What do you think of starting over?

[BlueLucario]

I know I must finish SOMETHING. I know that, but this book is driving me insane. I hate how it's not going anywhere. Nothing I write anymore progresses the story further. I didn't write much on my rewrite, so I felt it would be a good idea to start over again. I love this story to bits, I love the stuff I write, but it has to go somewhere. It has to help reach the end in someway, but none of my scenes do that. I want to get to the point where I write "THE END." If I keep this up, I'll never finish.

I can't explain what's going on in words. So unless there's a better option for my book, I must do it.

If I do rewrite I plan to start on the beginning of May, and must reach the end by the 31st.

If there are other options, can you please explain them?

[SarahMacManus]

I ended up in a simular situation with something I started last May and really it didn't click until this January. Maybe you should put it aside for a while?

[seun]

Don't talk about it. Don't log in here. Sit down. Write. Keep writing until you write THE END.

[CheyElizabeth]

Write it backwards.. or outline it backwards.

I got stuck in my novel and then i outlined what happened in the last chapter, then the second to last chapter, etc etc and BAM my novel made sense.

and when all hope fails, just keep swimming!

[Quossum]

At the top of a piece of paper, write, "[Brief description of the scene you're in right now, i.e. 'Lily is taken to assassin school']."

At the bottom of the piece of paper, write, "[Brief description of the final scene, i.e. 'Lily is reunited with her family']."

Between those two brief descriptions, write brief descriptions of the "stuff" that's got to happen in your book for it to be complete. Like:

grueling training
"testing" mission
sent on first job
encounters old friend Ryan
sees kid--realizes what's been done to her
rebels against overlords

Now, start writing the scene associated with the first point. Then write the next one. Then the next. As you write, those scenes will undoubtably be joined by others, which you can scribble into the margins of your planning page or just add as you wish, by the seat of your pants. But if you at least have a plan ahead of you, if you know where you're going next and next and then next, you might be able to bring yourself to finish.

HTH,
--Q

[Danthia]

When I get stuck on a story it's usually because I've lost sight of the protag's goal. I have stuff happening, but there are no real stakes so it doesn't matter and doesn't go anywhere.

This is also a common problem with premise novels, where you have a really great idea, and they story develops the idea, not a character with a problem in that situation.

I'd suggest a look at your stakes and goals to make sure they are driving the story. If your protag us just reacting to things and never acts with intent, you'll flounder. Also, figure out the core conflict. Try writing a query (don't worry, it doesn't have to be agent-quality) to identify the main components of the story: Protag, problem, stakes, obstacles.

I'd also recommend not putting so much pressure on yourself to finish by X date. When you rush, you can find yourself writing anything just to meet your deadline, and you go off track because you lose sight of the story. It becomes more about the number of words than what they say.

[Charlie Horse]

I think you need to set this one down for a bit and start another project.

[vrabinec]

If it makes it better, why not? Just consider the previous versions as in-depth outlines.

[BlueLucario]

I think you need to set this one down for a bit and start another project.
That is, if there IS another project.

[BlueLucario]

I'd also recommend not putting so much pressure on yourself to finish by X date. When you rush, you can find yourself writing anything just to meet your deadline, and you go off track because you lose sight of the story. It becomes more about the number of words than what they say.
I thought it's only if a writer procrastinates.

[DeadlyAccurate]

There's always another project, Blue. And I agree with Charlie; write a new story. Something that doesn't have Lily in it at all. Hell, switch genres even. Write something you're not so attached to.

You spend a lot of time talking about writing, but I have to wonder how much time you actually spend writing. Finishing a book is hard. Damn hard. But you can do it if you really want to.

[Feidb]

If you love writing, there should always be another project. I have so many ideas, I could start 20 novels. However, I have to discipline myself to stick with one. If I ever got stuck, I'd put it down for a while and work on another one. The key is that I never stop writing, or rewriting, or editing.

