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Hey guys! Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve been on here
because I haven’t written in forever and KP makes me guilty! This is kinda two questions in one topic, but the first one is more important haha.1. I’ve had a couple of pretty major ideas to add to my WIP (i.e., the main character’s dad died before the start of the book; a necklace that affects the rest of the storyline). And my question is, should I go back and add in those things now? Or wait until the end? Or (here’s what I’m leaning towards, but I’m not sure if it’s acceptable…) keep writing like I’ve already added them in, so basically add them in half-way through? I have no idea!
2. Is it okay for chapters to be different lengths? Like, my first chapter is only 1 1/4 pages long (I think I need to lengthen it…) but the one that I’m working on now is 3 or 4. Is that okay?
@joy-caroline @gracie-j @devastate-lasting @keilah-h @writerlexi1216 @issawriter7 @mkfairygirl @abigail-m @lydia-s @daisy-torres @jodi-maile @scripter-of-kingdoms @seekjustice @kathleenramm @elfwing @relia @anyone
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
I, personally, would go back and add those things. You don’t want to forget about it and not add it in! So ngl I’d prob just do that.
Also, it is 100% okay for chapters to be different lengths. My chapters range from 6 or 7 pages to more than like twelve sometimes. It’s totally fine! 🙂 Every author writes differently!
staring at the fields
if nothing's really real
i'll make the winter now my home@nanisnook Heyyy welcome back!
andyeahItotallygetyou. KP is good about thatI think you should go back and add the ideas in. You may forget later on which will result in a “lopsided” draft, so it’s usually best for me if I go back XD *cough* but also I’m terrible at going back and adding in so don’t mind me *cough*
As a reader, I can usually tell when a writer is just trying to meet a wordcount. The words get hollow, maybe even redundant, and the quality just isn’t as good. Personally, I say you should just stick with what you like. If, after you’ve edited a chapter, you’re happy with it and it’s short, that’s fine! Leave it then. It’s better than fluffing up stuff and dragging out what doesn’t need to be dragged.
Hope that helps! Good luck!!
"It's easy to be caught up in stardust and whispers when reality is so dark and loud."
@nanisnook Welcome back! Yeah KP can make me feel guilty too…but I recently started working on a short story so I feel a bit better about it now haha
Honestly, I might just go back (if you’re working in a Word/Google doc) and put some comments in the places where I want to add those ideas. But if they are huge things that affect everything in the story, which it sounds like they do, it might be better to go back and add them in now, because you never know what ideas you’ll come up with/new directions you’ll want the story to take while you’re editing stuff in, and it’ll be easier to move forward with any new ideas/development if you just go back and edit those things now.
I am going to completely agree with @daisy-torres, it is relatively easy to see when an author is just trying to meet word count, so it’s totally okay if your chapters are shorter or longer than each other. As long as you’re happy with how your chapter fulfills its purpose and adds to the story, then it’s probably good the way it is.
I hope this was helpful!
I’d add them in. Another thing you can do is copy your work onto another document and remember to work on that one. I did that with one of my Warriors fanfics, which I’m on draft three or four of. I was forty or fifty pages into the second draft before I decided the plotline could be a lot better, so I copied what I needed onto a new document and am currently rewriting the rest!
"When in doubt, eat cheese crackers."-me to my charries who don't even know about cheese crackers
Welcome back! So good to see you again! 😀 <333
I think it’d prob be easiest to go back to the beginning and add them in from there. 🙂
Yes, that’s totally okay! I know mine average from (…lemme go check…) anywhere from eight to 1/4 a page, depending on the book. (I think some of it also depends on the POV, whether it’s first/second/third person, tense, etc. My first-person, present-tense book has many short chapters, due to me flipping back and forth between POVs. 🙂 All that to say, I think it’s totally fine! 😀 )
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Hi, Natalie! 😊
Personally, I would go back and add those things. It’s just because for me as a writer, I can’t concentrate if I know things are missing from my manuscript. But if you feel comfortable continuing to write without first going back, that’s totally your call! The only thing I would definitely recommend is to write down what you will add in the future, so you don’t forget any details.
About the chapters, it’s definitely okay to have varying lengths! 👍
1. To be honest whenever I come up with new ideas I just add them halfway through and then later go back and add them in the beginning. Saves a bit of time.
2. Totally! Usually my chapters are 6 and a half pages, sometimes they’re 13.
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into daysThat’s totally true. I would feel so bad if I forgot something! Thanks for the advice!!
Yes, I have definitely been noticing that KP is good at that…. I hadn’t even thought about a lopsided draft, so that’s super good to remember. And thanks for the advice about the word count! Very helpful.
When I’m on KP, it’s like everything I read is yell “GO WRITE!” And then I don’t. But I am now, so yay! I might do a mix of the comments and the just adding everything in. Thanks so much for the advice!
That’s a super good idea to add them to a new document. That way I would still have my old work as well. Thanks! And ooh Warriors fanfic. I love it!
Good to see you again too! <333 Your advice about the chapter lengths is totally encouraging. Thank you!!
@joy-caroline
Thank you! I will definitely make sure to write my ideas now so I don’t forget them. Thanks so much for the advice!
Haha I’ve found a person that actually does that! I’m still debating (I think I just need to have a long talk with myself and figure it out). Thanks for taking the time to answer!
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
@nanisnook Of course! And it’ll also save you more work – if you go in and write the ideas now, then you can write fluidly about those same ideas as the story goes on. 🙂
staring at the fields
if nothing's really real
i'll make the winter now my home@nanisnook sure thing! Glad I could help!
"It's easy to be caught up in stardust and whispers when reality is so dark and loud."
@Nanisnook You’re welcome!
"When in doubt, eat cheese crackers."-me to my charries who don't even know about cheese crackers
Ofc! Go get ‘em, girl! <333
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