What do you think of starting over?

BlueLucario · Apr 27, 2009

I know I must finish SOMETHING. I know that, but this book is driving me insane. I hate how it's not going anywhere. Nothing I write anymore progresses the story further. I didn't write much on my rewrite, so I felt it would be a good idea to start over again. I love this story to bits, I love the stuff I write, but it has to go somewhere. It has to help reach the end in someway, but none of my scenes do that. I want to get to the point where I write "THE END." If I keep this up, I'll never finish.

I can't explain what's going on in words. So unless there's a better option for my book, I must do it.

If I do rewrite I plan to start on the beginning of May, and must reach the end by the 31st.

If there are other options, can you please explain them?

SarahMacManus · Apr 27, 2009

I ended up in a simular situation with something I started last May and really it didn't click until this January. Maybe you should put it aside for a while?

seun · Apr 27, 2009

Don't talk about it. Don't log in here. Sit down. Write. Keep writing until you write THE END.

CheyElizabeth · Apr 27, 2009

Write it backwards.. or outline it backwards.

I got stuck in my novel and then i outlined what happened in the last chapter, then the second to last chapter, etc etc and BAM my novel made sense.

and when all hope fails, just keep swimming!

Quossum · Apr 27, 2009

At the top of a piece of paper, write, "[Brief description of the scene you're in right now, i.e. 'Lily is taken to assassin school']."

At the bottom of the piece of paper, write, "[Brief description of the final scene, i.e. 'Lily is reunited with her family']."

Between those two brief descriptions, write brief descriptions of the "stuff" that's got to happen in your book for it to be complete. Like:

grueling training
"testing" mission
sent on first job
encounters old friend Ryan
sees kid--realizes what's been done to her
rebels against overlords

Now, start writing the scene associated with the first point. Then write the next one. Then the next. As you write, those scenes will undoubtably be joined by others, which you can scribble into the margins of your planning page or just add as you wish, by the seat of your pants. But if you at least have a plan ahead of you, if you know where you're going next and next and then next, you might be able to bring yourself to finish.

HTH,
--Q

Danthia · Apr 27, 2009

When I get stuck on a story it's usually because I've lost sight of the protag's goal. I have stuff happening, but there are no real stakes so it doesn't matter and doesn't go anywhere.

This is also a common problem with premise novels, where you have a really great idea, and they story develops the idea, not a character with a problem in that situation.

I'd suggest a look at your stakes and goals to make sure they are driving the story. If your protag us just reacting to things and never acts with intent, you'll flounder. Also, figure out the core conflict. Try writing a query (don't worry, it doesn't have to be agent-quality) to identify the main components of the story: Protag, problem, stakes, obstacles.

I'd also recommend not putting so much pressure on yourself to finish by X date. When you rush, you can find yourself writing anything just to meet your deadline, and you go off track because you lose sight of the story. It becomes more about the number of words than what they say.

Charlie Horse · Apr 27, 2009

I think you need to set this one down for a bit and start another project.

vrabinec · Apr 27, 2009

If it makes it better, why not? Just consider the previous versions as in-depth outlines.

BlueLucario · Apr 27, 2009

Charlie Horse said:
I think you need to set this one down for a bit and start another project.

That is, if there IS another project.

BlueLucario · Apr 27, 2009

Danthia said:
I'd also recommend not putting so much pressure on yourself to finish by X date. When you rush, you can find yourself writing anything just to meet your deadline, and you go off track because you lose sight of the story. It becomes more about the number of words than what they say.

I thought it's only if a writer procrastinates.

DeadlyAccurate · Apr 27, 2009

There's always another project, Blue. And I agree with Charlie; write a new story. Something that doesn't have Lily in it at all. Hell, switch genres even. Write something you're not so attached to.

You spend a lot of time talking about writing, but I have to wonder how much time you actually spend writing. Finishing a book is hard. Damn hard. But you can do it if you really want to.

Feidb · Apr 27, 2009

If you love writing, there should always be another project. I have so many ideas, I could start 20 novels. However, I have to discipline myself to stick with one. If I ever got stuck, I'd put it down for a while and work on another one. The key is that I never stop writing, or rewriting, or editing.

