Storytelling problem – Starters and stoppers

This is kind of a “fluff” post, because I want you all to know I’m still alive… and because it’s on my mind.

I don’t have a big problem telling stories… shaping scenes… making characters, directing them, giving them a voice, and then putting words into that voice.

For me, well-rounded characters don’t start at the chapter one and stop at the epilogue. I want them to have their own motivations and have some depth.  This brings me to one of the biggest problems I have when writing:  when to start and stop the story.

I find inspiration in all manner of places and things.  Sometimes it is from someone telling me about the exploits of her best friend’s family.  Sometimes it is from hearing just a fraction of a conversation in passing.  From there, it is simply a matter of filling in the details.

The devil is in the details.

…and how true it is.  Eventually, I have to stop filling in details and get to the heart of the matter – the story.

Again, knowing then to start and stop is one of my greatest challenges.

My side-project du jour is set in a setting which I have a fair amount details worked out.  Yes, the environment is a character in its own way, but it is not the main character.  While writing, I have to remember that.

I wonder if this is related to the feature-creep I experience while coding.

Updates on projects will be forthcoming…

– Cam