(Frak, I had a long post all typed up and then I...lost it. Oh well)
Anyway...I've returned to YWS after a rather long break, a break mostly induced by a certain Scholastic Aptitude/Achievement/Attitude/A****/whatever Test, as well as mad last-minute cramming for Academic Decathlon. Well, now the SAT is over and the AcaDeca stuff has simmered down (for now...), so I can devote more time to YWS.
I've returned, and I've discovered something about myself:
I don't know how to write.
No, no; I've got a good working idea of how to string together nouns and verbs to form semi-coherent sentences. The problem I have is more with the process of writing--specifically, novel writing. I just can't do it. Part of the problem stems from my own capricious nature; I've got too many ideas to work with. Just when I've fallen in love with one idea, a new one comes by and drags me in the opposite direction.
My greatest problem lies with actually planning, though. I'm well aware that when it comes to writing longer works there seem to be two distinct approaches--one is to let everything all pour out in a mad rush of inspiration; the other is to methodically plan and outline. The trouble is that neither seems to work very well for me. I try to outline every plot point in the story, but then I start fretting that the plot isn't making sense or I simply can't figure out how the plot should proceed, so I try actually writing some to "get into the feel of it". Then I inevitably run out of inspiration and I fizzle out, so I decide that I need to outline some more. I outline some more, but again I get into fits concerning plot and characters, and again I decide to "oh-well-what-the-hell" go ahead and write. And again, and again, the cycle cruelly repeats.
I know that every writer needs to find his/her own style and pace and stride and whatnot, but I would really appreciate some hints/pointers here, particularly from writers who already have gotten very far on long, intricately-plotted novels. Thanking you all in advance.
Segueing from the ranting, then, on to several of the ideas brimming in my head that I'm most favorable to (at least at the moment):
The Zenith Cycle: I've actually posted several chapters from the first novel on this site, but (per usual) my inspiration faded and I simply got stuck. This six-novel cycle is, however, the dearest to my heart and the one idea I've had that I've never fallen out of love with. One way or the other, I am going to write the cycle; I probably just won't do it as my first major project. In particular, the first novel is giving me fantastic fits. *sigh*
An Idea Which Has No Name (facetiously referred to as "wheel world"): Basically, a very epic modern-ish fantasy series focusing on a boy who discovers that all of reality involves a bunch of huge wheels turning on a giant scaffold. He travels with a band of outcasts to fix the wheels, which have stopped spinning or something. Honestly not as lame as it sounds. I like this idea quite a bit, but have been caught in a turmoil between doing outlining and background work and actually writing it (as usual).
Waker of the Guardians:: A more kiddish fantasy series with plenty of backstory and outlining, and a very straightforward plot. It will probably be the easiest to write, but I'm apprehensive about doing it because I don't know if my heart will be in it. And I'm worried it's too juvenile.
Curseworker Juan: The idea that seems the most feasible at the moment. I've already written one story for it, and if you'll look at my portfolio you'll see that lone story in a folder of its own. The folder was meant to hold many other stories set in the same universe, revolving around the same character...yet those stories never materialized because I couldn't find the inspriation to continue. Now I've warmed considerably to Juan, but I'm nervous because it isn't really the epic novel I'd like to write, more like a short story anthology.
Well, that was long and exhausting. Anyway, suggestions/help/hints/anything would be greatly appreciation. Thank you all.
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