I really think you need to put it aside and give it a fresh look in a few months. You are probably too close to it. You may be bogging yourself down with details, or doubts, or aspects that will just stifle your creativity. Maybe you should try writing something in a different genre. Get completely away from your present MS. Blank your mind and come back with a fresh perspective. You just might be able to go "Aha!"

[ChaosTitan]

Don't talk about it. Don't log in here. Sit down. Write. Keep writing until you write THE END.

Emphasis mine.

[caitysdad]

i'm not a fan of starting over, but I am a fan of putting it away and letting your ideas "cook" for a while. It worked for me because I was getting to the point where I was sick of my own book

[sunandshadow]

I'm confused. Why would a scene in the beginning or middle of a story have particularly much to do with reaching the end?

If you want to get to the end, either outline or write a rough draft of the end.

[LAWolf]

What are your scenes doing if they aren't moving the plot forward? What is lacking in your story (cohesion? the MC's goal? conflict? something else?)? You have a very analytical mind, so I would suggest looking at your own writing to analyze why you have written what you have and why it should be included in the story. Maybe you're not aware of its purpose yet, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have one.

I strongly suggest the idea of outlining backwards. What is it that your character needs to do/accomplish before THE END?

[Danthia]

I thought it's only if a writer procrastinates.

It can apply to any situation where getting words down is more important than getting the story right. Having a deadline is great if it motivates you, bad when it puts pressure on you that distracts you from the story.

If your goal is to get a crappy first draft written (which is a perfectly acceptable goal by the way, crappy isn't a negative here. It just means a draft that you know is messy and needs work), then push yourself as much as you want and not worry. You'll get something finished. It'll need a lot of work, but that's okay if you go into it knowing you're going to revise like mad.

If the goal is to get something halfway decent, then allow yourself some breathing room. Set a reasonable goal that will help you, not freak you out and frustrate you.

[AnonymousWriter]

Like seun said: Get your butt in your chair. Disconnect from the internet and finish the thing.

If not, you might end up having a million unfinished novels, and no finished ones...

[leim]

I was right where you are several weeks ago - trying desperately to figure out where my book went wrong. Then I realized the only way to find that answer was to finish the damn thing. Perhaps I will find what was wrong. I also thought another reader might find the problem. Maybe, there isn't even a problem. Occasionally your writing gets bogged down by thinking about it too much.

I don't know if that will help you, but it did for me.

Good luck.

[Juliette Wade]

When I get lost in the middle of writing a book, it's usually because I have a larger-scale structural problem, like not knowing precisely enough what the core conflict is and how it affects the main character in order to get to the end. When that happens, I find it helps to back off, take time doing something else if you need to, so you can look at the story on that larger scale. Yes, there's a time when just banging away on the keyboard will help, but if you don't know where you're going then something larger could be at issue.

I'm with Danthia here; don't rush yourself for the sake of rushing. Try to understand the story on the story-level, rather than the sentence-level, and you may find the thread you were looking for.

[scarletpeaches]

I'm confused. Why would a scene in the beginning or middle of a story have particularly much to do with reaching the end?

If you want to get to the end, either outline or write a rough draft of the end.

I'm amazed anyone claiming to be a writer wouldn't see how a beginning or middle scene wouldn't have much to do with getting to the end.

As for outlining, that's writing about writing.

The only thing that gets a book written is writing it.

Not talking about it. Not writing about it. Not posting here.

You only get to the end if you sit down, shut up and write.

[witchunter88]

Wow, this post reminds me of the story (30,000 words written) that I had in a USB drive that I recently lost. :( *slashes wrist*

The reason that you're meandering in the middle and feeling lost is that you haven't planned your story enough. You need an OUTLINE. Trust me, it'll help you out. It definitely has for me.

People complain that it inhibits their creativity but that simply isn't true. You can change your outline throughout the writing process. The important thing is that with an outline, you have a definite beginning and a definite ending. So no matter what changes you make in GETTING there, you're still GETTING there.

