Starting a new novel...again

Chachant · Dec 4, 2008

As luck would have it, as soon as I joined these forums that I've lurked for so long and made a few posts...I lost my writing flair. I don't know if it was writer's block or not, but it was probably the worst I've ever had it -- I just wasn't with it. I didn't even want to look at any writing tips/forums/you name it.

Anyhow, I'm starting to get that flair back -- but I think I might know why it went away in the first place. The first novel I wrote was 150,000 words, which I, of course, thought was a great read. It wasn't. It was trash, really. So, I chalked that up as an excellent learning experience and started with my second book, and that's where everything kind of went downhill. My procrastination with writing that book went to an all-time high, I could never get a solid plot direction going with it and it just seemed like the whole premise was in a fog. I had some good ideas of what to do and where to go with it, but I could never get myself in the mood to write it like I did my first novel.

Fast forward to tonight: I want to go in a new direction with the book. I have some solid ideas now that I can work with, a more creative flow going and most importantly: I have that need to write back. But here's my question...do you think I should start over? Instead of going back, doing a massive reform of several chapters -- should I just give myself a clean slate? I'm leaning towards yes, because that way I can start anew and form ideas from the beginning again, instead of creating massive confusion with all the changes I'd have to make.

Sounds like a logical decision to start over, it's just so difficult after spending almost a year on something to throw it away.

Hillgate · Dec 4, 2008

Don't procrastinate - just write! Pound your keyboard til your fingers bleed.

It's 'flair' by the way

Chachant · Dec 4, 2008

Hillgate said:
Don't procrastinate - just write! Pound your keyboard til your fingers bleed.

It's 'flair' by the way

Ack. That's what I get for posting something at 3:30 am.

Viral · Dec 4, 2008

Write, write, write!

I started a new project yesterday as well. Just keep swimming

Hillgate · Dec 4, 2008

Chachant said:
Ack. That's what I get for posting something at 3:30 am.

I can think of better things to be doing at 3.30am

Chachant · Dec 4, 2008

Hillgate said:
I can think of better things to be doing at 3.30am

Does it involve a pillow?

Albedo · Dec 4, 2008

Chachant said:
Does it involve a pillow?

Sure, if you're resting your elbows on the pillow while you type in bed.

Deccydiva · Dec 4, 2008

If I'm not sure of where to go next on a novel, I write some scenes that I know will be happening at some point to keep me writing. For example, in "Cascade" my NaNo entry there are several sailing scenes so when I got stuck in my efforts to reach 50,000 words I just wrote the sailing scenes. Okay, so they were changed by the time they were slotted in but the bulk of the writing had been put down. Perhaps it could apply to fight scenes too - call the characters x, y, z if you don't know who's fighting yet then do a "find and replace" with the correct names later. Just a thought - it keeps me writing, at least!

Luckily, inspiration struck when I had written all my "scenes" but if not, I have a file called "spare bits" where I keep anything longer than a sentence in case I can use it later, even if modified.
Personally, I would stick with developing what you have and leave the Chapters you are not happy with until it becomes clear what needs to be done, but you are in the best position to judge whether this is a good idea, or not.

NeuroFizz · Dec 4, 2008

The central theme of self-discipline is how to tap that writing flair without it turning into a writing flare (flame followed by burn-out). And it just may have something to do with storytelling.

I get a little confused by threads like this one (I've read so many my head swims). Writing a novel is way more than just being able to write an interesting opening set of scenes, to grab an interesting character and put him/her into words and then insert him/her into an interesting situation. It's about storytelling as well, which means charging into writing with only a loose idea of where the story is going is a very risky endeavor. If storytelling is elevated to the same level as writing interesting prose, a story arc (including at least an idea of the ending) should be thought out before jumping into the writing. I'm not suggesting outlining as a necessary technique, but even those who let the story form itself as they write should have thought quite a bit about where the story is going. Seasoned writers can pull this kind of story develoment off, as can some new writers, but I can't help but wonder why so many new and developing writers here post comments about how their story is going in circles, it isn't finding an ending, it is in mid-book stall, and about how when they get stalled on a project, they just pick up another one to add to their list of 23 ongoing projects. Storytelling doesn't just fall out of writing, except for what I suspect is a very few writers. It takes thought and some effort. And it should be elevated to a level of thought that goes into that bang-up first chapter that just flew from the tips of your fingers based on a new idea you had in your shower this morning.

