How do you stay focused on one story?

[Jessicathe69]

How do you stay focused on one story when you may have a half-dozen stories forming in your head? Right now I have four that I've started typing out in Word - and it's been so much fun doing that - but I've got four or more I've got started in my head and nothing seems to be happening on screen right now.

Any positive and helpful advice from seasoned writers?

 

[Jada59]

Maybe I'm the odd one out but when I'm writing a story, there are no other stories on my mind. Just the one I'm writing.

 

[Jessicathe69]

Maybe I'm the odd one out but when I'm writing a story, there are no other stories on my mind. Just the one I'm writing.

Thanks. The question is "how do you get there?"

 

[dankmemez]

I come up with themes, or short descriptions of what the story entails. A few sentences, and are basically like 'pitches'.

Diminutive brunette fox, after her rough upbringing and abusive mother, finally moves out of home and explores college life. She finds that she is not alone among her classmates in having a rough history, and learns about the tender love a man can bring.

Just come up with a bunch of these, then start to think about what seems the most interesting to explore.

Do I want to explore how a character would feel and what their love life would be like after a hostile home? Would they be very shy and vulnerable, or would they try and compensate by being very forward and out there, to feel beautiful because their mother always told them how worthless they were?

My own style is character driven stories. There is a goal of personal growth and change, and the person at the end is not the same as at the beginning.

Maybe it turns out you really like sexual awakening stories, a woman escaped from Saudi Arabia and the oppressive ideas on sexuality, who starts off ashamed of her impulses but grows to accept them. She goes out of control and runs wild, but then accepts a raw sexuality that doesn't get out of hand, to find real love and happiness?

Writers disagree about whether a story is created or discovered. I like to think that if you create a story and plot, you run the risk of forcing your characters to act in ways to move the plot. Whereas if you focus on the characters, the plot is contingent on them, and it helps make really nuanced, realistic characters.

If you're not sold on one story, keep coming up with ideas and pitches until one just grabs you and you scream "I WANT TO EXPLORE WHAT HAPPENS!"

 

[Jada59]

Thanks. The question is "how do you get there?"

I guess I don't understand what you're asking. I just naturally get there. I start a story and finish it. Most of what I wrote here was written in a few hours. I did start a novel (not suitable for here) that I am still working on but at the rate I'm going I may never finish it. It started off well but I'm not sure where I'm going with it now.

 

[TxRad]

As someone with 300 or 400 stories started... I don't understand the question.

 

[Jessicathe69]

I come up with themes, or short descriptions of what the story entails. A few sentences, and are basically like 'pitches'.

Diminutive brunette fox, after her rough upbringing and abusive mother, finally moves out of home and explores college life. She finds that she is not alone among her classmates in having a rough history, and learns about the tender love a man can bring.

Just come up with a bunch of these, then start to think about what seems the most interesting to explore.

Do I want to explore how a character would feel and what their love life would be like after a hostile home? Would they be very shy and vulnerable, or would they try and compensate by being very forward and out there, to feel beautiful because their mother always told them how worthless they were?

My own style is character driven stories. There is a goal of personal growth and change, and the person at the end is not the same as at the beginning.

Maybe it turns out you really like sexual awakening stories, a woman escaped from Saudi Arabia and the oppressive ideas on sexuality, who starts off ashamed of her impulses but grows to accept them. She goes out of control and runs wild, but then accepts a raw sexuality that doesn't get out of hand, to find real love and happiness?

Writers disagree about whether a story is created or discovered. I like to think that if you create a story and plot, you run the risk of forcing your characters to act in ways to move the plot. Whereas if you focus on the characters, the plot is contingent on them, and it helps make really nuanced, realistic characters.

If you're not sold on one story, keep coming up with ideas and pitches until one just grabs you and you scream "I WANT TO EXPLORE WHAT HAPPENS!"

Thank you for that detailed and thoughtful reply. That's a lot to soak in but I think I get what you're saying.

The first story I started, I started with an outline. I actually wrote out the outline in Word, bolding and underlining the actual outlines, with the plan and idea to come back and "fill in" along the way, not necessarily in order.

The next story I started, I just sat down and started and I loved doing that. I got to explore each character as I went and that seemed natural and right for me. Same thing with the second story except it hasn't taken on the same energy - yet - as the first, but I'm sure it will get there in time.

