When a story feels flat

[gunhilltrain]

I know within five-hundred words whether a story has legs. If it doesn't, I delete it. Junk can't be resurrected or polished, so I don't keep it.

I just noticed this. No matter how bad it is, I keep it on file anyway. The very first erotic thing I wrote, months before joining Lit, was completely absurd. Yet eventually, years later, I was able to use parts of it as a fantasy by one of the characters.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I flew all the way over to London, and what am I doing? Flirting on Lit! What a professional .

Em

I don't flirt on Lit because, 1. I'm too old for that; and 2. Even if wanted to, I don't know if many of these people are twenty or 4,000 miles away. I know, somebody will say it's all in fun, not a serious request for a date. Still doesn't work for me.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I just noticed this. No matter how bad it is, I keep it on file anyway. The very first erotic thing I wrote, months before joining Lit, was completely absurd. Yet eventually, years later, I was able to use parts of it as a fantasy by one of the characters.

I'm brutal with my bad writing, and don't believe in resurrection. It's easier for me to write new content - you know I'm a pantser writer, right?

This keep it, it might eventually become useful, mindset is a bit like keeping dog turds on your lawn. Eventually it might become fertiliser, but meanwhile, it's still a turd .

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'm brutal with my bad writing, and don't believe in resurrection. It's easier for me to write new content - you know I'm a pantser writer, right?

This keep it, it might eventually become useful, mindset is a bit like keeping dog turds on your lawn. Eventually it might become fertiliser, but meanwhile, it's still a turd .

I never could quite get that pantser versus planner distinction, although I see the general point of what it is. I just mentioned how I was able to re-use something old. And it was really old, and truly, completely ridiculous.

 

[Djmac1031]

I never could quite get that pantser versus planner distinction,

I think the general difference is a Planner comes up with on idea, outlines it, designs characters and locations and organizes what happens when.

And most importantly, knows exactly how it ends before they write a single word.

Meanwhile, Pantsers (like me) come up with an idea and immediately start writing.

No plan. No end game. Just write and see what happens.

Which can be fun and creative, until you get halfway in and realize: you have no idea where it's going.

I'm trying to at least have endings in mind now before I start a story. Or at least a clear path towards one.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I think the general difference is a Planner comes up with on idea, outlines it, designs characters and locations and organizes what happens when.

And most importantly, knows exactly how it ends before they write a single word.

Meanwhile, Pantsers (like me) come up with an idea and immediately start writing.

No plan. No end game. Just write and see what happens.

Which can be fun and creative, until you get halfway in and realize: you have no idea where it's going.

I'm trying to at least have endings in mind now before I start a story. Or at least a clear path towards one.

That's the way I understood it too. I think I meant that it may vary according to what I'm thinking, or it may be a combination of the two if you can understand that.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I think the general difference is a Planner comes up with on idea, outlines it, designs characters and locations and organizes what happens when.

And most importantly, knows exactly how it ends before they write a single word.

Meanwhile, Pantsers (like me) come up with an idea and immediately start writing.

No plan. No end game. Just write and see what happens.

Which can be fun and creative, until you get halfway in and realize: you have no idea where it's going.

I'm trying to at least have endings in mind now before I start a story. Or at least a clear path towards one.

I write as I go, too. Usually it works out -- unless I write myself into a corner, which I've done once or twice. I've been sitting on the conclusion for one story for quite a while because I can't decide how far to take the ending. I'll figure it out eventually. But for now, I'll work on something else.

 

[Djmac1031]

because I can't decide how fart to take the ending

I hate when that happens. It really... STINKS.

(I'm sorry, but i couldn't let that typo go.)

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I hate when that happens. It really... STINKS.

(I'm sorry, but i couldn't let that typo go.)

Guess I can't blame it on the dog, huh?

 

[gunhilltrain]

I hate when that happens. It really... STINKS.

(I'm sorry, but i couldn't let that typo go.)

Usually it's worse for a series as opposed to individual stories. I've got two on another site that - now what? For one thing, I've lost interest in them. Eventually the site will mark them as "incomplete and inactive," but that's probably going to take a while.

