Advice Requested

[scheherazade_79]

OK... here's the problem - I'm very very good at getting ideas for new stories and starting them, but not so good at seeing the project through to the end. I don't know what it is. Sometimes the interest just goes; other times I change so many different bits that I wreck the whole story; and other times I forget to write for a while and find that when I come back to the story, I'm not as 'in' to it as I was.

Can anyone relate to this?

More importantly, does anyone have any advice to stop this from happening?

Thanks,

Scheherazade

 

[oggbashan]

Yes.

Try to keep the idea to the bare bones and write the outline of the story from beginning to end in one session.

Then add the details, the sub-plots, the complications later. If you have the structure of the whole story finished then everything will have its proper place.

That won't stop you deciding the whole thing is a waste of effort but it might stop the false starts and the diversions.

Og

 

[scheherazade_79]

Yes.

Try to keep the idea to the bare bones and write the outline of the story from beginning to end in one session.

Then add the details, the sub-plots, the complications later. If you have the structure of the whole story finished then everything will have its proper place.

That won't stop you deciding the whole thing is a waste of effort but it might stop the false starts and the diversions.

Og

Thanks Ogg, that sounds like a very sensible suggestion. I'll give it a go this afternoon

 

[Colleen Thomas]

For me, having several works in progress is the norm. At this time oneis with my editor, 2 are completed, but still getting minor revision as people proof them for me, three are within a couple of pages from completion and eight to ten others are in various stages.

The trick for me is to have enough going so no matter what my mood when I sit to write, I have one that fits. If I am in a really raunchy mood, I have one that is raw, if I am in a lovey dovey mood, I have at least a romantic one going, Always have a couple for my various kinks, should that be my mood and I always have one or two that are in outline form only, in case I am just in a story telling mood with no specific "itch" that needs scratching.

If you have a set of them all waiting attention, you tend to be able to zone in on the one your mood best suits and can often take it to completion in a short sitting. This method does have it's drawbacks, as I occasionally end up with an abandoned orphan who's story I have forgotten, but by and large it works for me.

If a regimented approach, like the one Oggs suggests dosen't work for you, you might want to try my more scattershot approach and see if it helps.

 

[impressive]

Can anyone relate to this?

More importantly, does anyone have any advice to stop this from happening?

I do this with writing as well as with other projects (both big and small) in my life. Lots of things in the works. Few completed. About once each season, I'll get a burst of organizational energy and clean up the "to do" list. However, it *never* applies to half-finished writing projects. That moment has passed.

With writing, I have taken the following approach: I don't write a word until the idea is so fully fleshed in my mind that I can sit down and complete a draft in one or two sittings. I used to be afraid that I'd forget the idea if I didn't jot it down immediately. Instead, I've found that the really powerful ideas stay with me and evolve. Those that evaporate were perhaps better left undeveloped.

When I reach that saturation point, nothing better get between me & my computer. I bark (sometimes bite, even) if interrupted.

 

[Guest]

hiyas sweetie.
im no expert on this subject, howevah...
if you dont mind sharing the responcibility of writing a story, you might consider letting someone else read it and help with ideas. a new voice can sometimes help with the 'hump' and get you over that doldrum.
that happened with me when my mom passed. i just couldnt get through my rainy day story. i shared the story with a friend and they gave me insight... i got over that hard part and finished it.
hope it helps
huge hugs
v~

 

[Evil Alpaca]

OK... here's the problem - I'm very very good at getting ideas for new stories and starting them, but not so good at seeing the project through to the end. I don't know what it is. Sometimes the interest just goes; other times I change so many different bits that I wreck the whole story; and other times I forget to write for a while and find that when I come back to the story, I'm not as 'in' to it as I was.

Can anyone relate to this?

More importantly, does anyone have any advice to stop this from happening?

Thanks,

Scheherazade

I probably only finish one story for every four I actually start. I get an idea, start writing then realize either the story doesn't have legs or I don't know how to get there. Feel free to push something aside and start on something else if the words just aren't coming to you. Sometimes you'll see something or hear something that gives you an idea and acts as a catalyst, and then go back to the story. If nothing like that happens, maybe that particular story wasn't meant to be.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Any kind of outline or disciplined approach is death to my creativity. I don't outline or makes notes or whatever. It's all in my head. However, I only work on one story at a time. Some of them don't work, and I quit writing them and move on. But vella's idea helps me too, I have several people I run through ideas with, who give me their opinions and insight to move things along when I get stuck on an idea, or a certain scene.

I think it boils down to this: when an idea takes flight, when you're really into it, you'll write it till the end. If it doesn't, it's probably not worth doing anyway.

 

[scheherazade_79]

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone

Colly - I think I'm going to try your technique in the future when I've developed a bit more self-discipline. I love the idea of having something on the go to suit every mood!

Imp - You're right - I probably could benefit from some more thinking time before putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).

Vella - I probably do need another voice, but it'll have to be someone quite firm. I've shown half-completed stories to numerous friends in the past, and they've all given me new ideas and encouraged me to finish them. Somehow, I never do, though. So preferably it needs to be someone with a whip, knee-length leather boots, handcuffs, long hair and a sexy outfit... or is that just a sexual fantasy?



Evil Alpaca - I'll try that as well. At the moment I have regular purges of computer files, where I delete anything that hasn't been finished. Maybe I should save them in a special folder and set myself a target of finish one a month?

 

[scheherazade_79]

I think it boils down to this: when an idea takes flight, when you're really into it, you'll write it till the end. If it doesn't, it's probably not worth doing anyway.

You might be right, Carson... I hope you're not, though. If that's the case I've written a hell of a lot recently that wasn't worth writing...

 

[Evil Alpaca]

Evil Alpaca - I'll try that as well. At the moment I have regular purges of computer files, where I delete anything that hasn't been finished. Maybe I should save them in a special folder and set myself a target of finish one a month?

Unless you're really constrained on hard-drive space, don't worry about deleting them. Just put them aside and work on something that's coming more smoothly. You might suddenly be inspired to finish a work a few months down the road, or it could act as inspiration for an entirely different work. I've incoporated ideas from unfinished stories into unrelated works before. The big thing is not to force the writing if you're just not into it at the moment. I got writer's block on one series that lasted about four months. A casual conversation with a reader really got me interested in the story again and I finished parts 3-6 within a couple of months. I had just needed a break and looked back with a fresh set of eyes.

 

[woodnymph_O]

hiyas sweetie.
im no expert on this subject, howevah...
if you dont mind sharing the responcibility of writing a story, you might consider letting someone else read it and help with ideas. a new voice can sometimes help with the 'hump' and get you over that doldrum.
that happened with me when my mom passed. i just couldnt get through my rainy day story. i shared the story with a friend and they gave me insight... i got over that hard part and finished it.
hope it helps
huge hugs
v~

I have to agree with this suggestion , while working on a book I got somewhere in the middle and got stuck.I let a close family member read it and she loved it , but asked me to include one character for her please. The suggestion got me unstuck and made a book that she read like a soap opera until the end.
good luck
nymphy