Young Writers Society

My novel-in-progress Bittersweet I've worked on since the summer of 2006. Currently, it's a 170 pages, but I can't ever seem to bring myself to write it. The beginning is written horribly since I was so young and terrible at writing when I began the story. I've tried rewriting it several times, but I never get anywhere. Basically, I love this story to death. I love the plot and the characters. I just lack the power to write it and get it done.

What should I do to get myself enthusiastic about writing it? I've run out of ideas.

-Holly

Er... I just recently finished my novel, FREAK, after seven and a half years. You can totally do it... but you need to be patient and have people that can help you through the frustrating parts. If it weren't for the people who were reading my story and all of its rewrites and guiding me along, I probably wouldn't have been able to finish it.

Hmmm... well, what I do for inspiration is daydream the next part of the story, and then act it out. Alone. In my room. As if I were in a play. Then I write it down/remember it until I want to write it down.

To get yourself to rewrite it, work on one paragraph at a time. Just copy one onto another document, then work on fixing it up. It may take forever with your 170 pages, but trust me, it works. And I'm a procrastinator.


Hope this helps!

-Tex

Just sit down and make yourself carry on, I guess. Force yourself.

Don't edit though. Don't worry whether or not it's any good. Just write. Editing can be done once you've finished the first draft.

Seriously: do it now. Maybe you don't feel like it, or perhaps you're not in the mood, but try making yourself just sit down - and write.

I'm kind of in the same spot with the novel I started writing about a year ago. I love it to death and the characters are stuck in my head but the plot needs a major do-over. I outlined and I still can't bring myself to rewrite it. So, the best thing is to not think about to much. Write a lot of other things and once you find something that you can positively keep up with then you're in business. Just keep writing or else you'll never get anything done. Or if you're that attached to your novel, outline.

~Angel

The best thing to do is to open up Microsoft word, or whatever thing your writing it with, and do it. It's kind of like ripping off a bandage.


Really though, just do it.
right now, that's right. XD


[spoiler]Don't ignore this, I mean it! XD Close out of YWS and open up Bittersweet and continue! [/spoiler]


[spoiler]Fine, don't listen to me. *Hugh*[/spoiler]


[spoiler]Just kidding! Listen to me! XD[/spoiler]


[spoiler]Write it now, do it. *Starts routing* Do it, Do it, Do,it!!![/spoiler]


---Jon---
P.S. -- Congrats on becoming purple!

If it makes yuou feel any better I started my very first novel five years ago and the farthest I've gotten is 350 pages and then I rewrote it again. Up to now I've rewritten it four times. And the last time I've written on it was last year some time.

You just need to get inspiration. Forced writing sounds bad. Or perhaps...ugh.I can't think of anything. Just good luck and no you aren't alone in the world when it comes to being stuck.

Happy Writing and Good Luck!

Meadow

I completely understand how you feel. My novel, Night in Love, finally ended after four years, but I had to restart it a bunch because of the fact that I was so young when I started. I just finished it a week ago though, and although it took me four long years, I finally finished and and I can breathe easy knowing I actually did it!

Just keep trying, and never give up! The only thing you have to lose is the story you created.

And when you finish it, just go back and fix things that you didnt like in the beginning. I'm sure you'll realise you like it a lot better then you thought you would.

Oi. If you get past the 30 page barrier you have this second, ending barrier which is just as bad as the first one. Keep at it, really push yourself to do some. Don't let all your hardwork end after coming this far.

Hun, I've been on the same novel for just as long, and I've gotten maybe three crappy pages out. I think my characters just take longer to ferment in my head. You can do it! Really, just write what you feel, put your characters in different situations, and have a little fun! You can always change it later.

And yeah, look at Snoink. What a FREAK.

I've been working on a novel since 2003, and after two major series of writer's block and a ton of ideas for other books, I've realized that the only thing keeping me from finishing it is actually doing the writing. It's tough, sometimes, but I'll echo the other enlightened members and say just do it.

A bit on beginnings- start the novel at change. Like, instead of a laundry line description of Bob, just jump-start the action with something that threatens him. Some sort of change, like the cliche of someone pointing a gun at Bob's head, is best. Conflict, like the unnamed antagonist advising Bob to give up everything he's worked for for the past twenty years, and Bob deciding whether or not to take the advice, is equally good.

Erm actually it hasn't even been 3 years since the summer of 2006. So you've been working for 2 1/2 years if it makes you feel better.

Talk to your MCs and learn about them. Usually when I get bored I go and discover that my characters don't want to be totally in-love in the first book (Romantic fantasy), but they actually dislike each other. Learning that gave me the motivation.

Something else I do is simply switch stories. In the four years I've been working on this novel, I have gone and written parts of about nineteen others. Sometimes it's just an outline, sometimes it's twenty-some pages. I just wrote something new to get any creativity going again. (once it got going, my MC would come back in my head and tell me to write about her)

Hope this helps!

~Rosey

I'm not sure if what i'm going to say will be much help, but oh well. xD

Treat it like nano. FOr some odd reason, we are able to write complete trash during the month of November, but the rest of the time we force ourselves to be perfect! It's ridiculous! So!

Get it written, don't get it right.

OR vice versa. whatever. xD

So, don't look back over what you've read, just plow on. daydream about it! Put on some music and think up scenes! Hold conversations with your characters! Act like your characters! [xD I did that once, the character was seriously hyper and I was acting so much like him I nearly fell on my ass on the kitchen floor. >_>]

Good luck! ^_^

Why don't you post some here, and get some advice and encouragement? 170 pages is impressive. My stories average 30-50 pages. I suggest you post the first chapter, or the first few paragraphs, then send me a PM and I'll tear it to pieces. In a nice way, of course