Frustrated

[RaineeRose]

For months now, I've had the inkling of an idea for my next novel. I can visualize some of the characters; I can see pieces of the plot -- but everything seems to be shrouded in some kind of mist or something. I cannot get this thing started. It's been bothering me because the idea has been in my head so long, and I'm really not sure what to do with it. I have trouble writing without a good idea of where I'm going, and this time, I just don't know enough about the plot or the characters to start. And yet that little voice keeps whispering in my ear... So frustrating. :e2apple:

Any tips or suggestions? This one is driving me insane. Thanks, all!

[TheIT]

When I'm brainstorming, I sit down with a notebook and write down the questions and ideas I have as they come to me. Sometimes I have answers to the questions, sometimes each question generates new questions. Eventually I circle in on something resembling a conclusion. Writing down the questions and possible scenarios gives me something concrete to work with as I consider other ideas.

Good luck!

:Sun:

[Stew21]

I'd think that starting writing without an idea of clear direction and letting the writing lead you to it is a good way to go about it.
Just sit down and start writing. Give yourself a random prompt. if the story is ready to surface, it will find the opening you've given it.
Write some words.
good luck!

[MidnightMuse]

There are as many different opinions as there are posters here at AW - so I'll simply offer up what works for me in these situations.

I'm in somewhat of the same situation as you describe here, and it happens with nearly every new WIP in the early stages. I know the characters I want to create, I can see them plain as day in my mind, and I'll know a general plot or storyline, but won't have all the necessary details.

First thing: Do Not Panic.

Relax, ride the wave but don't try to push too hard. I like to jot down notes, details about characters - vague ideas - snippets of what I want to see and do. Then I start asking myself questions. Why? Where? Why not? How? Who? What then?

Sit down with a pen and paper (or whatever) and write down what you DO have, then start asking yourself questions about what you've noted.

But first and foremost (for me, anyway) is to relax. Think about your characters, then get playfull and see what develops. :)

[TheIT]

I agree with MidnightMuse. Relax and let yourself play. One of my ways of getting to know my characters better is to throw them into situations which wouldn't be possible just to see how they'd react. For example, I imagined what would happen if my wizard character got beamed up to the Enterprise. It was a lot of fun imagining him explaining to Riker & Spock that yes, magic really did exist. :D

[BlueTexas]

If I think about it too much, I get nowhere. If I sit down and just start writing, things eventually fall into place that I never would have forseen in my head. Try it. Worse that happens is you're no better off than when you started.

[NeuroFizz]

If the story isn't coming to you, and it is creating that much frustration, maybe this story isn't ready to be written. Some story ideas never make it to paper, and part of being a disciplined writer is being able to recognize this. If your decision is it's not ready, or not do-able, give the idea a good burial. Mourn if necessary, but throw the dirt on it. If you are not able to do that, you have a simple choice. Start writing or start working on your self-discipline.

[Mel]

I never wrote outlines until last year. I began with the simplest one by using index cards, just two sentences on each. When I couldn't go any farther I went back to the first one and expanded what I had on the back of the card. Funny thing was, I didn't really have a general plot but each sentence kind of meshed into thinking of another one, then another. I didn't ask myself "what if" but I think the back-brain was working on that for me.

Sometimes just free flow writing helps. And yes, relax, which can help if you do it with pen and paper/cards. Go sit on your couch or favorite chair and jot down whatever comes out.

[crowlett]

:banana:
Any tips or suggestions? This one is driving me insane. Thanks, all!

Rainee,

I am an unpublished writer, except for one poetry book published by Publish America, (yeah I know I’m still unpublished then), so take my words lightly. I liked to find a song that reminds me of a little of the story and play it over and over while I write. I also just write different items and let it flow from there. Keep writing it’ll come.

crowlett:banana:

[Willowmound]

Any tips or suggestions? This one is driving me insane. Thanks, all!

I'm going to answer this one before I read the others' reply.

I've been where you are. And I'm currently writing that book. How long did it take? Well it took years. I let it simmer until it hatched. I didn't force it. And that is my suggestion to you.

Let it grow. Be happy it does. Work on something else in the meantime.

Then one day it hatches. And maybe it will be beautiful.

[The Grift]

You know what's funny? A large part of why I write at all is because these half-formed ideas. They seems so intriguing to me, but I can't nail them down, so I write them in order to just put them somewhere. It sounds like that's what you need to do. Specifics of plot and even character and all that good stuff can be worked out later. Just do some writing.

[JoNightshade]

When I get stuck on characters or plot, I start with whatever I have. So let's say I have a character who likes to smoke a lot. Then I sit down and start typing something like:

John likes to smoke six packs a day. His lungs are all black and he can't run far. He is tall with brown hair and blue eyes.

Then I start asking myself questions, literally typing them out:

Why did John start smoking? - He's always had a nervous personality, and he started doing it so he'd have something to do with his hands.

Why is John so nervous? - He... witnessed the murder of his mother when he was six. People think he doesn't remember it, but he does.

And so on and so forth. Same thing if what I'm stuck on is plot-- I'll just write myself a summary of what I've got, and then start typing questions at myself about what I have. Often I find that once I see that question, the answer comes to me almost on its own, as if somehow I already knew, I just had to realize it.

Of course something else might work for you, but it's something to try. I know Ray Bradbury uses word association... just sits down with a couple of words and starts typing whatever comes into his head, and soon enough he's got a story idea.

[MMWyrm]

I was going to say something a lot like JoNightShade did.

My first novel began with one sentence that came to me in a dream. Seriously. I took the sentence and asked myself, "who said it?" and "to whom?" "why did he say it?" Every realization of plot or character leads to more questions.

[RaineeRose]

I just wanted to thank you all for your help. I tried some of your suggestions and ended up writing 300+ words about a character. I haven't begun the novel, but I feel like I know this character a lot better. Thanks for getting me over my stall.

[ccarver30]

I'm going to answer this one before I read the others' reply.

I've been where you are. And I'm currently writing that book. How long did it take? Well it took years. I let it simmer until it hatched. I didn't force it. And that is my suggestion to you.

Let it grow. Be happy it does. Work on something else in the meantime.

Then one day it hatches. And maybe it will be beautiful.

I forced mine and it turned out like a piece of crap. She's right!! :)

[Willowmound]

Do I look like a she to you?

<---

:)

[RaineeRose]

Do I look like a she to you?

<---

:)


LOL