I had a crazy idea just now. What if I tried to write my story backwards? Starting from the last chapter to the first. Would it work? Has anyone else tried this?

- Terra

Umm--it sounds interesting. I guess if you had a lot of time on your hands it would work. I don't know of anyone who's tried it--but go for it! =) I'd read it. Would it be read backwards or just written backwards? (I guess that's a stupid question)

eruheran

There's not really a wrong way to write a book when it comes to the order in which it is written. Some people write them straight through while other people write them in random scenes and put them together like a puzzle. Writing it backwards could, in theory at least, work.

I've never done that nor have I ever wanted to try it. The thought just boggles my mind completely! If you can manage through that, let me know!

I'm one of those people who have to start a story with Chapter 1 until end. There is no starting in the middle or writing scenes from the middle of the story. I would get way too confused.

You need your story completely thought out, chapters by chapter, scene by scene. And you couldn't deviate from your plan. When you're going forward, you can add things on the fly and let your characters lead. I personally don't have any story thought out enough to go backwards. But it sounds like an interesting challenge.

Most stories I've written were backwards. Though sometimes I start at act 2.
This method works well for mystery stories.

I like to have a full map out of mostly all that's going to happen in my mystery books, from start to finish, but I've never thought of writing them backwards. I don't think I'd be able to do it

But I think write the way that inspires you most! If it works that way for you go ahead and do it!

Cool!

Yes, I would be using tons of outlines. But I use those anyway, and seldom stray from them.

Anyhoo, I'm going to try it. Maybe it'll end in epic failure, but where would fiction be if writers didn't do a little experimenting? As Thomas Edison said: 'I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb.'

- Terra

That's a great quote.

I very frequently write the end of my story - as well as fragmented bits from the middle - before I can finish it. I get lost if I don't know where I'm going. It's not an unusual method for writers, so if it works for you, run with it!

I have a book planned that starts with an Epilogue, then Chapter 24, 23, 22, etc. and ends with a Prologue. Not only will I write it backwards, but you read it backwards too. Actually, you could read it either way. Front to back or back to front, since the back is really the beginning of the story and the front is the end.

And I always write stories out of order. If I have a scene vivid in my imagination, I write it, even if it's the very end of a book I just started.

I want to read that book, Luke!!!

Anyway, I read a script that was written backwards. It was the coolest thing. It won the 168 contest and rightfully too! The last scene was the first scene and then you saw the scene just before the scene you had just seen and then the scene before that, etc. It was wild!

Anyway, let us know how it works! I think it would help a lot with plot holes since you know where you're going and just backtracking to get there.

A definite challenge!

I would start it now; I have pretty much all my ideas in place. But I have eight novels in progress and two co-written ones...