thinks "hey this is a cool ending", it doesn't mean its even decent. Sure, everyone has the right to end it whatever way they choose to, but I think most people here want to make a good ending (if not perfect). Ending a book series with "it was all a DREAM!" would make few fans happy, for example. Even if that author thinks its the coolest thing ever.

I think, that if the author is serious about their story, they have to really think through multiple types of endings and see which gives the most satisfactory closure.

I think, that if the author is serious about their story, they have to really think through multiple types of endings and see which gives the most satisfactory closure.

But this leads to a question: Who do you want to satisfy? Yourself or your fans?

If you are on this site, you obviously want to satisfy both. I don't see the big issue. Wouldn't an author want to know how to make a good ending? Because let me tell you, not everyone knows how to.

I'd be satisfied with myself if I managed to figure out an ending that satisfied "fans". It's an accomplishment. If it makes sense to the readers, and is delivered right, you obviously did something right. Thus comes the satisfaction for the author.

That is one part of the author (the want to satisfy readers) but the other is to satisfy themselves. But if they want a special kind of ending, but that just don't fit, they only have to blame themselves for not directing the story in a way that their desired ending makes sense and leaves closure.

If you write only to satisfy yourself, why are you even here on FP? Why are you trying to get better? Why are you trying to learn? So to me, there is no one here on FP that writes solely for themselves. Authors here want others to enjoy their work too. Good endings, and other things, enable that.

It's just like any other instrument of writing. Take plot. Author may not like having no plot at all for 45 chapters, but do you think most here would agree with that? No.

If you write only to satisfy yourself, why are you even here on FP? Why are you trying to get better? Why are you trying to learn? So to me, there is no one here on FP that writes solely for themselves. Authors here want others to enjoy their work too. Good endings, and other things, enable that.

It's not so much satisfying only yourself... More taking your own pleasure into account more than that of your readers. Maybe there are a few options, and you know that people want to see one thing, but you want to write your own idea. But you don't want to alienate your readers, either. What then? That wass what I was talking about.

You pick the one that is most true to the story. And the one with most satisfying closure. If both are equal in this aspect, then it's just up to you do decide what you want to go with.

I will have to agree with Ragnarok on this one. Although you must always keep your audience in mind, you must always put yourself first in any story. You are the author and you have the right to create the world that see fit. The readers may give you suggesting on how you could improve your writing and plot, but you are the one who has the final say so. To say that you do not listen to your readers 100 percent of the time does not mean you are not trying to improve.

Well, that my two cent:)

@endings;

Fractured Illusion, I did not meant that everyone know how to make a good ending, that is why we are here. If simply meant as the author you have the final say to your ending. You should never make a ending completely to please you fans. They will always be people who despise your ending. Yes, if the vast majority of people says you ending sucks you should listen to them.

In my experiences, as long as you planned your story well the ending tends to create itself. It is when you are writing from chapter to chapter with no clear direction that the ending tends to be harder to right. This is the same way most people get writer's block.

This is all my opinion and I did not mean to offend anyone. These are simply things that I have observe in my reading and writing:)

As much as I h8 endings, I'd have to say they are my favorite part to write. I never care who likes the ending, I just write how I think the ending should be.

What kind of endings do you dislike? What never/rarely works (at least for you)? I am just curious :p

Or does it depend on the story? If the story has been very tragic and dark, must there be a nice ending in order to compensate and balance out? Or vice versa with a happy themed story?

How about open endings?

I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate (you get the picture) hate open endings in general. Take The Giver, for example. I hated that book because of the ending. It didn't leave me with a sense of closure. Instead, it just left me extremely disappointed. I have yet to find a good example of an open ending, though, ideally, it would bring about a sense of closure and imply the ending/possible endings. In particular, I'd like to see an exmple of an open-ended story which results in multiple ending scenarios, all equally plausible, dependant upon the reader's perceptions of the story/characters.

