Writers... help! I can't finish the story!

[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.

[nopardons]

You're rapacious cravings for attention won't be satisfied my me.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh you poor thing; jealous that duraselll and I can carry on an intelligent conversation and you're left out in the cold.

[Number57]

Hostility?

k...

[nopardons]

Keep 'em churning out. :-)

It was fun.............................

[Number57]

I had to look up 'rapacious'... wow I suck.

I wish I could spell a word or two.

[nopardons]

Use spell check; however, that won't help any, with your abject dearth of an evocative vocabulary.

[Number57]

Keep slamming me, go on. You don't faze me.

[Number57]

"...evocative vocabulary"

.....

[Number57]

newbies.

Funneh

[Number57]

...intelligent conversation and you're left out in the cold.

yeah. I feel left out.

[SunnyUsa]

sounds like CLUE

[Number57]

Nice to meetcha.

[Number57]

A clue is a clue. You wake up.

[bonfire]

It's the "all about me" syndrome. sigh....

[Number57]

WTF

Remember the origin of this thread?

[bonfire]

No.

[R. Scott]

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.

I ran into the same thing when writing on one of my most familiar topics – me. Various people have suggested over the years that I write my autobiography, so I did. I thought it was pretty good – until I passed copies of the rough draft around for feedback. One person was an historian, another an engineer, a bartender and a couple just people friends. They all gave me good feedback and critique.
I took their criticisms and questions to heart and rewrote it for about the tenth time. I added what needed to be added and deleted what needed to be deleted. I left it for a week, came back and read it – and made more changes. I finally thought it was ready for a publisher – and went over the stack of rejection letters for clues as to what I had to do. This process went on for a few years.
I finally had what I figured had to be the final draft. I again sent it out to two historians and a couple friends and it came back with favorable comments. The whole process took from about 1990 to 2005 when I again went looking for a publisher. The first submission was successful and the book (“A Soldier’s Tale, Memoirs of an Army Sailor”) was released on 31 May 2006.
It is a fantastic rush to see your book in print, with your picture on the back cover! WOW!
I am now working on a novel – but after three times of scrapping it after Chapter 3 I took a break and will return to it in a few weeks – after it gels in my mind. I realized by Chapter 3 that I was going to alienate a lot of people. Guess I’m a bit more politically conservative than I thought.

[Number57]

[R. Scott]

Sometimes skipping ahead and then coming back to fill in the hole can get the ol' muse started up again.

Benefits of a word processor! I learned to have a great deal of respect for those who came before and did not have that amazing tool. I can’t imagine writing a book without it – much less with a quill pen.