Story Hopping

On April 9, 2010, maybeawriter wrote, …what should you do if you have too many ideas, and can’t seem to finish any?

And on July 7, 2010, Alex wrote, My brain runs a lot faster than my hands can type (think race car to horse-and-buggy), and I often change my ideas as I write. I become bored with one idea, get another one, start work on that, and then become bored with the new one. In other words, nothing ever gets done and I have folders overflowing with unfinished work and abandoned stories. I can’t remain true to an idea or story for long, and it’s so annoying! Is there a way to make myself keep working on a story, and stop losing interest in it?

This isn’t one of my problems, but I have a few theories about what may be going on.

You may not have written enough stories to have found one you want to stick with, or you may not have developed the skill to keep yourself happy with a story you’ve started.  The story may not yet live satisfactorily on the page.  I mean satisfactorily for you, no one else.  The solution is to keep writing, new stories, old stories, abandoned stories that you’ve returned to and may abandon again.  You’ll get better and be able to carry a story further, maybe not the very next story, but gradually.

Or the difficulty may be self-criticism masquerading as too many ideas.  The story you’ve begun sours on you.  It’s not going the way you’d hoped.  You suppress the thought that  maybe you’re not much of a writer and leap into something new.  That suppressed doubt is there, though, and needs to be brought out into daylight and then slapped around.  Shut up! you have to tell it.  Story judgment day hasn’t arrived.  I’m just getting started.  I’m exploring this story, and I’m learning how to write (as every writer is, no matter how experienced).  Then soldier on with the original story.

It’s also possible that your story idea isn’t big enough to take you very far.  What interests you may be just one thing, and once you’ve written that, you’re done.  The story isn’t finished, but you don’t know where to go with it, so you hop onto something else. 

Think about whether that something else can fit into the story you dropped.  See if you can meld the two into a larger framework that will accommodate many new ideas.  Suppose, for example, you want to show how one of two sisters always has the upper hand in their relationship.  You write an argument between them, and you prove your point, but it’s just a scene, and you don’t know what to write next, and up pops an idea for a story about the last dinosaur.

Well, what if you put the two ideas next to each other?  One sister finds the dinosaur and the other gets involved somehow too.  You still have the sisters’ problem relationship, but now you also have a dinosaur to broaden the difficulty.  The dinosaur can have its own personality and may prefer one sister to another, for instance.  You’re tootling along with this until it peters out too, and a forest story beckons you.  Can you bring the sisters and the dinosaur into forest?  Maybe this seems like a rambling kind of story, and it may not work in the end, but you’ll still have a longer piece than you usually get.  Then again, it could develop.  Our minds are good at making connections.  While you’re writing the forest part, your subconscious will be putting pieces together.  It remembers a detail from the first scene – a promise the sisters made to each other at the end of their argument – that completes everything.  Or you may think of an even larger story idea to unite the threads.

Here’s another possibility: You’re happily writing when a new idea arrives.  The first story is going well, but the new idea is so shiny and thrilling that you can’t resist it.  If you keep a list of story ideas, as I do, you can jot the idea down including all its wonderful aspects in a paragraph or two, without writing the story itself.  Then return to your first story.  The itch and the tingle are likely to go away because the new idea is satisfied that it won’t be forgotten.  You can do the same thing with your next idea and your next.  The benefit is that you’ll have a long list of great ideas, plus a finished story.

Notes may help, as I’ve written a zillion times on the blog, notes about your new ideas (as I just suggested), about where your old story might go, about how bored you are and how frustrated.  I find complaining in notes enormously satisfying.  Also, in notes you can explore an idea before you start writing to see if you think it’s one you’ll want to stay with.  But don’t use notes to criticize your ideas or deep six them without giving any a spin.  Don’t let notes choke off your creativity.

This may help too:  Imagine an ideal reader who adores your work and can’t wait for the next installment of The Tale of the Lost Dinosaur or whatever.  As you write, think, She’s going to love this.  Concentrate on what she might enjoy next.  And if, in spite of everything, you drop the story, your perfect reader won’t criticize; she’ll simply be eager for your next effort.

