Posted on 08/17/2006 8:36:45 PM PDT by Number57
I've had this story worked out in my mind for going on twenty years. 1989. But now... I am stuck. I started a book based on it, but I'm no writer, obviously. I constantly re-read and edit, and re-read and edit more.
Probably because I've posted part of the story on sites that critique writing.
Anyway. I've hit a wall. A large brick wall. I've since stopped editing my own stuff, but try as I might, I can't write another chapter that I'm okay with. How do you, in your experience, get past it? I'll appreciate any help anyone can offer.
Ask someone else (or better yet, 10 people) to write an ending, and change it to your liking. You'd have to get lawyers involved, as to avoid any lawsuits. Make them understand you will be changing some, or all of it, to fit your vision. Pay them a small sum, and leave it at that. Or just walk away from it for a while, and come back to it when you get some new ideas.
Might be a thread for you.
I've considered buying a large dry erase board and working out the details there. I'm horrible about taking notes... I'm just too lazy. But I'll write for 14 hours if inspiration strikes me.
I just want to finish this one. And I guess that's my problem. It may never be finished. It's my baby.
Heh...I'm reminded of how, in LM Montgomery's Anne books, Anne Shirley and Diana Barry would both write...but Diana never knew what to do with her characters, so she'd have them all die horribly in order to get rid of them. ;-)
"It was a dark and stormy night..."
= = = =
LOL.
Post #6?
I'd have thought it would have been post #2!
Just write. Don't edit. Difficult to switch hemispheres and stay on track with the story line. Plenty of time to edit. Never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table. Play poker!!!!!
Hahahaha, that'll do it.
"And they lived happily ever after."
The End?
There...
Email me for my paypal account to deposit my share of the royalties!
Mark
Book mark for later.
What a vivid description.
Leave it alone and sleep on it for three nights...then get up and remember what the ending is. Seriously, there must be an ending, and you've simply forgotten what it is....there is also a meditational exercise that one does before bed to clear the mind for more purposeful activity....before slumber recount the entire day backwards. You will then have worked out the kinks before sleep activity, which allows the mind to be creative.
The standard remedy in detective novels, when characters had been "painted into a corner", was the infamous, "...and then two guys with guns entered the room."
It can be called the "52-card pick up" ending. Something happens that changes everything. End the book with maximum chaos.
The heroine announces that she's pregnant.
The hero is recalled to active duty.
A character removes their disguise.
The lights go out and a gun is fired.
The slow-acting poison starts to take effect.
The disaster happens and everyone must scatter, to never meet again...
My only claim to fame is that I was 1st runner-up in that sucker one year. Got me a front page story in the paper on what I imagine was the slowest news day in history :)
"Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk never to be seen again. It was the best day ever. "
OK, it's not mine. It's from Firefly, but it's some powerful good writin!
Mark
I'm going to have to agree with Fair Opinion on this one. Just finish the work no matter how bad you think it is. It's a lot easier to clean up afterwards. Complete the novel and then perfect it.
Overall, that's a Fair Opinion. After you've hassled with it, then have someone look at it that's not going to placate you.
Someone that's going to treat you like a red-headed step child. The more they make you work the better. Just my two cents worth.
Hmmmmm
You get extremely frustrated.
How frustrated are you typically in other areas of your life?
If you are a bit too obsessive, you might practice LETTING THE UNCLOSED CIRCLE BE.
Let whatever is niggling at you be. Lay it aside; ignore it; attend to other aspects. There are some good suggestions hereon for that.
There is plenty of time to come back and deal with the niggling parts.
The business of writing the last chapter then the 2nd to last etc. is a good one.
You could also do something creative like writing the opposite of what you'd think you'd want for the next chapter.
Or write a spoof of the next chapter.
The principle of brainstorming is that any silly idea can spark a great one. Trust that as you do something--almost anything--things will evolve.
I don't suppose you can incorporate the responses you've received on this thread into your story? If you do, and you choose to mention my character, Chena, please remember that I don't look a day over a sensual, fit, and drop-dead gorgeous 30 year old woman in spite of being 50 years old.
This was a fictional story, right? ;)
In terms of writer's block, one method that really works for me is my daily lunch ritual. I have a PDA (Palm Tungsten T3) and fold-out keyboard. Every day I bring both to work, and I always bring them with me down to the cafeteria on my lunch break. I typically finish lunch in 20 minutes, which leaves a decent amount of time for writing a page or two. Even when I'm really blocked, I usually manage at least a paragraph, and no matter how bad the writing is it's still progress. If it's really bad I might edit it the next day and continue writing on the third, but I haven't been at a complete standstill in quite some time. For me it's become a daily ritual to the point that I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I went to lunch without my Palm.
That isn't how my story ends.
In fact, it is not a happy ending. I don't think I gave too much away there...
Today, however, would be a different day...yes, today was the day that he would face his greatest fear, which he had carried with him ever since he was a child. The fear that kept him awake at night. The almost irrational fear that had crippled his brittle excuse of a life.
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