[scarletpeaches]

Without wanting this to turn into a rabid anti-outlining rant, I will say this:

The reason that you're meandering in the middle and feeling lost is that you haven't planned your story enough.

Ain't necessarily so. I meandered in the middle of my WIP, didn't outline, got to the end eventually. I knew where I wanted to end up, aimed for it, missed, ended up somewhere else, but it worked.

You need an OUTLINE. Trust me, it'll help you out. It definitely has for me.

An outline would stifle me. Not that you were recommending it for me, of course, but the suggestion that meandering can only be cured by outlining is a false one.

People complain that it inhibits their creativity but that simply isn't true.

Yes. It does.

In my case anyway.

I don't like writing about writing. I'd rather write.

You can change your outline throughout the writing process.

Then why have one?

(Rhetorical question; like I said, this isn't an anti-outline rant thread).

The important thing is that with an outline, you have a definite beginning and a definite ending. So no matter what changes you make in GETTING there, you're still GETTING there.

I had a beginning and an end. Still got from A to Z without an outline. And if you make a lot of changes to your book, your planned ending could end up seeming tacked on, because if you take a book to be A leading to B which causes C, changing the middle factor will clearly influence the ending.

Like I said, if it can change, why have an outline?

[witchunter88]

Without wanting this to turn into a rabid anti-outlining rant, I will say this:

Ain't necessarily so. I meandered in the middle of my WIP, didn't outline, got to the end eventually. I knew where I wanted to end up, aimed for it, missed, ended up somewhere else, but it worked.

That's why I outlined in the first place. So I didn't meander. I actually do chapter by chapter outlining so I ALWAYS know what I'm doing. I'm still free to tweak what happens in every chapter, I sometimes switch chapters, and the stability in doing this makes writing easier.

An outline would stifle me. Not that you were recommending it for me, of course, but the suggestion that meandering can only be cured by outlining is a false one.

I didn't say outlining was the only way to cure meandering, but it's a potent cure. How does an outline stifle you if the outline is changeable throughout writing the story?

I don't like writing about writing. I'd rather write.

Outlining isn't writing about writing. It's planning your whole story so that you can meet deadlines. That's why I outline. So I can write efficiently.

I had a beginning and an end. Still got from A to Z without an outline. And if you make a lot of changes to your book, your planned ending could end up seeming tacked on, because if you take a book to be A leading to B which causes C, changing the middle factor will clearly influence the ending.

Like I said, if it can change, why have an outline?

That's fine that you go to A and Z, but you admit to meandering in the middle, which I don't want to do.

That's why I outline.

[Rushie]

Making an outline is helping me a lot. I found that writing without an outline was like trying to put up sheetrock, paint, cabinets and stuff in a house that didn't have the frame built. The outline gave me some sort of framework that oriented me.

On the other hand, the outline doesn't solve all problems. My work recently came to a screeching halt until I analyzed it and realized that two of my characters need to be combined into one. That change is bringing the plot together much better, so my outline is being revised accordingly. I guess that's like tearing down some framing and rebuilding it a little differently, but I still can't do the sheetrocking, etc., without the frame.

So the outline isn't going to ensure a perfect outcome, I still need to go where the creativity takes me, even if it means having to redo the outline.

You need to find what works for you.

[Provrb1810meggy]

Blue, I'd suggest sticking it out with your story. Your problem wasn't the beginning or the part you've already written. It's writing the rest. If you rewrite the part that isn't the problem instead of going further, you'll probably get into a similar problem spot again, and then you'll be in a vicious cycle of rewriting and reworking without really getting anywhere.

Know the ending and where you want to go, and just write, write, write until you get there. Your finished product may be a mess, but at least you will have a finished product to work with and mold.

[scarletpeaches]

That's fine that you go to A and Z, but you admit to meandering in the middle, which I don't want to do.

That's why I outline.

Okay, maybe meandering is a strong word here. "Wandering off course" is perhaps more apt.

There were patches when I hated what I was writing.

I think what I'm trying to say is that the middle is where it began to look as though "This will not take you to the ending you envisioned."