Along similar lines, you can talk to a friend about a dying story and see if he has any thoughts that will breathe more life into it.  Sometimes a new perspective will show you your story’s potential.

You might try NANOWRIMO, National Novel Writing Month, link here:  http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/hownanoworks.  You commit to writing a 50,000 word novel between November 1st and 30th.  It’s free, and the commitment might keep you going, plus the support of other participants.  If you succeed, it’s a tremendous accomplishment.  If you fail, you get much credit for trying.

I don’t think it ever works to chain yourself to a story you can’t summon any more interest in.  If you’ve reached that point, move on and don’t beat yourself up.

In the end, nothing matters if you keep writing, because eventually – but only if you keep writing – you’ll finish something.  I’m sure of it.  And meanwhile you’re living a writing life, that is, a thoughtful, creative existence loaded with deeper meaning.

To people reading the blog, if you’ve had this problem, please weigh in with how you solved it.  If you’re still going through it, you can commiserate with maybeawriter and Alex.

The prompt is to go back to an old story, at least a month old.  How does it look now?  Do you have a few fresh ideas?   Have you been working on something since that you can combine with it?  Write at least one new page.

You can also use my ideas about the sisters and the last dinosaur and the forest, or parts of them, as a story starter (the last thing someone with too many ideas needs!).  Have fun, and save what you write!

47 Responses on “Story Hopping”

  1. Andrea Mack says:

    I find that there are times over the course of writing an entire novel that my interest lags or I want to go and work on that other new idea waiting in my notebook. I have to remind myself that I want to finish the novel and I can't give up. I write about my feelings or the problem I'm having in the story in a journal I keep for the novel (like your notes). This usually helps me generate ideas to help me past the "stuck point" and I'm able to finish.

  2. Wendy says:

    I have this problem all the time! My computer is filled with first pages/first chapters of stories. For me, I simply got bored with the idea before I got very far, because I would spend too much time thinking about it and not writing about it. I've only finished two very short stories in my life, and they were for assignments.

    I finally got a story idea that I really, really liked, but I didn't have a lot of the plot figured out. I just started writing. I got farther than I had ever gotten on a story before! I think the reason was that I was figuring things out as I wrote, so it was really exciting to discover the plot as I went on. (I don't know if that makes any sense.)

    Sometimes you just need to sit down and force yourself to do it. I actually ended up starting this story over because my plot changed so much from when I started, and I really did not feel like working on it! So the other day, I sat down at my computer and started typing. I got maybe a page done, but it was progress! And it got me more excited about continuing.

    Another thing is to make sure you're writing something that you really enjoy writing about. If the problem becomes that you're not interested in writing it anymore, maybe you should try a new story about things you really love. Think about it: say you were describing something to a friend. If it was something you really loved, you could go on and on about it. If it wasn't, you probably wouldn't have much to say! Oh, and when you get your idea, start writing as soon as you can so that you can get some progress with your initial interest driving you.

  3. KC Kenney says:

    I have found that when I write, and I get a new idea – I take a break from the longer project and write the plot and maybe a couple scenes that just won't let me go, and then go back to the longer project. It keeps me interested in the WIP and gives me something else to work on during those random "stuck" moments – where I haven't quite worked out where a scene is going. It works for me! 🙂

  4. Rose says:

    I've finished a lot of stories, but I have quite a few that I haven't. In fact I have a dedicated folder to them – two, really. The main reason I stop working on a story is because I really didn't know anything about it before I started to write it. A few scenes and feelings and lines don't go very far. Or sometimes, I only have it planned so far, and when I get to the end of my planning, I can't figure out what happens next. Obviously the solution to my problem is to figure this out beforehand. . .

    My main annoyance at the moment is a story that I really like, which is maybe 2/3 of the way done, that I simply Can't seem to finish. I think it's because I have set up all these plotlines and now I have to figure how to get them together.

    I used to think that if I hadn't written on something for a while, I'd "lost interest" and it would never get finished. But if I push through and get past the confusion, or wait for a while and try again, I can finish it well enough.

