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I'm already giving up
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message 1:
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Sarah
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Jul 24, 2011 01:12PM
I feel like whenever I write I'm doing something cliche or something that's already been done. I can't really even come up with a good idea that's not my own. I started a book last night with kind of an idea I had and now I feel like it's not good enough. I have 10 pages and I feel like it's awful and been done before I feel like it's like everything else. I'm seriously considering deleting it from my computer because I can't stand to work on it anymore. I can't even think of a topic that hasn't been done before and I don't know how to create one. I mean Stephenie Meyer brought vampire and werewolves back into style and Suzanne Collins brought dystopian societies and of course theres all kinds of romance novels. How do you come up with unique ideas? And any advice for this struggling writer?
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Sit down at the computer and start. Let it pour from your heart, rip it from your insides. Bleed it. Weep it. If you choke on it keep choking until it comes out. Don't re-read it, don't critique it and most importantly do not write for someone else. Don't you dare think while you're writing "I hope they like this. I hope they laugh here." Screw them. Write for you. Write what's in your soul. Write your hopes and your fears and write a story you would like to read. Write a story that you feel in your bones. Just keep writing. You think it's a cliche' fix it later. You think it's been over done, wait and decide later. My best piece of advice is to go back to your computer. Go back to that document you wrote ten pages on last night and finish it. Let it take you wherever it's going to but let it live. Take a chance on it.
Sarah Nicole wrote: "Thanks I think I will :)"Good. I'm glad. I hope you let us read it when it's finished.
It's impossible to be completely original, so don't try. Don't think to yourself "This has been done before" because everything has been done at some point or another. It's the emotion and the details you put into it that make it beautiful and original. Just keep going, regardless of what anyone else will think of it and just let it come out. Just let it flow from your fingertips into something real, something that you love. And if you write from your heart, you'll be glad that you wrote it to begin with, regardless of the original idea.Don't let anyone influence what you think of your writing. Just go for it. (:
Thalia wrote: "It's impossible to be completely original, so don't try. Don't think to yourself "This has been done before" because everything has been done at some point or another. It's the emotion and the deta..."I agree but there is always an angle that someone will have missed, you just have to hit on the 'right one'!
It's as simple as that! I read a piece on Agents and what they are looking for, and they said 'what we want is ideas, what we get are manuscripts!' Send us ideas!
Which brings us right back to writing a synopsis, two pages is all it takes and if you have a good idea. Maybe add three chapters and then send it to a publisher! What have you got to lose? I did it this way it works for me I have one book going in to print as we speak and another almost complete being eagerly awaited by a Publisher in England!
Thanks so much! It's so great to hear this from other writers and especially from a successful writer who's being published. Thanks for the advice and I will definitely continue writing.
Sarah Nicole wrote: "Thanks so much! It's so great to hear this from other writers and especially from a successful writer who's being published. Thanks for the advice and I will definitely continue writing."Well I'm being published lets hope the success follows because I'm sick of being poor!
Thank you to Thalia too. I had never thought about it that way. Of course there were vampires way before Stephenie Meyer started writing all I have to do was think back to Interview with a Vampire and even the Sookie Stackhouse series. And 1984 and Farenheit 451 are read all the time in literature and English classes and they came way before the dystopian novels we see today. Even The Giver came before THG. There are lots of different angles to approach things from and that is really how I am going to have to look at it because it's so true that you can find a book about ANYTHING these days. There are just so many books out there to choose from. I think I can live with the fact that nothing I write will ever be a truly original idea, but I have to come up with a truly original viewpoint. Thank you all so much. Your advice is so appreciated and you have helped me more than you can imagine. I seriously feel like I am in some kind of debt to all of you. Thank you again. :) Happy writing!
Haha I wish I could 'like' things on here because that post you wrote, Sarah, deserved a like and hey we share a name!
By the way what is the title of your book that's currently in print?
Sarah Nicole wrote: "By the way what is the title of your book that's currently in print?"Thank you, it is entitled 'The Thin Blue Line' and I will let everyone know as soon as it is available in the shops and on Amazon. I signed it off last week after spending 3 weeks in edit! My brain hurt,I read it 5 times and Sharon read it and Lori my friend in New York too!
I can't wait for the day that a publisher picks up one of my manuscripts - I can't wait for the day I land an Agent! Congratulations and I'm so excited to read your novel!
Sarah Nicole wrote: "Thank you to Thalia too. I had never thought about it that way. Of course there were vampires way before Stephenie Meyer started writing all I have to do was think back to Interview with a Vampire ..."Keep your head up!