And most important, writing is finishing not just starting.

Chachant · Dec 4, 2008

NeuroFizz said:
The central theme of self-discipline is how to tap that writing flair without it turning into a writing flare (flame followed by burn-out). And it just may have something to do with storytelling.

I get a little confused by threads like this one (I've read so many my head swims). Writing a novel is way more than just being able to write an interesting opening set of scenes, to grab an interesting character and put him/her into words and then insert him/her into an interesting situation. It's about storytelling as well, which means charging into writing with only a loose idea of where the story is going is a very risky endeavor. If storytelling is elevated to the same level as writing interesting prose, a story arc (including at least an idea of the ending) should be thought out before jumping into the writing. I'm not suggesting outlining as a necessary technique, but even those who let the story form itself as they write should have thought quite a bit about where the story is going. Seasoned writers can pull this kind of story develoment off, as can some new writers, but I can't help but wonder why so many new and developing writers here post comments about how their story is going in circles, it isn't finding an ending, it is in mid-book stall, and about how when they get stalled on a project, they just pick up another one to add to their list of 23 ongoing projects. Storytelling doesn't just fall out of writing, except for what I suspect is a very few writers. It takes thought and some effort. And it should be elevated to a level of thought that goes into that bang-up first chapter that just flew from the tips of your fingers based on a new idea you had in your shower this morning.

And most important, writing is finishing not just starting.

I'm in uncharted territory right now, because I don't normally drop something and start over. With my first novel, I went through three drafts before conceding that what I wrote was a product of my young, naive mind that was hooked on cliched ideas. I had a thought out story and went through with it (of course changing some things here and there), and I did it successfully, in terms of finishing. It's the same with the short stories I've written -- It's certainly not the norm for me to give one up and start over, or plunge forth without a certain map of where I'm going. The problem with this novel is that the map I laid out for it is severely off-course. I don't think I was as prepared going into this one as I was my first one, and it's been a trainwreck since it's started, really. As a result, my writing for this novel has been sporadic at best, because I can't seem to get a clear-cut idea of where I want to go with it. So, as helpful as it is to finish, I think it may be more helpful to just start clean. But that's a hard decision.

tehuti88 · Dec 4, 2008

Chachant said:
Sounds like a logical decision to start over, it's just so difficult after spending almost a year on something to throw it away.

No no no no! It's not a waste to start over. You're not throwing anything away. Even if none of the words you've already written end up in your new story, you used them to learn how to write a better story, didn't you? You learned from them. That's not a waste, and you're not throwing them away. It might seem frustrating to have to redo something from scratch, yes, but don't for one moment think that anything you already did (even if you end up not using it) is a waste or is thrown away.

If you're strongly leaning toward a clean slate, then go with what feels best. Whatever helps the story. It might be difficult to let go of all the work you already did but it certainly wasn't a waste if you learned from it!

RJK · Dec 4, 2008

BEWARE - Many new writers find themselves in your position. It's called the midway blues or something like that. You're at that point in the story where you sort of know the ending, You have a pretty good beginning, but you just don't know how to get from A to C.

You could get to this point with your next work, then decide 'Starting over' is the best choice. Before you know it, you have a half dozen half finished novels in drawers all over your house.

Give some thought to finishing the one you have now. Write the ending if you know it, then write the middle to show how you got there. It may end up being crap, but you'll have finished it, and worked your way through a tough middle novel crisis.

Danthia · Dec 4, 2008

There's nothing scarier or more freeing than a blank page.

