writing a book?

Question

But every time I try to, I can never finish! I just keep getting new ideas for stories, so I am left with dozens of half-finished novels! I love, love, love, love, love to write, but it is just so weird! I tried planning; my friend even suggested diagrams (which I HATE.) I just want to be able to hold up a finished story that I'm proud of, that's all.

Answer 1

One of the first things you might do, is look at all your manuscripts and see whether you can see a common point where your interest flags.

Is it after the major crisis/turning point? After you get all the characters established and the story rolling? Before you have to deal with an essential conflict in the plot?

If you find a common stumbling block, sit down and consider why that is a problem for you. Some writers conceive a great idea, let's say it's a medieval mystery, and they are going to snatch a king of of his prison. But the king's release is not the end of the story. Being the high point of the hero's actions though, the writer's interest and devotion to making the story work often dwindles until they stop writing.

I can understand your dislike of diagrams, but you do need at least the main events in a book laid out before you start. That doesn't mean you can't deviate from the planned chain of events, you just add another link. Then concentrate on getting from one to the other event in the most creative way possible. Think of it like weaving, and as you move along the plot, you pick up more and more threads, tying them all together for one glorious finish.

Writing is work, there's no doubt about it. But if you continue to challenge yourself to do the best you can, and to out-do what you have written before, then you'll rise to that challenge and not only complete a book, but have fresh new idea waiting for the next one.

Answer 2

I think the problem you have is that you are are approaching it as fun, not work.

Which isn't to say that it can't be BOTH, but make no mistake - you WILL have to put a substantial amount of effort into not only writing the book, but also editing it, formatting it, and whatever else you choose to do with it. And like all forms of work, this means that you have to stay on task and not wander off to do things that are more fun and less work.

I think you will find that your pride in your work ends up in many ways to be proportional to the effort you expend to produce it. Don't give up... just adjust your attitude, schedule some 'work' time, and put your nose to the grindstone, as it were.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have the same problem when I write. I found it easier to leave the book wit a bit of an open ending conclude the major point but leave the little ones unsolved . This way you can add on to the book as a series if you wanted to. this way you have the reader wanting more.

Answer 4

Seems like a clear case of high intelligence, ADD, or both, to me. You hate structure in your life, yet restructuring things may greatly improve your results. Talk to your doctor about this and see if some tests can be done. If it turns out to be ADD you may be amazed how much a drug like Ritalin can help.

Answer 5

i am also a writer, and ive just began a short story for my creative writing class, i have the same exact problem as you, i think "writers like us" just need to sit down and write about something you are passionate about and let it flow, be as delicate as possible with your choices and as creative as you can be, dont over think you'll screw yourself over in the end, i must heed my own advice as i plan on doing now, i WILL FINISH THIS STORY SO HELP ME GOD!

Answer 6

Write the characters, title, plot, and ending first. Then let it flow.

Answer 7

write all the ideas you have for books....and as you get more, write them on the same list....then pick one of those topics and write ~you'll alwayz have time for those other topics~