Congrats, Sarah R on the publishing. (: I can't wait until it's out so I can read it!
I'm hoping to be a YA editor myself someday. That way, maybe I'll be working for a publishing company, and when I'm ready, they'll be more willing to listen and hear ideas for my own books since I'm already "with" them. Crossing my fingers my future goes as I have it planned.
Kelli wrote: "I can't wait for the day that a publisher picks up one of my manuscripts - I can't wait for the day I land an Agent! Congratulations and I'm so excited to read your novel!"I have still to snare an Agent! And they really do know how to make you jump through hoops too!
They stick to their tried and trusted few and don't seem to think one day their ideas may dry up or worse still the public becomes bored with the sameness!
Thalia wrote: "Sarah Nicole wrote: "Thank you to Thalia too. I had never thought about it that way. Of course there were vampires way before Stephenie Meyer started writing all I have to do was think back to Inte..."At Thalia I hope you stick to your blueprint, don't let anyone sway you, but always have a contingency plan just in case!
You've got a lot of great advice here. The only thing I'll add is a book that is both inspirational and very common sense: Read Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott. It's an awesome kick in the ass. Keep it by your computer and reread sections when you start to wane.
I'll definitely check that book out. Thank you.
CicadaGrrl wrote: "You've got a lot of great advice here. The only thing I'll add is a book that is both inspirational and very common sense: Read Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott. It's an awesome kick in the ass. Kee..."I made a note of it, I'll add it to my list someone said to read Fauberts Madame Bovary to help write seduction. So I trawled through Amazon and order it from America thinking it would be in English.
You got it it's in French, I'll read it sometime it will take me a while longer than if it had been translated but I can hack it!
Kelli wrote: "Sit down at the computer and start. Let it pour from your heart, rip it from your insides. Bleed it. Weep it. If you choke on it keep choking until it comes out. Don't re-read it, don't critique i..."wow I honestly was in awe when i was reading this. That's the best advice about writing I've ever heard someone give to someone else. Fantastic :) Bravo
Destiny wrote: "Kelli wrote: "Sit down at the computer and start. Let it pour from your heart, rip it from your insides. Bleed it. Weep it. If you choke on it keep choking until it comes out. Don't re-read it, do..."Thanks I appreciate that.
Kelli wrote: "Destiny wrote: "Kelli wrote: "Sit down at the computer and start. Let it pour from your heart, rip it from your insides. Bleed it. Weep it. If you choke on it keep choking until it comes out. Don'..."no prob :)
Sarah Nicole wrote: "I feel like whenever I write I'm doing something cliche or something that's already been done. I can't really even come up with a good idea that's not my own. I started a book last night with kind ..."Sarah,
I may make some enemies with what I'm about to say, but I call a spade a spade and am always honest. Here goes...
Cliche is not necessarily a bad thing. A lot of authors have made money at it. Being a writer is hard work, take it from one who has been in the business for 30 years. I read once that out of every 100 who think about writing a book 50 will start writing, out of that 50 ten will complete a manuscript, and out of that ten 1 will be published traditionally.
Many authors work up a formula and stick with it. They may change some events, the names, and places, but the story line stays the same. To the readers of that type of fiction there is comfort in knowing this is how it will play out.
Set goals for yourself daily, weekly, and monthly. A hundred words (good or bad) in your manuscript every day or week is 100 less than you have to write out of 50 or up K. (For me it's 1,000+ words a day) That you've written 10 pages is a major accomplishment. Remember you are in your first draft stage and far from finished. It does NOT HAVE TO BE good at this point, just written down. Keep writing. This is your baby and like all pregnancies it is a long process.
Editing and rewriting in the second draft handles all the bad stuff. Sometimes you as a writer are overcritical of yourself....this sounds like you right now. Have heart and take faith, you will eventually finish your novel. Stop procrastinating and whining. This is your novel and your dream. Nobody has a magic wand and poof comes a finished masterpiece readers will love.
Even after the second draft is finished you do not have a completed manuscript. Put in a drawer and work on the next book for at least a week. Then pull your manuscript out and read it fresh again. If it truly bad and unfixable, chuck it. If it isn't saying what you want...you are the writer, fix it. If you do not know how ask for help. There are plenty of author forums which will give you feedback in exchange for you giving feedback.
My first novel took six drafts until I finally published it. It was ten year process. Not full time. My novel spent five years going through the wringer of agents and publishers and spent three years just sitting on a CD while I published other nonfiction works. I know not everyone can wait that long and do not expect you to.