Which doesn't exactly mean the middle is a mess, it just took me to a different "The End" than I'd guessed at.

If that makes any sense. Probably not.

But I managed to write 148k in five and a half months without making any notes, character sketches or plan for the book, so I think I did all right. If anything the beginning is what will take more editing - after that I settled into the characters more.

And I can guarantee that if I'd outlined, I would have got frustrated, because an outline doesn't prove you can write a book. It proves you can write an outline.

I'd rather just take the characters and inciting incident and run with them. If I plan every move they make, well...blech. If I'm going to put their story down on paper I'd rather it was in manuscript format, not as an outline. To me, planning a book is wasting time better spent writing it. If I'm going to make any changes to the book I'd rather do that while typing out the manuscript. (I don't mean I edit as I go; I mean if I want a certain character to do something, I carry on writing the book as if they'd done it, with a post-it note saying, "Have Character X do Y in chapter Z on the edits," kinda thing).

And that's exactly what I did.

[witchunter88]

But I managed to write 148k in five and a half months without making any notes, character sketches or plan for the book, so I think I did all right. If anything the beginning is what will take more editing - after that I settled into the characters more.

And I can guarantee that if I'd outlined, I would have got frustrated, because an outline doesn't prove you can write a book. It proves you can write an outline.


It's all a matter of preference and what works for the specific person. I definitely wouldn't have been able to write that much without outlining, so kudos. Stephen King has also stated he doesn't outlining, and it hasn't hurt him any.

For Blue's problem, having experienced the same problem, I think outlining would definitely help her specifically.

[scarletpeaches]

I bet I tear my hair out on the edits though...

Anyway. Regarding the OP; given the fact Blue's asked similar questions or expressed concerns before about this, I'd recommend pushing through or she won't even have a book to edit.

Better a messy first draft than an unfinished one.

As Stephen King himself said, "You can't edit what you haven't written."

[backslashbaby]

OK, outline or no outline, blue, think of 3 big sorts of things that happen in stories like yours before the end. Just for practice, write those with your MC. Just 3 scenes.

If you are like me [and it might not work if you aren't -sorry :)] writing those scenes will show you better which parts you might use something like in your story, or what other direction you are wanting to go.

Of course, if you have ideas for later parts of your story and are just trying to write in order, don't! Write some of those scenes now. It'll clear up so much in your mind, really.

[Red_Dahlia]

I don't know if this will help, but when I reached about 20k in my WIP, I got to the same spot you are in now. I didn't know what to make my characters do next. I think the problem for me was I spent so much time thinking about the beginning of my story, that when I finally got out of the first bit, I had no idea where to go from there.

I took about a week off from my WIP to think about it, and then in a fit of desperation at 4 in the morning, I got out my sticky notes. I put an idea for a scene on each one and stuck it on my wall. I liked using the sticky notes because it meant I couldn't fit too much detail on a sheet. It was my version of a compromise between an outline and just writing. I've ended up changing quite a bit of what I planned out that night, but at least it got me writing again, and started in the right direction.

[BlueLucario]

I bet I tear my hair out on the edits though...

Anyway. Regarding the OP; given the fact Blue's asked similar questions or expressed concerns before about this, I'd recommend pushing through or she won't even have a book to edit.

Better a messy first draft than an unfinished one.

As Stephen King himself said, "You can't edit what you haven't written."
My draft is nowhere near messy, it's ENDLESS! If I keep writing, I'd never reach the end, but if I don't write I don't reach the end. Even if I have the end.

I'm sorry guys.

[scarletpeaches]

How much of it do you have? Is your signature up to date? If so, trust me - 22k isn't endless. Even your projected total of 70k isn't 'endless'. Hell, my other WIP is more than twice that.

[BlueLucario]

How much of it do you have? Is your signature up to date? If so, trust me - 22k isn't endless. Even your projected total of 70k isn't 'endless'. Hell, my other WIP is more than twice that.
That excludes all those random pointless scenes.

