[Steve Fallon]

I have said it before, and I will say it again- "If I ever grew up, I would like to write like Rumpleteasza."

I can understand why, with that scene in mind, you simply HAD to write this story; this epic; this artful, poetic prose masterpiece.

And, I too, shall start at the beginning again, congratulating myself as I see the bread crumbs you left for us (and that I missed the first, and second, and third time around).

[Stephanie Nieves]

Oh man oh man oh manischevitz!

This was great! Tragic, yes, but just powerful stuff! Wish I could write/plot like that!

[Emerald Dreams]

Trey, I have said it before, and I will say it again - if you want to exchange writing abilities, I will snap up yours faster than a rat with a biscuit :hehe: Thank you, both of you. And by all means, look for breadcrumbs! There is one in only the second paragraph of Chapter 1.

With permission, I'm posting a section of a PM exchange with Sir Jeff - he asked me about writing process and since it's come up before, I thought I'd just post the whole response for those who have wanted information in the past.

I have a few burning questions, more to do with your approach than any hints or spoliers. How did you organise such a complex web of a storyline? And how do you keep track of each character's suspicions and discoveries, and their plotted deceits? I think your greatest achievement with this work is that out of this cast of schemers and plotters, you're the smartest spymaster of them all.

To answer your question... I have a whole A4 pad of handwritten notes for this thing; a lot of timelines, both for the whole story and each of the characters separately. Once I had planned out exactly what I wanted to happen with each character, I could put their plotlines side-by-side and see how they would fit in with eachother in terms of timescale. I do have a timeline for each King & I chapter on my harddrive, with precise days and dates, which I may post in the thead after the finale as an appendix. It might make some things less confusing!

Then there are the interludes, which have their own special timeline - when they finish at the end of the story, the main plotline begins at the beginning - why, oh why did I have to make this so complicated?! But the interludes were tricky, because they couldn't be evenly spaced between the normal chapters. There were certain events I had to get to before I could progress with the normal plot - for instance, Morgiah couldn't have her vision of the King of Worms' death in the present before I'd written the interlude about her visit to Hermaeus Mora in the past (which is in itself a fairly late episode in the interlude schedule), otherwise it wouldn't make sense and the reader wouldn't understand why she was having premonitions in the first place. So it turned out there had to be a greater density of interludes in the first half of the fic than the last.

I think I mentioned once before in the thread that the first scenes I ever wrote for King & I were the final chapter and epilogue. So I knew all the time the general direction I was going in, and that made it a lot easier to keep track of things. I had an end and a beginning; all I needed to do was sort out the middle.

That said, the middle had its own problems. Characters grew and changed as I wrote them, and several peripheral plotlines popped out of nowhere; for example, Felara Ules (Solon's unfortunate confidante) was nowhere to be seen in the original plan, and the fact that Dren claims to have tortured and killed her had no bearing on why Solon stabbed him originally. Likewise, I had not meant for Nenya and Caius to cement their relationship so definitely - I meant to keep it ambiguous. Probably the biggest change is that I never planned Eadwyrd to die until quite late on in the story. I wrote his epilogue and everything; a rather sad one about going back to Glenumbra and becoming court alchemist, but never finding love again. After a while I realised he was the perfect tool to take Akulakhan down in a blaze of glory, because Gwynabyth was his motivation. Without that, the manner of Gwyn's death was crass and meaningless (I had originally meant it to stand on its own as a harsh reminder that innocent people tend to pay for nobles' political games, but it was just too sad).

Anyway, I bet you didn't bargain on 4 paragraphs of crap when you made a casual comment on writing process But there you go. Once I start, I can't stop. By the way, would you mind if I quote this part in the thread? Other people have asked the same kinds of questions and this would probably answer all of them in one go.

So there you go

[casey macmillan]

Thanks for sharing the PM exchange with the rest of us.

It's actually pretty similar to my own writing style, though I'm not nearly as organized as you are! (Maybe that's why my stories are not nearly as complex as The King and I!) I start with a scene, and ask questions about the particular scene - who are the characters present? How did they get to be there? What is happening in the scene? Out of that I grow and develop an entire story. It's very organic, but that's the way I like to work.

Still, I'm always interested in how other writers develop their own story lines as well, since I feel that plot is my weakest point.

[Naughty not Nice]

Then, point strongly instead, my dear!!!

[Rachel Cafferty]

Thanks for sharing the PM exchange with the rest of us.

It's actually pretty similar to my own writing style, though I'm not nearly as organized as you are! (Maybe that's why my stories are not nearly as complex as The King and I!) I start with a scene, and ask questions about the particular scene - who are the characters present? How did they get to be there? What is happening in the scene? Out of that I grow and develop an entire story. It's very organic, but that's the way I like to work.

Still, I'm always interested in how other writers develop their own story lines as well, since I feel that plot is my weakest point.

I personally feel that is the strongest kind of writing, and the kind I'm most interested in. To make a story real and engaging, you have to start with the characters. Get to know them inside out. Why are they here, what are their motivations, hopes and dreams? What are their weaknesses, and how - if - do they hide them? My belief is that if a story has well-realised characters, you don't actually need much of a plot. It's just a joy to see them interact. On the other side, though, I can't get immersed in a story without strong characters, even if the plot is deviously thought-out.

