Writers Café discussion

Hi, I just joined this group about a minute ago, specifically to have a chance to talk with other writers, or more specifically, real writers (since I can't really count myself a writer until I finish writing something). I've been pretty much working in the dark up til now, with the only advice I can find being whatever "How to Write a Novel" books being hocked at Coles. I'm wondering if I can ask anybody's advice about a very specific type of writer's block I'm having.

See, I'm three-quarters of the way through the first draft of a novel. It seems like I've been ten chapters from the end for the last several months, and the darn thing keeps growing. I set myself a goal of being finished the first draft by the beginning of spring, already almost two years since I started it (writing in my off hours; as I said, I'm no professional yet), and when spring rolled around and I was still ten chapters from the end I got a little bit dejected and stopped writing for almost two months. After restarting, I found I didn't know any of my characters any more. All the work I've done to flesh them out, and after a brief hiatus they appear one-dimensional again.

Any tips on how to get my story back? I know where I want it to go, but now it doesn't seem to make sense for it to go there. Any advice?

Anyone?

I'd try dropping the story line where it is (10 chaps from the end) and pick up somewhere further down the track. Start writing, anything, crap writing, stuff that you don't think will go... anything.

Just get the creative juices flowing again, then see if inspiration hits :)

One of my favourite quotes:

“The Muse visits during the act of creation, not before. Don't wait for her. Start alone.”
― Roger Ebert

To me, at least, you really seem to be a writer. Ten chapters from the end of a novel? I can't even finish the first chapter.

The only thing that I can tell you is that YOU CAN'T FORCE CREATIVITY. Try doing some writing exercises. Oh, and don't start trying to rewrite or flesh out charries. Finish the first draft, which is always just that, a DRAFT, then go back and revise. Has you posted your work on Goodreads? I'd love to read it.

Okay, so I'm thinking of trying to write yet another story but I'm always writing down the path of murder, or someone dieing ect.. so I want to change that. So I was thinking of doing a 9/10 years old Autsic girl who only comuactes threw her art, and without it shes no know, but her parents don't understand. Just a main idea. Help?

Lynxie: Thank you, that's a very good idea. I have a couple of scenes closer to the end that I'm sure will be fun to write and might help jumpstart where I am right now. Also, I really like that quote.

Amara: I haven't put anything up on GR yet, I'm still superstitiously in the pen-and-notebook stage. I've been thinking of putting a chapter or two up, out of order or context, as kind of a teaser and to see if the parts I think people will respond to will get the response I want.

You're also right about it being a draft, maybe that's part of the problem - it's taken me so long to get this far, it almost seems like the end isn't in sight. I swear up and down that I really don't care if anybody likes it, I'm writing for the joy of it, but on the other hand I do REALLY want somebody to read it and tell me it's good.

Faith Noelle wrote: "Okay, so I'm thinking of trying to write yet another story but I'm always writing down the path of murder, or someone dieing ect.. so I want to change that. So I was thinking of doing a 9/10 years ..."

I may not know much, and I may have started this feed because I'm at a wall myself, but one thing I do know from experience is that you're always going to gravitate back to the stories you want to tell. You might try to write quirky Douglas Coupland type human drama like I did but if what you really like is zombies you're going to go back there every time. If your autistic artistic girl is something you're genuinely intrigued by (and it sounds fascinating), then give it a go and see where it leads, but if murder mysteries are in your heart, you might find yourself there again afterwards.

Hm, I'll keep that stuff in mind. Thanks, Malbon!

I have an idea for a book about a girl, around 12, with long sandy-brown hair and dark brown eyes, who finds this mysterious garden in the middle of no where. She somehow figures out the garden is from 1904 (I don't know HOW yet) and somehow the garden looks good as new. She soon finds that a girl who was murdered in the garden has been taking care of it for the past hundred years. The ghost girl (I need a name that fits that time period) asks the girl to avenge her death. The ghost girl is somehow clueless as to her murdered her. The girl ( I honestly am really bad with names... I'm thinking Emma?) goes on this dangerous adventure to avenge the ghost girl's death. That is honestly all I have. I'm thinking about calling it 'Within the Garden'.

Sounds interesting Nichole.

Beatrice comes to mind for the dead girl... not sure why.

I have HORRIBLE writer's block, but I don't, in a way. I started writing a new story, but I don't have a plot. I just wrote whatever came to my mind, but it makes sense. It's sort of introducing the main character and what her life is like. I can't think of what my plot should be, though... If you have any ideas, please post them in my writing folder: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7.... Thanks!