How do you know when an idea is worth writing an entire story about and actually finishing it?
I think in the first few years of my writing, that was the question I asked the most. I had ideas all over the place and it was pretty much a hobby to start stories, make up characters, and then move on to a new set of each.
My sister deserves part of the credit for my writing today (The funny thing is I'm not sure she knows!) because one day in high school she looked at me when I was talking about writing and said "but you never finish anything."
And maybe she meant to be inspirational (cue cheesy inspirational music here!) and maybe she meant to be an obnoxious little sister (haha, um...the more likely option =D...). But when she said it, I knew she was right. I didn't ever finish anything.
I "finished" (in quotes because I went back a few years and many conferences later and did a major rewrite) my first manuscript within a year of that possibly unintentional challenge she had issued. And suddenly what had seemed impossible (seeing a story through from beginning to end) was something I KNEW I could accomplish.
I don't finish everything I start now. Sometimes inspiration will strike and I'll see a scene, or I'll come up with a character, and I'll open a word document and just jot down whatever ideas exist. Maybe I'll use it later. Maybe I won't. BUT since my sister's words, I have finished everything I've intended to finish.
I think we need to have the freedom to put down ideas that we have. But again, there's that balance, where sometimes you just have to sit down in the chair and finish what you've already started, promising yourself that you'll come back to that distracting new idea later.
How do you sort through ideas and decide which stories you're really passionate about telling?
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I am definitely guilty of never finishing anything. I've gotten farther on my current WIP than anything else I've done. Of course, even that's been on the back burner lately. :/
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I think that when there's a story that you just can't let go and when you think about parts of it, your heart swells that's the probably the story you need to stick with. :)
But if you're further on this one than you ever have been, that's progress! You can do it!!! =)
DeleteI love how you described that. "When you think about parts of it, your heart swells." So true.
One thing that helped me was to become emotionally and mentally invested in my characters - they lived in my head and talked to me and needed my help to tell their story. I had to spend enough time with them to care enough to tell it, asking them questions and learning their lives....
ReplyDeleteThen was the strange feeling of guilt that came with starting a new story and learning new characters - I had to ask the old voices to tone it down a notch....LOL!
Haha, I know what you mean about that guilt! And about learning about characters and all of that!
DeleteI don't know. I'm here right how. I finished a story! But it's resting & I'm looking for a new story. Starting a story, fleshing out and idea, GETTING an idea I feel good about & believe in is a real struggle for me. Maybe my biggest writing struggle believe it or not. Tonight I've been asking myself if I don't have tons of ideas I like should I be a writer? I'm a little torn & frustrated tonight. Could it be I don't nurture a "thought" of an idea bc I her insecure and toss it? How long do I wait? I just want to get to the writing.
ReplyDeleteNot having tons of ideas just gives you a uniqueness as a writer. I don't think it's necessarily bad at all. You've finished a story (yay!) so you know you can do it, maybe you just have to wait a little longer between stories to soak up all the inspiration for the next. =) You'll know when you have one you love. =)
DeleteI never thought of struggling for good ideas as unique! Interesting to think about :) I do plan on playing around with ideas more now. I'm wondering if I need to study some characterization,possibly? I've spent a lot of time learning about plot and maybe that's one of the problems, i know enough of my plot for my abilities but am lacking in other areas making it seems harder!
DeleteI guess my biggest struggle is knowing what to cut out. I love the historical aspects and want to add everything that era did into my book. Which, you can't do! So, I've been searching carefully for "fillers" (however much I love them) and taking them out. That would probably be my method of sorting through ideas - which ones are fillers. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post ma'am! I think that's something a lot of new authors struggle with. I love what Ashley said, too, about your heart swelling :) Definitely a sign.
ReplyDeleteTonya, definitely learn about characters if you've been focusing on plot the most. That would help with a breakthrough I bet! Give you a new perspective to get excited about :)
Alicia, thankfully historicals are the longest genre :)
Thanks! I've had a question in my mins today. I realize I
ReplyDeleteNeed to strengthen my characterization and we all only have so much time to decide to writing. Is it wise to take like a month or two off of writing and only study. Like read with a very specific eye and make notes etc. or will I learn best writing ? After all, writers write, right?!
I tried that one time, but I quickly realize that it only led to a lot of procrastination and I was justifying not writing by saying that I was "studying the art." It didn't work too well for me, but that may not be true for everyone. I think the best thing that I've done for my writing lately has been simply been to write... Once I got into the flow of the story, it was easier to write. Oh, and I downloaded the free trial of Scrivener. That's REALLY helped me keep my "creative madness" organized. :)
DeleteGood thoughts, Ashley! I want to keep my writing muscles strong.
DeleteI agree with Ashley
ReplyDelete