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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

So Close, Yet So Far

Last night as I was dozing off to sleep I got a story idea.  I love it when inspiration strikes.  I started jotting down notes and ideas for it, but I'm so excited to actually start on it.  It's always exciting to start a new writing project.  It's fresh.  New characters, new plot.  All the details to figure out of this new world.  It always excites me to start a story.

Which makes me wonder why I'm having such a hard time ending the current story I'm working on.  I want to finish it.  I love the story.  Is it that I don't want it to end?  Maybe I just can't find an ending that fits?  Maybe I've lost interest in the direction it's gone? If I've lost interest than more than likely the readers would too.  Except I don't know if that's the case and I'm just frustrated because every line I try to right is like ripping off my fingernails.  It makes me want to scream.  So close yet so far.

So, here's what I've decided.  This new project, while I'll still write down ideas, and characters, and all the fun stuff like that, I'm not going to let it over shadow the project I'm currently working on.  Meaning, I'm not going to actually writing the story, until I've completed this one. 

Now that doesn't mean I'm not going to probably jot down short stories and things like that, but this new story idea wouldn't be a short story.   I really want to finish the story I'm working on though and then while I'm going back to edit it, I can start the new project.
Posted by Sully's Scribbles at 3:30 PM
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10 comments:

Tanya Reimer said...

You know, since I write for fun, --I mean really, the pay sucks, and no one but me cares about it-- I write what I love in that moment, what get's me fired up.

I once left a book with no ending for two months while I worked on a new one that had me all fired up. Suddenly, one day, I woke up, ready to finish it. Like a good drug, it sucked me right in. I worked on it for two months straight, and I ended up with a wicked "first draft". Now it sits and waits for me to come back and edit it.

I learnt not to be so hard on myself, in fact, if I write what I'm inspired to write in that moment, I come out ahead. Forcing that ending wouldn't have worked, believe me I needed to be blitzed to think those fantasies up!

I might not get to where I want to go in forward motion, but if I get there in reverse, at least I made it ;)

Those are my thoughts, but I have a short attention span and... what was I rambling about?

Thanks for the post, it's nice to know I'm not the only one who loses interest in a project, but good news is, that the passion can come back.

February 16, 2011 at 4:37 PM
Alleged Author said...

Maybe it means you are sad to end something on which you've worked so hard. I hate ending a book because my characters become family. It's hard to say goodbye to them while they sit somewhere for a month.

February 16, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Raquel Byrnes said...

Sounds like you've got the right idea for corralling your other story while you work on your WIP. I'm a fellow crusader and now a follower...see you around. =)

February 17, 2011 at 12:52 AM
Margo Kelly said...

Fellow crusader stopping by to say hi! I'm a new follower. Nice to meet you.

February 17, 2011 at 9:13 AM
Summer Ross said...

Perhaps your are having a hard time with the ending because you need to bounce ideas off of someone and start talking about it? That usually helps me get to an ending. or perhaps you just need to write what you think should be there for now- leave it alone for a while then go back to it and see if the ending fits- maybe you are to close?

February 17, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Sully's Scribbles said...

Thanks for the ideas and words of encouragements guys! YAY fellow crusaders!!!! I'm going to follow you guys back, but if I miss anyone, let me know! <3

February 17, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Michael Di Gesu said...

Hey, Sully,


I hopped over from the crusader's list to introduce myself an follow.

It's nice to meet you.

Tomorrow is our first challenge... It should be cool.

Michael

February 17, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Susan Fields said...

Hi fellow crusader! I totally agree - it's so easy to let an old project drop off and pick up a fun, exciting new one, but what good is it if you never finish anything? Hang in there and get it done!

February 18, 2011 at 7:47 AM
Hart Johnson said...

I try to do the same--I let myselft jot notes and maybe write a scene or two if there is something that really tells me about the characters or some plot point that really is coming clear to me, but if I let myself do more before the other is done, then I don't get back to the almost done book. Finish, then write the new one, THEN come back to edit...

February 18, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Rusty Carl said...

I think you're on the right track wanting to finish the story you're on. I have...seriously... at least three novel length manuscripts that are complete save for the story climax. How weird is that? I have given in to the lure of the freshness and excitement of a new story every time. I hate my lack of will to stay the course.

But, I buckled down and finished one of them this January. It was hard, it's the least conventional of all my stories (which means - the biggest mess) but I think I've learned my lesson now. No more moving on until I've finished my WIP, whatever it may be (or, at least finish the draft/edit I'm doing).

Anyhow. You can't judge the worth of your own story. You're too close. Just write it and let your readers figure out if it's good or not.

February 19, 2011 at 10:13 AM

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