Fri, 2020-Nov-27 22:57 (GMT)
Hey guys - anyone here ever write their story backwards?
I forget who the subject was, but I was listening to a podcast recently and they were talking about starting with the final scene and going back from there, scene by scene. The host agreed that it's a great way of avoiding the stumbling blocks that can present themselves when tackling that difficult 2nd act.
Thoughts?
Keep on keepin' on...
I've never written one backwards, but I have completed several beat sheets outlining whole stories from beginning to end before typing FADE IN: It's good to know where you're going before you set sail.
It's something I really want to try and it's meant to be infinately easier to write a twisting plot that way.
When I get stuck in an act or scene, I'll jump forward to where I know my story continues... I'll then write from there until it gives me "a vision" to go back from where I got stuck and then continue from there. When I brainstorm a new idea/story, I always ask myself; What's the end game, and what's the story to get there.
I start my scripts with BLACK and go from there. I love black screens in which you start out with sounds first. Like the ocean surf and seagulls. Or gunshots and screaming. It triggers the reader's ( or later the viewer's) imagination from the first second on. It also forces me to continue writing something that keeps their attention tickled.
@BarryJohn. Jumping ahead and then doubling back sounds like a good method. As long as you know the beginning, the middle and the end of your story, you should be able to fill in the blank spaces...sooner or later. Perhaps a good method enabling you to add comic relief, B story, foreshadowing, plot twists, etc.
I usually start with endings. If I don't have a clear idea of at least one possible ending, I can't write the beginning. When I struggle with a seemingly never ending story, it's usually because I got waaaay ahead of myself and should have written a rough something for a possible ending first. My mistake. Live and learn. So yes, I can confirm that writing backwards is an excellent way to start a story. All kinds of writers, ranging from screenwriters to novelists, also give the advice of starting with endings.
Go for it! It's easier than it sounds and a lot of fun.
I did a fun exercise a while go. If it works for you, use it. Take any guideline, beat sheet, or format, and write the opposite or mirror reflection. CJ's Turn and Burn for example, one approach is number five: Un-yearn.