What is trite and cliche, anyhow? Who's the judge? Has anybody (or a lot of anybodies) read your work and said this? Probably not...it's all you right now. Be kinder to yourself.
Jo
J.L. wrote: "Sarah Nicole wrote: "I feel like whenever I write I'm doing something cliche or something that's already been done. I can't really even come up with a good idea that's not my own. I started a book ..."Well put Jo I can't count the number of times I have given up because of an unkind word from a well meaning friend who had trouble compiling a shopping list, never mind writing 50,000 words! Okay so out of the 50 thousand maybe 20 thousand would end up in the outake file I have for each of my creations called bits and stuff!
I finally finished my first manuscript last September, and I sent it off with my approval for printing 4 or 5 weeks ago. One thing we have to be as writers is patient, the cogs move at their own pace and will not be hurried. The last read through I did I printed it off and read it like I would a normal book.
I was pleased with my effort and I am looking forward to holding the finished article in my hands for the very first time.
WTG Sarah! Doing the Snoopy dance of happiness for you!One of the first things you need to learn as a writer is to grow a thick outer skin. Remember opinions are like *** ****s everyone has one and everyone uses them.
What is most important is that you believe!
Jo
J.L. wrote: "WTG Sarah! Doing the Snoopy dance of happiness for you!One of the first things you need to learn as a writer is to grow a thick outer skin. Remember opinions are like *** ****s everyone has one ..."
Thanks Jo, I have almost finished the second novel I have hit the 100k and I am starting the windup process!
Just a matter of getting my last victim into place tying my red herrings up and eh voila c'est termine!
Yay, I know what that means!!!
J.L. wrote: "mai oui! Bon chance!"Merci beaucoup vous etes gentille!
Living in France gets to us all in the end!
It's been more than thirty years since I've been to France, but still it's the language of love.
I feel like giving up but you know what? I have a special book to write and it wouldn't go away until I have written: THE END. Anyone want to hear the title?
Sarah Nicole wrote: "I feel like whenever I write I'm doing something cliche or something that's already been done. I can't really even come up with a good idea that's not my own. I started a book last night with kind ..."Sarah don't give up! Thats what everyone does. The reason you feel like you can't come up with a new idea is because they have all been done before. You even said it yourself. The trick is, tell an old story in a new way. Stephanie Myers did not invent vampires. Your doing just fine, I promise.
I actually know of a great Facebook page for young female writers. The women gives daily prompts and writing exercise. She also answers any and all writing questions. Young female writers love her. You might want to check her out.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elle-La...
I'm back, I went to England for my sons wedding last Friday driving was really weird I have got used to driving on the opposite side of the road to England and having to go aroud the roundabouts the other way was a bit hair raising!Whereabouts in France did you go Jo? I am in Brittany, about 38 miles from the coast. It's sunny here today unlike England last week where it rained every day at some time during the 24 hours!
Everything has been done and redone you have to think of a new way of portraying the same scenario, in my writing classes they gave out endings from five classic novels and asked the students to read the last two chapters and then write their own version!
Sarah R wrote: "I'm back, I went to England for my sons wedding last Friday driving was really weird I have got used to driving on the opposite side of the road to England and having to go aroud the roundabouts th..."I have been wanting to go to Brittany! that is so crazy that you live there. My wife and I want to go for the food and for the alien place, for lack of a better term.
Editio wrote: "Sarah R wrote: "I'm back, I went to England for my sons wedding last Friday driving was really weird I have got used to driving on the opposite side of the road to England and having to go aroud th..."The Alien place sorry you lost me there, unless you mean the upside down mountian whose path leads directly to Atlantis and will save us from 2012? It's somewhere in the Perrigord I believe 1000 kms plus from where we are!
As for the food in Brittany its specialities include a type of clafoutis with prunes, caled Far Breton, and a cake that is so hard and dry it bounces off walls, and another which is called kouigg Anan I know I have probaly mis spelt that I tasted it once it is so sweet it would make your teeth drop out with one bite!
Not exactly a culinery haven is it!
The crepes made with ble noir aren't bad, and the coquilles st jacques bretonne are good, and my daughter likes sausage au choux!
It is very beautiful countryside, its coastline resembles that of Cornwall we have the Atlantic coast as well as the English Channel side a bit like England! So I am told the oysters are some of the finest you can buy, though I only eat them cooked!
Sarah R wrote: "Editio wrote: "Sarah R wrote: "I'm back, I went to England for my sons wedding last Friday driving was really weird I have got used to driving on the opposite side of the road to England and havin..."lol thanks for enlightening me!
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