Repetition

dwellerofthedeep · Sep 6, 2008

Recently, in my journey to finish three novels this year, I have begun to feel somewhat bored by my own words. The stories I'm telling still excite me, but when delivered to the page I don't see them the way I want them to be. I've had some trouble with repetitive actions, and characters that sometimes felt too similar before now, and have been working to counteract that.

Has anyone else run into this problem?

I want to keep things original, and not write the same book 3 times, or 30 times. If anyone has any ideas on what to do to spice things up a little, I'd love to hear them.

dpaterso · Sep 6, 2008

Other than saying I've experienced the same problem, and giving you a virtual sympathetic pat on the shoulder, I'm afraid I've nothing much to contribute. I've pretty much abandoned stories and half-novels when the same "been here before, often" feeling came upon me, and I couldn't think of a way out of the ditch.

-Derek

dwellerofthedeep · Sep 6, 2008

Ouch, I don't want to ditch, but thanks for the sympathy. This is my newest frustration with writing and it could well spin into something truly dark and depressing.

mlhernandez · Sep 6, 2008

This happens to me every now and then. I'll usually just take a break from writing for a few days or a week. If I can't put away the pen or avoid the keyboard, I'll dabble in a different genre or whip up some fanfic or write something fluffy and fun.

Usually that's all it takes. I can then return to my old work renewed and refreshed.

Hope this helps!

Phoebe H · Sep 6, 2008

When you have a particular theme that speaks deeply to you, I believe that you can be doomed to keep writing it over and over until you figure out what you are trying to tell yourself.

So I think that avoiding writing the story can just draw the process out.

Carmy · Sep 6, 2008

Try writing in a different genre. If you write SF, for example, try a romance, or vice versa. Have a shot at a children's picture book. Anything that's new and different can give you a jolt that often helps.

Histry Nerd · Sep 6, 2008

Hey, Dweller -

I'll second what Carmy said. Write in a different genre. You could also try changing your routine: if you normally write by the seat of your pants, try putting an outline together or vice versa. Write in the morning instead of at night. Write in a different room, or split up your writing time into chunks.

You might also try reading outside your comfort zone: if you normally like thrillers or SFF, try a historical or a mystery. Or dust off that copy of Melville or Dumas or Austen you've been meaning to read, and actually read it (a technique I've been using quite a bit recently).

If you are writing the same thing over and over, change something unrelated to your WIP and see what happens. Unless of course your name is Cussler or Johanssen, and you're making big bucks recycling the same one or two formulas. Then you might just raise your glass and think fondly of the rest of us....

For what it's worth.
HN

JoNightshade · Sep 6, 2008

For me, when things start getting dull and repetitive, or just seem BLAH, it's usually because I'm in my own head rather than the POV character's. I have to spend some time doing something like walking, lying on the bed, sweeping, whatever - while I mentally insert myself into the character. Don't think "what comes next?" - instead, think, "How do I, [insert character name] think and feel right now? Where am I going from here? What do I want?"

CynicalRyan · Sep 6, 2008

dwellerofthedeep said:
I want to keep things original, and not write the same book 3 times, or 30 times. If anyone has any ideas on what to do to spice things up a little, I'd love to hear them.

In addition to what the others said: Expose yourself to something new. Read an urban fantasy novel. Watch a French movie. Read a Superman comic. Play a first person shooter. Anything, as long as it is new to you.

dwellerofthedeep · Sep 7, 2008

I had another reply, then I closed the window halfway through, so I'll see what I remember.

Good ideas everybody, thanks!

I'm currently on a tight schedule so taking a break isn't really an option (Even a few days off would mean writing double time, and I barely have enough as it is). Normally I'd try this, though.

I think I'll try blending some more of a Romance into this (A Post-Apoc Fantasy Western... or something like that). Romance being the genre I tend to shy away from at times.

I really do need to get closer to my characters, so special thanks to JoNightShade for reminding me.

I like many of the tropes, themes, and techniques I work with, so it's sometimes hard to let them go.

Thanks everyone, I had a feeling you AbsoluteWriters wouldn't let me down.

RJK · Sep 7, 2008

Dweller,
Be careful. If you feel that your characters are 'just going through the same old paces', your readers will pick up on it too. I've seen this while reading some series novels. As a reader, I can see where the author became bored and I become bored with the story right along with him.

I've only encountered this problem once. When it happened, I introduced a new character for my MC to interact with. This made it impossible for him to repeat the 'same old'. I think it's necessary to shake up your scenes when you encounter this problem. Don't let the writing fall into a rut. Your readers will see it and they won't like it.

Histry Nerd · Sep 7, 2008

Thought of something else.

Write a summary of your plot--from the POV of your antagonist, or of a minor character. Might help jar something loose.

Good luck!
HN

2Wheels · Sep 7, 2008

Advice to take with a big pinch of salt, 'cos I don't know nuthin':

Outline ahead of time. Catch the repetitive spots before you reach them.
Keep a thesaurus on hand. Sometimes just encountering a new word for something you're trying to describe can send you down a different path.
Change POV. Even if you don't write the other POV, just contemplating it for a while may give you some insight and inspire.

stuckupmyownera · Sep 7, 2008

Dwellerofthedeep,

I was just wondering why you're on such a tight schedule. Who is imposing the deadline on you?

Over on another part of this forum there is a guy who sets himself ludicrous amounts of work to complete within six months, a year, whatever, and frankly, all his work is utter tripe (he already knows I think that - don't worry!). We keep telling him quality is better than quantity, and he should focus on making it readable and enjoyable, not just getting more and more on paper. Yet he persists with more deadlines, more arrogance, and more crap...

This may not be the case with you at all, of course, but I just thought it might be valuable food for thought. That is, if the deadline is self-imposed, consider that it may not necessarily be best to stick to it at all costs.

Good luck

dwellerofthedeep · Sep 7, 2008

Good advice everyone!

I wish I knew what to say to all of it at once, but I don't so I'll reply to each individiually.

RJK - I really am worried about what you're talking about. That is why I started this thread. I will be careful, but 1500 words every day is still the deadline I go for.

Histry Nerd - That is an awesome idea! In fact I think that's an idea with a capital "I". I thought it over. The antagonists this time around haven't been up to much, really, this time around. It had to do with them being cloaked in secrecy from the reader, but I love writing from the antagonists POV.

2Wheels - All good ideas. I did a bunch of outlining in preparation for starting this long run to the finish for the year. I don't own a thesaurus, but I can use the internet for that if I get stuck. Actually, I find I change POV more and more as I run out of things to do with the main characters.

stuckupmyownera - I lose 100 bucks if I don't finish these 3 rough drafts by the end of the year. That isn't so much, but I get 100 if I do finish them. The whole bet got started early in the year. I had 274,000 words to write when I was done outlining before summer. I still have 150,000 or so left, but this rate doesn't strain me, as much as the work I do the rest of the day. Perhaps the problem is that all the novels I have in the works are in similar genre, you know? The oldest one is Near-future Military Sci-fi/horror/high-school drama... featuring shapeshifters. The second one is basically my own modern-tech-level fantasy setting. Both of those two are over half complete, but I'm spending September developing an episode fantasy/post-apocalyptic story, which has a fair number of wild west tropes... and fairies that took over the world.

Having written out the genres there, I think the only things they all have heavily in common is that they are violent to one extent or another, they all involve superhuman abilities in some role, and they all blend genres.

Thanks again for all the advice!

Repetition

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