Falling in hate with your WIP

Mr Flibble · Nov 27, 2009

*sigh*

I've done just that. Now usually I have a bit of 'gadzooks! This is like pulling teeth!'. Sometimes I don't like the how I've done something. But...but

I've never hated a WIP like this. It's not the prose, which is first draft okayish and can be fixed. It's not the overarching story, which I'm fine with.

I don't know what it is, but this thing ain't working. Something is way, way off, and I can't tell what it is. I've tried putting it aside and coming back to it, and I still can't see what it is. I've tried just getting the damn thing written so I can rewrite what I need to. I've tried having a chat with a couple of other writers. And I'm not sure I can carry on. It's making me doubt every little thing. I'm even starting to hate characters I previously loved to death.

Is it my hero? Could be. I've tried writing him a couple of different ways and I like him. He has sympathy, and stuff, he's got flaws to overcome and he's trying to, doggedly. Is it because I'm not in love with him? Is it my heroine? Is she too shallow? Is it my bad guy? Is my plot so crap that it makes everything else look like an unpolished turd?

Arggggh!! The hate is obviously a symptom of something being wrong, but how the heck do I figure out what? Because it's getting to the point I dread sitting at my PC and opening the document.

Maxinquaye · Nov 27, 2009

What a bastard. Put him in a can and cheat on him/her with another character for a while. Get over him, and then he'll come crawling back.

Joking aside, I've never had that, but maybe that would work - if by "i went away and came back" didn't mean that you worked on totally different characters, ie a new book.

Sevvy · Nov 27, 2009

I hate to say it, but this might be one of those novels that just wasn't meant to be. I've got three of them myself. It sucks, but it happens.

Put it in the desk drawer and move on to something else. Not everything is going to work, sometimes there really isn't anything you can do to save the story as it is. I would say don't just give it a rest, but put it away and tell yourself it's okay if you don't ever get back to work on it. Then start something else, something fresh and new. Either the distraction method will work--where you find a solution by thinking of anything other than your problem--or it wasn't meant to be and you won't be wasting your time on something you really don't want to do.

If you really want to keep going though (and it will be painful), start by re-reading what you've got, and put a star next to everything you think is good and an X next to what you think needs work. Then check to see where all of your X's are, that's what you should tackle first. The stars are to remind yourself that you have some shining moments in all that mess.

Mr Flibble · Nov 27, 2009

Maxinquaye said:
Joking aside, I've never had that, but maybe that would work - if by "i went away and came back" didn't mean that you worked on totally different characters, ie a new book.

I spent two months working on a novella in a completely different genre. It was a breeze, comparatively.

Sevvy said:
I hate to say it, but this might be one of those novels that just wasn't meant to be. I've got three of them myself. It sucks, but it happens.

Put it in the desk drawer and move on to something else. Not everything is going to work, sometimes there really isn't anything you can do to save the story as it is. I would say don't just give it a rest, but put it away and tell yourself it's okay if you don't ever get back to work on it. Then start something else, something fresh and new. Either the distraction method will work--where you find a solution by thinking of anything other than your problem--or it wasn't meant to be and you won't be wasting your time on something you really don't want to do.

If you really want to keep going though (and it will be painful), start by re-reading what you've got, and put a star next to everything you think is good and an X next to what you think needs work. Then check to see where all of your X's are, that's what you should tackle first. The stars are to remind yourself that you have some shining moments in all that mess.

Well thing is its the third in the series ( first two are sold), and I want / need to wrap it all up.

And the MS is so full of Xs they probably make up half the wordcount.

I have considered just coming up with a new plot and starting from scratch. I mean everything you write, you learn from right? But...This should work. It really should.

Caitlin Black · Nov 27, 2009

My feeling is that you've fallen out of love with the trilogy. If that is so, then perhaps the best thing you can do is to work out what NEEDS to go into this final installment, ie. what you have to put in to wrap up the overall story arc, and then with all the remaining time just do something that takes your mind off the trilogy. It could work - I mean, it could be seen as going out with a bang if something completely unexpected happens. What I'm guessing is the problem is that you know exactly everything that you think should go into this one, which would be the source of your angst. It's too "paint by numbers" for you, only because of the trilogy aspect.

Of course, I could be wrong about all of this, but that's what I'd do IF that was my problem - something unexpected to keep my interest. Of course, that could be a really bad decision when it comes to getting it published, as ultimately you ARE playing to expectations by this point. So maybe just polish it as much as you can and send it off for editing by your publisher. See what they have to say about it.

You say you worked on a novella to get your mind off things, and that went all well and good, so I'd say it's not that you've suddenly started sucking.

But the fact that you enjoyed the novella just lends to my theory that you've fallen out of love with the trilogy. If you're not sure about this, you could try rereading the first two books and seeing if you still hate it, or if something else crops up.

