Starting off a story. - Writers Forum

Gauda · 04-29-2005, 09:11 AM

Ok - most of you may have noticed (or not) that I haven't been posting my work here for a while. It may be a case of the unavoidable writer's block (ugh) but I'm just having really have trouble starting off my story. Everything I seem to write seems so...unbelievable.

I'm never satisfied with what I produce. I write, stop when I'm finished, re-read it a couple times, then decide it's junk, then start over. I did that about three times already and I still can't decide what to put down for my first chapter. Everything just sounds too cheezy to me...and it's causing my problems. I really love my storyline and I don't want to give it up, but I don't want it to become one of those "Had potential but was just a flop" story.

So without further ado, anybody have any tips on how to start off a story? If you want excerpts of my first story, you can probably find it around somewhere on the forum...but if you don't want to look, just ask me.

- Gauda

Spooky · 04-29-2005, 09:32 AM

I always flail around the beginning, and that's ok. You can cut out a bunch of stuff on your revisions to make your beginning sharper and more focused.

Are you writing the *entire* novel, then stopping/revising/starting over? Or chapters? I'd urge you to write the whole frellin' thing from start to finish, then look at individual chapters. Otherwise you'll never silence your inner critic and you'll end up going in circles.

Just my .02.

Gauda · 04-29-2005, 09:39 AM

By the way - yes, I'm writing an entire novel. Maybe I'm just not used to the new feeling, because this is my first attempt at a novel.

Good idea -- I guess I should start off writing the entire thing, then going back to revise. The problem is - my sense of realism just isn't strong enough when writing...everything sounds too plastic. I don't know why, but it's really hard for me to correct that problem..

Thanks, Spooky!!!

MetalDog · 04-29-2005, 02:02 PM

I agree that you should write the whole thing through before you make any attempt at serious revision.
Unless you're a prodigy, odds are that the first novel you finish is still going to be pretty terrible, but you'll learn a lot just by doing it and finishing it. Even the most broken child can be re-written, but I don't think there's any substitute for making that first crippled monstrosity in its entirity =) I believe you'll learn things in the process of making a solid whole that you won't learn by trying to make fragments of it perfect.

Massively unattractive proposition, though, I realise. All I have to recommend it is that I've finish two novels and improved greatly by doing so. I'd sooner burn them than have people read them now, but I learned more by making them complete things than I did in the previous fragment polishing days.

Gauda · 04-29-2005, 05:25 PM

That...slightly frightens me. I love my storyline, like I said before, and I don't want to ruin it on my "first attempt" at a novel. Trust me, I'm no child prodegy. I'm only 15!! -____- *thinks to herself*

Harlequin · 04-30-2005, 05:43 AM

I'm actually rewriting a novel that took me a year to write and another year to edit. Just remember, it's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it.

Gauda · 04-30-2005, 05:44 PM

Yes, I guess you're right. It just takes time...

Chris · 04-30-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Just remember, it's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it.

Best advice ever.

It's always great to write with inspiration flowing from your finger tips, but more often than not, the writing process (especially a novel) will challenge every creative muscle you have. Don't be discouraged, but don't be surprised when you hit obstacles like this - work at it, don't give up. Good luck.

Gauda · 04-30-2005, 06:22 PM

Thank you, Chris. I will take that into account

Also, does it work if you write other parts of a story first, then go back to the beginning and develop it later?

Chris · 04-30-2005, 06:29 PM

I don't think it really matters. write what works for you.

cyberspecter · 04-30-2005, 06:34 PM

write. Keep writing. Don't read, don't pretend to ask questions to avoid writing. Write. I guarantee you will evenutally find a story.
It doesn't matter if what you write isn't great or even good.
You WILL have to rewrite anyway. There is no other answer. People can give you advice on how they do things till they are blue in the face.
But in the end, you still have to write.

So write.

CS

Gauda · 04-30-2005, 06:54 PM

Modivation is the key to writing....I've just been lacking that lately. In fact, now I'm actually writing a different chapter in my story and it's still turning out strange. Everything's so jumbled up in my head right now....urgh!

I guess all I can do is either start on another project or take a break from writing. Maybe my inspiration will come back another day.

Oracle · 04-30-2005, 07:19 PM

I have the same problem. My inner-critic makes it very difficult for me to just start writing. My advice: Don't edit until you're done the whole thing. Forget about how stupid it sounds, and if you're at a loss for words, just put something basic that doesn't even sound right. You can fix it all once you're done.

moonandsun · 05-01-2005, 05:22 PM

Oh yes, I'd suggest writing the whole thong and then revising. Actually, I wrote mine in its entirety and then handed it off to a (really kind) friend who proofread everything. Try NaNoWriMo, does a woner for your internal editor.

Harlequin · 05-01-2005, 07:14 PM

I know I'm probably sounding like a broken record, but if you can't come up with ideas take a walk until you do, go home and, as I've said before, contemplate a ceiling fan.