    Hope this helps.

  5. Jill says:

    My problem is that when I gat stuck, I start putting myself down. I start thinking things like, "Your not a good writer", "Ms. Judah was right about your writing", "Why should you even try". Sometimes I can just work through them but other times I start believing them and I start losing my passion to tell the story.
    I asked a long time about flashbacks because i couldn't figure out how to start my story that I loved, just couldn't start. I understood what you are talking about, but I still don't know how to start my story. I just keep trying different things. If I weren't doing most of it on my computer, I would have that pile of balled up paper like movies always have!

  6. storyqueen says:

    I allow myself to work on a few pieces at the same time (usually not in the same genre, though). This way, there is never an excuse not to write…I have my choice of stories to work on.

    It works for me.

    shelley

  7. Cloe says:

    I have a story I've been working on for years and it has changed a lot. But my problem is that I know what I want to write, I have it all planned out but I just can't make myself write about it because I'm so bored. I've worked so hard to figure out what I want in my story and now that I finally know, I just don't care anymore. And I want to care but I just don't.

  8. Jill says:

    I'm sorry I have such random questions but…

    Does anyone else get ideas for stories from really weird places? Like the other day I was waiting at a stop light. This couple in the next car were fighting and finally the girl held up a hand and just looked out the window. From his face and body language, it seemed like he was begging, but she was looking out the window smirking.I started coming up with all these stories, and some of them didn't have anything to do with that couple or fighting. My grandma says I'm just a people watcher. Anyone else like this?

  9. Jannalou says:

    I do NaNoWriMo every year and have completed three YA novels (first drafts only) that way. I'm now working on rewrites.

    I'm also working on shorter pieces; I have a long list of ideas and files upon files of unfinished stories. I finally decided that I have to work through those unfinished stories and get the first drafts done. I can add to my list of ideas, but I'm not allowed to start any new stories until all the old ones are finished.

    So far this year, I've finished one short story, and I expect to finish a short chapter book today (I have one scene left to write). Sometimes it's really difficult to get the words on the page, but if I allow the story to veer off the original plan it is much easier and I have a lot more success.

  10. Lauren says:

    I've had the same problem before, and I find that if you really want to give up on the WIP or you just can't make it interesting enough to move on, take a break. It could be as short as a coffee break, to a year-long break.

    For example, I was on fire with a story that I thought I could never stop writing. Then, of course, I got bored, or I couldn't figure out what should come next, or it was sounding to cliche. So I left it, sitting in my story folder. Then, months later, I came back and opened it up again, swelling with pride at what I had written (changing a few things as I read it, of course). But when I got to the end, which was about only 4 chapters, I was disappointed! But instead of being just disappointed, I was encouraged! I wanted to keep writing, to make it longer and more captivating.

    Sometimes I get bored with the same story. More than once. It's OK, just come back to it later when your mind is clear and you feel like tackling it again. If you keep coming back to it, and you STILL don't want to keep writing, put it in a separate folder for things you most likely will never finish.

    Also, the notes/journal idea from Ms. Levine and Andrea Mack suggested is really smart, I for one am going to try it.

    I hope this helps as well!

    ~Lauren

  11. F says:

    I had quite a few folders/files filled with different plots as well, and without any progress as well. I found that outlining helped me to progress the story further. That, and NaNoWriMo, during which I completed the first half of my novel. The encouragement and enthusiasm during that even is fabulous, it really motivates one as a writer! Though I've only done it this once. 🙂

    Setting yourself writing goals, or 'competing' with a friend to write a set amount every day (let's see who writes the most! That type of thing) will help progress the story.

    Also, this: http://writeordie.drwicked.com/

    That's the best tool to kick me out of a writer's block. 😉 Especially at the top settings.

  12. Debz says:

    Great Post!
    I have so many files on my computer that are only titles because I had this great idea, but then never got to work on it because I got bored or another idea came along.

    Jill- I'm the same way with "people-watching" I notice all these details about everything. I think it's a great gift for a writer to have!

