How to catch a Muse?

Well, don't let the title get you off guard. It's not like I never had one but it seems mine just flew out of the window.

It all started four years ago when I begun writing on my biggest writing project, being specific: a fantasy themed novel. My mind flourished with so many ideas I could write on without a care in the world. During that time my writing style developed from Tolkien-detailed to a more lighter version and my story marched proudly onwards.

Then I bumped into some disturbing facts; my story hardly made any progress and the 100 filled pages kept mocking me. I started wondering wether I wasn't wasting my time or not. To ease my mind, I wrote some short stories and eventually continued on my main story.

As to this day I'm still not satisfied with the pace. Not one bit. The problem probably is that, back then, I perfectly had in mind where I wanted to go; writing towards this paticular scene. I finished writing that one eventually.

But now, I'm still stalling. And I really hate. No matter what I try, I still have no idea where to go. What to do. What to do with my characters..

To make things worse, I can hardly write anything else these days. My mind used to be full of ideas and vivid images of scenes I could write. It's like your imagination starts to fade the older you get.

So.. My question is; am I really becoming too old to spend my time writing? Whatever should I do to catch a Muse again? Some tips to help me out?

Kind regards~

First of all, hey Ravons, welcome to YWS! Call me Stella- or any variation thereof, and I'll try and help you out...

Muse... the term always seems strange to me... but I know what you mean.

First of all: glad you lightened the tone. Tolkien- though a genius, I think is very hard to read. If you've found your own style of prose, and like it, that's one good thing.

Then I bumped into some disturbing facts;

Like what, exactly? Real life, or concerning the story?

The fact is is that we all have slow periods- some longer than others. The fact that you actually started it is a big step- I know that my story -that has developed in my mind for nearly eight years, would you believe (although it's far better now than it was then), has never progressed further than snippets on paper.

Also, if you started four years ago, well, your stance on the world has changed. There is a huge difference in four years when you're our age- especially when it comes to writing. I was looking at my diary from this time even last year the other night, and the difference in tone shocked me. We mature physically, emotionally, and literarily (? dodgy spelling there), over the years.

No, of course you're not too old to write. The majority of authors in the world are adults, aren't they? YWS is a small pocket that speaks otherwise but, for the most part.

There are always days when we don't feel like writing, dear. Somebody wise (and published) once told me that the trick was to write anyway. She didn't believe in inspiration -or muses, as you put it. She believed that you should set aside a few minutes each day just to write, and build your own inspiration. In the backwards words of Amanda from Ugly Betty: "Perspiration, not inspiration." That's why I, personally, keep a daily diary- so that I'll write at least something each day...

If your imagination is fading, well, to sound cliché, that's because you're letting it. And we all have to, sometimes. But you know, I thought the same thing a few months ago, because I never wrote anything really interesting, you know. But I let a friend read a story of mine and she said "Ohmigosh, you have such a good imagination. Where do you even get this stuff?"

I think it's human nature to think the worst of ourselves.

Some actual, sound advice:

-That big project? Is it on your computer or on paper? If it's on paper, put it in a bottom drawer, and if it's on a computer, put it on a Memory stick/CD and put it away somewhere. Don't look at what you've already written. Forget about it. Try some new stuff. When you get an idea- no matter how weird or boring, write it down! And if it's a continuation of the big project, write it. Then, in a few months, take out what you've already written. Read it, I mean really read it. Do you still like it? If the answer's yes, then you know you've got to keep working on it. If the answer's no, well, darling, perhaps it's time to let go...

-Don't worry about the pace of the thing. It's like the motorway, sometimes it's fast, sometimes it's slow. Nobody said writing a novel was going to be easy. If you want to finish it, then you've got to stop worrying about writing it, and write it.

-Set yourself targets. Say "Right, by the end of this month, I will have achieved x, y and z."

-You're eighteen, yes? So maybe you have other stuff that you're worrying about at the moment, school or college or whatever. If that's overshadowing you, then perhaps that's affecting your writing as well. So take some time out. Relax. And if that relaxation is going to involve a pen, all the better. But don't sit down to "relax" and get stressed because you feel you can't write. I know I said you have to work, but separate the two.

-I know all about the scene thing, it's happened to all of us. Find a new scene! Me, I *blushes* I love to act mine out to myself. But find a new goal in the story itself.

-And never put yourself down like "I'm too old to write." You're never too old. You're just having a slow day, a long one, admittedly, but if you perservere, you'll get through!

I hope that this helps and isn't just rambling. Oh- and I almost forgot!

Stick around YWS. Really. It'll help you no end in your writing- there are lots of people here in similar situations to your own...

Drop me a note if you need anything!

