When you're satisfied with your storyline and plot, begin to write it. You'll never write anything if you worry too much about what and how you want the final product to be because your first drafts will rarely ever be that. EVERY idea is huge, even the simplest ones. And EVERY idea is small, even the most complex ones. I can write 20,000 words on nothing but an old lady crossing the street just as easily as writing that same action in a 100 words or less. I think really, it's practice. Just start writing. Soon, more and more of that anxiety of something being too big will start to dissipate. Shut everything out including your thoughts of wanting it to be "amazing and good" and instead just write. Write, write, write. Lol.. anyways, I'm the opposite. The longer any idea sits in my mind, the more branches it starts to grow and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger overall. The longer the ideas sit in my head, the more they change, become deeper and grandeur than what the started out to be. It's a hindrance as well as a blessing. I have learned that once I'm satisfied with a storyline and plot, I have to start writing it or it will change on me.
If this is related to the post you have in the "Plot Creation" forum then I can see why you might be biting off more than you can chew. I wouldn't shelve your idea though. I think you should push on and at least develop it so that you have a much clearer outline, with some specific plots. Get your ideas more defined. When you've done that you may find that you have a better idea of whether writing your story is achievable or not.
My problem is the opposite, everything gets simpler the more I think about it. I guess I'm hyper-critical of all my ideas and work (hence the not starting thing), so I'm always quick to throw out anything that I'm not completely convinced with. I should really work on trying to overcome the inner critic in me, but at the same time, it's that ruthlessness that's gonna ensure that what I do put out is good enough to get me into that hundredth of a percent of authors who succeed.
If you're talking about a book that has multiple subplots, many POVs etc and you're confused on how to weave it all together, it's probably better to work on a novel that's more linear-plotted for a while. But what you DON'T want to do is have the mindset of "I'm not a good writer yet, so I'm not ready to do a good job writing this." (If we're talking about the mechanics of good writing itself, not the issue of taking on a too-complicated storyline) If you don't write, you're not going to be better, and it's a never ending cycle that will get you nowhere. Just write it; you'll hve to revise anyway.
What do you do in real life when you bite off more than you can chew? You chew and chew until it either goes down or... well you know the rest. I suggest that you Write and Write until it works or delete it and chock it up to a bad idea. A least you will come out with some writing experience and what ever does not kill you makes you stronger. I think some one suggested that you write small short stories related to the novel you want to write. I think that is an excellent idea but you have to find what works for you and the only way to do that is to write.
Personally, I think you should go for it. As others have said, the only way to learn is by doing. If you feel like it's "too big", try to break it down - I made an outline of my story chapter by chapter, saying exactly what I think will happen in each chapter. Now naturally, as I began to write and the story progressed, things changed in the outline. But having that outline helped me immensely, it kept me focused and on the right track. The second thing I did was create a separate file with only "story issues", ie plot inconsistencies, loose ends, unanswered questions, etc. Then, once I'd completed a very rough draft, I went back and addressed these "issues" one by one and it helped me form a more cohesive, logical story. These two techniques helped me a LOT with my current novel - I'd never finished a full length novel before this, and I think my lack of outlining/planning was a HUGE culprit (Well that and, as you say, "laziness". LOL )
Thanks guys. Okay, I'll probably work on this off and on. It's just so... immense seeming right now, mainly because of the research and length required for it. However, I'll work on it for awhile, hopefully it will start to become clearer. It has already started to make a lot more sense, in some areas, and I'll try to power through.
In some ways I am the same. From the first words that I write, I'm paying attention to style, tone, detail, flow etc., and I can't seem to move on unless I'm I get that feeling that says: "yes, this is it, this what I wanted." Wording can be changed as you edit and revise, but its hard to change the writing style, tone and some of the mechanics of a story without it changing your story completely and so I worry more about that in my first-drafts than word usage or anything else. I've been known to throw out entire chapters even after people tell me I'm crazy for it because it is really good, but what can you do? You know your story better than anyone and if you're not satisfied or happy with something, you will never feel comfortable with the story as it progresses no matter what other people think. We're our own worst critics most of time... but I agree, it's that critical eye that in the end will make a difference.
