new story nervosa

[corvus]

I don't think it used to happen to me, but now I feel nervous about starting a new story. It's very odd. There's something about staring at a blank screen with only a word or a paragraph on it that makes me jumpy. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I suppose it's because I'm not sure if I'll be able to do justice to the ideas I have, or if the ideas I have are actually substantial enough to generate a story. I don't think it used to happen before! Does anyone else feel this way? Or has felt this way?

 

Maybe it's just writer's block... Obviously if I end up being unable to write because of it, then it fits the definition of writer's block. But, meh... Maybe it's the weather changing? We just had daylight saving, so maybe that's why...

[Graeme]

LOL

 

Believe me, I know what you're talking about. I'm currently going through something similar. I've made a start on my next novel, but now I'm wondering if it's going to be too boring, or dragging too much, or if I haven't made the characters 'real' enough....

 

It's been slow going. I'm working on chapter 4 (when I can motivate myself), but only a couple of people have seen the first two chapters. I'm happy with the opening scene, but there is just SO much detail I have to put in after that point that I'm worried. I'm going to get up to chapter 6 or 7 before I send it out to some friends for comment.

 

I think what you're feelilng is perfectly natural. That fear of not being able to do justice to the idea is even worse if you're attempting a sequel, because you have a standard that you have to match or exceed. That's one of the reasons I've never attempted a sequel for any of my novels. Even the handful of short stories that are sequels I agonised over -- wondering if they would be detracting from the original story.

 

As a suggestion, write some first drafts of key or interesting scenes. There should be enough of those to get you going. Then go back and work out how you want to lead up to the first of those scenes. With a bit of luck, that will get you going.

 

Good luck!

[Tiger]

I often have jitters about certain scenes, especially anything of an amorous nature. I want it to be excellent. My word choice has to be just right. The same applies to fight scenes. My suggestion is not to write it until you are ready.

[darkfoxprime]

I always find it harder to *keep going* with a story once I've started it. I start stories when I wake up in the middle of the night with my brain going a mile a minute and the words trying to spill out onto anything. After getting the start going, though, I lose interest, and it's tough to go back and try to push it to the conclusion I had in mind.

[Katica Locke]

Starting a new story is one of my roadblocks and it's gotten worse the better I've gotten at writing. Before I start writing, everything is malleable and intangible, but once I start, all those ideas become concrete and it all has to be as good as the last thing I wrote. I have to choose the right narrator, the right POV, the right tense, the right voice, the right opening scene, ect. There are so many thing that have to be "right", I'll just sit and stare at the screen for hours.

 

I finally figured out that each time I start a new story, I have to tell myself that it's okay to be wrong. If something doesn't work out, I can change it later. That's how I get past that daunting blank page.

[Tristan Thinks]

Something that can help is to use the top-down approach and your word processor's Outline functionality.

 

Level 1: Working title
+ Level 2: Sections covering major phases of the plot
 + Level 3: Chapters describing mini storylines
  + Level 4: Major Events
+ Level 5: Important descriptions of characters, places, or events.

For each you can add descriptive or draft text, finished or not, and jump around dropping in ideas as they occur to you. You can easily drag headings around or promote/demote according to whim.

 

Once you're happy with the structure and working notes it often makes it easier developing particular parts of the story. It also makes it possible for you to focus on, say, an event towards the end of the story whilst the ideas are fresh, and ensure the lead-up to it maintains the integrity of the overall story when you eventually get around to writing the lead-up.

 

I find it useful when I know I've got a new idea and scraps of plot are occurring to me but I don't yet know where they'll fit in, or even if they'll be included once the complete plot is fleshed out.

[corvus]

It's been slow going. I'm working on chapter 4 (when I can motivate myself), but only a couple of people have seen the first two chapters. I'm happy with the opening scene, but there is just SO much detail I have to put in after that point that I'm worried. I'm going to get up to chapter 6 or 7 before I send it out to some friends for comment.

 

As a suggestion, write some first drafts of key or interesting scenes. There should be enough of those to get you going. Then go back and work out how you want to lead up to the first of those scenes. With a bit of luck, that will get you going.

 

I'd say you've gotten pretty far into the story with three chapters under your belt... I'm stuck with three sentences! Good luck, though. And it's quite appropriate that we've got that idump thread going as well, that could be useful w/ your details.

 

I wrote my last story by writing a few out-of-sequence scenes and stringing them together, and it worked. I was quite surprised. I might try that again, hmm.

 

 

I often have jitters about certain scenes, especially anything of an amorous nature. I want it to be excellent. My word choice has to be just right. The same applies to fight scenes. My suggestion is not to write it until you are ready.

 

lol, that sounds like fatherly sex advice. "When should I finally *do* it with my bf??" "When you're ready, son..."

 

I always find it harder to *keep going* with a story once I've started it. I start stories when I wake up in the middle of the night with my brain going a mile a minute and the words trying to spill out onto anything. After getting the start going, though, I lose interest, and it's tough to go back and try to push it to the conclusion I had in mind.

 

I usually have "key scenes" in mind that I write towards. It's a bit like island hopping. However, if I've run out of key scenes and I haven't gotten to the ending, then I stagnate as well.

 

I finally figured out that each time I start a new story, I have to tell myself that it's okay to be wrong. If something doesn't work out, I can change it later. That's how I get past that daunting blank page.

 

Yes, I need to tell myself that. In a nice quiet room with padded white walls... But seriously, you're right: I think creativity gets stifled when one is too self-conscious, self-critical, or self-aware. There needs to be an element of joy and spontaneity.

 

 

Level 1: Working title
+ Level 2: Sections covering major phases of the plot
 + Level 3: Chapters describing mini storylines
  + Level 4: Major Events
+ Level 5: Important descriptions of characters, places, or events.

For each you can add descriptive or draft text, finished or not, and jump around dropping in ideas as they occur to you. You can easily drag headings around or promote/demote according to whim.

 

while(TRUE) {

fret; :wacko:

if(very bored) {

write;

break;

}

}

 

I'm afraid of outlines because if I'm too detailed, too specific, too thorough, I'll feel that I've already spewed everything out in the outline, and I won't have any storytelling left in me. Or I'll feel too restricted. That being said, I have used and still use them, and they're probably a Very Good Thing for complicated tales.

[Tiff]

The only nerves problem I have with a new piece is figuring out where to begin. Then the pressure mounts and more nerves are created. There is just so much I want to get down before I lose it and I'm so excited about starting, but again, it's overwhelming, I hit a rough spot, and the nerves prevent me from continuing, at least initially.

 

The best thing is probably to start, write everything down, then go back and figure it out- switch things around and whatever.

[FrenchCanadian]

you mentioned it, but I'll say it again. You said that you had the ideas for the story, that you're basically scared and don't know where to start. I'd tell you start writing the scene the moment that you have in mind, then when you'll be comfy enough with the story, the characters, you'll be able to join the scenes together fairly easy.

[Zephyrus]

Something I have noticed about how to get a story started even if it is on scraps of paper to start with rather than a blank screen is to just think casually and relaxed. When you are relaxed, your muse starts to work and there is something that works inside your brain that gives you the ability to think stuff up you wouldn't normally think up in a million years if you are straining yourself to come up with an idea. Some of the most amazing stories can come to you when you are doing the housework or the shopping!