Recently, I've been thinking of and developing and outlining stories strictly in my head and I think that may be the problem and slight frustration I'm feeling this evening -- not being able to concentrate, as I need to, on one story line enough to actually sit down and run with one.

I suppose everyone experiences that at some point, maybe just a rookie mistake on my part?

Thanks again!

edit: corrected typoes

 

[ChloeTzang]

How do you stay focused on one story when you may have a half-dozen stories forming in your head? Right now I have four that I've started typing out in Word - and it's been so much fun doing that - but I've got four or more I've got started in my head and nothing seems to be happening on screen right now.

Any positive and helpful advice from seasoned writers?

I find a drop dead target is the best, because I understand exactly where you're coming from and that's what I'm like. Looking back at the last couple of years, I've written about three or four times as much as I've submitted on Literotica or had published and it's largely lack of focus. An idea pops up, I get distracted, I write three or four stories at the same time, bounce from one to the other and have a difficult time finishing any of them.

A competition deadline helps. I wrote my Winter Holidays story and managed to stay on track for that one. I wrote one for the publisher after that, with a deadline, and stayed focused on that until it was done. I started two for the Valentines Day competition and I've focused in on one of those and stayed focused because to hit Jan 21st, I need to write!!! Write write write. After that I have a two novels to get to the publisher.

My New Years resolution was to make a writing plan and stick closely to it. Not fanatically, but closely, and so far I'm close. I find that month by month plan really helps. I've planned my writing out to the end of the year and my promise to myself is that each month, I will write one short story for Lit, one novel for the publisher and put an existing story up on Wattpad. It's aggressive and a lot of the Lit stories are targeted for the competitions or events. I want to get one story in each right thru the year, plus complete 10-12 novels.

It's aggressive and I have to push myself, but those targets are, so far, helping me stay really focused and not letting myself get side-tracked.

 

[dankmemez]

Thank you for that detailed and thoughtful reply. That's a lot to soak in but I think I get what you're saying.

The first story I started, I started with an outline. I actually wrote out the outline in Word, bolding and underlining the actual outlines, with the plan and idea to come back and "fill in" along the way, not necessarily in order.

The next story I started, I just sat down and started and I loved doing that. I got to explore each character as I went and that seemed natural and right for me. Same thing with the second story except it hasn't taken on the same energy - yet - as the first, but I'm sure it will get there in time.

Recently, I've been thinking of and developing and outlining stories strictly in my head and I think that may be the problem and slight frustration I'm feeling this evening -- not being able to concentrate, as I need to, on one story line enough to actually sit down and run with one.

I suppose everyone experiences that at some point, maybe just a rookie mistake on my part?

Thanks again!

edit: corrected typoes

Some writers do better with structure than others. If you find an idea you like, perhaps avoid making a rigid structure for it.

I mean... even if you were to use structure, the only things you may need to know are the beginning and end, that's it. Explore the character and let it weave a little bit, and see how you arrive at the ending.

The irony is that creative people are interesting in EVERYTHING, so it's sometimes hard to sit down and work on a single thing.

Having started on my idea, I've worked in enough detail and worldbuilding so that's there's almost always something new to explore, and it keeps it very fresh. Can't imagine coming up with another idea until I finish this one.

 

[NotWise]

How do you stay focused on one story when you may have a half-dozen stories forming in your head? Right now I have four that I've started typing out in Word - and it's been so much fun doing that - but I've got four or more I've got started in my head and nothing seems to be happening on screen right now.

Quite a few authors don't. They switch from story to story as the ideas become fresh.

Myself, I have a hard time doing that. It might be my lack of experience, but I want to write one story to its end before I move on to the next. I have one story in progress, but I have ideas for two more and they keep stealing my research time.

 

[Jessicathe69]

I guess I don't understand what you're asking. I just naturally get there. I start a story and finish it. Most of what I wrote here was written in a few hours. I did start a novel (not suitable for here) that I am still working on but at the rate I'm going I may never finish it. It started off well but I'm not sure where I'm going with it now.

Thanks again. I'm thinking I need to figure out my natural writing style, and for lack of a better term "procedure", as I have yet to actually finish a story. The one I've made the most progress on is right at 5.5K words and that happened in three sittings but none of late. That particular story may wind up being 10-15K or more and I plan [hope!] to make an ongoing series out of. Fleshing out that story in my head, plus four or more different story outlines in my head of late, just has me a little frustrated at the Word keyboard tonight.

