Struggling Writers discussion
Stuck on Your Writing?
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Need help to continue my stories,please!!
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Also when it says like-minded, I meant to just say like xD
What do you mea? Do you get stuck on the actual plot or just you don't know where to go?
*mean. No mea. Oops. If you are having trouble with a specific part, not with the entire plot, why not skip that scene/part and write the next one. Then go back and fill it in.
If it's a problem with the plot, come up with a blurb for the back of the book (should you publish it) first. Basically, the character, problem, solution, ending. Then fill in the details. For example... The story of, say... A Misummer Nights Dream:
Character: Hermia and Lysander - two lovers
Problem: Hermia's father, Egeus, wants her to marry someone else
Solution: Hermia and Lysander run off into the forest together...
(Then what happens, said Shakespeare....)
"Hmm... How about the person who Egeus wants Hermia to marry, Demetrius, is also in love with Hermia, and follows them into the forest...
...what if Hermia's friend, Helena, loves Demetrius but he doesn't love her...
...what if there are fairies in the forest..."
Etc etc
There is an app that I think you can get on iTunes and the Nook for about $2.99, called Lists for Writers. This app has previously helped me when I could not figure something out with books that I am writing. There are lists for character, personality, plot, setting, miscellaneous, and words. There is so much information about all of these subjects, so any writer's block should be conquered somewhat easily. So, I hope this app will help you.
I this app does not help you, then I have some more advice. Pay attention to everyday life happening around you(problems, solutions, etc.) Do the same thing with T.V., movies, and other books. Then just add your own twist to the things that you find and use them for your book(I'm not saying to copy these ideas, but to use them for inspiration).
Anyway, I hope this helps and good luck with your writing!!!!!!!
Before I try and help, and what I'm about to say probably won't be helpful, I should note that I'm a short story writer and I've just started working on a longer project. Also, I'm very a non-planner. I just write while keeping things in my head, and it tends to lead to me abandoning a lot.With that in mind, you could try what Emma said and come back to where you're stuck, provided you have an idea of other scenes. Main thing, sometimes, is just to put yourself in the shoes of the characters and think about what they'd do.
What Selina says is good advice too. Just look anywhere for inspiration, though I'd say not a big believer in writer's block. I believe anyone can type up words, it's just . . . sometimes, you don't feel the writing is any good. My advice for writer's block anyway is to think of a scene that anyone can relate to, like someone sitting by someone they care for in a hospital bed, and just write.
My own personal thought is that you've said you often make notes. It could be that you're trying to force a story to follow said notes? Failing that, maybe you're trying to turn what should be a short story into a longer story. Then again, I'm big advocate of not using more words than necessary to tell the story, so . . . *shrugs* maybe ignore that bit.
In any case, the one creative writing class years ago, we were asked to look at newspapers. Taught us to look for stories anywhere. So, Selina is on the money.
Of course, if we had a bit more information on the story itself, we could possibly help a bit more. And maybe, like I said, you're trying to make a story longer than it should be. Eventually, it should all just click into place when you have a story that wants to be a novel (I never really write with a word count in mind, so . . .). Then again, I self-publish.
Good luck, and I hope it helps. I know my weakness is rambling, yet I don't do so in stories. ;)
Amy wrote: "Hello everyone! I have a question to ask you all, because I really am stuck on this, and it keeps me from writing a novel, which is my life dream, so therefore, here is my question to you, fellow s..."It sounds like this is the perfect time to introduce a subplot. Use it as a detour to get away from the basic story and join up with it later.
All of the advice you've been given is great, and here's my two cents. Well, the first thing I would do is to go back to that notebook. I know you said it doesn't help, but stick with me. Read everything, and then... Well, add to it.
Let me explain myself. One thing that can give a crazy plot twist is reading it and going the exact opposite way you had planned. I'm not saying that you'll stay this way- maybe by the end your characters will have reformed and gone back to your original plans for them. Maybe you don't even use it in the story, but it will certainly help you generate some original ideas. This may not work for you, but there are other approaches.
