So where do you stop

Jack Nog · Mar 24, 2007

Maybe I just need to sit it out a couple of days. Maybe I need to forget about it for a little bit.

What other writers has this happened to?

After 2000/day give or take for the past month, I want to give up on my WIP. It's not a writers block thing. I have a dozen other things I could write about.

After two reinventions as I write (I don't outline...much) I've found that I don't like my story. I can't relate to most of my characters, the one that I can somewhat relate to I don't like too much and I want to kill off. How bad is that?

I have an ending that will have to be changed. I have the beginning, that I just rewrote because of what happened later. I also found that after 43k words, I don't really feel like it will be enough for a novel and I'll probably have to market it as a novella. I've tried to add some filler, make a minor character a lot larger, and I'm confused as to who my main really is.

I'm finding every reason out there to stop writing this piece. UGGGG

scarletpeaches · Mar 24, 2007

Boredom?

Well, not exactly but it's like you're spending all your spare time with the same people - your characters. You wouldn't spend all your time with the same people in real life, would you? You'd get tired of them.

Perhaps you get like that with your characters. I dunno. It's a theory. One I haven't properly thought out.

Jack Nog · Mar 24, 2007

Yeah, but I feel it's like this, where do you stop when you realize what you've written is complete hogwash (is that even a word?).

I'm starting to feel that my first idea (you know, take this and this and what if???) was utter crap...

Siddow · Mar 24, 2007

Have you finished a novel yet? If not, finish this one.

If so, screw it, and start another.

To finish this one, have the characters you can't relate to kill the character you hate; you'll form a kinship with them and follow them through the getaway or the trial or the suicide they commit because they just can't live with themselves. Then it all ends well for everybody.

And next time, no revision before the first draft is done, you hear?

blacbird · Mar 24, 2007

When that goddamn white whale is dead, dead, dead, and not one moment before.

caw

Puma · Mar 24, 2007

Hi Jack - First question - why did you start to write it? What was your motive? If you started writing it just because you wanted to write something that may be the problem. But if you started it because you thought it would make a good story, then you've lost track of the story somewhere along the line. If the latter is the case, step back from it and then sketch your story out - the problem may be that you need more intrigue, more layering which of itself may create more interest. There's also a chance there isn't enough potential material in your idea for a full length novel.

I've had chapters I wasn't enthusiastic about, but knew I had to write them because they were integral to the story. But a whole story - no. Good luck figuring it out. Puma

johnzakour · Mar 24, 2007

Wow, tough post. If you don't like your own writing I would imagine it's going to be hard to find others who like it.

Still there is something to be said for actually finishing writing a novel. It's good experience. Plus maybe with the feeling of accomplishment you will see your novel different or at least see how you can fix it.

You might want to post some of your work in the SYW section. It's possible you are being hyper-critical of yourself.

Hillgate · Mar 24, 2007

johnzakour said:
Wow, tough post. If you don't like your own writing I would imagine it's going to be hard to find others who like it.

Still there is something to be said for actually finishing writing a novel. It's good experience. Plus maybe with the feeling of accomplishment you will see your novel different or at least see how you can fix it.

You might want to post some of your work in the SYW section. It's possible you are being hyper-critical of yourself.

I agree. Everyone has doubts. A good test of whether your novel should see the light of day is whether it NEEDS to be written. Same for a screenplay. Put your work up and see what people think. There are some very good, constructive critics on AW.

Sage · Mar 24, 2007

How close are you to finishing it? I know that hitting the middle often drags writers (including myself) into the doldrums about their novel. For me it's around 19K, & then when I start reaching the climax, I'll get really excited again. It's good to finish the novel before worrying about what's wrong or right with it. You can always fix any real problems in editing, but editing is hard enough without having to worry about whether the novel will ever get finished, so finish it first. If, at the end, you feel it really does suck, you can take a break from it & look at it with fresh eyes & a more objective perception later. If you've gotten over that depression by the end, though, then you've got a completed novel, instead of a lot of wasted writing days agonizing over how awful it is when it may not be awful at all.

scarletpeaches · Mar 24, 2007

You'll write better with a SouthParkatar.

scribbler1382 · Mar 24, 2007

Are you sure you're not just in the soupy middle of the book? I know it may not feel that way because you ostensibly have a beginning, middle and an end already (though obviously not the ones you want), but if the book is forcing you to write it organically, I think you could have mid-book blues.

Just a thought.

PeeDee · Mar 24, 2007

So you don't like it. So put it away and write something else you do like. Either you'll eventually come back to this work with new eyes and new ideas, or you'll move on entirely and never come back to it.

Either way, it's not the end of the world.

Jack Nog · Mar 24, 2007

I don't think it's that I don't like the writing. I happen to think some parts are rather brilliant ( I wouldn't do this if I didn't have those brilliant scenes).