-Stella x

It's quite the honor to be here, Stella. I merely stumbled on this place when in search for story ideas. I managed to find some interesting and handy things, like the list that holds variaties of the word 'said'. That'll really come in handy.

Like what, exactly? Real life, or concerning the story?

Well, as I explained after that sentence, my story hardly made any progress. And I hated that so much. Since I don't want to spend monthes on a single chapter, although I know that 'patience is a virtue' but that only conflicts with my rather impatient demeanor. Back then I was also unsatisfied with some parts of the story, so I sat down and fixed a couple o' them. As of today, I still need to revise my story. The first three chapters for example, I had a nice setup but most of the material I placed there is hardly being used.

Also, if you started four years ago, well, your stance on the world has changed. There is a huge difference in four years when you're our age- especially when it comes to writing. I was looking at my diary from this time even last year the other night, and the difference in tone shocked me. We mature physically, emotionally, and literarily (? dodgy spelling there), over the years.

That's true, unfortunately. My stance on the world has changed completely, it's quite unsettling but eventually you grew used to that. When I read back to earlier parts of my novel and other short stories, I sometimes stare in awe about how I was even able to come up with it all.

And I'll take your advice and take some time off and 'write anyway'. A lot of people assured me that it's good to just sit down and type ahead. You can always review it later, after all. I'm just not the person who wishes to dwell too long. I want to move on and get it over with, you know?

-That big project? Is it on your computer or on paper? If it's on paper, put it in a bottom drawer, and if it's on a computer, put it on a Memory stick/CD and put it away somewhere. Don't look at what you've already written. Forget about it. Try some new stuff. When you get an idea- no matter how weird or boring, write it down! And if it's a continuation of the big project, write it. Then, in a few months, take out what you've already written. Read it, I mean really read it. Do you still like it? If the answer's yes, then you know you've got to keep working on it. If the answer's no, well, darling, perhaps it's time to let go...

It's on my computer. It's actually everywhere I go. I keep it on my external harddrive, my Nintendo DS Flashcard, my school hard drive, even my Mum's own computer and even online. Not to forget I have a few CD's around with a copy of all of my stories as well. It's going to be rather hard not to look at it, as I will be thinkin' about it soon enough.. And I have other stories on the side although those don't seem to take off as well. And yes, I really like it. As a matter of fact, I love the story. The three main characters were there even before I even began writing.

So yeah, I will keep working on it. I've come up with way too much stuff to simply slip it aside. It'll be a waste of my time and imagination as well!

-I know all about the scene thing, it's happened to all of us. Find a new scene! Me, I *blushes* I love to act mine out to myself. But find a new goal in the story itself.

Well, there is a part I'm looking forward to. The thing is I'm not able to come up with stuff to put inbetween. Yeah, maybe some character development scenes but those can happen along the way.

Anyway, I'll surely stick around; just to see what the other users have to say. xD I'd love to hear it.

Want some more? Alright.

Back then I was also unsatisfied with some parts of the story, so I sat down and fixed a couple o' them. As of today, I still need to revise my story. The first three chapters for example, I had a nice setup but most of the material I placed there is hardly being used.

I recently revised my story (two months ago) and I still need to fix a lot of it. I keep making changes as I write: A new character trait here, a plot twist there, and pretty soon, my beginning is pretty worthless when it comes to content. So what so I do? I make a new document with all the changes, write them down for future reference, and keep writing as if the change has been made. It does wonders for silencing the inner editor.

That's true, unfortunately. My stance on the world has changed completely, it's quite unsettling but eventually you grew used to that. When I read back to earlier parts of my novel and other short stories, I sometimes stare in awe about how I was even able to come up with it all.

So, use that! I've been working on one novel for four years (from age 12 to my current 16), and the plot has done almost a 180, all for the better. I used to have the whole "fairy tale" type thing, and the ending was a romantic one. Partially due to YWS and partially from my own shift in worldview, the plot has changed. Just alter your big projects as you see fit. Things usually end up better because of it.

You can always review it later, after all. I'm just not the person who wishes to dwell too long. I want to move on and get it over with, you know?

Just pounding it out helps. Unless you get stuck on the scene, the you rewrite until it flows again and make changes from there. But that's not majorly rewriting, that's just putting everything into it's proper place.

And I have other stories on the side although those don't seem to take off as well.

So write those while you get inspiration! I did that for six weeks. I wrote one story while my pet project simmered. Eventually my pet project came back into my head, and I started working on that one. Just keep writing, is the key.

Well, there is a part I'm looking forward to. The thing is I'm not able to come up with stuff to put inbetween. Yeah, maybe some character development scenes but those can happen along the way.

