Uh oh - totally out of ideas for my novel

Firstly, welcome!

I have experienced something very like what you're describing. It happened when I had a set up I really liked and wanted to explore, characters I had developed and which I was happy with, but no idea about any long term plot. I got a few thousand words in, but then had no idea what my characters were supposed to be doing, and it stopped.

I know that some people are happy to write and see what happens, but I find that having a clear plot with a defined end point in mind helps to keep on track, and if you've outlilned, even very roughly, the sequence of events in your story, you always know what's coming up next. You may be the kind of writer who needs direction like this. You mention having a subplot, but no plot - maybe you're trying to write this story before you really know what it is? Maybe it would benefit from more time in development?

As for perspective change - I can't really answer you as I'm facing a similar dilemma at the moment - 7,650 words with one character, and yet I know I'll need different perspectives later on in the story.

1) This has been happening to me over and over as I work on revising my WIP. The reason is always that something is wrong, and my subconscious knows and won't let me advance, even if I'm not consciously aware of any problems. My solution is to keep running over the storyline in my head and going over what-ifs (what if I cut this scene? what if I moved this one over here? what if he's really doing this for a different reason? what if she doesn't decide she has to forgive him quite yet?). Eventually something clicks, I know what's wrong, and I can fix it and get going again. At this point it's happened so often that I don't even worry when I hit a snag, because I know I'll be fine again soon (for another few pages or a chapter, anyway).

In your case it sounds like you already know what the problem is: your plot. I find it helps to make sure my protagonist has a clear goal and a vital reason why that goal must be achieved. Then there's always something to work for, and the novel moves right along. I don't know your premise, of course, but it might help to make sure there's a clear goal and stakes. As a bonus, having those also makes it easier when you have to state the concept in a query letter.

2) Sure, switch the POV if you want to. Anything goes if you can make it work. Besides, if you don't like it you can always switch it back or add in your new POV character earlier. Nothing's set in stone.

You've gotten some good advice! My solution for writer's block is to just remember that you can do anything. You can create any situation, any character, any plot device you want to.

Welcome!

I think everyone has found himself in this situation! I know that I have!

I'm not at all an outline person, so outlines drive me crazy. Like you said, they make me feel like I'm writing myself into a corner.

I don't know if this will work for you, but sometimes when I'm stuck, I sit down at the keyboard and just start typing - not stopping to correct my type-o's, not even really looking at the computer screen, just typing. Then I give myself a day or two and, finally, I go back to what I've written. Sometimes that stream of consciousness thing will show me what the story is really about.

Good luck!!

BarbaraNC said:

Hello! I'm new.

So, 13,000 words into my novel I have totally run out of steam for it. This is completely freaking me out. I feel like I have one great subplot and no plot, and I've just got characters moving from place to place. I keep trying to sit down and write SOMETHING, anything, and I seem to be completely unable to write it at all.

This is bad, because I am going to a novel workshop in a couple of months. I like my first 25 pages. My synopsis (had to write it for the workshop) is ok, but I feel like I've written myself into a corner.

2 questions:

1) have you experienced this horrible thing and what the heck do you do?

2) I may need a POV change, but the first 25 pages are limited to one character. Can I jump to another after 25 pages??

Thanks. I am worried I will show up to the workshop completely unprepared. Worrying about this is not helpful to my actual novel.

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First, welcome to AW.

Second, to your numbered questions:

1) I have experienced this horrible thing, though not in so extreme a fashion as you have. I find that adding another character or two, as well as some subplot, helps immensely.

Also, you may want to take some time to sit down and read a book you really like. A lot of the time, I find with myself that I can actually be inspired by other people's writing. Plus this can give you good insight into your second numbered question, concerning POV shifts. Seeing how other writers do it can be a major help to just about anyone.

2) I started giving a different answer to this numbered question, but I find the following statement rings more true with me:

Write your story the way you want to tell it, and then think about formatting and such, in your revisions. Your first draft is just there to get your story on paper. The way you lengthen your work will likely depend on a fresh reading of your piece when you're all finished with the first draft.

