Hey Everyone, My name is Kate and I've been writing for. . .awhile. I want to write amazing stories. So, I was really convinced I could do it. Until I tried to plot out the novel that I have stuck in my head. Then I remembered why I gave up before. But I don't want to give up this time and this novel really needs to be written. Anyway, I wanted to be among a group of writers and figured I would join. I do love writing. . .I'm just feeling frustrated and have a headache. I want to plot this thing out so badly. Or at least have an outline. And good characters. And just. . .a decent story. Meh. Sorry this was more of a rant than anything. . . But, I'll be around!
Welcome Kate. This place can be fun to discuss aspects of writing, and to look at the work of other people. You can see how to improve and change things. What's causing you to get stuck on the plot? Is it small details? Parts of the characters? I'd suggest plotting out a bit of the story and then starting to write it. Let the outline shift and grow with it, but see how it goes from a start, and roll from there. But again, welcome. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Thank you, maskedhero! I guess it's a mixture of plot and characters. I can see the characters, but I guess I'm not certain if the male lead is strong enough. And then I can't figure out the details of the plot, though I kind of have an idea of what should happen. Just not how to put it all together. I'll try what you suggested. Thank you again!
Hi and welcome to the forum. I would say your first post was more of a ramble than a rant, if it was going to be judged that way. The problems with your novel are not always an easy fix. It's very simple to get stuck in the planning phase, as you rarely can plan every aspect of a book. Even if you did so I can tell you for near certain that it would change and grow as you write. Characters evolve as the words flow and you get to know them more intimately. The same can be said for a plot, as new ideas will come to you as you start writing – although not always or they would be no such thing as writer’s block. In short – make an outline of your story and characters in notes and then get writing and see how it goes. It is often the best way if you find yourself stuck at the planning stage.
Hi Kate, Welcome to the Creative Writing Forums. You'll be a round what? Please read How to Use the Writing Workshop before you try to post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here anyway. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Writing Prompts, or the Writing Workshop, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the site rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Writing Workshop, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. We also impose a two-week waiting period before you may post writing for critique, to give you time to become familiar with what is expected and how the site operates. The Writing Workshop forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Writing Workshop forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