I had the same problem. What I used was The Hero's Journey to map things out, and I just started asking "Why?" questions to come up with stuff. Check out this article for some tips on pulling stuff out of a hat.

Don't hesitate to ask me for help!

~Rosey

I don't know if this will help you, but a lot of old Greek writers (such as Homer) wrote a little dedication poem type thing before writing their epic poems, hoping to invoke the muse. Perhaps write a poem to invoke your muse?

O.O

Start playing the "Twilight Zone" theme here... Your troubles sounds exactly, almost word for word, like my own the past few years, to the point I started my own story a little over four years ago. (Seriously, reading your post freaked me out a little with the similarities.)

I started out writing this grand epic with no fewer than six (SIX!) main characters, all with heavy angst. I worldbuilt intensely, sure that I would create at least two distinct cultures.

I got through the first draft (of the first book in a projected trilogy) and from there, it just sort of fell apart. I realized that my project was a bit too ostentatious and so it scaled down a bit. The angst lightened up a lot and the story became a bit more realistic.

But it wasn't working. I wanted to write the darn thing, but I didn't want to be writing. I couldn't seem to write, I had no idea how I wanted things to work out. It was a mess. I took a break for a while, did some short stories, collected material for other projects, all the while hoping the lightning bolt would strike that would make me pick the story up.

Then a wonderful thing called National Novel Writing Month happened to me. I went into it writing the backstory of two minor characters in my epic. They were originally two of the main characters, but they got cut when I downsized. But I loved them so much that I wanted to do them justice and get their story told. A month later, I had a lovely little novel about them.

Now I'm editing and I'm running into different troubles, but the point is that I am still so happy with my rough draft from NaNo that I am almost afraid to edit it.

So, some things I learned from NaNo:

1) Don't take it so seriously.

You aren't happy with the pacing? Forget it. Let it slog if it needs to slog (my NaNo slogged a lot because I was trying to reach the 50,000 word goal and there was a lot of padding to get it there). It doesn't have to be perfect the first time.

Seriously, just ignore the little nitpicky things and just get on with the story. Your transitions/POV/dialogue isn't all that great? Who cares? This is the first draft! You're just trying to get the thing on paper.

2) Set a deadline/goal.

In NaNo, you write a 50,000 word novel in a month. You don't have to do something this intense (though I highly recommend trying out NaNo at least once), but a deadline that you will stick to is a great tool. For a short time period that is actually hugely effective in making you churn out words, try "Write or Die."

http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html

This little thing was a lifesaver in NaNo, and it is nice for other times as well, since it makes you write. It also forces you not to take yourself too seriously. You just have to get the words out. Polishing comes later with editing.

3) Ignore what you had before.

Like I said, my NaNo novel was about two characters who had originally been main characters in my first draft, so I had already written a lot of stuff in their perspective and including events that I wanted in my NaNo novel. But I refused to look at any of it and instead wrote off the cuff all new material. Now, as I am editing, I'm looking back and stealing those events from the first draft that I know I still want and am splicing them in and then smoothing it all out.

4) Have fun.

Yeah, I know if you aren't writing, that's hard to do. Believe me, I am going through a period right now where I don't want to write and am feeling guilty that I am not writing. But find something that makes you excited about writing. Try writing out of order and just write that one scene that you've been waiting to write (you know you have one... like the big action scene or the first kiss...) and then set it aside. You love your characters, you want to get them to that point. So just plow ahead and get them there!

5) Just write.

It's already been said. Sometimes, though, you just need to write, whether or not you want to. There are days like that in NaNo, when you need to make the goal of 1667 words per day or else, but you really aren't feeling it. Drag it out. Lock yourself in your room and don't let yourself out until you've written an entire page or chapter. Make yourself do it. This can sometimes directly contradict the last tip, which was to have fun, but it's necessary sometimes.


I hope this helps. I'm at the same stage in life as you are (18, baby! Look out, world!) and I've noticed the same phenomenon, that my ideas suddenly seem to have slowed or ceased. I'll get ideas, but the act of writing them out seems to much and so I don't. I seem to have inspiration for everything but what I actually want to be working on at that point. I think it has to do with a maturing world outlook and inner editor. As a kid, everything seems like a good idea (I've done that thing where you look back at stuff you look back at something you wrote only a few years ago and are all like "What was I on when I wrote that? I actually thought that was good?") while when you get older and have more experience, you get a little genre-savvy and realize that some of it is just stupid. But that doesn't mean it's all stupid. And don't call something stupid just because it seems like it is. Give it a chance. It may be just the springboard you need to a fresh viewpoint and rework of your story.

