Fighting to finish a story

[whisperman71]

For those of you out there who have written and posted stories particularly long ones how do you combat loosing your way while writing? I can start off with stories that I like but find myself getting stuck in the middle of a story and not being able to write a satisfactory middle portion of a story. I can start a story and I know how I want a story to end but I just don't like how the middle of my stories play out. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get past this? Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[RejectReality]

Walk away for a while.

For me, fighting a troublesome story like that only makes it more difficult. Write something else, if you still have an itch that can produce other ( perhaps shorter, less involved ) stories.

Muse about that troublesome tale when you have time. For me, that's at work, where most of the time my brain isn't even involved. I've been doing the job for so long that I can do it on auto-pilot most of the time -- especially first thing in the morning.

While you're taking a step back from it, open it every so often and read it from the beginning. Sometimes that will spark a breakthrough.

Don't try to force it. When you're ready to write it, you'll know.

 

[sr71plt]

I let the middle of my stories worry about themselves. If I have a beginning and some idea of a hook and twist ending, I just start writing. And the stories work themselves out in the middle. Sometimes when I get to the end, I find I need to go back to the middle and beef a thread or two up, but I don't worry about it. I just do it.

 

[RoyceConnors]

For those of you out there who have written and posted stories particularly long ones how do you combat loosing your way while writing? I can start off with stories that I like but find myself getting stuck in the middle of a story and not being able to write a satisfactory middle portion of a story. I can start a story and I know how I want a story to end but I just don't like how the middle of my stories play out. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get past this? Thanks for your suggestions.

This is the time to create drama and conflict, or the substance of your story's category. What do you want your characters doing? Develop your characters and get reader involvement in them, so they can relate to them. Action helps carry it through the storyline, while the plot plays out. These things will help fill out the body of your story.

 

[HeyAll]

When I come up with a story, and I'm stuck, I think of it like hacking a lock. You know, you turn the thing slowly and wait for it to click. Basically I keep thinking of the next logical step until I hear that click, and until that lightbulb goes off in my head. If there's no lightbulb, I just keep on thinking.

Sometimes I'll have a story idea for the middle, and I'll work forwards and backwards. If I want to write a story about a hardworking woman who becomes attracted to her female intern, I'll think "Okay, how does this come about? Why? What are the circumstances? Who makes the first move?" ect...

Keep on thinking of different scenarios to make it realistic, and don't stop thinking until you love the idea.

And like I always say, imagine your story like it's a movie or tv show.

 

[sr71plt]

P.S. when I find I'm fighting to do anything in writing erotica for pleasure, I just stop and go do something else until I no longer feel like I'm fighting with it, but, rather, that I can't stay away from it. I have two summer contest stories in mind, for instance, but they are fighting with me. So I'm doing other things. Either they stop fighting and want to be written or I just won't have them for the contest. It doesn't really matter. This isn't like needing to take the next breath.

 

[slyc_willie]

One of the worst things you can do to a story is force it out. Don't make yourself write it, otherwise you'll resent doing so and the result will be crap.

I have a few unfinished stories on my computer right now. One of them has been languishing for a few years, but I still think about it now and then. Eventually, I know I'll finish it. But I'm not going to make myself do it.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

I don't start writing until I know where I'm going and how I'm going to get there. Some of my concepts have sat around for years waiting for the route to work itself out. On the occasions where I get stuck due to unexpected detours, I skip ahead and write the next part that I can write, and then go back later and fix the part that doesn't work or go where it needs to go.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

When I come up with a story, and I'm stuck, I think of it like hacking a lock. You know, you turn the thing slowly and wait for it to click. Basically I keep thinking of the next logical step until I hear that click, and until that lightbulb goes off in my head. If there's no lightbulb, I just keep on thinking.

Sometimes I'll have a story idea for the middle, and I'll work forwards and backwards. If I want to write a story about a hardworking woman who becomes attracted to her female intern, I'll think "Okay, how does this come about? Why? What are the circumstances? Who makes the first move?" ect...

Keep on thinking of different scenarios to make it realistic, and don't stop thinking until you love the idea.

And like I always say, imagine your story like it's a movie or tv show.

LOVING IT is the key term. Everyone knows when its THAT good, so write till its THAT good.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I always have a bazillion irons in the fire, cuz my noodle cranks out ideas all the time. Most suck but a few are good, and I salt the good ideas away till I find a use for them. Like PILOT I don't fight my muse or quarrel with the tale.

 

[BSSHD]

I second "Walk away for a while."

You also should get yourself in the mood for what you're writing when you try again. Writing a horror story? Watch a horror film or two to get you in the right mindset for that genre. Writing a comedy? Watch some comedies. Or read some funny books or stories here on Lit you like.

Right now I'm having a slight problem writing a second chapter but I've just started making progress again from essentially doing the above.

P.S. I don't think it's necessarily bad to force out writing just as long as you leave that for a while and come back to fix it. When you force something out it will be rubbish but coming back to it later can help you salvage some solid concepts, ideas, and inspiration for better work.

 

[_Lynn_]

I toss it into a folder and move on to something new. I can always go back later and try again.

But not all ideas will become stories even if they seem like they should at the time. Just look for another idea and start over.

 

[Ironiclaconic]

For those of you out there who have written and posted stories particularly long ones how do you combat loosing your way while writing? I can start off with stories that I like but find myself getting stuck in the middle of a story and not being able to write a satisfactory middle portion of a story. I can start a story and I know how I want a story to end but I just don't like how the middle of my stories play out. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get past this? Thanks for your suggestions.

