I'm trying to write my first novel, and I already tried a lot of different methods. I should say that I tried and failed three times to write this book. I know it's only a first draft but I can't avoid caring too much about "is it good enough?", "what will happen next", or "I think I don't have enough plot to make a novel". The fact is that I'm writing about 9000 words and then I get stuck, my brain freezes and I feel like giving up. I'm trying to find suggestions, maybe of writers that already accomplished successfully the ending of a novel, about methods to fight this problem, or maybe just advises I can't find when googling it. Thank you
Try writing something bad for once? I think finishing is very important, so I've just tried going easy on myself as a means of getting there. Your first novel is going to be a learning experience anyway, so set a basic rule like "no major plot holes" and run with it. We don't learn to drive by adjusting the seat and turning the key twenty times, we make twenty, ascending-difficulty A to B trips that have a lot of mistakes in them.
I am also working on a novel and I am no stranger to the repeated concerns and questions about whether it is good enough. The most important thing I want to tell you is that it is okay to start again a few times. Your first novel is hard. I'm wondering if you have written and tried publishing short stories first? If not, you may want to start there while you're working out details for your novel. Secondly, it really is imperative that you adopt the point of view that your first draft doesn't matter. No one will ever see it besides you and, judging by the fact that you have already restarted a few times, it will end up looking nothing like what you started from. The important thing is to write and develop characters. When you know the characters through and through, the plot will unfold for you. If you think that you may not have enough plot for a novel, don't try to write one. Try writing a short story or a novella or novelette. If you manage to finish the first draft in that format and you have extra left over or new ideas for how it could expand, then let it grow to be a novel. It's better to start with less and end up with more rather than to try cramming too much into one novel. Don't stop trying. Keep pushing through. Make it a goal to get past 9000 words, even if not all the words are how you would like them. Eventually you'll know when you finish a writing session whether your words are worth keeping or not, but even if they aren't that isn't writing time wasted. It means you now know one route you won't take and it may give you new ideas of where to tread. Best of luck. Hope this makes sense.
There are several options I can think of. One, write out of order so that you finish the parts of the book that come easiest to you. Two, put your current work aside, and try working on something else. Taking some time off can do wonders. Three, work on a smaller project, like a short story.
First sit calmly and think about your whole story. Decide that what you want to do at the end of the story, then start writing.
