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[Not Your Avarage Emo Kid]

im a bit stuck im working on my second book......yes 2nd...............yes at 15.........but that does not matter. i'm a little stuck:shrug :head i have the concept and all but now i don't know where to go.

[aka eraser]

Let your characters decide. Just type and see what happens. Don't worry about anything til you're 50 or so pages in and then check and see if it's taking shape the way you envisioned. If not, make changes. By then, you might have decided where and how you want it to go.

You might want to check out Uncle Jim's thread too. :)

[Gala]

I'm older than you. I've written books and many other works as well.

Today I spent the afternoon trying to figure out how to describe the smell of pancakes. I took a long walk, and it came to me on the way back.

That means I got to complete rewriting the second paragraph of the second scene of my current novel. My plan was to rewrite the entire scene today. Maybe tomorrow.

I had the same plan last Friday for the first scene. That one took five days. I'm way off schedule.

Somebody said writing is rewriting. I call it blissful torture.

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[sc211]

Just write and see what you get - not judging if you'll use it or not. Phillip Roth says he often writes a hundred pages before he discovers the first page of his books.

[Ivonia]

If you don't really feel like writing it out yet either, you can always outline. Start fleshing out the story, and try to come up with some interesting scenes/plots.

I got stuck on one story, and I began outlining like mad. I'm still outlining it, but man, I could probably write a history book for the story just from my outlines (and yes, I'm writing in between the massive brainstorming sessions). This is great for me, because not only does it get me out of the "I dont know what to write next" problem, it gives me tons of ideas for the sequels/prequels when I"m done with the book (I've probably written enough to write at least 3 different trilogies for one concept hehe).

[evanaharris]

If you don't really feel like writing it out yet either, you can always outline. Start fleshing out the story, and try to come up with some interesting scenes/plots.

Second this, even if you only use it as a brainstorming tool. It's been a boon to me on my latest project.

Don't ever treat it as the gospel truth, though, or some rigid form you have to follow, bullet point by bullet point, because something better will come to you in the writing.

[Writing Again]

Sometimes a book isn't ready to be written. I have a dozen or more that I've semi forgotten about until I find a missing piece to its puzzle, then I think, "Oh yeah, that will go there."

Right now I have a great character for an adventure novel and two first chapters to go with him. Can't get past the first chapters.

My recommendation, don't wall yourself into one story. Look for something better or something whose time is right for you to tell.

And it doesn't hurt to have more than one project going.

[macalicious731]

Emo,

I'm 18. I've had the same concept for years - probably since I was 14 or so - and just started writing the WIP this summer. I finally realized what took me so long to get the thing on a page, and that's because at 18, I'm vastly different from the person I was at 14. I'm more educated, I've sat through all sorts of classes on history, philosophy, language, sociology... etc., the list goes on. I've taken all sorts of bits and pieces from these classes and real life and put them into this story.

My WIP would not be the same if I had written it 4 years ago instead of now. Heck, even a week ago when I was sitting in class I got a new idea from a lecture by one of my professors.

So, anyway, while I'm certainly not saying writing now is something you can't do, just keep in mind of the changes that might occur throughout the years. Since you're on your second novel, then you already know you can write; you should just determine the right timing.

And as for writer's block... I have a couple of my favorite books I'll pull out and read my favorite chapters/sections... brief through a writing book (King's)... and simply sit in front of my computer and force myself to do something. It usually works out in the end...

Good luck!