Many (many!) years ago, I decided I wanted to write a historical novel. I started doing the research, which was fun but slow going. I was planning to write from colonial times to the present, and after reading Richard Ketchum's fascinating book, "The Borrowed Years", I started thinking of two characters who come of age in the same time period (1937-41). The more I thought about them, the more ideas I had about what their lives might be like and what that part of the novel would look like. I got really impatient, and I started writing. It was my first attempt at a novel. At one point, I took a week off from work just so I could write, and I wrote all day every day while my wife went to work and my kids went to school (still the single best week of my life). Finally, I was done. I found a writing forum (not this one) and found things about word count. I was curious, so I pulled up the file of my "portion of a novel" (it was in WordPerfect) and I found the command for word count. 430,000 words. I eventually edited it down to about 140,000, and I even had a little interest in it from an agent. But that's not the point. The point is, when I started writing, I dropped my grandiose idea for the sweeping historical (which I still haven't written - maybe when I retire in a few years). If you're holding back because you haven't done, don't want to do or don't have the time to do the research, write a piece of it and see what happens. See if your idea yields a compelling story line. If it's because you don't think you're writing is good enough, then dig into what you think ails your writing. I don't happen to think there's any kind of story out there that I couldn't write if I had the interest in it. But then, I'm in my late 50s. When I was in my 20s, I didn't have any confidence at all in my writing (which, come to think of it, is probably why I chose a work - a historical novel - that required tons of research before it could be written). It was only when I actually started to do it that I realized my writing was something I could believe in.
I had/have the same problem. I'm afraid there is no complete cure. To this day I am unable to create simple plots, and I keep thinking of new things all the time. My only advice is to pick one or two ideas that you think could be exceptionally great, then just write some notes or a plot outline for all other ideas. Just to get them out of the way.
Every writing forum has the subject, and it's silly. There's no chemical blockage in you brain preventing you from writing. Just vomit words on a page and sift through the crap and pick up what you can use and take it from. If the square peg doesn't fit in the round whole, break out a sledgehammer.
Sometimes I find that if we overload our brain or overwork it, we get frustrated and a sort of fuse gets busted. My advice. Take a break. Go do something you enjoy get your mind off it. Walk outside. Do anything but attempt to write. When you feel relaxed come back, sit down, and think more but stress less. Also, if you havn't been sleeping or eating I find that affects our brains ability to process information and it also makes us frustrated. Just some ideas from a guy who really has no idea what he's talking about.
Relax for a little while, then just think about how to start for a few minutes. And if that does not work, write random beginnings. It'll come, it'll come. You just have to have motivation, and trying something new brings that out in me. Might work for you too.
How I Come up with new Ideas Hey, I know a lot of people get stuck here needing help with plots and such. Honestly, I very rarely have any sort of writer's block. Most of my writing problems come from just not knowing how to spice things up a little bit, or how to structure my sentences. But, one thing I really like to do to get new ideas is go to a bookstore and go to any section (usually kid's section or fantasy/sci fi) and just look at book covers, without reading anything about the book at all. I do exactly what you are always told not to, and I "judge the book by its cover" and imagine what the story is probably about and create the characters based on what I see. Even with a really accurate detailed cover, there is no way you will come up with the same story written inside. Just a tip that always works well for me.
Handling writer's block is all a matter of will power. The will to push through anything that may be stopping you from turning your thoughts and ideas into words on a page. The will power to exact self-discipline on one's self and develop healthy writing habits. The will to forget about fear or judgment or not being published. The will to not be lazy and just write. The Writer's Bane can be easily managed once you develop the will power to break through it. I myself have had writer's for block for.... About a month or two now and have only just begun to break through it and it was all a matter of managing what was keeping me from writing (whether it be school, work, fear. laziness, etc). So... Will Power and Management Skills are key.
try throwing in something that sends the characters in a completely different direction. I read in Stephen King's memoir that he had writers block when writing The Stand and had an idea to put a bomb in the closet. It doesn't need to be to an extreme, but it could help to have some major twist you wouldn't have thought of at first. Anything can work, and if it doesn't, try something different!