  13. Jenna Royal says:

    Not finishing stories is a real problem for me. I have tons of story beginnings that I've never finished. I typically don't have trouble with short stories. It's the long ones I havea hard time with. I have only ever finished one chapter book. It was a chain story I wrote with a friend. The fact that it was a chain story was probably why it was finished, because there was someone waiting for you to write your part, and also because it was so exciting to find out what your friend wrote next.

    There are three main reasons why I don't finish my stories. The first is that I start a story with no idea where it is heading, only an idea for a single scene or a character or a setting. Often I can write a few pages before I get bored and realize that I'm not getting anywhere. Other times I only write a paragraph. Ms. Levine's suggestion of adding your new ideas to the story you are currently working on seemed really helpful – I will have to try that one.

    The second reason is because I don't wait long enough before starting my stories. If I wait, I often have a clearer picture of what exactly is going to happen. I also have a chance to work out the details about the characters and the settings. If I start right away, without taking time to figure things out, I end up writing a story with no details, or details that don't make sense. And I give up on it.

    The third reason why I don't finish stories is boredom. I get bored with a story when nothing exciting happens, even for a short amount of time, or when I get bored with a plot. I get stuck, and I don't have the inspiration to fix it. I've found that skipping lulls in the plot and then adding them later helps keep me interested. But the best thing to do, at least for me, is to stop writing before I have finished putting down all my ideas. That way, not only am I anxious to get back, but I often come up with new ideas, so I can keep going even after putting down all my original ideas.

    Jill – I get story ideas from weird places, too. Not just from people, but also from things that I see, or hear, or even smell! The story I'm currently working on came to be after I heard somebody talking about remembering standing outside a bakery and smelling the bread baking!

  14. Grace says:

    This was a great post! I love everyone's comments. @Shelly, i like what you said about keeping options open. Currently I have 3 works in progress going on, one I am almost done with and have been working on for ten months, one I just started a month ago and only have three chapters, the last one I've already written one draft of it and am doing a rewrite. I find keeping three of these projects going modivates me to write, it just depends on what kind of writing i want to do that day.
    @Jill, trust me I do that all the time, you're not alone 🙂
    What works for me is, if I have a scene from a new story idea I are dying to write,I get it out of my system. Once I get it down I'll get a clearer head and be able to think straight. Also, when I get stuck on something I write down the problem(s) in a notebook and sit down at my desk and force myself to come up with a solution. I write a list of possible outcomes to the problem or ideas to flesh the story out and before I know it, my problem is solved and I have a good idea about how to go about writing next.
    Hope this helps everyone! Thanks again Ms. Levine!

  15. athena14Lee says:

    Thanks for this post. I used to run into this problem all the time, short story, novel, or otherwise. I have two ways of tackling this problem, one for novels, and one for short stories.

    For short stories, I normally write down random scenes that I have in my head, the most pivotal scenes or descriptions, and also I try to write the end. After that I go back and connect everything together, which is not such an intimidating task any more now that I only have to fill in the gaps.

    For a novel, my solution is to plan out the story in my head and then write it out in a composition notebook. I number the pages, so I can convince myself that I'm making progress and thus keep going. For me the writing of a novel is a lot more unpredictable, because random characters will start to pop up whom I didn't know existed before then.

    There are advantages to each way. Both, I think, are basically to reduce intimidation, which is (for me) the main problem.

  16. Silver the Wanderer says:

    Thanks for the post, Mrs. Levine!

    I personally don't have problems with too many ideas…maybe because I've been working on the same novel for more than two years. I really don't remember how my plot came together…it just did. I didn't do any outlining, but I figured it all out in my head. Now my problem is actually writing it down.

    I'm easily distracted, especially when I'm typing on my computer. Sometime I actually turn off my internet to prevent myself from surfing when I'm supposed to be writing. I really don't like typing at all. In fact, my entire rough draft was handwritten (it took three, three-section notebooks). For some reason, I feel like my ideas flow easier when I'm writing with a pencil in my hand. I have special "writing pencils" that I always use to write with. They're mechanical pencils, always stocked with plenty of lead. I never use pen because I end up scribbling out things, and I hate it when my paper is all messy.

