Writer's Block-ish - Does this happen to you?

T

TimAkers

Member
Hi there,

As I was going through some of my earlier work, in forms of manuscripts, I came across a rather large array of started-but-never-finished novel manuscripts. It's not that I have writer's block, because that's the one thing I think I will never have, but rather loss of interest, fast. My problem is, as soon as I make my wife read the first few chapters, I then lay out the entire concept. I lose interest after that. After I've already seen this story play out in my head, I'm bored of it and move on. However, here is the problem, my wife wants me to finish these stories. Her promise to me, while in college, if I finish an entire manuscript by December, she will find a publishing house and pursue this dream as a writer. Please, no comments on that. I know it's very difficult making it was a writer, which is why I own a studio.

I have two dilemmas: (These are rhetorical.)

How am I supposed to finish a story I've seen already played out, without being bored, and staying on topic?

-and-

What do I pick as the main event to pour money into once it's written? None of them really invite me in as a "bestseller." Rather, they are more or less, quick entertainment. P.S. - These aren't really short stories.

Here's the big question:

Has this happened to you? How often? If so, please share anything interesting that helped you rediscover your niche, and helped you finish what you started.

Thanks,

Tim
 
I'm on a phone so this will be short.

Don't outline so thoroughly. Surprise yourself as you go along. Leave the story open. Don't focus on plot so much, focus on character. Movies typically need to know where they're going, but novels have more freedom.

Next, you need to write as a ritual. Great works are products of perseverance, not strength. Do not quit.

I write 1500 words every morning at 9am and so far this hasn't happened to me. But something like it has happened to me on screenplays. I can -see- a screenplay so vividly that it gives me more fear to carry on. I hope after this book is done I will return to screenwriting with the courage I've acquired.
 
First of all, thank you so much for the advice. You're right, I do focus too much on "surprising" my readers, rather than focusing on detail and climax.

Thank you again for the detail. I have a new schedule-change that allows me to wake up each morning and write. I used to set my goal as two-to-three chapters a day. But, then I ran into this problem, where I would just start new manuscripts and only write the first three chapters.

I will take your advice and start doing some writing exercises and just see where they develop. I will not set any expectations, and will not share my work until I have written at least half of what I think is finished. This way, I leave it up to surprise myself without feeling obligated to finish out expectations that others are also looking forward to.

Thanks, Drew. This is why I love this place.

Tim
 
Bad news, not what you want to hear. The trick is you just have to finish. When it becomes work you are finally a writer. It's not writing if it isn't work, that's playing. Even the draft isn't writing, that's inspiration. Writing is the rewrite, the self-editing, fixing the structure, reworking the characters for consistency of voice, massaging plot elements, adding forecasting elements for events you came up with late in the write. It's hard I know, my first ten years of writing was a similar story to what you tell. I suggest you pick whichever of those manuscripts is your favourite and finish it. It doesn't have to be good. It just needs to be finished. Once you have your first draft, then decide whether you want to rewrite it but finish that first draft. Work on it everyday for at least half an hour until its done. Treat it as a chore, just get it done. Because you see, once you finish something for the first time the next is literally half as hard. After 2 or 3 it is no longer daunting. You've proved yourself to yourself. Trust me.

Don't worry about results right now, you're not ready. Worry about milestones. Hit them as hard as you can. If you generate decent work in this phase its a bonus. Finish something, analyse. Determine what you need to work on and start a project that highlights that area. Characters weak? Write a character piece. Flat? Doesn't flow? Learn about pacing, graph tension and excitement, quiet points and write to it.

I'll leave you with Douglas Adams' technique, it might help with the boredom and is an extreme version of Drew's suggestion. Consider it a supplement rather than replacement for what I've said above. It's pretty simple. Constantly paint yourself into a corner. Then get out of it. It's kind of an ADD way to write and will result in a much less rigid structure but by it's very nature will result in a natural tension-release flow, you just have to make sure each junction escalates. Of course such a methodology can lead to alcoholism if you don't keep perspective!
 
That's funny.

But on a serious note, thank you. I think you both are right. I need to get into the ritual of writing AND finishing. Maybe I will take a few steps back and start writing short-stories again. I will treat them as research papers, so-to-speak. That way, I am in the the constant motion of writing everyday, also, I am aiming for an ending. I can then let ADD take its course and train me naturally. This new schedule of mine will be so beneficial. Not to sound like a dork, but, it's kind of like Mr. Miyagi's "Wax on, Wax off" method in the original "The Karate Kid." Daniel-san was training his arms and the memory in his muscles to react naturally by doing all of the painting, waxing, and other various chores without realizing it. But, when the time came to use those muscles, surprisingly, he had the strength because he was training himself all along.

I can't believe I used an 80's movie as a reference. :D
 
In accordance with Egg, here William Goldman's advice if I remember it right: If you do not know what to write, write it. Go on.

My advice: Start writing the beginning, then write the end, then write the mid-point. Three screw-anchors on which to hang your story. And you can throw them away when you get a better idea while writing.
 
Everything you need to finish the story, is already there. Go back and reread what you've written. Pull up some minor character and have them interact with the others. Find some action, some event, then revisit that so it becomes the key factor that propels the story forward.

It's already there. You just have to chisel away the rough bits to find your story.
 
Rolf Silber said:
In accordance with Egg, here William Goldman's advice if I remember it right: If you do not know what to write, write it. Go on.

My advice: Start writing the beginning, then write the end, then write the mid-point. Three screw-anchors on which to hang your story. And you can throw them away when you get a better idea while writing.
Click to expand...

Good advice
 
Rolf Silber said:
In accordance with Egg, here William Goldman's advice if I remember it right: If you do not know what to write, write it. Go on.
Click to expand...

I suppose that'd work if you don't know what the hell you're going to write. Helps you gather lots of scenes together.

But it sounds like a lot of work that way around. Why not just outline the scenes beforehand.
 
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