Just out of curiosity, what does your typical story length run?

 

[Jessicathe69]

I find a drop dead target is the best, because I understand exactly where you're coming from and that's what I'm like. Looking back at the last couple of years, I've written about three or four times as much as I've submitted on Literotica or had published and it's largely lack of focus. An idea pops up, I get distracted, I write three or four stories at the same time, bounce from one to the other and have a difficult time finishing any of them.

A competition deadline helps. I wrote my Winter Holidays story and managed to stay on track for that one. I wrote one for the publisher after that, with a deadline, and stayed focused on that until it was done. I started two for the Valentines Day competition and I've focused in on one of those and stayed focused because to hit Jan 21st, I need to write!!! Write write write. After that I have a two novels to get to the publisher.

My New Years resolution was to make a writing plan and stick closely to it. Not fanatically, but closely, and so far I'm close. I find that month by month plan really helps. I've planned my writing out to the end of the year and my promise to myself is that each month, I will write one short story for Lit, one novel for the publisher and put an existing story up on Wattpad. It's aggressive and a lot of the Lit stories are targeted for the competitions or events. I want to get one story in each right thru the year, plus complete 10-12 novels.

It's aggressive and I have to push myself, but those targets are, so far, helping me stay really focused and not letting myself get side-tracked.

Thank you! That sounds like solid and well fought for advise. Thanks for sharing with the rookie!

 

[Jessicathe69]

Some writers do better with structure than others. If you find an idea you like, perhaps avoid making a rigid structure for it.

I mean... even if you were to use structure, the only things you may need to know are the beginning and end, that's it. Explore the character and let it weave a little bit, and see how you arrive at the ending.

The irony is that creative people are interesting in EVERYTHING, so it's sometimes hard to sit down and work on a single thing.

Having started on my idea, I've worked in enough detail and worldbuilding so that's there's almost always something new to explore, and it keeps it very fresh. Can't imagine coming up with another idea until I finish this one.

Thanks! Along with the other stories in my head, I've been continiously fleshing out the ongoing 5.5k story as well, so I have the beginning (5.5k) already and I know now where I want it to end for the what I hope is just the beginning ebook in the series.

Yes, I'm finding it difficult tonight to sit down and focus on one story, but I loved the energy when starting the 5.5k story and I want to get back to that. I love the flow and weaving and unexpected turns in the character development, apart and together, including working in history for each, so I need to FOCUS and get back to that.

Thanks again!

 

[Jessicathe69]

Quite a few authors don't. They switch from story to story as the ideas become fresh.

Myself, I have a hard time doing that. It might be my lack of experience, but I want to write one story to its end before I move on to the next. I have one story in progress, but I have ideas for two more and they keep stealing my research time.

Thanks, I hear ya'!

 

[Jessicathe69]

As someone with 300 or 400 stories started... I don't understand the question.

....

 

[Jessicathe69]

Oh, and the 5.5k story I've got started hasn't even got to the sex part yet. That may be another 5.5k or more away... and that's both intimidating and exciting.

 

[dankmemez]

From memory, the great writers force themselves to write. They enforce strict limits on what they'll work on and how many words they'll type. Make it very low so it doesn't seem intimidating, 100 words a day or so. You'll find that you easily reach that and keep going, and it helps fuel your motivation.

Stephen King, aims to write every single day. That's his routine, he demands he write 2000 words per day. A new writer could aim for 1000 words per day, and stick to it as much as possible.

As Stephen says, writing is telling the story for yourself. Re-writing is removing everything that is not the story. Far easier to spot errors and improve upon 1000 crummy words than try and write 500 perfect words that need no redrafting.

 

[Jada59]

Thanks again. I'm thinking I need to figure out my natural writing style, and for lack of a better term "procedure", as I have yet to actually finish a story. The one I've made the most progress on is right at 5.5K words and that happened in three sittings but none of late. That particular story may wind up being 10-15K or more and I plan [hope!] to make an ongoing series out of. Fleshing out that story in my head, plus four or more different story outlines in my head of late, just has me a little frustrated at the Word keyboard tonight.

Just out of curiosity, what does your typical story length run?

Mine are pretty short. 1-3 pages. I have written novels though. Just not here.

