Hi everyone. So I am having a bit of an issue with a story I am writing. It is something I have been working on for 14 years and have developed it from a child's creative piece ( I started writing it when I was 12) into a more mature piece with the same themes and storyline, just developed it as my writing skills progressed. The problem is that I do not write in chronological order. I write the story as it comes to me, in pieces and I fit the pieces where they are meant to fit in the story as a whole. Which is a little problematic as i am now left with a story that is about three quarters complete with holes that I do not know how to fill. I know what i want to happen in terms of plot and what happens with my characters (the final chapter has already been finished) but each time I try and fill in the gaps, all words seem to leave my head and I am stuck staring at a blank page/screen. Are there any suggestions as to what I might be able to do to fix this issue and finally finish my work?
Spit balling here: Write a complete outline from start to finish, filling at least one sheet of paper. Rewrite the whole thing from scratch. Aim for 2k words a day, every day, for two months, or to finish writing it in three. Then go back and fill in the plot holes.
Plot holes are not easy fixes, usually. I actually think it's the worst problem a writer can have to deal with when things aren't coming together. That's probably why you're having trouble when you sit down to address these problems. It's not like you can say, "Oh, there's a plot hole here," and fill it in with a paragraph or two. Plot holes are usually bigger issues than that and the problem can go right down to the structure of a story. A plot hole is not missing text from writing out of order. It's things that don't make sense or add up. When I need to fix plot holes, I start at the beginning and move very slowly, looking for the first sign of a problem or opportunity to fix it. And fixing it usually means it will need fixing in a few spots since a plot hole, well, affects the hole plot. You can write out of order if that's what works best for you, but I would maybe spend some time thinking about your story in order, looking at it the way a reader would. That might give you a better idea of how big your plot holes are and how to fix them. Also, I just want to say good for you for sticking with writing from such a young age. I'm sure you have improved greatly and will continue to do so.
Thank you both for your ideas and insight this is my first major work and I really appreciate your help in getting it finished.