I really think you need to put it aside and give it a fresh look in a few months. You are probably too close to it. You may be bogging yourself down with details, or doubts, or aspects that will just stifle your creativity. Maybe you should try writing something in a different genre. Get completely away from your present MS. Blank your mind and come back with a fresh perspective. You just might be able to go "Aha!"

ChaosTitan · Apr 27, 2009

seun said:
Don't talk about it. Don't log in here. Sit down. Write. Keep writing until you write THE END.

Emphasis mine.

caitysdad · Apr 27, 2009

i'm not a fan of starting over, but I am a fan of putting it away and letting your ideas "cook" for a while. It worked for me because I was getting to the point where I was sick of my own book

sunandshadow · Apr 27, 2009

I'm confused. Why would a scene in the beginning or middle of a story have particularly much to do with reaching the end?

If you want to get to the end, either outline or write a rough draft of the end.

LAWolf · Apr 27, 2009

What are your scenes doing if they aren't moving the plot forward? What is lacking in your story (cohesion? the MC's goal? conflict? something else?)? You have a very analytical mind, so I would suggest looking at your own writing to analyze why you have written what you have and why it should be included in the story. Maybe you're not aware of its purpose yet, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have one.

I strongly suggest the idea of outlining backwards. What is it that your character needs to do/accomplish before THE END?

Danthia · Apr 27, 2009

BlueLucario said:
I thought it's only if a writer procrastinates.

It can apply to any situation where getting words down is more important than getting the story right. Having a deadline is great if it motivates you, bad when it puts pressure on you that distracts you from the story.

If your goal is to get a crappy first draft written (which is a perfectly acceptable goal by the way, crappy isn't a negative here. It just means a draft that you know is messy and needs work), then push yourself as much as you want and not worry. You'll get something finished. It'll need a lot of work, but that's okay if you go into it knowing you're going to revise like mad.

If the goal is to get something halfway decent, then allow yourself some breathing room. Set a reasonable goal that will help you, not freak you out and frustrate you.

AnonymousWriter · Apr 27, 2009

Like seun said: Get your butt in your chair. Disconnect from the internet and finish the thing.

If not, you might end up having a million unfinished novels, and no finished ones...

leim · Apr 27, 2009

I was right where you are several weeks ago - trying desperately to figure out where my book went wrong. Then I realized the only way to find that answer was to finish the damn thing. Perhaps I will find what was wrong. I also thought another reader might find the problem. Maybe, there isn't even a problem. Occasionally your writing gets bogged down by thinking about it too much.

I don't know if that will help you, but it did for me.

Good luck.

Juliette Wade · Apr 27, 2009

When I get lost in the middle of writing a book, it's usually because I have a larger-scale structural problem, like not knowing precisely enough what the core conflict is and how it affects the main character in order to get to the end. When that happens, I find it helps to back off, take time doing something else if you need to, so you can look at the story on that larger scale. Yes, there's a time when just banging away on the keyboard will help, but if you don't know where you're going then something larger could be at issue.

I'm with Danthia here; don't rush yourself for the sake of rushing. Try to understand the story on the story-level, rather than the sentence-level, and you may find the thread you were looking for.

scarletpeaches · Apr 27, 2009

sunandshadow said:
I'm confused. Why would a scene in the beginning or middle of a story have particularly much to do with reaching the end?

If you want to get to the end, either outline or write a rough draft of the end.

I'm amazed anyone claiming to be a writer wouldn't see how a beginning or middle scene wouldn't have much to do with getting to the end.

As for outlining, that's writing about writing.

The only thing that gets a book written is writing it.

Not talking about it. Not writing about it. Not posting here.

You only get to the end if you sit down, shut up and write.

witchunter88 · Apr 27, 2009

Wow, this post reminds me of the story (30,000 words written) that I had in a USB drive that I recently lost.

*slashes wrist*

The reason that you're meandering in the middle and feeling lost is that you haven't planned your story enough. You need an OUTLINE. Trust me, it'll help you out. It definitely has for me.