I'd suggest starting over, because old text comes with baggage. Parts you like you won't want to change, and it's easy to get sucked into the same scenes with "tweaks" when you really need to go in a whole other direction. A blank page will also allow you to be freer with the plot ans not fall into trying to force new angles into old scenes.

Remember, writers write, and the story is what matters, not the text. The story is in your head, and eventually you'll get it down on the page you way you want it. Until then, every word you write is disposable. You might write several novels before you figure out the whole process and discover what works best for you. Revisions never end, even after the book is sold

Don't ever be afraid to rip it all out and start over if it isnt working.

Dave.C.Robinson · Dec 4, 2008

I don't know if you're in the right place to start over or not. I am going to make one suggestion though: as Neurofizz said you have to learn how to finish things if you're ever going to succeed.

That said I recommend you either finish the novel you're working on right now, or start a new one with the understanding you will finish that novel.

Dark Cyril · Dec 4, 2008

RJK said:
BEWARE - Many new writers find themselves in your position. It's called the midway blues or something like that. You're at that point in the story where you sort of know the ending, You have a pretty good beginning, but you just don't know how to get from A to C.

You could get to this point with your next work, then decide 'Starting over' is the best choice. Before you know it, you have a half dozen half finished novels in drawers all over your house.

Give some thought to finishing the one you have now. Write the ending if you know it, then write the middle to show how you got there. It may end up being crap, but you'll have finished it, and worked your way through a tough middle novel crisis.

You have to strike that middle ground. You don't want to end up in the following situation.

"This is terrible, when a writer is bored by his own work, but it was a real bomb and had reached the point where I couldn't even stand to look at it any more." - David Eddings

Finishing a book for the sake of finishing a book isn't always the best course of action, which some writers tend to forget. There's nothing wrong with dropping a project as long as you have a different direction or project in mind. If nothing else, it's teaching you what not to do.

Dave.C.Robinson · Dec 4, 2008

Dark Cyril said:
Finishing a book for the sake of finishing a book isn't always the best course of action, which some writers tend to forget. There's nothing wrong with dropping a project as long as you have a different direction or project in mind. If nothing else, it's teaching you what not to do.

There are definitely times when it's the right decision to stop work on a given project. But sometimes it is a good idea to finish just for the sake of finishing so that one can learn how to finish a draft.

Finishing is a vital part of every writer's toolbox.

Dark Cyril · Dec 4, 2008

Dave.C.Robinson said:
There are definitely times when it's the right decision to stop work on a given project. But sometimes it is a good idea to finish just for the sake of finishing so that one can learn how to finish a draft.

Finishing is a vital part of every writer's toolbox.

I agree completely, but it can be even more disastrous to force yourself to finish a project that you've simply lost the drive to write.

It has to come down to your gut. If you feel you need to finish the story, then finish it. If you feel you don't, then drop it like it's hot. I learned a long time ago that aside from the first two "rules" of writing (which are in this order: write, and read), that you need to follow what works for you.

Varthikes · Dec 4, 2008

Have you tried outlining your idea before you begin the actual writing?

Chachant · Dec 4, 2008

Thanks everyone for chiming in. I think I'm going to give it a bit longer - I'm going to make a real effort to sit down, put the fingers to the keyboard and write. Maybe this is only the middle of the book syndrome. I hope.

Varthikes said:
Have you tried outlining your idea before you begin the actual writing?

In my head, always. I can't do it on paper and make actual outlines though. I think the problem I had with this particular piece of work is that I rushed through the outline in my head. I was too impatient.

Starting a new novel...again

Chachant

There's a dog under my foot

Hillgate

On location

Chachant

There's a dog under my foot

Viral

Incoherant author

Hillgate

On location

Chachant

There's a dog under my foot

Albedo

Alex

Deccydiva

Back from the dead

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Chachant

There's a dog under my foot

tehuti88

Mackinac Island Fanatic

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Danthia

Dave.C.Robinson

... with the High Command

Dark Cyril

Dave.C.Robinson

... with the High Command

Dark Cyril

Varthikes

Dragon Writer

Chachant

There's a dog under my foot