Monday 28 June 2010

Reaching climax and tackling denouement.

No, I'm not being filthy-minded here, I'm talking about my writing rhythms.
I realised something about myself this weekend: as soon as I reach climax, my mojo pipes down. (Again, I'm not talking about sex people -- get your minds out of the gutter! And anyway, if I were talking about sex, wouldn't that be normal?)
Right, back to the point at hand.
I find that once I've written just past the climax point in my stories, I feel like I have to go back and edit everything I've written before I go ahead and tackle denouement.
Is that weird, or does it happen to you too?

25 comments:

  1. Yes, it happens. I'm trying to just write and fix things in edits.

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  2. O.M.G. yes! The denoument is the hardest part of writing for me, besides the first chapter. Even now I'm having nightmares about how to finish my current WIP. And I haven't even reached the climax yet.

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  3. I tend to edit as a go, which keeps me moving forward. The bomb doesn't drop until everything is complete - which I guess is a good thing!

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  4. It does make sense -- then you can check for any loose threads that may need addressing, and re-acquanted with your work as a reader would be, to make your wrap-up as appropriate as possible. (a little justification there for ya. You're welcome.)

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  5. Sure that happens. Your excited. I think the urge to edit right after the 'let down' is natural.

    BTW, very disturbing cartoon. Math? Ugh.

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  6. I think that's pretty normal. Happens to me with each scene. I momentarily lose all interest after each mini climax.

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  7. I've never had that problem but I've only written one novel. My problem is usually more along the lines of getting myself to shut-up or to stop going on and on (it would be great if that applied to sex, huh?)

    BTW I love your now profile photo Jess!

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  8. This may sound weird but the opposite is true for me. If I can make it to and through the climax, the rest comes easy. I'm on such a high from being that close to the end that I can ride that wave all the way to "the end".

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  9. I think it makes good writerly sense...i mean you're essentially tying up any loose ends for the reader....And by editing you know exactly what those loose ends will be. You're a smart wench! You totally know what you're doing!

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  10. It totally happens to me. It's quite a let down too. Then I have to wait until I'm in the mood again. Wait...you said *not* about sex. Whoops.

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  11. Wow, you really have a dirty mind! ;) But, you make good points too.

    CD

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  12. After reading the other blog about a certain puppet I did wonder what you were going to write about.

    I found your post very informative and interesting cartoon and all.

    Yvonne.

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  13. Actually, that makes a lot of sense. When I get to that point, I have to reassess whether everything I've written up TO that point properly builds and supports that moment. NOT an easy thing to do, either :D

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  14. I like to revel in the climax of my book. I go over it a lot and relive it and make sure it keeps the same on the brink feel and once I'm satisfied I try and wrap it up. The wrapping up is fun too though because it means I'm almost done the first draft. Hell, its all exciting. lol.

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  15. I can see that being a problem, but I have not written a book. I think I would be an edit as a I go guy though.

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  16. I'm exactly the same. Once the climax has arrived, I lose impetus to carry on with trying together threads and cleaning up the little bits of plot that are leftover. It's like I've used up all of my creative juices for that one moment and I've none to spare for the aftermath.

    I think that's fine though. I think that working hard on the denouement in editing will make it more satisfactory for the reader.

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  17. Ugh.
    Yes. It happens.
    Major edits too, girl.
    :(
    Good luck with them!

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  18. Yep, I hate finishing. :/ For the first time in years, I actually made progress with this past draft and FINISHED (and wrapped up the majority of all the plot threads etc... to boot!)

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  19. hi miss jessica! i mostly edit stuff when i get one or two chapters done. i get lots of help from my brothers on it. when i get at the big ending i just keep writing til everything is done. im real lucky for my family helping me so much and im learning lots of stuff on these writer people blogs.

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  20. I do tend to step back once the crisis has been dealt with and go back to revise. It helps me to get all that has gone on before into perspective. Then, I can better write the resolution to whatever situation brought on the battle.

    I would imagine from reading the comements here, that all writers are different in how they tackle the revisions and crises in their work, Roland

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  21. I DO a little of that... come back an write the wind down LATER but it is because if I do it right after the climax, I want to tie up EVERYTHING, where if I give it a wait and come back to it, then I only need to tie up what NEEDS to be tied up.

    In other words, if I go have a shot of whiskey and brush my teeth then come back to it later, we can just spoon a while and call it good. If I dive right in, I want to parse apart every detail as to what it all MEANT... (damn Cancer sun/Virgo moon combo)

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  22. First of all, you put my mind in the gutter.

    I haven't run into your problem yet.

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  23. I find this happens whenever I'm not quite sure where the next step is. I always have to step back for a day or two or twelve to get it sorted out. Good luck!

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  24. My process is a bit different - I edit BEFORE the climax because I'm afraid I'm not going to nail that part (ah ha) if I haven't made sure I've led up to it properly.

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  25. Hey, Jessica! Hilarious cartoon and post.

    As for tackling something after the climax of a story, I usually just edit chapter by chapter, because I want to make sure I'm going in the direction that I want to and not off on some tangent with some sub-plot I added in from nowhere.

    Write on!

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