If I know the beginning and the end and can't figure out the middle, it has always been a problem of characterization. I wrote my characters in a way that they don't want to get to the end. They are too smart to be fooled, or have too much self-respect to find themselves in that situation.

My usual solution is to add a layer of conflict that compels them forward. Guilt, revenge, seduction, etc.

But it's easier said than done. Raymond Chandler used to say that whenever he got stuck he had someone barge in with a gun. So there is that. Maybe on Lit a deranged naked ex girlfriend is better.

 

[TE999]

I'm with the 'leave it and walk away' crowd. Go back to it when the muse calls to you and not before. If you do push yourself to write something, more often than not you'll be rereading/editing it and think "Damn, this sucks."

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

If I know the beginning and the end and can't figure out the middle, it has always been a problem of characterization. I wrote my characters in a way that they don't want to get to the end. They are too smart to be fooled, or have too much self-respect to find themselves in that situation.

My usual solution is to add a layer of conflict that compels them forward. Guilt, revenge, seduction, etc.

But it's easier said than done. Raymond Chandler used to say that whenever he got stuck he had someone barge in with a gun. So there is that. Maybe on Lit a deranged naked ex girlfriend is better.

Yep Chandler used thugs with guns a lot. Or naked girls with guns. Or dead bodies.

The secret, I think, is the internal conflict most of experience when part of us wants one thing, and part of us wants something else.

 

[xelliebabex]

I have a chronic case of writing opened stories that beg for completion. More and more of my comments look like this:

. . . and Cities of Power. Will you be finishing those stories also, because I don't want to start reading this one if you aren't going to finish it to. I don't mean to be rude but I like your stories and would enjoy reading the rest of them.

The truth is my mind wanders easily and i often think its too immature be out there wandering around on its own. I have really enjoyed the challenge of survivor and entering the contests and can come up with stories I just have trouble ending them without leaving loose ends so i can go back if i like at a later date to add another chapter.

My advice to you would be to chop your stories up into manageable smaller chapters and just keep writing long beginnings for each chapter rather than worrying about middles and endings. Breaking into chapters also has the effect of being able to jump over a particularly troublesome moment in time with just alluding to it.

I am a rank amateur compared to most of the advice you are getting but that is my way and it works for me as I am a little hyperactive/adhd and lacking focus.

Good luck with your writing, don't give up on the stories you have to tell.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

A wonderful primer for WHAT NOW, BOSS? moments is David Morrell's FIRST BLOOD, the Rambo novel. Its superior to the movie in every way, because John Rambo must constantly confront immediate threats and surprises. And he's not a nice guy, he's a killing genius. Its an excellent reference to see how a writer keeps tightening the screws and moving the story to its climax.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I have a chronic case of writing opened stories that beg for completion. More and more of my comments look like this:



The truth is my mind wanders easily and i often think its too immature be out there wandering around on its own. I have really enjoyed the challenge of survivor and entering the contests and can come up with stories I just have trouble ending them without leaving loose ends so i can go back if i like at a later date to add another chapter.

My advice to you would be to chop your stories up into manageable smaller chapters and just keep writing long beginnings for each chapter rather than worrying about middles and endings. Breaking into chapters also has the effect of being able to jump over a particularly troublesome moment in time with just alluding to it.

I am a rank amateur compared to most of the advice you are getting but that is my way and it works for me as I am a little hyperactive/adhd and lacking focus.

Good luck with your writing, don't give up on the stories you have to tell.

Thanks for the plot bunny! I found a cool plot bunny in your post.

 

[49greg]

I'm with the "leave it alone and come back later" crowd. I usually go on to something else, I have quite a few story ideas written down, and several stories working. Most I know won't get finished but working on one or another will let my brain will work it out subconsciously and I'll get an idea. I also get ideas when I'm doing something like walking the dog.

Another author wrote an essay with ideas for getting un-stuck. Her name is damppanties and here is the url of her essay: http://www.literotica.com/s/cure-for-writers-block

Good luck.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I trashed some unfinished stories today after I had some epiphanies about writing.

Crap.

The revelations seem wonderful, and it remains to be seen if readers feel the same.

 

[RoyceConnors]

Time to do notes first on your stories. Start with the idea of the story and the plotline. Flesh it out, so you have an idea how it's supposed to play out through the story. Develop twists and turns throughout, keeping the suspense in it. Next, work on character development, giving each one traits and personalities. Don't forget about faults, we all have them.
Dialogue is a bitch to get right, so create plausible interaction between everyone and above all, remain consistent in continuity. If she's Joyce at the start, she should be throughout, same as any details you create. Readers will fault you hard on that.
Work on those and your stories will be easier to write after the beginning.

 

[sr71plt]

Must . . . go . . . finish . . . the . . . story.

 

[TxRad]

Must . . . go . . . finish . . . the . . . story.

Which... one... I have three under construction at the moment. All open and I'm bouncing back and forth between them. As one falters I move to the next.

 

[sr71plt]

Which... one... I have three under construction at the moment. All open and I'm bouncing back and forth between them. As one falters I move to the next.

I just submitted the GM one for the summer contest. I'm pushing to finish a "deep" one (probably EC, but I'm sooo tempted to put it in LW) that popped into my head yesterday morning--pushing out two others that weren't developing well in the old noggin.

Neither will be popular, but they'll post fast and maybe bring in a few more readers of my stuff.

 

[whisperman71]

Thanks for all the great advice. I think I will just let the story stew in my mind for a few weeks and hopefully something good will brew up. Thanks again!