Another thing you can do is to randomly pick two characters' names and put them together. Maybe they're a love interest, maybe one kills each other. It doesn't matter. The most important thing is to do something that probably isn't expected but does make sense in the context of your story.
Another strategy is to take a little break from this story and work on something else or even just write random scenes, poems, whatever. You can include these or just take ideas from them.
Best of luck!
Selina wrote: "There is an app that I think you can get on iTunes and the Nook for about $2.99, called Lists for Writers. This app has previously helped me when I could not figure something out with books th..."
Thank you for the heads up. This sounded so interesting, I immediately went out an got it.
Oh yeah, it's only $1.99 on Nook.
Emma wrote: "*mean. No mea. Oops. If you are having trouble with a specific part, not with the entire plot, why not skip that scene/part and write the next one. Then go back and fill it in.
If it's a problem..."
Okay, thank you, I will try c= you all give such good advice!
Selina wrote: "There is an app that I think you can get on iTunes and the Nook for about $2.99, called Lists for Writers. This app has previously helped me when I could not figure something out with books th..."
Okay! I will try out this app! Thanks!
David wrote: "Before I try and help, and what I'm about to say probably won't be helpful, I should note that I'm a short story writer and I've just started working on a longer project. Also, I'm very a non-plann..."Thank you! And you probably are right that I am trying to turn a short story into a novel, but sometimes I feel like it could continue, but I don't know how. Your comment really did help though, and brought me to the realization of me writing short stories and I just have to wait for the "click" so I thank you for your comment, as it has helped a bunch. C=
♪ Tara ♪ wrote: "All of the advice you've been given is great, and here's my two cents. Well, the first thing I would do is to go back to that notebook. I know you said it doesn't help, but stick with me. Read ev..." thank you!/that are some great ideas, I will try to take all these wonderful comments and advice and use them to help me continue c=
I just kind of write little plot ideas, and try to get some ideas in my head, and it usually does keep me on track, but I feel like my stories get boring, and diverse from them, ut I will try to take everyone's comments and use them to help. And yes, long term stories are hard to achieve, but as David said, it will eventually just "click." Thank you for the luck. C=
Sandy wrote: "Forgive me if this is what you meant by saying "notes," but do you write out a text-treatment before you start writing? Though I always diverge from text-treatments, having to re-write them as I am..."I just kind of write little plot ideas, and try to get some ideas in my head, and it usually does keep me on track, but I feel like my stories get boring, and diverse from them, ut I will try to take everyone's comments and use them to help. And yes, long term stories are hard to achieve, but as David said, it will eventually just "click." Thank you for the luck.
My friends keep notebooks and notebooks full of plots and keep coming up with them, but never actually write them out into stories. On the other hand, I have trouble plotting and start the story when it comes to mind.
Which do you do...?
I usually use my notebook plots, and diverse from there. Sometimes I usually write when it comes to mind, and use the notebook plots later on the story. So I guess you could say I just start the story when it comes from mind.
Emma wrote: "My friends keep notebooks and notebooks full of plots and keep coming up with them, but never actually write them out into stories. On the other hand, I have trouble plotting and start the story ..."
I usually use my notebook plots, and diverse from there. Sometimes I usually write when it comes to mind, and use the notebook plots later on the story. So I guess you could say I just start the story when it comes from mind.
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Okay, so whenever I write a story, I usually write 20-40 pages, then i just get stuck on what should happen next, or how to continue. I keep a journal of ideas, but it doesn't seem to help when I am already far into my story.
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This is a very big problem, and it keeps me from achieving my goal of being an author, and I know some of you might say something like-minded "Omg just write short stories!" Or- "Omg write a novella, gosh!" Well you know, my goal is to write a novel, not a short story or novella, I want to write a novel.
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So my conclusive question, is simple. I need help on how to get new ideas, and keep my story flowing.
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~Thank you.~