So close, yet so far.

lemonhead · May 6, 2010

I have my book. It's been beta read. It has a query. I have an idea of the agents I want to send it to. I'm making final edits.

But it has no begginning and no end.

It did initially...and I still have some peices, but in the editing process they got re-written/shoved away and I just can't seem to get it together to write them over again.

My first chapter and my last chapter- obviously crucial, but my head just isn't writing anything good anymore. I know what happens, I know my charachter, I know what I need to show and wrap up, but I just have no words for it.

Does this happen to anyone else out there? Do you have any words of advice? I'm soooo close....

Niki_G · May 6, 2010

Yes. I don't have any real advice, just here to say you're not the only one. Re-writing my first chapter is killing me. I know I don't have enough conflict. I just don't know how to fix that problem. So I'm reading, I've set the ms aside for now, and I'm hoping it'll come to me. I'm also trying to get a critique partner or two. I've had some good betas, but the 1-2 chapter at a time focus of critique partners is a different and usually valuable experience for me.

But yeah...you're definitely not alone...

BriMaresh · May 6, 2010

The ending's a bit of a big deal--you need one of those. But how crucial is the beginning? I always end up cutting my first chapter (once, my first six) and usually my last two.

Other advice: have you tried stepping away from it for a week or two? Sometimes if I walk away from a piece, when I come back to it later I know better what I need to work on.

Fulk · May 6, 2010

Bri beat me to it--are you sure that you can't begin the novel where the novel is at? Whether it's technically "chapter 2" or halfway through chapter 1 or somewhere in between, if there's some kind of action, and your reader isn't going to be terribly confused, and it leads into the big problem of the story, you have your beginning already.

MissMacchiato · May 6, 2010

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to pass on some sympathy, I hear you on this one!

lemonhead · May 6, 2010

BriMaresh said:
The ending's a bit of a big deal--you need one of those. But how crucial is the beginning? I always end up cutting my first chapter (once, my first six) and usually my last two.

Other advice: have you tried stepping away from it for a week or two? Sometimes if I walk away from a piece, when I come back to it later I know better what I need to work on.

I did briefly think about it...but now that you mention it again...I originally rejected the idea becuase I thought the reader needed eased into the story more. Now I'm thinking that "easing" in is why I'm sitting here with nothing to type (re: no conflict). Maybe if I just tweak the opening conversations, I can give the reader all the information they need while dumping them straight into the action.

AWESOME.

Time to type....

Lindzy1954 · May 7, 2010

opening chapter woes

I had this exact same problem when I started my third round of revisions on my YA Novel. I realized that the problem with my first chapter was that I was actually giving away too much information to the reader, rather than leaving them hanging a bit and revealing more as the story unfolded. Too much information led to a lack of action (telling, not showing) and it made the first chapter packed with stuff that didn't have as profound an impact as it could have. So, I rearranged the entire chapter so that the entire book traveled along at a more steady clip. Good luck, I know how daunting this phase is!!

Rebecca_Rogers · May 7, 2010

I can't really help you here, since I'm a beginning/ending person.

But I will tell you like I tell other writers when they hit a block--take a break. Give your ideas time to simmer, and then come back to it. This break doesn't have to be for a long period of time. Take a week or so off. I know that's hard to do (I hate leaving my writing as well) when you're so close to the finished product, but it works.

Good luck! I hope those ideas come to you soon.

bobcat22 · May 7, 2010

lemonhead said:
Maybe if I just tweak the opening conversations, I can give the reader all the information they need while dumping them straight into the action.

Yes...try this! When I was querying agents three agents told me they'd reread it after revisions and every single one of them mentioned that my beginning was too slow. I was trying to give back story and set everything up. It was hard and painful, but I cut it out (and weaved it in other places) and went right to the action.

Focus on the action...throw your character right into the middle of things.

Good luck!

So close, yet so far.

lemonhead

Life isn't all beer and skittles.

Niki_G

Here I Am!

BriMaresh

New kid, be gentle!

Fulk

Occasional Contributer

MissMacchiato

Bring on the Sweet, Sweet Coffee

lemonhead

Life isn't all beer and skittles.

Lindzy1954

Chi-Town Scribbler

Rebecca_Rogers

bobcat22