Need help with the process of writing a novel...?

Question

I am currently writing a fiction novel, and have about a third finished. Also, I have found myself writing a screenplay. I walk around with multiple storylines in my head, but cant ever seem to get them down on paper. I am not a professional writer obviously, and have to hold down a job, but when I do get on the PC, I find myself distracted and cant get the writing underway. Any help or advice from aspiring novelists out there? Thanks.

Answer 1

Join the crowd.

Seriously, there's as many ways of writing as there are writers, and many people suffer from the "too many ideas" problem.

One thing you might to do is take $40 and buy a digital voice recorder that records 12 hours of dictation, and use it for when you're walking around to take notes. Some people do better telling a story orally and then just transcribing it later.

Beyond that, it depends on you and what you're writing. Some people like to sit down and let the story come out and just type away, with characters in their head, but no definite idea of what will happen next.

Others like to meticulously plan every last detail and chart out all the interactions in the book.

I can't say that one is better than the other. John Irving, I'm pretty sure, designs his whole books up front. Besides having heard this in an interview with him, if I remember correctly, I don't see how it could be otherwise, because there are threads that run through his book that all come together at the end.

Some people like to write books backward - find an ending, and work to how the characters got there.

But in all cases, the best thing is most likely to focus. Acknowledge to yourself that you probably can't write six different books simultaneously, and if you really want to publish one, pick one, and set aside time to work on it. Promise yourself you'll write a page a day. Or a paragraph. Or whatever. But do it and deliver.

At a page a day, 200 days from now you'll have a finished manuscript. Then you can work on book #2, and in another 200 days you'll have written 2 books.

Good luck!

Answer 2

since it seems you already have at least one story line underway, i would advise that you pick ONE to work on faithfully.
Carry a notebook and pencil with you everywhere you go and keep it next to your bed while you sleep. When you get an idea, any idea for yourstory, it goes in the note book. Think about each one and follow it through to a logical conclusion. then when you get a few spare moments, write it out, see where the idea takes you. a key factor in writing really good books is to let the story flow like a river. ocasionally you should add your own cup of water to the river but never try to re-direct it or dam it up. the story will practically write itself. all you need to do is guide the story along.
Write when you won't get in trouble for it. things turn out especially well when you feel good about something. like I write right after finishing my homework while I wait for mom to pick me up. I am free for the night and have nothing else to do. sit back and watch your story blossom.
I post my stories on freewebs so I can get feedback from people. I see if anything doesn't make sense or if something is not explained well enough. Then I edit and ask again.
Also, try writing down your dreams when you remember them. I tried that once because I wanted to remember them. I was reading through the old notebook and came up with a doxen ideas for the next chapter in my Sondadarya of Ummos story. if you want to see what I mean, visit my website.

Answer 3

I think is hard to try to write everyday if you have to work, because if you try in the morning by the time that your are really inspire, it is time to go and in the evenings you are tired and disconnected, because you have concentrated in your work during the day. Try on the weekends, many times is more productive one complete day or maybe the mornings of Saturday and Sunday (find when is best for you to write). Always carry a little notebook so you can write ideas, tip, phrases that occurred to you during the day. Review that every time that you sit to write, so you use it in your story.
Has worked for me, so I am sure that with some personal adjustment, it will work for you as well.

Answer 4

My best advice...put pen to paper and let your hand mind flow.

I have a whole notebook with at least a billion ideas etched in it and only 2, from the list, fully developed and for a writer, that's a lot lol.

Just put time aside to be in an enviroment where it is quite and you are sure no distractions can distrupt you from your creative field of which you extract your stories.

Good luck with everything!

Answer 5

If you want to write novel you must set aside a certain time to write everyday. I once wrote a novel. It took me two years. I wrote everyday. I almost flunked out of university and lost my job over writing all the time. I sacraficed sleep to write. If you really want to be a novelist you can't let work distract you.

Answer 6

try writing out the entire arc and then going in to fill in scenes afterwards.

Answer 7

If you've got a laptop....so go to the beach or mountain...there, your ideas will flow trough your mind...