People complain that it inhibits their creativity but that simply isn't true. You can change your outline throughout the writing process. The important thing is that with an outline, you have a definite beginning and a definite ending. So no matter what changes you make in GETTING there, you're still GETTING there.

scarletpeaches · Apr 27, 2009

Without wanting this to turn into a rabid anti-outlining rant, I will say this:

witchunter88 said:
The reason that you're meandering in the middle and feeling lost is that you haven't planned your story enough.

Ain't necessarily so. I meandered in the middle of my WIP, didn't outline, got to the end eventually. I knew where I wanted to end up, aimed for it, missed, ended up somewhere else, but it worked.

witchunter88 said:
You need an OUTLINE. Trust me, it'll help you out. It definitely has for me.

An outline would stifle me. Not that you were recommending it for me, of course, but the suggestion that meandering can only be cured by outlining is a false one.

witchunter88 said:
People complain that it inhibits their creativity but that simply isn't true.

Yes. It does.

In my case anyway.

I don't like writing about writing. I'd rather write.

witchunter88 said:
You can change your outline throughout the writing process.

Then why have one?

(Rhetorical question; like I said, this isn't an anti-outline rant thread).

witchunter88 said:
The important thing is that with an outline, you have a definite beginning and a definite ending. So no matter what changes you make in GETTING there, you're still GETTING there.

I had a beginning and an end. Still got from A to Z without an outline. And if you make a lot of changes to your book, your planned ending could end up seeming tacked on, because if you take a book to be A leading to B which causes C, changing the middle factor will clearly influence the ending.

Like I said, if it can change, why have an outline?

witchunter88 · Apr 27, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Without wanting this to turn into a rabid anti-outlining rant, I will say this:

Ain't necessarily so. I meandered in the middle of my WIP, didn't outline, got to the end eventually. I knew where I wanted to end up, aimed for it, missed, ended up somewhere else, but it worked.

That's why I outlined in the first place. So I didn't meander. I actually do chapter by chapter outlining so I ALWAYS know what I'm doing. I'm still free to tweak what happens in every chapter, I sometimes switch chapters, and the stability in doing this makes writing easier.

An outline would stifle me. Not that you were recommending it for me, of course, but the suggestion that meandering can only be cured by outlining is a false one.

I didn't say outlining was the only way to cure meandering, but it's a potent cure. How does an outline stifle you if the outline is changeable throughout writing the story?

I don't like writing about writing. I'd rather write.

Outlining isn't writing about writing. It's planning your whole story so that you can meet deadlines. That's why I outline. So I can write efficiently.

I had a beginning and an end. Still got from A to Z without an outline. And if you make a lot of changes to your book, your planned ending could end up seeming tacked on, because if you take a book to be A leading to B which causes C, changing the middle factor will clearly influence the ending.

Like I said, if it can change, why have an outline?

That's fine that you go to A and Z, but you admit to meandering in the middle, which I don't want to do.

That's why I outline.

Rushie · Apr 27, 2009

Making an outline is helping me a lot. I found that writing without an outline was like trying to put up sheetrock, paint, cabinets and stuff in a house that didn't have the frame built. The outline gave me some sort of framework that oriented me.

On the other hand, the outline doesn't solve all problems. My work recently came to a screeching halt until I analyzed it and realized that two of my characters need to be combined into one. That change is bringing the plot together much better, so my outline is being revised accordingly. I guess that's like tearing down some framing and rebuilding it a little differently, but I still can't do the sheetrocking, etc., without the frame.

So the outline isn't going to ensure a perfect outcome, I still need to go where the creativity takes me, even if it means having to redo the outline.

You need to find what works for you.

What do you think of starting over?

BlueLucario

Blood Elves FTW

SarahMacManus

seun

Horror Man

CheyElizabeth

My horn can pierce the sky!

Quossum

Danthia

Charlie Horse

Speaking in metaphors

vrabinec

Dipwad

BlueLucario

Blood Elves FTW

BlueLucario

Blood Elves FTW

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

Feidb

Been Here A While

ChaosTitan

Around

caitysdad

sunandshadow

Impractical Fantasy Animal

LAWolf

Danthia

AnonymousWriter

leim

Juliette Wade

Interprets for aliens

scarletpeaches

witchunter88

Boom Boom POW

scarletpeaches

witchunter88

Boom Boom POW

Rushie