I could never, ever in a million years post a story before I had finished it. I have so much respect for writers who do. The stress would kill me outright.
Also, for me the hardest part is the beginning. I generally write that last. I start with an ending, or smack in the middle and try to grow the story to reach both ends. Once I've done that, then I really take a good look at what I've got, what themes appear and reappear, and how I might emphasis one or another- making sure I haven't introduced something and then forgotten it. (Which I have certainly done on more than one occassion.)
So, for me, the real work is in the editing. Which I why the idea of posting something before I've put it through the shredder really intrigues me- and scares me silly.
Also, I've had invaluable help from BRs,who from a distance are able to see how some scenes need shuffling. LynnM shuffled some scenes around for me in my last story. In the story before that, Lab and Sherry mixed things up a bit. And the results were so much better than what I had come up with.
The monkey wrench, and part of the thrill ride that posting is, is reader's comments. Since I'm not writing from a loose outline, but rather from a pretty set story, I post in fear and trembling. That they'll see something that will blow the next 20 pages out of the water. Or render my ending useless, etc... However, up to now (knock wood) I have found the comments to be really helpful in showing me what might need tweaking.
For instance (I'm running on and on, I know, but the magic gremlin keeps yelling for me to 'type harder')in ABA I had this scene just after Clark has lost Lois to the evil Tempus. Before I posted the next part, one sharp reader, KathyM, said, "The guilt will kill him." And, oh man, she was exactly right! But I had been so focused on moving the characters where I wanted them, I hadn't considered that. It took just a line or two, but it made all the difference in making Clark's reaction 'real.'
Is that more from me than you ever wanted to know? I love this thread, can't wait to see what others have to say.
CC
