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I need writerly help :(

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Post  Maggie Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:33 pm

So I've reached a kind of dead end with my WIP.

I'm at a place where I have no idea what to do next. While the answer would normally be to plot or plan or pants in some way... I've also lost my interest. I just don't really care about it, and I don't feel like writing anymore.

This is only fueled by the fact I've recently thought of a brand-new and UH-MAZING story idea that I can't wait to write.

Now before you jump and tell me to give up my WIP you have to realize that I used to have a very bad habit of starting a hundred things and finishing about half of one. Razz Slight exaggeration. But really, I need to be disciplined and finish this book.

Any ideas or advice you can offer to help me get out of this rut? Any ways to get motivated again?

Everything (even hugs, chocolate and  (for those of you who own Macs and can see the apple)) is/are appreciated.
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Post  Sarah Sun Jul 17, 2011 11:32 pm

I have that bad habit too but I reasoned that if I don't love it then I shouldn't finish it for a few reasons. One, just starting the story is good writing practice. If I like it later on in life and want to continue it then great! If not, well that's okay too. Second, if I don't love it then I'm no longer writing because I want to write or because I love writing, instead I'm writing because I "have to" and while I'm still unpublished I want to write because I love it and it's fun, I'll leave the "have to" part for when I get published. And then third, if I don't love the story then no one else is. It will show in my work that I don't love it. But that's just me and it might be different for you so now I will help motivate you Smile Okay, you can try a few things. You could go for a walk (fresh air= good for writers Smile) and on the walk you should try to think back to the point where the idea was brand new, when it was most exciting and when you loved it the most, try to remember that. Or (while still on walk. Can you tell I love walks?) You can rework the story in your head, make changes to it for fun and see the other places your character could have ended up. Or just make up a funny/dramatic/scary (really whatever works) scene in your head that would never end up in the book but will help you see the character different. Or maybe you just need to get away from writing. Take a day or two off, read a good book, or your old favorite book that made you want to be a writer (if you have one). Anyway, that's my super long advise, let me know if it helps/works for you!

*hugs* *gives chocolate* *curses iPad* *looks sadly at Mac that was sitting right next to me*
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Post  Constance Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:16 am

*gives hugs* *and *

I don't know what you could do to get out of the rut. I've never been good at the get-out-of-rutting. But I hope that you manage too, because stopping in the middle is no good. *has too much experience in that*
That being said, if you don't manage to get re-inspired after Wednesday, I would go ahead and try a new one. But I think you will be re-inspired. ^^

Either way, fighting!
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Post  Amanda Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:41 pm

When I get a shiny new idea that seems a lot more exciting than my current one, I write the first chapter or two of that idea so I don't forget anything, and make a list of things that pop into my head about the story that will be important. If the new idea keeps flowing after the first two chapters, I take that as a go ahead to keep at it until I lose interest. Then I'll go back to the first one and work through my ideas about it to remember what I loved about it in the first place, and go back into it with new vigor. If I can't get excited about it again/realize it really sucked, I generally just let it lie and work with my new idea. Smile
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Post  Maggie Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:28 pm

@Sarah THANK YOU!! For some reason this message didn't show up as unread so I never go this amazing advice. You're totally right. I decided to set the disliked story aside and I'm writing what my heart wants to now (and LOVING it!)

@Constance Thank you, Twin. <3 <3

@Amanda That's a good idea! I'll definitely tuck that bit of advice away for later. Thank you!
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Post  Brigid Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:02 pm

Lizzy, I have the same problem. Happened to me again recently with something I'd been writing on-and-off for about a year. Now I haven't touched it in a little over a month ... but I'm working on something I like a lot more, so I don't feel too guilty. Heh.

It varies from case to case for me. Sometimes, I discover I'm stuck because I'm just holding myself back. I'm afraid it's too boring, or too stupid, etc. Usually I get through the tough parts by writing random conversations between characters, and random inner monologues (that is, the main character just kinda ranting about life in his/her head), and that always ends up giving me more ideas. Often I surprise myself and find out a lot more about the characters than I thought I would. Remember, it's okay to write a lot of filler in a first draft. That's what editing is for. As my wonderful 11th-grade English teacher often told us, "Don't be afraid to write sh**. All first drafts are sh**." ... Which I found a surprising concept at first, but now I find it quite helpful.

Then again, there are times when I am really, truly stuck. I have no idea what's going to happen, my characters don't seem to want to talk to me or each other ... And in those cases, I give myself a break. Usually I have the same exact issue; I'm too distracted by some new, shiny idea that's invading my mind. So I work on that for a while, and then when/if I get stuck on that one, I switch back to the other WIP.

Of course, the hard part is reminding myself to get back to things. And that's something I never really know how to deal with ... yet somehow, I find that it almost always happens. And yeah, it might takes months or even a year or two, but it happens. I guess I just trust that, if something is truly worth my time, it'll come back to haunt me at some point.

So to put this all into a nutshell: don't force your writing. Write what inspires you.

I hope that helps!
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Post  Maggie Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:10 pm

@Brigid One word: THANK YOU! You're totally right. And the other day I did decide to drop it and stop trying to force it. Now I'm working on what I really want to be and I've been on some kind of high for the past 3 days because of it. *loves*

I think I'll save this advice and read it later to remind me. I tend to get hung up on what I 'should' write and staying on some kind of 'novel completion schedule'... I have to remember to keep inspiration and STORY LOVE at the root of things.

THANK YOU. *hugs*
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Post  Brigid Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:43 pm

@Lizzy - No problem! *hugs back* Haha! Sounds exactly like what happened to me. I'd been wanting to write this one story (called Sky-Fall) for ages but I was working on this other thing (called Rage). And I kept getting ideas for Sky-Fall but forcing my way through Rage because I was like, "NO NO. I HAVE TO FINISH THIS FIRST." But then I realized I really had no idea what I was doing with it, and Sky-Fall was just calling to me more. And now that I'm working on it, things are going a lot more smoothly. Except I keep procrastinating. SOMEONE PUNCH ME IN THE FACE AND TELL ME TO WRITE!
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Post  Maggie Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:51 pm

@Brigid Acckk! You just described perfectly what I was going through. I can't describe the moment someone smacked sense into me and I decided to just write what was calling my name.

*withholds punching* I just met you. But GO WRITE ALL THE SAME. Shut off your internet if it helps. *shoots your internet*
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Post  Brigid Sat Jul 23, 2011 7:11 pm

@Lizzy NOOoooo my internet! D: Heh, you're right... I need to just stop distracting myself. *Gets on Write or Die*
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Post  Maggie Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:47 pm

*laughs* Good job.
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