tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3324088862894095476..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: On Tonight's Episode: Fixing Episodic ChaptersJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-13505779788599752872014-09-03T21:13:23.732-04:002014-09-03T21:13:23.732-04:00Thanks. I needed that!Thanks. I needed that!Rosihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294774973863802821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84685319442004520342014-09-03T12:34:08.070-04:002014-09-03T12:34:08.070-04:00The first thing my sister said after reading an ea...The first thing my sister said after reading an early draft of my WiP was, "It's awfully episodic." I've been working on correcting that ever since. Your "getting back on track" pointers are going to help. Thanks for reposting this.Elissa Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10727748060605823895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-35882914588866500872014-09-03T10:57:38.114-04:002014-09-03T10:57:38.114-04:00I'm glad you revived this. It is one of many t...I'm glad you revived this. It is one of many things I need to work on. I have been writing without a formal plan and just growing the story. I've been jumping to different locations and points in the timeline as I feel inspired and I recognized the danger (which actually made me wonder if I should consider some sort of serialized fiction). I've had a few chapters reviewed and each seems very strong individually as far as action and interesting characters but I recognize that they seem a little too self contained - with very little work each could easily be a free standing 'mini story.' Thanks for the timely (retimely?) article.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435815973970077701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42013975803244602472012-06-16T11:44:44.826-04:002012-06-16T11:44:44.826-04:00Sam, if the novel is meant to be episodic, of cour...Sam, if the novel is meant to be episodic, of course. World War Z is a great example. Every chapter is a different person, a different part of the war, even different styles (interviews, narratives, etc). Works awesome. I'm talking more about novels that feel choppy and don't grab the reader because the story never feels like it's moving or getting to the point<br /><br />Sirkeystone, sounds like a good plan. I can see how something written for a podcast would totally feel episodic. That was the point!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83596527055787723112012-06-16T08:39:37.371-04:002012-06-16T08:39:37.371-04:00I had this same problem with a work that I have al...I had this same problem with a work that I have already put to print. Originally designed as a twenty episode serial audio podcast that never was recorded, it suffered from being decidedly episodic and too much show, not enough tell. In between my current writing, it is headed for a revision, which is hectic, because I am also focusing on one main character, not the entire band as a whole. Also, I got over making multi-narrator stories being episodic several stories ago. I now write a full length story about each narrator (usually one MC in first person) And then blend them together, changing whatever I need to to make the story interweave. Fixed many problems that way.sirkeystonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06751141967832832601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-62567785437553917472012-06-15T21:48:50.634-04:002012-06-15T21:48:50.634-04:00I think an episodic structure can work, and be don...I think an episodic structure can work, and be done really well in certain spots.<br /><br />I think it works better in more literary novels than genre novels, though. Because some of the literary stuff is more character based, has a greater emphasis on style, and is less about plot, I’ve found that I don’t mind when the main plot stops for a section, and you’re given this little, almost short story. <br /><br />It’s different, but can be cool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-44616209578851119872012-06-15T17:09:51.086-04:002012-06-15T17:09:51.086-04:00BJ, good luck! Hope they're flowing smoothly. ...BJ, good luck! Hope they're flowing smoothly. <br /><br />Elizabeth, I love that idea. (heck, I love most things zombies) Tricky balance to maintain there, but i know you can do it ;)<br /><br />Chicory, it probably would. Dual POVs can really suffer from that. Great that yours is solid!<br /><br />Chemist Ken, I bet. It probably also did wonders for the narrative drive and tension.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6019753411524756152012-06-15T15:02:28.631-04:002012-06-15T15:02:28.631-04:00Sounds a little like my WIP at the beginning. I h...Sounds a little like my WIP at the beginning. I had all these standalone scenes and chapters which I glued together to form a coherent story. They were in the correct chronological order, but it took me a while to realize they needed to lead into each other in better ways. When I went back and did that, the story tightened up considerably.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77130608671686953122012-06-15T14:38:08.549-04:002012-06-15T14:38:08.549-04:00Checking to make sure the events lead into each ot...Checking to make sure the events lead into each other -sounds like a trick that would also be helpful for those pesky transitions. :) Thanks for posting this. I did a quick mental check for my latest WIP which involves two narrators in alternating chapters. So far it's not splitting into episodes. :)Chicoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504144663440678542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42513724278057386122012-06-15T10:38:07.345-04:002012-06-15T10:38:07.345-04:00This is perfect!
I am writing a road trip novel ...This is perfect! <br /><br />I am writing a road trip novel set during the zombie apocalypse, and there's a lot of events that still feel too episodic. I WANT it to feel a little episodic, like most road trip stories do, but I've been trying to come up with way to connect the smaller stories into the larger whole. It's been a struggle. These are excellent guidelines for me to follow!<br /><br />Awesome post as usual!Elizabeth Poolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214706118828699708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72549080378000078162012-06-15T09:17:45.367-04:002012-06-15T09:17:45.367-04:00Thanks for all the great advice. There is always ...Thanks for all the great advice. There is always somehing to work with. I am off to check now if my chapters jump about like a monkey who's had his banana stolen.BJ Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03608866068254367950noreply@blogger.com