If a story is dark, I feel that the ending should be dark as well. A nice ending just wouldn't feel right in that case. If a story is bittersweet, on the other hand, the ending could go either way; it could end tragically, or it could end happily as there are elements of both throughout the story. So, basically, I think the ending should reflect the mood of the story as a whole, otherwise it doesn't make much sense as an ending.

I will have to disagree with you about the dark ending. Just because a story have a dark or serious undertone does not necessarily means that the ending has to end tragically. Granted, you cannot give a 'happily ever after' ending to such a story and be believable, but you can give a somewhat happy conclusion. Maybe the heroes dies in the final battle, but his death starts a revolution or inspires hope in future generals. It all depends on the author and the kind of message they want to leave behind.

On the subject of open endings, I cannot think of a particular book that does it well, but I can tell you many movies and animes that did have very good open endings, in my opinion. Different people likes different things. You do not like open endings and that is fine.

I personally like the life goes on ending, because that is how life is. No story really truly ends even when the character dies. That because the legacy that they leave behind will always influence future events, rather they be good or bad. It is how the author present the ending that will determine rather it is good or bad.

That my personal take anyway:)

On the subject of open endings, I cannot think of a particular book that does it well, but I can tell you many movies and animes that did have very good open endings, in my opinion. Different people likes different things. You do not like open endings and that is fine.

Neither of you seem to have read "The Alchemist" By Paulo Coelho... That was a great open ending.

With endings it really is up to the author. You can't end a 90,000 word story with an open ending unless there is going to be a sequel but some short stories work better with an open ending, I've done it once or twice with oneshots.

Also you might want an ending that is quick, which you might not be able to do if you have to tie up all these plot lines. Maybe in this situation you could end certain plots before the end?

I mostly write horror so I get the easy way out anyway... I can just kill everyone.

Just because a story have a dark or serious undertone does not necessarily means that the ending has to end tragically.

You misunderstand. Dark does not equal tragic. What I was saying was that if the story as a whole is dark, the ending must have some element of that darkness. The darkness can be manifested via tragedy, irony, etc., but it needs to be present else the ending does not fit the story. This does not mean that the story cannot end on a hopeful note, either; just that the darkness of the rest of the story is incorporated into the ending.

And that above paragraph was extremely repetetive. XD;;;

Take The Giver, for example.

ah yes. one of THE MOST DISAPPOINTING endings EVER!! that ending was terrible. TERRIBLE. it was a great story until the end. T_T

i wrote a story on FP that was actually similar to the giver. but i hope my ending was better than the giver's was... XD

i think that the open ending for the giver could have worked if there was any sort of... closure, i guess. if there was ANY way to infer what happened to the characters... that would have been nice. i think open endings only work if you've implied what happens throughout the rest of the story (or at least implied it through the open ending). there can be multiple implications in an open ending (people can interpret it in different ways), but i think that it at least needs to END the story. :)

-Lefty

Okay, so there seems to be two camps here with one pro open endings and one against it. But both seems to wish for closure. How is this achieved then? Isn't it resolving the main conflict? If so, how can an open ending about the main conflict result on closure? Does anyone have any examples of this?

I can take open ending in the life-goes-on type of thing, but not in the main conflict (unless sequel is planned!). Maybe we are just having different definitions of "open ending" and "closure"? I know I have gotten a bit confused by reading everyone's replies, haha. Someone willing to clear it up?

1. Forums are not to be used to post stories.
2. All discussions, language and content, must be suitable for teens.
3. The owner/moderator(s) of this forum is solely responsible for content posted within this area.
4. All forum abuse must be reported to the moderator(s).

1. Forum admin/moderator
2. Fanatic (on site for more than 2 years)
3. Fan (on site for more than a year)
4. Regular (on site for more than 6 months)
5. Camper (on site for more than a month)
6. Apprentice (on site for more than a week)
7. Newbie (on site for less than a week)