Dumping Ideas and other such length related issues - Writers Forum

paaerduag · 06-29-2006, 02:59 AM

I've just dumped that whole idea about evolution, purely because I hadn't thought about it enough and purely because I'd figured out all the subplots but hadn't figured out the main plot. I think my personal critical flaw in this whole enterprise is my ideas, which are good, but end up being on the wrong track. For example, I often have good ideas, but then I think that they woulnd't make novel length, or what would the conflict be? My main concerns are usually length though, and ideas just fly out the window. That previous idea was getting tedious anyway. Now i'm in one of my infamous moods of searching the internet aimlessly at 'how-to' websites, thinking that suddenly this brilliant idea will pop into my head. And that normally doesn't work. My prime worries are that my ideas are never 'long' enough, as in that they just don't seem to me to be able to reach novel length. And that is like a phobia. I always get really edgy when thinking about length, or rather fidgety. It's a fear that just grips me and i can't help it. When all my fleshing out is done, will it be enough? Probably not, and then I just don't know what i'm meant to be looking for. I've got some ideas floating around, but whenever i get excited about something i'm suddenly turned off by it's shortness or my lack of thinking about it beforehand. Like, how does one expand a single 'idea' into a single 'novel', not a novelETTE or novELLA which i really don't like to think about. Sometimes i feel that my ideas are being wasted, and others i think that i have no ideas. it's hard to strike a balance and think of something that's decent. anyone else suffer this extremely long-winded, albeit omnipotent ailment?

paaerduag · 06-29-2006, 03:14 AM

I've sort of figured out part of the reason why my last idea didn't work. the conflict was added on to the context, that being humans and semi-humans etc. etc. etc. not really relevant. The CONFLICT HAS TO BE THE IDEA ITSELF, as I am now realising. So what if i've got fancy futuristic ideas? No one wants to read a 300 word essay on what I think the future will be like! They want conflict, and I just don't provide. that is the problem. My ideas must be CONFLICTS THEMSELVES, not ideas unto which conflicts are added. I am just so annoyed that this revelation came so late, or I could have saved myself so much depression in past years due to failed ideas.

Mike C · 06-29-2006, 04:44 AM

If length worries you, stop trying to write a novel for a while. Try short stories - they're quicker and easier to get published, and a few publishing credits generally look good on your query when you do come round to the novel.

FrankBlissett · 06-29-2006, 08:11 AM

Quote:

I often have good ideas, but then I think that they woulnd't make novel length

Ditto Mike's advice - don't tie yourself down based on length (unless you have a goal that requires it, of course).

Given, there may be few who would be interested in a "300 word essay", but it certainly would give you practice writing and researching. Besides which, if you ARE thourough in your research and entertaining in your writing then people would certainly be interested. Who would have thought that essays about evolution and the scientific method would be popular, but look how many Stephen Jay Gould collections are out there!

Little plot points can easily be written as short stories. Then, if you write a sinilar novel later, you can recycle bits of the short into your novel. Listen to interviews enough and one of the common themes you'll hear is "this started as a short story I wrote 20 years ago...".

Try poetry even. Besides writing on behalf of yourself, you can write from the POV of one of your characters. Got a romance in your plot - then write a love letter from one to another. Got a militant rebel - have the character write a poem of freedom and conquest. The poems probably won't make it into your final work, but can certainly help you understand the characters.

In short, if you don't feel up to doing a novel at the moment, then try other forms of writing.

-Frank

imrhati · 06-29-2006, 09:00 AM

how do you get short stories published?

Mike C · 06-29-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imrhati

how do you get short stories published?

Go to storypilot.com. Find a suitable magazine. Read the submission guidelines. Follow them.

mammamaia · 06-29-2006, 04:20 PM

www.duotrope.com is also a good source for finding publishing venues...

Slugfly · 07-03-2006, 09:20 AM

Don't concern yourself with length... I know you can't dismiss length altogether but think quality and quantity. As for adding conflict to the main idea vs. the conflict being the main idea, I don't think it works like that. I think the characters are the main idea and the conflict exists to either show something important about the main character or to force a change in the main character.