Good luck.

kaitie · Nov 27, 2009

I know at that point especially when we hate it we really don't want to show it to other people, but has anyone else read it who might be able to point out what's not right?

Something that might work but will sound insane...I often talk things out to people to figure out what's going on, but sometimes I get stuck unable to, and I definitely know the frustration of something isn't working but not knowing what. And it's usually something stupid and minor and once you figure it out you feel like an idiot.

But anyway, something I've done before is pull out a pad of paper and start writing as though I was talking to someone. Basically just going through each point on paper, and then one point would lead me to the next point, and explanations, and then eventually it clicks and usually I can come up with an idea. It might work, or at least be worth a try.

defcon6000 · Nov 27, 2009

kaitie said:
Something that might work but will sound insane...I often talk things out to people to figure out what's going on, but sometimes I get stuck unable to, and I definitely know the frustration of something isn't working but not knowing what. And it's usually something stupid and minor and once you figure it out you feel like an idiot.

This.

It's funny what others notice that you had seemed oblivious to.

Mr Flibble · Nov 28, 2009

kaitie said:
I know at that point especially when we hate it we really don't want to show it to other people, but has anyone else read it who might be able to point out what's not right?

Not yet. There's just too much wrong, and every time I try and fix one thing, it creates another problem. I don't normally get people to read it until I've got at least the major problems fixed. Because if I know it needs a whole lot of work, it seems a waste of someone's time. Especially because I just hate it too much to have anyone read it. Especially as I've hated the damn thing almost from teh start. There's no real point I can say I liked it. I just tried to work through thinking it was the usual procrastination.

I've tried talking it out with my usual sounding board half a dozen times, and each time I think 'Ah, think I've found it now, I can fix it'

And each time, after three or four days editing, I find myself back where I started. Hating it.

I have reams of bits of paper where I've tried writing the problems out...

Sod it. I'm just going to have to scrap it and start from scratch. Which is a complete bitch tbh. 80k in and starting again from1...

Sophia · Nov 28, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
There's just too much wrong, and every time I try and fix one thing, it creates another problem. I don't normally get people to read it until I've got at least the major problems fixed. Because if I know it needs a whole lot of work, it seems a waste of someone's time. Especially because I just hate it too much to have anyone read it. Especially as I've hated the damn thing almost from teh start. There's no real point I can say I liked it. I just tried to work through thinking it was the usual procrastination.

I do know how you feel, and although it's tough, I think you've made the right decision restarting from scratch. Dislike this intense for me usually means the basic idea for the story isn't solid enough, and my mind's struggling to patch up something that is rickety at a fundamental level. (If you ever want to hash out some alternatives...) Deep breath, fresh start; you can do it!

kaitie · Nov 28, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
Not yet. There's just too much wrong, and every time I try and fix one thing, it creates another problem. I don't normally get people to read it until I've got at least the major problems fixed. Because if I know it needs a whole lot of work, it seems a waste of someone's time. Especially because I just hate it too much to have anyone read it. Especially as I've hated the damn thing almost from teh start. There's no real point I can say I liked it. I just tried to work through thinking it was the usual procrastination.

I've tried talking it out with my usual sounding board half a dozen times, and each time I think 'Ah, think I've found it now, I can fix it'

And each time, after three or four days editing, I find myself back where I started. Hating it.

I have reams of bits of paper where I've tried writing the problems out...

Sod it. I'm just going to have to scrap it and start from scratch. Which is a complete bitch tbh. 80k in and starting again from1...

It might not be so bad. It might be that once you figure out where you're going again there are parts that can be reused and what not. Wishing you the best of luck.

Mr Flibble · Nov 28, 2009

Okay, well after talking my poor hubby to death....

I think I've got a new direction. I think my hero can come out better ( so long as I don't keep falling back onto what he's like at the moment.) I also think I can reuse some parts ( with some changed motivations, but the action should still be the same). I think so - but I thought that two weeks ago. And a month before that.

I hope so, cos this is sooo screwing with my head, which isn't the most solidly attached of things anyway....

Thanks guys. Hopefully I can now stop sobbing into my tea. If not, one last try before I put it firmly on the back burner.

Maxinquaye · Nov 28, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
Okay, well after talking my poor hubby to death....

I think I've got a new direction. I think my hero can come out better ( so long as I don't keep falling back onto what he's like at the moment.) I also think I can reuse some parts ( with some changed motivations, but the action should still be the same). I think so - but I thought that two weeks ago. And a month before that.

I hope so, cos this is sooo screwing with my head, which isn't the most solidly attached of things anyway....

Thanks guys. Hopefully I can now stop sobbing into my tea. If not, one last try before I put it firmly on the back burner.

