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May 4 07 3:52 AM

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I run across this problem a lot and usually I just force myself to write through it, but I've noticed that my particular "Forced writing" dosen't sound as appealing as some other spots in my story. I've been rereading certain parts of my book that I've been writing on for years. Yes, years. I have no life. And now I don't much care for it. I don't know if this is just me being a writer who is being over critical or not but now it seems like something is missing and it's driving me crazy. Its actually getting in the way of continuing. Has this happend to anyone else before?
Any ideas on what I could do to ease out of this?

If I'm quiet then we're not talking about writing...or I could have lost my marbles.

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#1 [url]

May 4 07 5:01 PM

QUOTE
...it seems like something is missing and it's driving me crazy. Its actually getting in the way of continuing. Has this happened to anyone else before?


It happens to me too. I’m going through it right now.
I just started writing another novel and my first chapter was flowing beautifully. I was pumped! Then, I realized that my plot had a minor problem. My creative flow ended that very second. I haven’t written a single word since.

My fiancé told me that this was the best writing I’ve ever done and that I should correct the plot element later (it won’t come into play until much later and won’t effect the beginning at all). “Keep writing!” she said. “You’re on a roll.”
I can’t. I’ve spent days trying to work out the issue. I have thought up multiple options, each of which bends my story away from where I want it to. I’m missing something. I know my answer is out there but I just haven’t found it yet.

I know that if I continue to write, it will be crap. I can’t write what I don’t believe in. This ‘minor’ problem is getting in the way. It’s consuming me.

I cannot (or I should say - will not) soften the ‘rules’ that I created in order to make the problem go away. I write speculative fiction and always define the limits and conditions of my characters before beginning. Sticking to the rules ensures that the characters and events are consistent within that ‘world’. Once I create those rules, I must solve my character’s problem within those rules.

What I know is that I WILL solve it. And when I do, it is going to be great. I’m being forced to devise a twist, something unexpected. It will surprise me and blow my mind just like it later will to my reader.

I hope this helps. Keep at it. You’ve invested a couple of years into it. Find out what is missing (easier said than done), solve it, and then keep writing.

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#2 [url]

May 6 07 3:05 AM

Lyssa, have you tried the "what if" game?

Usually, my characters act out my story for me and I just write it down, record what they're doing or saying. But sometimes, when things stop working, when there's a story snag, they stand there with their arms crossed looking at me, waiting for me to give them direction.

When I hit a point like that, where it's not working, I stop writing and begin "what if"ing. I come up with boring stuff, with wild stuff, with stupid stuff, it really doesn't matter, I just write down whatever comes to me. Like, "What if (character name) dies," or "What if (character name) finds some gold," "What if the family leaves for another country," etc.

And suddenly, an answer to "what if" will come to me that I just know is the right one, and it will steer my story in the right direction.

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#3 [url]

May 7 07 1:36 PM

QUOTE
I've been rereading certain parts of my book that I've been writing on for years. Yes, years. I have no life.  And now I don't much care for it.


Maybe it is time to write something new and exciting. It sounds as if you have been working on the same piece for a long time and that your subcontiousness is ready for a change and wants something new and exciting. I'm not saying you should totally abandone this project, but maybe just write a short story that is floating around in your head. Or create a new world or a new character. Just something fun for yourself, to show yourself how much you like writing an dto get your creative juices flowing again.

Rod

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#4 [url]

May 8 07 2:42 AM

I like to plot out or write 'candy scenes'. You know, the awesome fight scenes or the revelations of love or character... even if you won't include it to plot, its always fun to play with your characters.

It's like action figures; not the plot, but fun with characters.

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#5 [url]

May 24 07 5:59 AM

I've been fiddling with your suggestions, and trying not to let my self write outside my own tape and red flags. It gets tempting, but I making some slow pr ogress. Thanks for your imput.

It's odd how you sometimes think that these problems only happen to you, and yet here it's just the common every day plague that a writer go's through.

For the love of writing.

I'm trying to get acustomed to the "What if" game. It's kind of hard because it opens the door to "Change". I grew up writing this story and through the years it evolved with me I suppose even so I still hate change. I better learn to like it or live with it.

I think I love my characters more than my plot. Seems a little shameful to me, but my characters are demanding creatures.

Thanks again. Wow, I need to check the forum more offten.

If I'm quiet then we're not talking about writing...or I could have lost my marbles.

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#6 [url]

May 25 07 1:32 PM

I get this problem a LOT! However, I found that my own Muse is easily fooled.

You see, when I'm stuck on a particular story or plot-point that I can't work past, I'll pick up a short story or start a new article - anything to distract my pesky Muse. Then - half way through the new piece - my Muse will suddenly turn up with something to get me back into the original piece I was stuck on and off I go again.

Another tactic I use to fool my Muse into playing nicely is to write "blah blah blah this bit happens here" (literally!) over the boring bits in the plot. Leave a couple of blank lines here and move onto the next 'fun' scene to write.

It means going back and editing quite a bit, but those blank sections cause my Muse to think hard about what I should be really putting in there to replace the blanks. When I do get back into writing them they seem to flow nicely because I've already written the part after it.

Of course every writer is different, so experiment and see what works for you.


Lee

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Fiction Factor - http://www.fictionfactor.com
The online magazine for fiction writers
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