    One of the advantages of handwriting is that you're able to write anywhere – at school, at restaurants, in the mall while waiting for your younger sister to finish shopping in Justice (guilty, haha). The truth is, those ideas you've been waiting for can pop up anywhere. (Yes, I have gotten "un-stuck" while sitting at the mall.) The disadvantage of handwriting is that you have to type it all up afterwards, which can be time-consuming if you're not a fast typer.

    I also keep a journal, where I ramble about everything from plot problems to how unproductive my day has been. Sometimes, just writing out your problems can help you solve them.

    @Jill, I can't say I'm a "people-watcher", but I do get ideas from the strangest of places. Dreams, for example. Once, I was struggling to come up with a name for one of my characters…and then, that night, I dreamed one up. I wrote it down quickly and used it!

    So, word to the wise, write down your bizarre dreams. Instant inspiration!

  17. lilyofseafoam says:

    Very interesting post! I too struggle with actually completing the stories that I start and even sometimes struggle with finishing poems or essays (of course I start the essays over since they are for a grade). What I've found is that while a deadline and pressure certainly help me to get my work done, that's not actually the breath of life in my work, so to speak. Writing, like many other things, is an art (in my opinion), and art (again in my opinion) is born of the need to communicate something. With this in mind, it helps to go into a writing project knowing exactly what you want to communicate through that story.

    "Artists don't get down to work until the pain of working is exeeded by the pain of not working."-Stephen DeStaebler

    To me, this quote explains my problem perfectly, and it also explains why I write my most powerful prose and poetry when something happens that I feel very strongly about. When we have something to say that goes deeper than the plot and characters, it makes finishing something easier–it has a purpose. What if instead of saying, "I want to write a story without a villain" you said, "I want to prove that our conflict with others results from our failure to listen and communicate…not from them being bad people." That stronger purpose might be enough to carry a story when simply wanting to finish it can't.

  18. Mya says:

    My problem is actually figuring out keep writing. For long stories, I have a really vague plot, but I"m too afraid to pen a detailed one down, due to fear of getting bored of story. And it has happened before, personally, having an entire plot planned out sapped the fun of it out of me.

    But then again, I don't really know how to keep proceeding. I run out of ideas for scenes, and thus the story is soon abandoned. Its almost like a routine!=) But perhaps, I think I'll do as you said, and revisit old stories, after a gap of time.

    @Jill- You're not alone, I get ideas from weird places too.=) People are so fun to observe, especially at school, where there is such a variety of characters lol.=)

    I also used to get ideas from dreams, but these days, I'm leaning more on personal experiences.

    Speaking of which, Mrs Levine, I"ve actually got a question thats being bugging me for a while. What if you have a story written, or material enough for a story, and its heavily based on personal experiences, but its just too personal for friends and even family. Say if you published it, can you use a pseudonym, even if for no apparent reason?

    Sometimes, I wonder how it would feel, to have your work out there for not just the entire world to read, but also people you know and are afraid to get criticised by.

    Hehe, that was quite a few thoughts. Really enjoyed today's posts.=D

  19. Jannalou says:

    @Mya, I don't like to do too much planning, either. For the novels I write for NaNoWriMo, I start with a character and get to know him or her as well as I can in my mind. I might write down character traits and other defining characteristics. I also think about the character's story – the one I'm going to be telling come November. I think about what the main plot is, what the obstacles are going to be, and at least one subplot. So when I start on November 1, I have a really basic outline that tells me (1) where we're starting; (2) what happens first; and (3) what the end should be. As long as I have some idea of where I'm going, I am good with new characters popping up and random subplots emerging without warning.

    And, of course, the better I know that main character, the easier it is to write his or her story and make my goal (50,000 words in 30 days).

  20. Alex says:

    I like coming up with characters, plots, and story ideas but I just can't seem to write anything good down. I hate English and it is not my talent…. Is there some sort of job for giving story ideas? =D

  22. Elizabeth says:

    For the story that I finished writing recently I just had a date sheet with some of the major events and scenes in it so I knew where I was going, but I had plenty of room to play with. I usually didn't plan a scene too much before hand and it just came as I wrote. For me that's probably the best because if I plan it too much I start to leave out some of the really cool details. I think having an idea, but leaving room for inspiration is probably the best way for me to keep writing and stay motivated.

