Frustration Reigns Supreme

stace001 · Jul 6, 2006

I've found myself in a very frustrating position of late.

I've never been able to write detailed outlines for my novels, instead I just sit down and let my characters take me along for the ride. But lately, my characters seem to want to stay in and keep to themselves. I'm about 13,000 words into my WIP and I have no idea where to go from here. I have ideas for further into the book, but getting there from here has me stumped. I've gone back over my work, tried to just sit and write whatever comes to mind, I've even tried closing my eyes and willing my characters to life. Nothing.

I had a basic storyline in my head when I began writing (I used the same process with my 3 other novels and it worked fine) but for some reason it isn't working this time. Does anyone have any tricks I might try? Something that always works for them that I haven't already tried?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Inkdaub · Jul 6, 2006

The only real advice I can think of is to skip ahead to the sections you mentioned having ideas for. You might not end up keeping the sections but it may help kickstart the flow. I know many writers will write their stories out of order. I wonder if the reasoning is block?

Bmwhtly · Jul 6, 2006

Having ideas for later on but not being able to get to them. I've been through this. Unfortunately I don't have a trick, but try writing the bits you know.
Don't under any circumstances, just wait for it to flow! thats what I did, and my WIP became Work Abandoned.

seun · Jul 6, 2006

You could try leaving it alone for a few days. You'll probably be thinking about it at the back of your head while doing anything else. If an idea occurs, jot it down and then see if it helps. Even if it doesn't, you might find something connected to that idea.

If that doesn't work, try writing anything even if it's nothing to do with your WIP. The act of writing will increase your morale which is always good.

Robert Toy · Jul 6, 2006

Another possibility is killing off / eliminating characters or changing the hero to a villain and the villain to a hero and see what effect it has on the character.

Inkdaub · Jul 6, 2006

Haha...I was going to suggest killing a character.

moth · Jul 6, 2006

This just happened to me a few months ago, when I got majorly stuck midway through a novel. Like you I knew exactly where I was going but had no idea how to get there from where I was. Things I did to unstick myself:

1. Lots of long showers. Ideas flow easier in there for some reason. :tongue

2. Idea maps. I put each character's name in a different spot on one piece of paper, then wrote in objects that had nothing to do with the story -- snowflakes, wine corks, ginkgo leaves, whatever came to my mind -- and started drawing lines between names and objects (or names and names, or objects and objects) without thinking about it. Just if it felt like there should be a line between two things, I drew it there. I wrote all the words in different colors and drew my lines in black.

3. Writing about not knowing what to write. I opened a separate document and wrote how I had no idea how to get the characters from A to B. Wrote about my frustrations, things I wanted to include if I could just get there already, how I wanted to shake my characters by the shoulders for being so non-forthcoming with what happens to them (that was particularly satisfying

), anything to do with how I was totally stuck.

It took several times doing each of those, plus some diligence and luck, but eventually the story came. Little bits from each place ended up making it into the finished draft, and I know for sure that at least some of them will survive revisions.

I hope these are of at least some help to you. Take heart -- I've been in that particular forest you're in right now, and there is a way out! You can do it.

KTC · Jul 6, 2006

I've posted this suggestion before. I've had a few friends try it with success. I think it's been done before, it's not like it's my idea, but here's an article I wrote on the idea...it's a PDF file of a newsletter. My article is on page 1. It's about writing diary entries as your characters:

http://www.wcdr.org/wordweaver/wwjunejuly2004.pdf

KTC · Jul 6, 2006

Oh...and page 2 of the same newsletter suggests 'mindmapping'.

Selcaby · Jul 6, 2006

Maybe something you've already written doesn't gel. Pick a later bit that you do know and think how you could get to there if you could start anywhere you liked. Now can you combine any of that with what you've already got? Or identify anything you need to change?

Summonere · Jul 6, 2006

Frustration Reigns Supreme in the court of chaos and gloom...

I'm about 13,000 words into my WIP and I have no idea where to go from here. I have ideas for further into the book, but getting there from here has me stumped.

As Inkdaub already suggested, start writing about those ideas “for further into the book,” because it sounds like you may need those ideas right now. Connecting the dots from 13,000 words to those “further into the book” may be just the ticket. On the other hand, if it isn’t, you can always fill in the missing stuff later.

Nangleator · Jul 6, 2006

Lazy characters! Get off your butts!

Perhaps they need obstacles thrust in their way. Or, if they're not moving, introduce a new character to motivate them. Have a mugging interrupt the story. Or an earthquake. Yeah. Shake things up!

moth, showers work for you? Long walks do it for me. Moving my feet makes my brain work.

HConn · Jul 6, 2006

stace001 said:
I have ideas for further into the book, but getting there from here has me stumped.

Try letting go of those ideas for further into the book. You may be trying to bridge where the characters are right now with where you expect them to be later. The characters may not want to do what they need to do to cross that bridge.

You may be aiming for the wrong destination. Let your characters assess their current situation without the burden of future plot points, then let them run.

stace001 · Jul 6, 2006

Thanks guys. I love you AW'ers. I knew I'd find wonderful ideas and support here. Moth, your ideas were great. Many others had the same points about jumping ahead and getting my ideas for "further into the story" down now which is a great idea. I think while I have those ideas, I should probably get them down before I lose them.

Nengleator, I like the thought of throwing in an unexpected obstacle. If that doesn't work, then I guess you were right hconn...maybe my stubborn characters just don't wanna go there.

KTC, your idea on writing diary entries as my character is fabulous. I've never thought of doing that before, but it seems so logical now. Thank you so much.

I've made notes on all the ideas and I'll give each of them ago. Thanks so much to all. You've been a great help. I'll keep you posted. :Hug2:

(big hugs for everyone)

DamaNegra · Jul 6, 2006

Or write boring bits of prose to get them where you want to, then spice up the boring bits during revision? That's what I do, because I always have that problem. Like, right now.

But yeah, throwing obstacles is a great way to go.

allion · Jul 6, 2006

You could try interviewing your characters to see why they have become reclusive. Pretend you're Larry King and the characters are your guest for an hour. It could be interesting for character development, if nothing else.

I like to write out of order to keep myself interested. Of course, the problem comes when I have to stitch the bits together, but I'm working on it.

Karen
(trying to dodge the block daily)

stace001 · Jul 6, 2006

Thanks DamaNegra & Allion. Its reassuring to know others experience the same problems and overcome them in their own ways. I'll give them a shot. :Hug2:

Frustration Reigns Supreme

stace001

Look into my eyes

Inkdaub

wrapped in plastic

Bmwhtly

Yes, I'm back.

seun

Horror Man

Robert Toy

Inkdaub

wrapped in plastic

moth

my own two hands

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Selcaby

Writer of wrongs

Summonere

Nangleator

Rep Point Whore

HConn

Whore for genre

stace001

Look into my eyes

DamaNegra

Mexican on the loose!

allion

Character assassin

stace001

Look into my eyes