(And anyone else reading this.) I'd like a little bit of input. For one of my projects, I have three pairs of characters with distinct paths but they intersect for certain key events. I've been trying to plot their stories out basically like it's just one story spread across multiple books with different narrators. However, it's just not working for these characters...

Would it make sense to have three stories have some of the same events, from different perspectives and with emphasis on different aspects?

I feel like I've read stories like that before but the series I have been reading recently just kinda exist in the same story world and aren't really tied together otherwise. And... I don't know. I'm just kinda struggling to figure out the format I guess.

- Hrm, that's a tough one. while it might work best to write each characters' story as a separate telling of the same events, it could get boring for the reader, on the other hand if you try to tell just one story while jumping between different perspectives, it could get confusing. I think the latter could work, but you would have to work it all out before hand to make sure you don't miss important events. I could see it maybe unfolding in a similar fashion to Durarara (if you aren't familiar with it, it's an anime that follows several characters who all have sort of their own stories, but they interact with the other characters and all sort of end up mixed up in the same 'end plot' I highly recommend it if you haven't watched it) but I feel like in order for that to really work you would still have to start by writing each character's story individually.

I've been continuing to research the topic. It took me a while to figure out the terminology. Now that I have, I can explain it better. In the first story of the series, something happens that affects the other two stories I have planned. The other characters are present for this event and they are all aware of each other, but they each play a different role in what happens. The outcome of the event would be the same but how they are affected by it and what they see will be different. Otherwise, the exact events experienced by one pair will only occasionally be acknowledged by the other pair before moving on to their own personal experiences. Somewhere between a "Point-of-View Sequel" and a "Changing of the Guard"... (Phrases link to articles on TV Tropes website.)

I would be writing the stories separately but I am planning simultaneously since they affect each other. I'd end up have arcs for each story and arcs for each character.

-looks up Durarara and bookmarks article- I'll definitely look into it more later. -nods-

I think I actually saw this method used in various TV series rather than books, like I first thought... Though apparently something like it was employed in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, which I read forever ago. LOL

- Yeah, after reading those definitions on tropes, I think that is kind of what I was thinking of before too, it's just hard to explain.

I think writing all of their stories separately is a good way to approach it, it might need a lot of editing and revising later on, but at least you will have your ideas all sorted out.

Well, I've decided which project I am going to try to write. The other two just need too much work before they'll be ready. My next step to make sure all my reference material is in one place (so I'm not wasting time digging through multiple files) and start creating an outline. I'll try to work on it later tonight but right now... Morostide! XD

- Yeah morostide! Glad you figured something out. Hope you get a chance to get everything in order.

I think that my fingers are now permanently attached to my temples. When they aren't there, they are on the bridge of my nose. Ugh. I've been trying to figure out names for people and places... I've spent upwards of 10 hours over the past few days scrolling through names and I've found 3 I like... 3. OTL

On the upside, I think I'm making progress on my plot outline for *Purposely Vague, my 2015 NaNoWriMo project... Maybe... It looks like it for now at least. I'm wanting to figure out the outline for the next story in the series, either in whole or for the most part, before I commit to some of the aspects of it.

I do have another two stories planned for the series, but they are more... Peripheral? Flexible? Inconsequential for this current project? -shrugs- It's something like that. I'm not going to worry about working on them at this time.

*(It's a working title, okay?)

You making progress? Have you read any of the old version of your story yet?

- No, Morostide kinda killed any progress that I might have made :P Sounds like you've got a pretty good grasp though.

Hi guys. :) I don't spend much time on the forums usually but then I realized you have a writing one (if not rather quiet).

Have any of you guys posted/published stories anywhere?

-veles - I never have. A couple of the people who have frequented this forum have at least tried to get published I know, though I haven't really seen them around recently. There's other people around who post their works, but my own have never made it anywhere close to complete enough for me to post them anywhere.

[-Veles] I post fanfic on AO3 and occasional drabbles and such on my Tumblr. Beyond that I'm unpublished (for now).