But believe you me, you are not too old to spend your time writing. You're still young in the average range of authors. I mean, hey, Tolkien was, what, 45 when he starting writing "The Lord of the Rings"? Not old, but definitely older than we are right now. You're never too old to be writing.

Rock some socks!

~GryphonFledgling

I know everything has been said a lot..but I wanted to give my two cents worth.

I kind of had the same problem a while back (I only had been working on my project for a year though). And I had decided to just give it up forever. I hadn't liked where it was going and my characters had me thoroughly annoyed.

But then, they wouldn't leave me alone. I just kept thinking about my characters. They haunted my sleep so to speak. They made me go back to writing, but not without completely scraping the first few chapters I had down.

The fact is, my plot had been all wrong. So I just started from the beginning, keeping what I liked best and cutting what I didn't. I now have a whole new plot, a whole new story really. Sometimes you just have to go back to the beginning and start over. It may seem like a big effort with something like 100 pages done. But who knows, you may end up with something new and better.

Hope I helped =)

Ravons J. Daro wrote:
To make things worse, I can hardly write anything else these days. My mind used to be full of ideas and vivid images of scenes I could write. It's like your imagination starts to fade the older you get.

So.. My question is; am I really becoming too old to spend my time writing? Whatever should I do to catch a Muse again? Some tips to help me out?

Kind regards~

Lad, you're never too old to write. I'll be 21 in September and I'm still going at it. I haven't written anything in months. I barely get a word in when I get the chance to write, because I'm so busy with college and whatnot. This summer I'm going to be getting a fulltime job (god willing) and be training in boxing as well.

It's never going to be easy to get a word in. To think that it'll be easy is ignorant of what writing really is. It's not so much an art as it is a talent that needs to be developed. I understand if you're not writing right now; that's fine. Some people take 20 year vacations from writing and they come back to it suddenly; my father's friend, in fact, has done that. So if you need a break, take a break.

I suggest doing something to get a muse; start doing something you've never done before. It has to be something outrageous, or extreme. If you can do that, then you'll find something that will inspire you as you go along. Me? Like I said, I'm doing boxing. I hate getting hit. I'm not even a natural fighter, and yet here I am, preparing myself to do it, despite knowing it's gonna kick me in the arse.

Do something you've never done before, and do it right. Go 100% in it, and don't hesitate. Just dive right in. You'll find a muse that way; I know because that's what's happened to me. But don' ever completely give up on writing because you're having a hard time doing it right now. If I had that mentality, I wouldn't be on here right now.

Take a break. Read, listen to music, whatever you think could inspire you!

Don't force yourself to write; nothing good will come out of it.

One of my friends here on YWS once told me not to write until an idea keeps me up at night. Don't even try to write unless you can feel the story writing itself -- you feel like you must write it or you will explode kind of thing. I know that's vague, but it's the best I can offer.

Hope this helps and good luck,
Sakura

I'm truly, and I mean, truly thankful for the tips you lot gave me! I've finally managed to find the right match and grant that spark within me some life again. I managed to finish up a part of my novel without faltering. I'm planning out the next big Arc now and maybe I could add a subplot..

Anyway, I sat down and bought myself a book that instantly caught my eye. So yeah, maybe this is the path I've lost track off. I'm still going to hang around here of course!

But erm.. Does any of you know a good fantasy subplot/story idea generator? Though the motivation to write has returned, the ideas are sleeping.. So I need a push for that.

Hey!
You are definitely not too old to continue writing! Writing helps you keep calm, keeps the imagination open, and the mind fresh with new ideas.

Well, I think you've discouraged yourself abit. You have to believe in your writing ability, no matter how good or bad you are. Always want to improve, even if you are an amazing writer, there is always room for improvement.

A muse is a blessing as well as a curse. When you have one, it's amazing. You know exactly where you want to go, what you want to do with your story, and how you want it to end up. However, when it leaves you, you're struck dumb. You used to have all this confidence and it has suddenly disappeared. I know from experience this can be the most horrible and discouraging feeling in the world.
You need to try get your confidence back. Read your story, and improve on it as much as you can, try sit down and really think about where you want it to go. When you figure this out, continue your story and work towards it. This gives you a goal, and this is something extremely encouraging in useful. When you have a goal, you work hard to reach it. Unlike when you don't have one, the opposite happens because you have nothing to look forward to.

Hope I helped.
xxmimixx

There is a random story theme generator here on YWS. Just hover your mouse over Community, then Downloads and Games. They're very silly but might be just what you need.

When it comes to subplots by hand, though, what I do is fill out backstory for my characters. My current MC has been abused, so a subplot is how she gets to trusting people again. Romance is always a staple when it comes to subplots, or any sort of character tension.

Hope that helped!