This is my mid life crisis :( - Writers Forum

scifi maniac · 11-27-2005, 05:55 AM

For a while this wasn't an issue but now it is. Listen up:
When I first started writing my first novel, the words seemed to come out naturally and freely. It was rubbish, but I could write and still fear nothing. NOW however, after a number of failed attempts (I never did finish that first novel, i gave up after 30 000 words) i have this irritating fear that my novel will not be a novel at all, falling short of my word count goal. I did an outline for one idea and there was a lot of stuff in it, but as soon as i had written the first few scenes, i felt that the whole thing would end up being short. I feel that i am rushing EVERYTHING, and it drives my absolutely MAD!!!!!!!!!!! I tried one approach of craming heaps and heaps of stuff into my outline, but i still felt that it would fall short, looking at one word count for one scene. this fear of shortness is gripping me like a plague descending on the nile, and won't let me out of its steel grip. I want to write, i don't want to fear that i'm rushing my writing. I've looked over the net for something to help me, but there is nothing. this is my last, absolutely last resort, and I stress strongly that i don't want to absolutely CRAM my novel with events to confuse the reader, but i want to have scenes of ADEQUATE length so that my novel doesn't end up being a novella or even a novelette. I NEED HELP NOW!!!

mammamaia · 11-27-2005, 09:52 AM

sorry, fella [?], but no one can help you with that but yourself... sounds like maybe you're not ready to write a novel... how long have you been writing seriously, and what else have you written so far?

the novel is the writer's everest!... would you try climbing a mountain, if you hadn't ever learned how, by conquering hills and minor cliffs first?

how much do you read?... have you been indulging in a constant diet of the best novels by the best novelists of all ages?... if so, for how long?... if not, why not?... the only way you can learn how to write well is to read the work of those who do...

why not try writing short stories for a while, till storytelling becomes second nature to you?... then, you should be able to move up to novels without all this angst and agony you're experiencing now...

love and hugs, maia

richie · 11-27-2005, 12:47 PM

Another point is, make sure you're not writing too much. Every writer needs a break, if you're forcing yourself to write, things will probably not work well.
Still, everything goes in cycles. While there's times you will easily write a lot, there's times also you'll find it hard to write a page.
Hope I helped.

Unwrittencrescent · 11-27-2005, 05:38 PM

I think that this is a good time to take a BREAK from your writing and go for a short walk, out with some friends, or just...taking your mind off your story. Then when you come back, your mind may be less confused as it is right now. Really can't help too much with something as personal as this. =(

Sand · 11-28-2005, 10:49 AM

You shouldn't be writing a story and watching the word count unless you're planning on publishing it in a magazine (which frequently have guidelines on word counts). I hate "should"ing on people, but really, you *should* focus on telling your story the very best you can, so your reader will understand and enjoy it. If it's not a novel-length story, so what. Maybe the next one will be. In the meantime, your telling your stories, practising your craft, and getting better.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Enjoy the writing.

scifi maniac · 11-29-2005, 05:39 AM

Problem solved, and the solution was easy! I'm the kind of person who CANNOT use an outline, and I was using one for all my recent projects. They absolutely STUNT my creativity, and that is why I felt I was rushing things. My imagination was RESTRICTED AND TRAPPED! I'm never using an outline again, and I start to question just how useful they really are!

mammamaia · 11-29-2005, 07:27 AM

never?... for stories, i agree they're not needed, but if you write novels without some kind of skeletal guide, you'll soon find yourself tangled up in scrambled subplots and tangled time frames...

casperthesheet · 11-29-2005, 09:07 AM

I'm glad to hear that you figured everything out. Out of all the writing advice I've ever read it comes down to one thing, do what's best for you. Writing is different for everyone and it looks like you have found your niche.