Dylanx

Ever since I started writing Ive always had the same problem with the way a story should flow. I usually have no problem starting a story, its when I hit the second or third paragraph. Something happens and I seem to totally lose the flow or it just seems clumsy and out of place. More often than not I get frustrated after weeks of not being able to carry the story on further, mainly because Im never happy with whatever I write after the opening. Does anyone have any tips on how to keep a good flow and to keep the story from appearing slightly jagged? this is a problem I have had for a long time and I am still not sure how to explain it, I hope it makes sense.

Dookie

Getting stuck on a story is common, but on the third paragraph...not so common. Are you sure you're completely into these stories you're writing? Do you want to write them?

aliceedelweiss

could I see an example of how its jagged? That might give me an idea of how to help...

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Mike C

Try writing endings. Then work towards them. If the story changes as you go, and you have to rewrite the end, even better.

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Dylanx

Hi, Thanks for replying. I know what your saying, it is a strange problem. I tend to always have the plot written in my head, the begining, middle and end which should make it easier but doesnt. I dont know whether I am too over critical of myself, I just find what I write doesnt match up to the flow of the books I read and I also find that everything after my opening line doesnt seem to match up. Thanks for your advice Mike, I think thats a good idea, Ill give it a try and let you know how I get on.

Tim S.

All books are a padded out form of the plot.

How about writing down the plot, then doing numerous re-writes, padding out each area, it may sound like alot of work, but this way, you'll keep to the form you wanted your story to take on...just an idea.

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Quillqueen

I wrote a beginning for my story, and then the middle, but then I revised the middle, so then the beginning didn't fit up at all with the middle (I mean, it did, but it served certain purposes that were disabled in rewriting) and that was problematic. But! I didn't really worry about, instead, I continued writing, and when I had finished the story, I went back and looked at the beginning. If you worry about it too much before you even finish the project, you'll mess yourself up.

It's been helpful for me having a good critiquer reading my chapters as I write them, because then they make reader comments about this sort of thing. Sometimes I get all demented over something that's just visible because I might be going insane from too much work....

Q

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tbs21

try writing in about five minute periods. After one five-minute spurt is up, try doing something like taking a quick walk. Then go back and start writing again.

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