I think that writer's block is a term that just encompasses the dozens of different reasons why the words will no longer come. Maybe you're too preoccupied with events happening in reality, or something similar. I personally find that it most often comes when I don't know if the piece I'm writing is interesting enough. Or maybe you just want to figure out where it is you are going with this story before you writing anything else, which can be surprisingly difficult sometimes. Whatever the reason, I think you should either move onto a different project and keep pinballing between the two, or you can do as coolie96 says and find a way to throw a spanner in the works of what you have already written.
As a fledgeling writer, personally I have had a difficult time in discerning whether what I suspected to be "writer's block" might be a result of inexperience, and a lack of deeper understanding in my personal abilities, which might be influencing my progress in a negative sense. I read many books, and articles, from a plethora of authors, some I respected, and others... not so much. What I have come to a personal conclusion as to writer's block is for whatever reason, it is what is. Whether it's because I lack the discipline to grab my proverbial boot-straps and trudge forward in spite of my mind, or I have not honed my perceived talents into a craft, will not change the fact that for that precise moment, I am staring at a blank screen or have written the same sentence well over 30 times. My grandfather use to say, "at the end of the day, a thing is what is, no matter the reasons". I usually responded "Seriously? That's all you got gramps?" When I devoted my time to writing music, I learned that much of the problems that "cause" that creative block, requires several elements to be enhanced in order to counter the effect of not being able to create. For me it was providing myself a personal sense that I have done everything I know I can, to provide myself with information about the situation. If I felt I lacked education, then I took up arms and went to the local bookstore, and searched online for educational resources. (I personally recommend that if you use the internet as a source of information, you make sure you keep a healthy sense of skepticism towards the information. In published books, there are authors, and publishers with their real reputations attached, on the internet... ehh not so much.) The one resounding piece of advise I have taken to heart, is just keep writing. However, that addresses the problem of not being able to write due to lack of enthusiasm. If however you are like me, at times you lack the ability because to put it bluntly, your abilities have reached their limits it's time to pick up your Writer's Guide, and other writing rule books, and arm yourself with more knowledge. My two cents only.
That works for me, writing out different scenes and seeing which could be a story. It's like throwing things at a wall and seeing what sticks, which I always find is a good writing strategy.
If I get a really bad case of writers block (which I do, even though I feel a need to write... unlike some here seems to claim) I will sit down and leave my current project to be. I'll then start writing my dreams/fantasies - as a kid it would often be a romantic story about me and my crush or dream outcomes of meeting a celebrity... As I've gotten older its been stuff like the call that tells me I'll be published, or an interview with me as a successful writer. It is all totally useless work, but it keeps my writing, and it is without a doubt REALLY fun. IT just gets the juices flowing again and then I'll get back to my original piece of writing. Nobody ever sees these silly writings of course - but they really do the trick for me (they even inspire if I am in a dead spot to reach my dreams)
I cannot consider not writing for a a while. Even if I do not write and I have to retreat to something else, there will be something haunting me all the time. Writing has been my cup of tea and it engages me all the while. Writing is a thrill, something that engages me and transports me to a different universe. I always experiment with life by writing. Writing empowers me and it kind of enriches my mind. Writing means illuminating my mind. Writing goes together with life. Writing impregnates my mind something really superb.
For me, writing is much like throwing up. I don't want to start and put it off, feeling miserable all the while. Then when I do start, it feels wonderful and I can't stop. Then when I am done I feel much better, but I don't want to look at what I've done, and certainly never want to see it again.
^ After reading what I've written a few times, I get tired of it too. I usually read it a few times to bask in a job well done, but after that, I get tired of it easily.
