Hi everyone, I'm new here and just wanting some insight into others' work.
Time and time again, I have the "ah-ha!" moment, where I think I've got it, a fantastic idea for a book. But always, it can be 20,000 words in or before my fingers even touch the keyboard, I lose faith in the idea and cast it aside. The doubt can be because it's a fantasy theme and I think people will deem it ridiculous, or because my plot twists don't tie up convincingly, or because my characters develop issues and don't know where they're going.
It's so frustrating, I've wanted to be a writer all my life but apart from twice, I've never finished a full length piece of work.
I recently read Stephen King's On Writing and I loved it, he says he doesn't plan his books or write character references and this was music to me because I find that trying to plan it all out before I start just makes me completely fall out with the idea.
Does anyone else experience what I've detailed, or have you experienced it and managed to get past it?
Any advice much appreciated.
Sophie
Hi Sophie,
I'm a Pantser, I start like you with an Ah-ha moment, then i do a little bit of planning around my characters, but i like them to surprise me. then i re-plan depending on the surprises. One good method i have come up with is to give them different actions and then think about what that may lead to. ie: i have a character who is stuck in some backwater town call it (A), he could beg, borrow, steal or murder to get out of that place and each one of those things will take him down a different path. Knowing that loosely I want him to end up in another place lets call it (B) i like to play around, write multiple scenes and see where they take me, and the one i like the best will end up being the one I keep in. It may not work for you but I find it helps me when i remember that i can always change things around if i don't like them.
Over-planning kills my creativity. I use locations and events as key points, and let the characters make their own journeys.
Hope this helps,
Sophie
Hi Sophie, as an uneducated man, and like some others on this site, (I don't mean others are uneducated by that, by the way) as it turns out also Stephen King, just sit down and start to write and see how the imagination develops. I could not sit and plan, for me there would be no joy, but I understand, that for others the planning is as exciting as writing the story.
You though have to do it your way, let your subconscious live through the keyboard, see where it goes. Sometimes the "planning" happens in your head, it doesn't have to be written down. Let the story get to where it is going, then make it live by spending time with it, just like any relationship, you need to get to know your story. It will change, as will the way you think about it, but you need to get something down, and into a finished first draft before you can make a rounded piece of work. Get the words typed and then take it from there. Your characters need to be born before they can grow up and have a life of their own, just give them the direction they need, and they will have a life of their own!
If you think this is rubbish just ignore it, but it works for me!!!
Regards Paul
Some invaluable pieces of advice here and it's nice to know I'm not on my own! I'm glad I joined this website I think it's going to be a massive help. Thanks for your advice and words of wisdom, fantastic!