Young Writers Society

napalmerski wrote:In the end, I've come up with the following attempt at balance - writing in three-stage ascending waves:
1. write stuff I can handle
2. write stuff I can handle with difficulty
3. write stuff I can't handle
and then start over again.
This could be the best formula that combines feeling about in new territory while consolidating achieved gains

What exactly do you mean by things you "can't handle" or "handle with difficulty"? I always think when writing that if I like the story I'm writing about, it's not the idea of the story i'm having trouble with, it's the process of the creation of the story. I mean, if you actively think "this is hard, I can't handle 'this'" (whatever 'this' is supposed to mean) obviously it'll be more difficult to write.

Yo, W,
about feeling that one can or can't handle a project:
For example, if I plan writing a story about a kid walking in a park and meeting some elves and having some minor adventures, there's nothing there I can't descibe, so I think: "I can handle this."
If I plan writing a full-length fantasy novel where I have to describe majestic panoramas, complicated plot-twists, cities, battles and war-gear, port-towns and villages, I think: "maybe I can handle that, but it's gonna be very difficult."
If I plan to write a spy novel about a dude who flies all over the world, uses new technology, knows the procedures of all local police forces, and on top of all that I have to describe people's clothes, cars, gadgets, and have them maintain different authentic accents, I think: "I can't handle that. It will be an unconvincing pile of crud when I'm done with it."
There