  23. Rose says:

    I just wrote a short story today, and I began it a total of 3 times before I finally started it off "on the right foot." (Which turned out to be right before the climax, so it was tons shorter.)
    I had every scene planned out in an outline, but in end I just ignored the outline because I had a better feeling about what I was doing.
    So if you like to outline, that's great – it probably saves you a lot of trouble. But don't stick to the outline like duct tape if you get something different that you think might be better.
    Just an idea from experience. Hope this helps.

  24. F says:

    I agree with Rose – the story and characters are always evolving as you write, and they may not always suit what you've planned. It's best to aim for a particular point, like getting your characters from A to B. HOW they get there can be very hard to determine, and outlining isn't enough. I was once stuck on a similar scene for weeks, cutting and rewriting over and over again. It just wouldn't progress until I hit upon the right 'combination'!

  25. c says:

    Hello 🙂 First of all I have to confess that I've been reading this blog for a while, without commenting. So here's my first comment:

    I really really like your blog. I like that you answer readers' questions, and I like the discussions your posts set off in the comments.

    Now for a comment about this specific post… I think most of us who like to write sometimes have problems with finishing stories, with staying interested enough to continue, and with not giving up mid-story. I get stuck very often, and usually my solution is to go to another story for a while, and then come back. It's been at least two months since I've last written in my main project, but meanwhile I've finished other projects, and kept the main one pretty much alive in my head anyway.

    I used to have a big problem with unfinished stories. I never seemed to finish anything, and I was worried if my dream of becoming a professional author was doomed. Then I finished a story. It took it's time, and it was hard and also extremely boring when I edited and re-edited over and over again. I must have read the beginning parts at least a hundred times, and the end only a few times…

    Now that that book is finished, I suddenly set my mind to actually finishing old stories. It feels funny and great to be rewriting or finishing the stories. It's like unfinished pieces of my life are finally fixed, and a load is taken off my shoulder, even though I've nearly forgotten those old stories anyway. Reading through my old stories, it really used to annoy me that just when I got to the exciting parts, the story abruptly ended.

    Anyway, nice meeting everyone, and Good Writing to you all 😉

  26. Alex says:

    Thanks so much for answering my question! I'll try keeping a list as you suggested. I think I'm more the second, shiny-and-new-idea sort of person, though.

    P.S. Credits and kudos to Rose for letting me know that there was a new post…and that it was my question! I feel sort of embarrassed now…

    BY the way, the Alex above isn't me. I haven't commented yet 😉 Henceforth, I'll be Alex P to avoid confusion…sigh.

  28. Mya says:

    @Jannalou thanks for sharing! Your 3-point plotline was great, I think I'll follow your example.=D NaNoWriMo sounds wonderful, if I live in the the US, I'd sure loved to have participated. But good luck with your goal.=)

    I'll go right on then, Mrs Levine! =)

  29. April says:

    I always carry around a moleskine notebook and a pen with me. That way, no matter where I am or what I'm doing, if inspiration strikes I can write it down. I can't trust my memory.

    Sometimes it's something that inspires me so I copy it as is, like a quote. Sometimes it's an idea, so I'll scribble out a summary. Sometimes I write actual scenes. Occasionally I'll draw pictures, as that seems more effective than words in such a moment. It just depends.

    The only time this doesn't work is when I'm in the shower. 😛

  31. Jannalou says:

    @Mya, what April said. I'm in Canada and have been doing NaNoWriMo since 2001; I've been a Municipal Liaison (local events organizer) since 2005. I have friends in Australia, England, and Scotland who participate every year, and I know of people in Germany, China, Korea, South Africa, and lots of other countries around the world who participate. If you're interested, definitely check out the web site and see if your region has a group that participates! We NaNo writers are friendly and love having new people join in the fun, I promise! 🙂

  33. Jannalou says:

    @Jill – It's a brand: Moleskine. Many great writers of the past used Moleskine notebooks for their notes and writing. There's a whole line of books, from day planners to watercolour books to graph paper books to lined notebooks and lots more. They use high quality paper and come in several different sizes.