[scarletpeaches]

Maybe a writing partner would help; a sort of cheerleader. Someone who's at the same stage of their WIP as you. If you promised to email someone a chapter every so many days, that might encourage you to write.

It certainly works for me.

[BlueLucario]

Maybe a writing partner would help; a sort of cheerleader. Someone who's at the same stage of their WIP as you. If you promised to email someone a chapter every so many days, that might encourage you to write.

It certainly works for me.
Actually, that might work. :D

[sunandshadow]

I'm amazed anyone claiming to be a writer wouldn't see how a beginning or middle scene wouldn't have much to do with getting to the end.

As for outlining, that's writing about writing.

The only thing that gets a book written is writing it.

Not talking about it. Not writing about it. Not posting here.

You only get to the end if you sit down, shut up and write.

Actually, I don't think the beginning and middle necessarily have much to do with the end of a novel. If anything, I'd say the beginning scenes may feel like getting farther away from the end, since you have to create problems in the beginning that you then solve in the end. But mainly I'd say that novels are so damn long that they pretty much have to be semi-episodic.

Outlining is writing about writing, yes, but it's good for organizing your thoughts; I find it extremely hard to write if I'm totally confused about what I'm trying to write.

[Quossum]

Sure, outlining is writing about writing, but so is posting on this board! :tongue

It can help some people when they're stalled / meandering. It's an invaluable tool for others. It's useless or even a detriment to others.

Making an outline / rough plan of the next few scenes is a tool in the toolbox that writers should try at least once, just to see if it's a tool they want to wield.

Prewashing the fabric, putting a new blade in my rotary cutter, getting down the correct rulers from their nails on the wall, positioning the pattern next to my cutting mat--all those things are not actually *making a quilt.* However, my doing them before I start makes the actual making the quilt part that much easier.

--Q

[BlueLucario]

This is a really hard decision. If I continue to write like this. Nothing plot related, things out of order, then I'll probably never finish. If I don't write I'll never finish.

I need to get to the end, like soon. So I felt like why not rewrite the story and then finish it in 30 days.

I've set this aside for weeks possibly.

[scarletpeaches]

Sure, outlining is writing about writing, but so is posting on this board! :tongue...

Have you seen my posts in OP? If you can find one that's writing-related, good luck to you!

[Rushie]

This is a really hard decision. If I continue to write like this. Nothing plot related, things out of order, then I'll probably never finish. If I don't write I'll never finish.


This REALLY sounds like you need some sort of method to help you structure it. Don't call it an outline if everybody hates that concept. There are many ways you can organize your thoughts and scenes. At least one book recommends you write each scene on an index card. When you have a stack of cards you can lay them out on a table (or the floor) and rearrange them in different orders, and see where more connections are needed. I tried that method and hated it but it might be right for you.

Another way is to make a flow chart of your scenes. Write a one sentence summary of the main point of the scene, then list them all, then draw flow lines connecting the scenes of subplots, main plot, opposition plot, whatever.

Other books make graphs of the plot. A building line which represents the building suspense, the "top of the hill" that is the climax, then quick decline to the end. You can note the plot points on such a graph. You can rise and lower the intensity of scene conflict by raising and lowering the line. You can place "doorways of no return" as one book called them, on the line and figure out how far in they should go.

All these methods give you a visual way to see what you're trying to do. Maybe it's because I was a mechanical engineer in another life, but actually seeing my plot and being able to move and arrange it around is helping tremendously. I still have all the art and creativity; each scene is written by immersing myself into the characters and story, and they can go where they want; if I need to rearrange the "outline" I can and do. But it sure is easier than floundering around like you're doing now.

Michelangelo did sketches for his figures in the Sistine Chapel for god's sake. No one pretends that if they sketch out a painting THEN paint it in, that will make it great genius art. These books aren't telling you their method will make you a genius. They're telling you that doing a sketch first will at least help you paint a recognizable picture, that's all.