So don't worry about whether or not it's okay to change POV right now. Just write your first draft, and then make any changes in your later versions.

Finally, best wishes to you on your WIP. Good luck!

Sometimes just writing stream of thought stuff works. You shut the computer, come back the next day and boom, there's an idea in there that you didn't consciously see but now it's as clear as day; the answer you've been looking for.

You push and push and suddenly you break through.

Sometimes I drop the story completely. Other times, I just sit back and brainstorm ideas. Go crazy in your brainstorming. And by crazy I do mean crazy. If you're writing a modern mystery, brainstorm what would happen if aliens and vampires showed up. Women's fiction? Add a subplot involving mysterious green blobs. Free your mind for the idea that anything can happen. After all, just because you think of it, doesn't mean you have to use it.

You'll probably giggle when you imagine introducing sarcastic, bug-eyed blue aliens into your contemporary women's fiction where the plot revolves around your heroine's impending divorce and her dissatisfaction with her job, but maybe that will lead you to the idea of introducing a deadbeat ex-con brother who seems to have an unnatural interest in your teenage daughter. As you're letting these wild and crazy ideas out, something not quite so out there will filter in.

As for changing POV? Sure, why not? Why not write the entire story to date from the antagonist's POV?

Sounds like you ate up your plot. In a hurry to get to the end, were we?

No discription?
No backstory?

Common to do for a new writer.

Make it a short story and start a new work. Or, start over and use the 13,000 words for your outline.

Ken

Not to be harsh, but from my own experience, I'd say that this is likely to be your problem right here. "I have one great subplot and no plot"

If you written what, to many writers, would be a book's first two chapters and you've become lost, then you might want to try blocking out your plot. Use whatever means seams best to you. Writing a novel without a plot is a pretty sure-fire way to end up in the "Thanks but no thanks basket" at your favorite literary agency.

Michael, something happens to someone that must lead somewhere, in Seattle.

BarbaraNC said:

I think the problem was that what I thought was sustainable as my main plot is probably not believable, at least not right now. I had a character obsessed with something he's missing and it affects his whole life - but that's just not enough for the novel.

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A little verisimilitude can go a long way, trust me. Also remember that people are reading your novel with a willing suspension of disbelief, so they'll probably accept what you want them to accept.

If your having a writing block you can also start another wip and sometimes that will jolt your brain into working on your current idea.
Second if you know another scene from later in the story, go ahead and write it out so you can go back to the other part.

And last my motto "Write the Damn Book", you can sort it out later.

Welcome, Barbara!

You've already received some great advice. I'll second the plot outline bit - if I don't have a plot outline, I get severely blocked, and fast. I'm not good at thinking up the plot on the fly or holding it in my head - I have to have a framework written out and in front of me.

I'll also add that it can be useful to get a brainstorm buddy and toss ideas around. I've done that several to many times in the past, and I've found it great for figuring out where the plot holes are and how to solve them as well as figuring out a better direction for the story to go in.

Barring that, I'd suggest brainstorming on your own. Get a huge piece of paper or whiteboard or something and write down all the possibilities for your story that you can think of no matter how outlandish. Then pick and chose what's the most interesting to you while also being logical for your characters.

Good luck! And yeah, been there, done that. I think the majority of us have been.

BarbaraNC said:

Thanks guys! Actually I do have a synopsis written, but I just don't think that what I originally planned as a main plot is quite compelling enough. So back to the drawing board on that. I had a burst of inspiration yesterday...and today I'm not so sure again, but I'm just going to try out my new ideas, at least.

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You're human. Being unsure is part of life. It's good that you're going to try your ideas out, because you'll never know if they're good or not, if you don't try them.

Good luck to you, and have fun with your WIP!

When Somerset Maugham was stuck, he'd just sit at the desk and scribble anything, even his his name, over and over. He claimed this bored his subconscious into coming up with brilliant ideas as an antidote to be subjected to this unbearble tedium.

Me, I go for a walk. (But no iPod!!!! Bad subconscious!!)