  35. Hazel Farlough says:

    I have this problem, too! I start a story, and I say to myself, "I'm gonna finish this one!" And then I have another idea, grab another notebook, and leave the old idea in the dust. I have notebooks FILLED with abandoned stories, and even some which is just a measly title and nothing else. I go over and re-write a lot of my stories, like The Pixie Pearl, and Curse of the Lion Wizard… My longest finished story is Times of the Wolf Pack, which I am posting on my blog, Farlough's Fiction.

  36. Mya says:

    @Jannalou and April- I did check out the site, its certainly very interesting. Participants seem to around the globe.=D Although, if it starts in November, I'll be in a major town change. Maybe next year, thanks for telling me.;)

  37. F says:

    I need a moleskine notebook asap. I'm going to be doing NaNoWriMo handwritten this year, since I'm starting college. And what better for a novel than a nice, thick notebook? Black, with the perfect pen to write with. *sigh*

  38. athena14Lee says:

    Random question for Ms. Levine. Were there ever any particular books you read that influenced you to write fantasy, or just influenced the way you write in general? (I'm sorry if I sound like I'm prying, but it's just something I was wondering.)

  39. Alexandra says:

    Whoops! sorry to "Alex P" who the blog was about. I thought it was neat that it was my name too and maybe that's why I connected to it. I didn't even think when I commented about it being the same name!! So sorry for the confusion. You be Alex P and I'll be Alexandra. (I'm actually an Alex P too…wonder what else we have in common lol!) Thanks Miss Levine for the reply!

    -Alex (or Alexandra now)

  40. gailcarsonlevine says:

    Athena14Lee–There wasn't as much fantasy when I was little as there is now. I loved PETER PAN and Twain's A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT and anything Arthurian, and I was a fairy-tale addict. Before I wrote ELLA ENCHANTED I read BEAUTY by Robin McKinley.

  43. PrimoPunk says:

    I've been writing for as long as I can remember, but I've never finished a story in my life. I typically write novels, but I always seem to drop the idea before I complete it.
    Does anybody have a suggestion to help me with this?

  44. jared says:

    Sometimes when I get stuck or bored with a specific plot element, I just skip it and write about a point in the story that's interesting me at the moment. For example: if I have a knight going on a journey to slay a dragon and they journey is getting boring, I'll jump to the dragon slaying. Usually that revitalizes my interest in the story and inspires details I should include earlier on. Or if it’s just a small detail, like a character’s stuck in a hole and I don’t know how to get them out I write “a miracle happened” and go on with my story. Then I can go back latter, the next day when my brain has had time to recuperate, and fill in the blanks. I get bored with my stories often and these tricks seem to help.

  46. Alena (Starshine) says:

    I have no idea if this will help anyone else, but I like to email my story in segments to my friends. then, whenever I get discouraged about my writing and want to quit, I remind myself, "You can't stop now, your friends are waiting to see where the story goes next. You can't let them down." Then I have to go bang my head against a wall, or list ideas like ms. levine has suggested in other posts and in Writing Magic,or even just reread over what I have so far, because then I can sometimes tell where I want it to go. Sooner or later, the answer shows up, and I can go on with it.

  47. Poppie says:

    Dear Miss Levine.

    Thanks for all the advice on this post!

    Alena (Starshine): I too find it easier to finish a story if someone is waiting for it. My cousins suggested that I write a fan fiction story based on two of our favorite movies. I refused at first, but I decided to go ahead.
    It was the only book that I had ever finished! (So far.) I’m writing a few sequels to the first book, and I’m much more inspired to finish on THAT one than any other stories I’m working on.
    NaNoWriMo is another GREAT motivator: one of the few stories I’ve ever written got finished because of NaNoWriMo…Alas, I abandoned that one, but I may get back to work on it.

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