I have a short story published in a major magazine so I think I understand basic storytelling, but I had never written a whole novel. I was confused about how authors organized them, so I bought about ten "how to write a novel" books. People here have dissed them as "drivel" and not teaching you "principles of storytelling" (whatever those are... if good organization isn't a principle I don't know what is). Maybe they are drivel and maybe they don't teach somebody's idea of esoteric literary talent, but they SURE helped me organize my thoughts. I am not following one single one... each one is merely what some other author found worked for him. I am finding MY OWN way, but I am integrating lots of ideas and suggestions from all those books.

I would pretty much agree that if you try to follow only one of these books, then you probably aren't grasping the overall concepts because each story needs to become its own individual work, and each of these methods boxes you in too much into somebody else's idea of organization. You need to follow your own pathway, not somebody else's. You need to be the boss, the king, of your own novel. But why on earth would you not want to incorporate tips and suggestions to help you? These books are all just trying to tell you to do a sketch first. Figure out your own best way to do a sketch, but do one, and maybe reading some of these books and seeing how others do them might give helpful ideas. Not one of these books states that if you don't follow their rules you will never publish. When they talk about a "rule" they mean, "if you want to do MY method, here is the rule," but not one of them says their method is THE only way.

As we all know, doing an outline or a sketch isn't for everyone, certainly not all novelists, and I'm sure there are painters who don't sketch but just slap paint onto canvas and are praised as genius, but for YOU, the words I bolded in your post seem to indicate you aren't this type.

All that being said, these books are NOT a replacement for reading lots of other novels, particularly the type you want to write. That's the only way to absorb the tons of "artistic data" (these must be our elusive "principles") that you just can't get from any how-to book. But none of the how-to books I read told you that you can get by without doing this, on the contrary, they insist you must!

So I guess I don't get all the venom for these books. If you're an idiot, yeah you might think reading one of these books will turn you into a genius, but then idiots think all kinds of nutty stuff. Why should that invalidate doing an outline as a good tool?

[CaroGirl]

I think a great solution is to post on a message board every other day about how hard writing is and how you won't finish and how you don't know how to get to the end and, and, and... *sarcasm*

If you want post the same question a dozen different ways every other day, so be it. But the advice is always the same. Turn off the Internet, sit down, and write. Don't apologize to me because I don't care one way or another how many times you post the same question. I just want you to realize that it is, indeed, variations on the same question eliciting the same set of answers.

[Linda Adams]

Since I've been on a project where I endlessly rewrote because I couldn't figure out how to solve the problems (and was also unable to finish it because of the same problems), I'd suggest setting it aside with a promise to return to it later. Then go work on a different book, which will give you a fresh eye. You'll probably learn some things with the new book, and you'll have a different perspective on the Lilly project.

[BlueLucario]

Actually. I decided to continue this book. I'm going to rewrite an opening and end, and I think that's pretty much it.

Right now I don't have another project. This is all I have.

I actually found a solution to the problem. Just write a character chart, but not a traditional one. I just write what I know about the characters, and why they do what they do.

[Bubastes]

Right now I don't have another project. This is all I have.


No wonder you're afraid of finishing.

[scarletpeaches]

Ask for a self-ban from AW until you've finished your book.

[EFCollins]

You need to find what works for you.

Amen to that. I myself can't write a paragraph if it's outlined. I just can't plan. My mind is my outline. I have works that I outlined. Unfortunately, they are still just outlines and maybe three to four chapters of actual written work. It just depends on the person. All I need to keep going is my character's main goal. If I have that, I'm golden.

[Linda Adams]

Right now I don't have another project. This is all I have.



That's why I stayed stuck on mine for so long. You need to come up with other ideas because it'll won't put all the weight on getting this book right.

[BlueLucario]

What are your scenes doing if they aren't moving the plot forward? What is lacking in your story (cohesion? the MC's goal? conflict? something else?)? You have a very analytical mind, so I would suggest looking at your own writing to analyze why you have written what you have and why it should be included in the story. Maybe you're not aware of its purpose yet, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have one.