 

[ElectricBlue]

How do you stay focused on one story when you may have a half-dozen stories forming in your head?

For me, it's discipline. I allow myself one major work-in-progress and no more than one side project (which can, temporarily, take over - one went out to 32,000 words last year so I just kept writing, knowing the main project was parked up for a reason).

Any other ideas (I have about four years worth at my current writing rate, last time I listed them) remain just that, ideas in my head. I don't do multiple starts, and if something hasn't put its hooks in in the first thousand words, I know it never will, and I'll ditch it.

Most of 2018 I spent writing one big thing (103,000 words) - when I started out I had an overall arc to get through (retelling a myth) but no idea how I would get there, nor how long it would be, so I said to myself, finish before you publish the first chapter. That's the other side of discipline, to wait until something is properly done, before publishing.

 

[KeithD]

I'm Germanic. I almost always stick with the story I'm working on to the end. I don't require that it be polished, though, just fully drafted. If another story is really bugging me, I can then go and get a draft of that one done. On rare occasion, I'll be so bugged by a story I'm not then writing that I'll stop and let it play through. I rarely ever (well, never) don't finish polishing and publishing any story/book I start, though. What saves me, I think, is that as soon as I have a story/book to write I mark it down (along with what phase it's in: write/review/edit [by my editor]/cleanup/publish [or book or submit, depending on where it's going]) on a "Writing Progress Status" list, so it isn't lost.

 

[Jessicathe69]

From memory, the great writers force themselves to write. They enforce strict limits on what they'll work on and how many words they'll type. Make it very low so it doesn't seem intimidating, 100 words a day or so. You'll find that you easily reach that and keep going, and it helps fuel your motivation.

Stephen King, aims to write every single day. That's his routine, he demands he write 2000 words per day. A new writer could aim for 1000 words per day, and stick to it as much as possible.

As Stephen says, writing is telling the story for yourself. Re-writing is removing everything that is not the story. Far easier to spot errors and improve upon 1000 crummy words than try and write 500 perfect words that need no redrafting.

Love that, thanks!

 

[Jessicathe69]

Mine are pretty short. 1-3 pages. I have written novels though. Just not here.

My 5.5k story I have started is at 12 pages at the moment. That may be my problem that initiated this thread , but that's more my style... I think.

 

[Jessicathe69]

For me, it's discipline. I allow myself one major work-in-progress and no more than one side project (which can, temporarily, take over - one went out to 32,000 words last year so I just kept writing, knowing the main project was parked up for a reason).

Any other ideas (I have about four years worth at my current writing rate, last time I listed them) remain just that, ideas in my head. I don't do multiple starts, and if something hasn't put its hooks in in the first thousand words, I know it never will, and I'll ditch it.

Most of 2018 I spent writing one big thing (103,000 words) - when I started out I had an overall arc to get through (retelling a myth) but no idea how I would get there, nor how long it would be, so I said to myself, finish before you publish the first chapter. That's the other side of discipline, to wait until something is properly done, before publishing.

Good advice, thanks!

 

[AlexCLawrence]

My 5.5k story I have started is at 12 pages at the moment. That may be my problem that initiated this thread , but that's more my style... I think.

Wonder if they're talking about Literotica pages or word doc pages.

3 Literotica pages are about 9000 words.

 

[Jessicathe69]

I'm Germanic. I almost always stick with the story I'm working on to the end. I don't require that it be polished, though, just fully drafted. If another story is really bugging me, I can then go and get a draft of that one done. On rare occasion, I'll be so bugged by a story I'm not then writing that I'll stop and let it play through. I rarely ever (well, never) don't finish polishing and publishing any story/book I start, though. What saves me, I think, is that as soon as I have a story/book to write I mark it down (along with what phase it's in: write/review/edit [by my editor]/cleanup/publish [or book or submit, depending on where it's going]) on a "Writing Progress Status" list, so it isn't lost.

Thanks, good advice!

I think one of my problems, looking ahead, is my main story I have in process right now (and I like your WPS list idea) is that it's a one and done but I hope a continuous series with the main character meeting new characters down the road and continuously evolving in her sexuality and personality. That's going on in my head.

The second main story in my head is an overall idea/concept that will involve different characters introduced into the situation in their own story, other prior stories sometimes weaving in and out of future stories. Plus there's the possibility of "prequels".

I just have to many things going on in my head and I need to get a game-plan and focus.