I think it feels disjointed to me. Like there is not set beginning, middle, and definitive end. This is of course my fault for the way I've been writing it.

I've also posted about this problem before. I have several other ideas that are more enticing to me.

I think I'll take from these posts just this:

BIC

Finish what I have...whether it's 60k words or 200k words.

The Lady · Mar 24, 2007

Yup, I'll add to the cries of, finish it, m'lad.. You don't sound like you're done with it. You just sound exhausted. Have a day off. No, have two. Write a lovely little short story, just for the blast. Then get back writing and for the love of God, don't edit. Finish and decide. Make notes of possible reinventions as you go, but don't turn back. Never turn back. Once you set foot upon the journey the most dangerous thing you can do is loose heart, don't ya know.

thethinker42 · Mar 24, 2007

I would put it aside for a few weeks. Work on something else. Then go back and try again with fresh eyes/fingers/whatever. I'm actually doing that right now with one WIP.

Anthony Ravenscroft · Mar 24, 2007

It's just burnout. Happens to me all the time, vaguely in direct proportion to the length of the project. Even if I'm enthusiastic -- I get the feeling it's like starting off a marathon with sprint pace.

Set it aside for two weeks. I don't know why, but exactly two full weeks seems to work most times for me. I can't even look at it. When the times up, my head's buzzing with ideas, I've got a pile of handwritten scraps for ideas & inclusions. Then I give what I've done a once-through read & dive in. Sometimes, I end up rewriting an idea I'd already done in a fit of inspiration, & forgotten; no loss, I incorporate the new turns.

Oddly, I burn out more easily halfway through a short story than most of the way through a book.

BIC is not just good, but necessary... but if you stop getting rewarded you'll build up blockages against writing. Done merely dig in your heels & go stubborn -- be proactive & demand a short vacation. You'll be more productive & creative, & you'll face the other inevitable roadblocks much more calmly without toting the extra stress.

Jack Nog · Mar 24, 2007

I think I've been reading too many books on how to write, or more importantly how others write. Since I'm just getting back into this after a long hiatus, I need to figure out how I write.

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I've got a shortstory that just came to me and I'm gonna throw that out into the wind. I'll come back to the forthcoming novel later I think. Hell, it's not going anywhere, just sitting in the back of my mind like the nineteen other ideas.

Thanks!

KiraOnWhite · Mar 24, 2007

Work on your favourite parts instead, or try replacing some elements ( eg. characters) in the parts which you are stuck in. Or, as the others suggested, work on your other idea and leave the other one on hold until you find inspiration. It is better than forcing your way through the chapters--you'll end up deleting everything anyway.

Re-editing should be left for the second draft, pr maybe alternate your writing routines. As in first hour-write, second hour-edit and so on and so forth.

kdnxdr · Mar 24, 2007

JN, thanks for posting this thread. I'm into my first novel, probably novella, and I'm in that limbo-land kinda place. I read ALOT of threads here at AW trying to learn as a novice writer. There is so much to learn, I get overwhelmed and get all locked up. I'm still writing, have my brother reading over the first time and edit as I go along. I don't have any routines down yet, no systems or formulas. But, as I read the threads, I'm getting the ideas down and working on all this stuff.

I won't call it writer's block but I'm trudging through at this point. I never know what I'm writing next. The story is leading me. I just write. Hopefully, something cohesive and interesting will emerge.

Saundra Julian · Mar 25, 2007

I put one of my WIP away for a year because I couldn't come up with an ending I liked. One day it just came to me and it was the perfect ending.

Give yourself some time away from your story...then see if you really hate it...

Azure Skye · Mar 25, 2007

2000 words a day? Sounds like burnout to me. Maybe slow down a bit, unless you're under a deadline.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 25, 2007

Jack Nog said:
I don't think it's that I don't like the writing. I happen to think some parts are rather brilliant ( I wouldn't do this if I didn't have those brilliant scenes).

I think it feels disjointed to me. Like there is not set beginning, middle, and definitive end. This is of course my fault for the way I've been writing it.

I've also posted about this problem before. I have several other ideas that are more enticing to me.

I think I'll take from these posts just this:

BIC

Finish what I have...whether it's 60k words or 200k words.

You can always fix these problems in the next draft, but if you don't finish there will be no next draft.

Nickie · Mar 25, 2007

Jack, never mind! Lots of authors have the same problem. I've been working on one manuscript for over 3 years now! The first few weeks, everything went great - I wrote several chapters a week. But then my mother got very illl, and personal problems took over. The manuscript just sat there for over two years. Then I found the inspiration to continue with it -which went fine until the day we dediced to sell our house and buy a new place.
Just meaning to say that sometimes your mind isn't set on writing... But (as in my case) you'll be able to finish the story one time!

Nickie

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