I strongly suggest the idea of outlining backwards. What is it that your character needs to do/accomplish before THE END?
Usually it's just for character development.

[Quossum]

No wonder you're afraid of finishing.

This makes all kind of sense. I know I've milked and milked the last few chapters of a story when I don't have another one ready to go in my head...and then found myself frantically trying to finish this one as soon as another one starts trying to take over my consciousness.

Don't diddle around, Blue. Write and write, and start thinking SEQUEL! :Sun:

--Q

[midknighthaze]

People complain that it inhibits their creativity but that simply isn't true. You can change your outline throughout the writing process. The important thing is that with an outline, you have a definite beginning and a definite ending. So no matter what changes you make in GETTING there, you're still GETTING there.

Ditto. Worked for me.

[BlueLucario]

As much as I want to outline, I can't. I tried, and by the time I reached up to the epic part of the story, my characters don't want to do it. And it hurts and it's so difficult to force them to do it. I have to even after building up suspense and so much tension.

[Red_Dahlia]

As much as I want to outline, I can't. I tried, and by the time I reached up to the epic part of the story, my characters don't want to do it. And it hurts and it's so difficult to force them to do it. I have to even after building up suspense and so much tension.


Couldn't you just outline up to the epic part, write up to where your outline ended, and take stock/re-outline from there? I think that a lot of the time, you'll find that once you reach that point, your story has given you several ideas for what to do next.

[BlueLucario]

Couldn't you just outline up to the epic part, write up to where your outline ended, and take stock/re-outline from there? I think that a lot of the time, you'll find that once you reach that point, your story has given you several ideas for what to do next.
Could you explain that a little further?

Maybe I tried that too. I don't know. Please explain what you mean.

[Red_Dahlia]

Could you explain that a little further?

Maybe I tried that too. I don't know. Please explain what you mean.


Ok, I'll try my best; no guarantees it'll make sense though. :)

As much as I want to outline, I can't. I tried, and by the time I reached up to the epic part of the story, my characters don't want to do it. And it hurts and it's so difficult to force them to do it. I have to even after building up suspense and so much tension.

So what I got from this post is that you've been able to outline up to a certain point in your story, but once you get to that point you feel lost and like your characters don't want to do what you tell them to. Also, the point that you've been able to outline up to is still a ways away from what you've written so far. If this is wrong, then I'm sorry, and my next points might not apply to you.

My suggestion was not to give up on outlining. Instead, outline as far ahead in your story as you can, in your case up to that "epic scene," and then write what you've outlined until you've finished that part of your story. Don't spend too much time dwelling on the fact that you don't know what's going to happen next, either. You can always add foreshadowing or setup in your later drafts.

Once you reach the end of your outline, take a break and think about your story. You may find that the reason you haven't been able to get past this certain scene is because it really wasn't the right one for your story. However, because you have written up to this point, you will have a better appreciation for who your characters are and what your story is in general. Indeed, I've found that once I've reached this point in my story, new ideas start to come flooding in, and I am seized by inspiration, and a better "epic scene" than the one I had originally planned.

Hopefully that gave you a better idea of what I was trying to get across. If not, feel free to ask me more questions, and I'll do my best to help.

[Ervin]

I agree with many posts already made. If you don't know where you're going then chances are that you lost sight of the goal. Personally I keep a very basic outline of events in my head, I remind myself what the end goal is on a regular basis. As I progress in that direction I keep putting pressure on the MC, introduce new characters, reveal things and so on, all as the MC is walking toward the end.

As time goes on and parts of the story come closer to being written, I often change them in my head. For example if events transpire and characters develop differently from what I originally planned, I change it. For me personally outlining doesn't work for this reason, because my story is shifting too much.

[Mel]

Right now I don't have another project. This is all I have.

Blue, I think this scares me more than any question or comment you've ever made. So, Lily's story is the be all end all of your writing life? Seriously, you need a few other story ideas. With a different character. Seems to me that you are so wrapped up in her and nothing else is getting through to your creative side.

