How to finish a book?

Question

I have a lot of great ideas for novels, and the beginning always starts off very well, but how can I stop from getting bored of my own creations?

Answer 1

Observe people, even people in traffic, family members work also. But if you take the time to look around you will find lots of subject matter. Heck even on here you can find some fantastic ideas. Look at questions and answers and then see if the people answering have a profile. I could write a book just on the profiles.

Answer 2

I don't think your best ideas belong near the beginning. Can you start off interesting and gradually build to the most exciting part of the book, then wrap everything up to satisfy the reader? You may find that if you work at thinking like a reader and not a writer, you'll find your one best idea out of all of them and be more motivated to finish.The more you think like a reader who is sort of telling the author how to make the story better, the more fun it'll be, and you may find that many useful and fun elements just pop up to help the story along to the end. Maybe even to an end you didn't anticipate! Some authors call it "letting the story tell itself"; I find that if I try to force things, I have to set my work aside. I'm currently working on a novel that is missing many elements I thought were good ideas when I started it, because they didn't turn out to be good enough. Fortunately in this age of electronic writing, you can assemble parts here-and-there and put them all together later, which is not common but definitely a valid way to write.

Answer 3

I'm in the same boat. I must have about four five to seven hundred page novels (nine point type size, if you can believe that) that I just can't end. But it's not because I get bored. I've always found character development to be so fun, so I just keep making twists and turns for my characters and the stories end up being more episodic than plot-worthy.

My suggestion to you is to write the beginning and the end first, then the middle. I know some of the fun gets taken out of it, but I found that it gives me something to strive for when I am tempted to run astray with loopholes and ridiculous plot twists.

Answer 4

You should outline the novel before you start writing it so you have some idea of where you're going. I've written a young adult novel and have started another one. Write out descriptions of all the characters and settings. Also you have to write out scenes that will take place in the novel. When I was done outlining, I numbered the scenes and worked off of them in numberially order as I wrote the novel. Outlining won't give you all the answers, but you should know how the novel ends.

Answer 5

Um...The End? okok, I'm kidding, I'm not that cruel. I have the same problem and honestly, I either sucked it up and worked on it with all my heart, or let it rot. Who said you had to end the novel? Keep it going. I know for a fact, that if you do this long enough, and reread it, you will find a place in the novel that would be a perfect place to end it. Maybe the rest can be a sequal. A series, if you make it so, is good for writers like us becuase they can end with untied strings, leaving it up to the reader's imagination. The same can be done with single books. Just play around with it. Good luck!

Answer 6

Well there are many ways and the reality is that you have to find what is best suited for you and your lifestyle. You can start by writing short stories or just a chapter at atime. I am more creative when I get up early in the morning before sunrise and write, this works best for me. Also, check out interviews or the website of some of your favorite writer. Nine times out of ten they were asked the same question and the advice of someone who is making a living out of writing can be very valuable. Boredom comes when we allow ourselves to believe that we have exhausted all possibilities with a story. Another thing I do is I write in my journal in addition to working on my novel every day. Sometimes, when I don't feel like writing something personal in my journal about my life, I write about one of my characters as if it's their personal journal, or I walk outside and look around at the scene outside and challenge myself to write the most desriptive paragraph about what I see - It will definitely get those creative juices flowing!

Answer 7

As a Creative Writing major I've had the same problem. I decided to stop trying to write a novel and switch to short stories. Look at something like Hemingway's In Our Time, which is made up of short stories but is cohesive like a novel.

Answer 8

Look, it may sound silly but you just have to push on through. Don't get bogged down in revising or editing or changing things. Take some notes on character descriptions or place names for quick reference but just push through the work. Chances are that many details will change with the development of the piece and you'll have plenty of time to revise and edit. Just get it out in rough draft first.

Answer 9

Put yourself in readers mode. Try to think how a reader at that point in your book would guess an ending. Then work out a way to turn your story around ,so they [ the readers ] are shocked ,surprised, or out right confused. You'll have to keep yourself entertained if you want to keep others.

Answer 10

Maybe you can think of some personal experiences, and apply that into your writing. Watch some movies and get ideas from there. I don't know if that helps you, but good luck!