I really hope it works out for you. I've not been in your shoes - yet - and I hope I never will get there, but know I will.

Sometimes you invest time and care in stuff that doesn't work out, so there comes a point where you need to cut and run.

I don't know if you're at that point, ofc, and I hope that's not so, but as I said before, i hope it works out for you.

Lady Ice · Nov 28, 2009

Maybe your expectations are too high of your characters; maybe there are parts of them that you love but in your heart of hearts you know don't work.

Libbie · Nov 28, 2009

You're probably just sick of reading it. Start a new one. This one will be waiting for you to come back to it.

LuckyH · Nov 28, 2009

I’ve got three of those. They haunt me. I’ve even thought of burying them in the garden.

I’ve long ago moved on, but every couple of months or so I dig them out again and refuse to believe that all those special words, the supreme and unalterable plot, are not what they should be, and I don’t know why.

I don’t throw things away easily anyway, my deceased wife’s high school tie still hangs in my wardrobe and my book shelves are full of books I’m never going to read again.

You’re stuck with your awkward WIP, your question is unanswerable.

Mr Flibble · Nov 28, 2009

LuckyH said:
You’re stuck with your awkward WIP, your question is unanswerable.

Actually, feeling more positive since I told my bipolar to STFU ( and after an afternoon of bloody hard graft which I'm reasonably happy with) anything can be changed on a rewrite.

My hubby, realising how stressed I was getting about it, came up with a fabbo suggestion. Keeping the plot almost the same, we came to the conclusion it's the hero is the problem. However each time I tried to rewrite him, he kept slipping back into his old ways.

So I changed his name.

Now when I'm re-writing him, it's not M trying to pull me this way, it's a whole new blokey saying 'Don't be daft woman, I'd never be such a wimp. Let me at 'em!' It's changed his whole tone.

So some things will have to change, but maybe, just maybe, I can keep more than I hoped. However instead of editing what I have, I'm re-reading a scene, then writing it out again without looking, and pasting in any bits from the old one that still work

Fingers crossed, it's looking better already. And I feel way happier about it. Granted I'm never 100% happy with what I write ( which is good in a way, because I'm always striving to be better) but it's no longer 'Argh, why don't I just give up now and eat chocolate till I die' feeling, more a 'This needs fixing, but I can do it' feeling. We can rebuild it - we have the technology!

Letting it all vent onto the page here ( and in hubby's earhole) helped hugely, as did your suggestions

Thanks

Maxinquaye · Nov 28, 2009

That's the spirit. When that no-good lazy bum starts to sit on his arse, and just get in your way, boot him out and drag in some new man-flesh.

Oh. You weren't talking about relationships.

My bad.

*tip toeing out again*

Lady Ice · Nov 29, 2009

Libbie said:
You're probably just sick of reading it. Start a new one. This one will be waiting for you to come back to it.

Agreed. Sometimes a burst of inspiration hits you and you return back to it with new vitality.

GeorgieB · Nov 29, 2009

I just finished the NaNo, working on a story with what I thought was a good plot. Three men, two women, money, sex, murder -- what could go wrong?

Everything.

I'll keep the basic plot in mind, but this effort is headed to the trunk (at best) or with a session with the delete key.

It was a daily struggle to get words on screen. The characters were flat, the dialogue insipid and the flow stagnated. Other than that it was wonderful.

It's history, and it happens. The one good thing is that during this ah, effort is that another plot line in another genre popped into my head and won't go away.

Mr Flibble · Nov 29, 2009

Lady Ice said:
Agreed. Sometimes a burst of inspiration hits you and you return back to it with new vitality.

And sometimes you have to worry at it like a terrier with a bone to get that inspiration

I'm too bloody stubborn to give up.

And that inspiration has really helped. Re-writes...13k yesterday

kaitie · Nov 29, 2009

That's great! I'm glad it's finally working for you. Doesn't it just feel great when it's all flowing right again?

Mr Flibble · Nov 29, 2009

*does a little dance*

Yes, yes it does.

bearilou · Nov 29, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
*does a little dance*

Yes, yes it does.

YAY! I'm so glad to hear about your breakthrough! eeeee!

:snoopy:

Maxinquaye · Nov 29, 2009

What are those 'moments' like? :popcorn:

But, yay!

Mr Flibble · Nov 29, 2009

Maxinquaye said:
What are those 'moments' like?

Those 'moments' are the ones that got me put on anti-psychotic drugs. They are not pleasant and I'm glad to have avoided one.

Me, obsessive about my writing? Noooooooooo, never.

ETA: My husband says he can't win. If I'm happy with my writing, all I do is write, if I'm unhappy with my writing I'm a miserable moobag lol

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