You'll see people, say on Lit, who haven't submitted anything in four years or so. Did they die or just move on to something else? lovecraft68 here did move on to something else.

 

[MetaBob]

I guess I should comment on some of these, and continue to hijack the thread. So there is someone else who likes the Drive-By-Truckers. I knew about The Cowboy Junkies, but I don't think I've heard them before. That's Margot Timmins? Still think that Deana Carter did it better.

A Drive-By Truckers video where the visuals consist entirely of aerial photographs. Yeah, pretty clever.

Guess I can't blame it on the dog, huh?

Redirecting my reply here where it belongs, so I don't contribute to the hijack any more than I already have.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Redirecting my reply here where it belongs, so I don't contribute to the hijack any more than I already have.

There is the "What Are You Listening To Now?" thread that has a lot (I'd have to check the number) of posts about music.

 

[MetaBob]

There is the "What Are You Listening To Now?" thread that has a lot (I'd have to check the number) of posts about music.

Click the link I provided and that is exactly where you will be directed.

 

[Voboy]

I've not read the whole thread, but in response to the title?

I've had this happen a time or two. More often than not, I know it'll be uninspiring before I finish, but I finish it anyway and then go through my usual routine of re-reading for continuity. In these cases, though, I'm also trying to figure out whether I was wrong in assuming it was flat.

Usually, I wasn't.

So I've got about 4-5 stories on my computer that are completely finished and ready to post; I gave them all my usual time and effort and I hope they're as good as anything else I've written. But they'll stay there, in most cases forever, never to see the light of day.

More often, I decide the story won't work and abandon it right there. I've got more of those, mostly about 2k words along. One or two of them, however, top 10k words or even much more. Just... if they don't have the magic, I won't publish. So I just let them sit there and rot. I'm not the kind of writer who feels comfortable overhauling an existing piece to make it better; it's quicker and easier just to start fresh. And so? I do.

 

[Djmac1031]

I've had this happen a time or two. More often than not, I know it'll be uninspiring before I finish, but I finish it anyway and then go through my usual routine of re-reading for continuity. In these cases, though, I'm also trying to figure out whether I was wrong in assuming it was flat.

Usually, I wasn't.

I let it sit for awhile, then came back to it with a fresh approach.

Edited, tweaked, added, subtracted.

I'm feeling better about it now and, while it still needs some editing, I think it's a decent story.

Decent enough to publish anyway.

We'll see what readers think after, of course.

 

[MetaBob]

I let it sit for awhile, then came back to it with a fresh approach.

Edited, tweaked, added, subtracted.

I'm feeling better about it now and, while it still needs some editing, I think it's a decent story.

Decent enough to publish anyway.

We'll see what readers think after, of course.

How long is the piece? Out of curiosity, I'm reviewing one of your other pieces now (6800 words). It's good but I've found a couple typos after reading about 70%. If your new piece is shorter than that, I would be willing to look it over and provide feedback. Typos, certainly, but also more if it didn't take long -- I'm reviewing pieces for two other people, too.

 

[Djmac1031]

How long is the piece? Out of curiosity, I'm reviewing one of your other pieces now (6800 words). It's good but I've found a couple typos after reading about 70%. If your new piece is shorter than that, I would be willing to look it over and provide feedback. Typos, certainly, but also more if it didn't take long -- I'm reviewing pieces for two other people, too.

A few words shy of 10k at the moment.

Doesn't matter how much I edit, I always seem to miss a few typos lol. Curious which one you're reading.

I still wanna work this new one a little more, but sure, if you're interested I'll think about letting you beta read it at some point, get a different view.

 

[MetaBob]

A few words shy of 10k at the moment.

Doesn't matter how much I edit, I always seem to miss a few typos lol. Curious which one you're reading.

I still wanna work this new one a little more, but sure, if you're interested I'll think about letting you beta read it at some point, get a different view.

I sent my notes using Lit's "Contact" feature from your profile, so it should appear in your site mail.

 

[Djmac1031]

I sent my notes using Lit's "Contact" feature from your profile, so it should appear in your site mail.

Sent a PM. Didn't get your message via LE.