Do some shorts, just for fun. Really, writing can be fun, and should be fun, at least sometimes. Write about a guy and in another genre. Horror, mystery, space opera. Heck, write a Bubba story -- tons of fun with those.

Check out some of the areas here at AW that have monthly challenges. People are still working on their novels yet find time to jot down a quick short. Broaden your horizon and more stories will come your way.

I have to ask, how long have you been writing Lily's story? Month, date, and year you started.

[BlueLucario]

I have to ask, how long have you been writing Lily's story? Month, date, and year you started.
Last...year?

And I started rewriting a year later.

[misa101]

I think that concentrating solely on one project could be hindering your creativity. I have a main WIP that although it is coming slow it is making progress.

I am at about the same stage you are and sometimes I have a hard time figuring out exactly what should be happening next. The more I stress about it the more I am unable to find a sense of direction. The only thing I really did that helped was have a second project. It has almost nothing written on it but a lot of notes and some random scenes. I am doing some research here and there for it as well. This takes a lot of pressure off my main WIP and allows creativity to start flowing again. Heck sometimes even a blog post can do it for me.

Honestly I think you have put too much pressure on this one project. That pressure and lack of what you perceive as viable alternatives is what is holding you back.

[sadron]

I have done it, restarting over, but it is a bit tiring to me.

[BlueLucario]

You know....I guess it's a good idea to start a new piece....

[scope]

Many of us fall in love with a story we want to tell, but after many passes we discover that we just can't get it right--whatever the reason(s) may be. Personally, during a three year period, while completing and selling two other books, I worked on a memoir that in my mind would be dynamite, and I still believe that. Unfortunately, as much as I tried, as much as I rewrote and rewrote, I could never get it to be what I wanted and never submitted it to my agent. While it's still a "mental work in progress", about four years ago I put it in a drawer where it currently resides. The day will come [I don't know when] when I'll go back to it. Meanwhile, I have lots of other stories to tell and books to write, so that's where my concentraton is. You might want to consider taking a similar appraoch. Maybe it's time to move on. I don't believe that this current project is the only one you can come up with -- if you truly want to.

Just my opinion. Good luck.

[Sean D. Schaffer]

I think you need to set this one down for a bit and start another project.

My step-dad used to work on cars in our garage. Every so often a bolt wouldn't go on properly or some other misfortune occurred, and Mom and I would hear yelling going on in the garage for a few minutes.

Then, Pop would come into the house, sit down with a cup of coffee and take a break for twenty or thirty minutes. After he had rested and taken his mind off the problem in the garage, he would go back in and start over again.

In most cases, the bolt would go on easily after that.

My point? Like Charlie Horse is saying above, I also think you should put this WIP away for awhile and work on something else. You can always come back to this piece later on, and chances are that you'll come up with something to figure out the problem then. When you're trying too hard, finishing a project becomes that much more difficult. So get your mind on something else, and when you're fully refreshed you can come back and finish what you started.

[Birol]

Have you considered that 1) you may not be at a place where you can do justice to Lily's story or 2) you may have outgrown Lily's story?

[wannawrite]

My advice? I sorta agree with Deb Werksman, over at Sourcebooks, writing a mss. is less like having a baby than giving birth to an elephant. Just lay down and grunt it out, Blue. Push! You can do it! 500 words a day, if you have to! Good luck!

[ladylynxx]

Write it backwards.. or outline it backwards.

I got stuck in my novel and then i outlined what happened in the last chapter, then the second to last chapter, etc etc and BAM my novel made sense.

and when all hope fails, just keep swimming!


This totally worked for me as well! I knew what has going to happen in the end of the book so I wrote a few chapter summaries and the story wrote itself from there. Putting it down and then coming back to it can also help. :)

[BlueLucario]

Have you considered that 1) you may not be at a place where you can do justice to Lily's story?
Can you explain this above?