[Megan Stabler]

I personally feel that is the strongest kind of writing, and the kind I'm most interested in. To make a story real and engaging, you have to start with the characters. Get to know them inside out. . . . My belief is that if a story has well-realised characters, you don't actually need much of a plot. It's just a joy to see them interact. On the other side, though, I can't get immersed in a story without strong characters, even if the plot is deviously thought-out.

agreed!

[Karen anwyn Green]

I know this is a serious, climatic character resolution scene and it tugged at my heart-strings by the end, but the mental image of Vivec running around like an insane god-child with a giant remote control gleefully destroying Helseth's toy almost made me fall over! Totally stole the show, lol! Great read, Rumples, I bet Helseth is gonna be pissed!

This summary account left me in stitches!


@ Rumple - Eadwyrd will finally be with Gwynabyth once again...will you do a scene where they reunite? (Or was him saying it was done for her it?) But what happened to Yagrum Bagarn? Poor guy, he is always a day late and a Septim short...or is it "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride?" I am sure one of them applies. It is not like one could make him a romantic lead after all...unless...lol. Just kidding.

It was so good to hear about your Birthday/Wedding/Honeymoon/Move finally, and I am so glad all went well. I'm still not back enough to write a poem to commemorate the occasions...well that is to say my poems usually svck anyway, but now it would be worse.


The two bureaus stood side by side,
and next to them two dressers.
Of different molding and design,
yet intimately connected
by the two as they joined their hands and hearts
bonding all their possessions into one home

The marriage was not just a uniting of love
but the history of each life joined together under one roof
the furnishings of two becoming one, sharing their spaces
to make room for the other
The forks entwined with those of the spouse
mating within the tray of silver
becoming a unit just as the couple
whose love brought them together


(You'll never look at your forks the same, will you? Lol.)

You are beloved Rumple! Congrats! <333 - Cindy

The things that happen in this chapter are the biggest reasons why this story is Alternate Reality, and has been ever since Oblivion came out. I originally intended to finish it before Oblivion's release, so it wouldn't have mattered if I was accurate or not, but... well, you can't be right all the time!

A...dragon break?


Addendum: Powerful scene between Morgiah and Helseth, that was huge...breathtaking! Barenziah coming in...Awesome finish! ...er...was it the Mantella that Morgiah found at the end? What will she do with it? It can't be the end if she has that in her hands! ARGH!


*

[JUan Martinez]

Hmmm, is that it? What abut the loose ends?

I'm afraid I miscalculated when I gave the remaining number a while back - there is one more chapter, and a short epilogue. Got to tie up the loose ends, after all!

what happened to all of this stuff?

[Allison Sizemore]

Argh, I'm so sorry guys - Ghospaw, what happened was that life got in the way! I still have a couple more posts to make; don't worry. I stupidly left it hanging again. But funny you should come back to this now, because I was just trying to touch up chapter 38 when I saw K&I was back on the front page! Great minds, eh?

Cindy, your poem is gorgeous - and very much how I feel at the moment! Enjoying the little things. My bureau and his are actually right next to eachother, and they are comically different!

Allow me to say sorry to everyone for the abandonment. The loose ends will be tied up, hopefully to your satisfaction - but then I'm only human! You may not be satisfied with my endings. If so, I would love to hear your interpretations.

I'll give myself a deadline now. One week. And that's a promise! xxxxxxxxxx

[marie breen]

Did you know, O Rumple, that I have been LOOKING AT YOUR PROFILE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK just to see if you were popping in to look at this forum every now and then (which you were) and that is why I have not messaged or emailed you???

Otherwise...if you had disappeared for more than a week, I would have inquired...

But since you were lurking, I wanted to leave you in your connubial bliss.

Ahem.

The one week countdown starts NOW.


:stare:

[lilmissparty]

If there was a table slapping smiley I'd use it, lol. We need closure (insert table slapping smiley here) DAMMIT!!!

Seriously though, glad you've promised us as much. No doubt it'll be as amazing as the rest of this story, specially since you've had so much time to polish it XD

BTW, I've been living with my girl for about a year now, scandelous american that I am, lol. But I've never been happier, looking back on the before, I can see that half my life was missing. Wish you guys all the happiness in the world

lol, heard on the radio yesterday that people in europe have been doing this for a while already, I don't feel so scandelous anymore
:(

[Bloomer]

Coincidences and synchronicity abound... I've just re-visited here for the first time in weeks to see if Rumms had treated us to a further installment. One week til publication? Huzzah! Can't wait to read it

[Camden Unglesbee]

I'm like totally running a marathon here, but I'm just here to say: the finale will be posted tomorrow as promised, and no later! I'm also going to make a new thread for it since this one is nearing 200. Booyakasha!!

[Soraya Davy]

I'm like totally running a marathon here, but I'm just here to say: the finale will be posted tomorrow as promised, and no later! I'm also going to make a new thread for it since this one is nearing 200. Booyakasha!!

YEAH !!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT !!!!!! --- ARGH !!! NOT FINALE !!!! ARGH !!!!

[Matt Bigelow]

New thread http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1121612-the-king-and-i-thread-iii/