Ah, well, one day for you maybe. :) "complete" is always a good goal. It probably took me years to actually finish a story I started for Nano forever ago. And I sort of only kicked myself in the tush to finish it this year because Wattpad wanted to add it to their featured stories collection and I had no choice, lol. I'm a hardcore footdragger. The proof is in my like, 20 unfinished stories.

But now I have to step it up since I'm self-publishing to amazon. Got rejected from a big house after my character was too old for YA (it's more NA but they liked the story enough to think it was marketable). They asked me to make her younger and I said no. So now I'm wading out into the deep without a clue.

What do you write about? I'm always interested in reading new things. :)

What fanfics do you write?

[-Veles] Of the stuff I have posted... Dragon Age, Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus, Suikoden, Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy, and Persona 3. There's also my single attempt at a goofy foray into the Marvel MCU but that's a one-time deal that's unlikely to be repeated. My main focus lately has been Dragon Age, though my fiancee has been slowly dragging me back into PJO/HoO and we just put out a new chapter in that one last night.

Outside of fanfic, my writing is mostly fantasy/steampunk. None of it is completed enough for humanoid consumption at this point, however. I've discovered that NaNo is amazing for pushing me to get words out, but it has a side effect of making me never want to look at those words again. So the first three novels of the series were all NaNo projects... and the idea of re-reading them in order to re-write them is almost physically painful...

Good luck on your self-publishing :)

-veles - Yeah, I'm really bad at the 'complete' thing. I like building plots, but not resolving them. I really need to kick myself to do more work outside of nano, it seems to be the only time I write. and like kibu, I generally don't want to look at it again after that, but that is why this year I'm going back and re-writing one of them. The other big story I've got going right now I'm hoping to one day turn into a web comic, but I need more confidence in both my art skills and my writing skills before that will ever take off. Also want t actually complete the story so that I know where I'm going with it, and if I ever have to give up working on it, I can post what happens.

That's really cool that you actually got something to the publishing stage, even if it got rejected. (that sucks) Good luck with the self-publishing thing! My former ML for nanowrimo did that and sold her book at craft fairs and stuff and seemed to do pretty well. I bought a copy, good story, I really enjoyed reading it, but sadly her lack of professional editor was pretty apparent.

I generally write fantasy... which is part of my 'completion' problem, fantasy lends it self to long epics, and don't get me wrong, I love them, but writing them is a whole other monster. (especially when you are only writing it in 50k word chunks once a year)

I am in a very good mood. I finished a short story a week ago, the inspiration and drive hit me like a truck.. I was so happy to finish... then 2 days later MORE motivation and inspiration hit and I'm working slowly on a second story.... it's been a very long time since I've been this driven to write!

- That's great! I've been too busy the past two weeks to get anything done it seems. So not prepared for nano.

I might actually semi-participate in NaNo this year, just to see if I can make something work for me. But instead of shooting for 50k, I'm going to use a random number generator to pick 1 of 50 writing prompts each day and complete a drabble/ficlet for that prompt.

50k is going to be a big goal!! GOOD LUCK YOU GUYS! I'm rooting for you ^^

GOOD LUCK! I never take part in NANO... I tried once and only got a chapter. I really barely get any peace in my house to afford a lot of writing... so I just avoid the event.

I won 2 years in a row, but I've found that it hurts me more than I realize when I'm doing it. Both times I came out of November absolutely sick of writing and not wanting to touch any of my works for about 3 months. I'm finding new ways to challenge myself instead ^^

That's so cool that you've hit your stride lately. I hope it keeps up for you!

Ah I know how that goes... Though I usually get sick of writing if my mood turns sour. But hey glad you are finding new ways to challenge yourself. Also wow congrats on winning NANO, that is amazing!

Thanks, I am hoping it continues, I would love to start working on my novel. [edit] After nearly 12 days of writers block I finally got inspiration and wrote a quick 7 page short story! I feel proud!