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Hello gang it’s me again!!
Wasn’t sure where to post this so put it in plotting lol-I wish we had a Drafting section…kinda weird we don’t lol!
So as the title states…I’m struggling a bit and just wanted to chat with some fellow writers I know. This month I had MAJOR burnout in every area of my life. Work, spiritual, mental, physical, and creative.
I had no desire to write, outline, do anything of the sort, so I didn’t. I realize I was suffering from burnout, not just really creatively tho, but across the board. That being said-i’m now on vacation and feeling MUCH more refreshed.
I’m currently at an ADORABLE bookshop/cafe and slowly wanting and feeling the nudge to get back into the creative groove.
But…I’m still seriously struggling with this draft and idk why…I’m feeling almost like I don’t even know how to write-which is crazy…like, I do know how. I know I CAN, because I have! I wrote over 50,000 words! But I’m struggling…I can’t get thoughts out much less down…I can’t come up with things at all…
Basically-I’m struggling…
I really don’t wanna take another month off from writing…and typing this…I’m wondering if I’m too close to this specific project (being book 1.)
Book 1 is not my favorite book out of the series, anyway. It’s always been difficult for me, and still is…I’m wondering if I should maybe…keep working a bit on it but very slowly, and focus more on other books in the series?
Idk…just struggling!
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebI’m also…just struggling sometimes with this book. The concept, plot, characters, etc are good. I like it…but at the same time at points it feels flat…It needs more, I already have notes for things I need to add but its a little overwhelming…
I really wanna get it to the point I feel comfortable letting someone else read it and critique it because then I get outside feedback from someone not so close…but it’s not there yet…
With this book it was kind of like… Oh man…I don’t have as many ideas how do I make this a good full book? Cuz it needs to be one!
Whereas the second one is like I have TOO MANY ideas how do I fit them all?! lol!
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebI don’t have much advice, being in a similar situation myself. However, the thing that helps me the mostis just talking through plot holes and concepts. If you don’t have someone who can be a sounding board for you (in “real” life), I think most of us KeePers would be happy to be that. It’s nice to hear other opinions at the developing/editing stages. Also helpful is having accountability that just keeps me writing even if it’s terrible… I haven’t used that tool in a while and my drafts have suffered.
Whaley is talking about doing a writing call where we can work on our drafts together. I would love to have calls like that on a semi-regular basis, with specific writing groups. I know not everyone can attend that sort of thing, but it’s hugely helpful.
Hot Milk+Brown Sugar+Vanilla+Ginger+Cinnamon=All the comfort this world can offer.
@elishavet-pidyon that’s a good idea! and yea I’ll probably find myself on here more often. I’m just struggling to get words out period…
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebYou wrote more than 50k words, which is a lot of emotional effort when writing the series of your dreams. So first off, that’s awesome. You’ll have plenty of material to edit. You’re definitely burnt out from that. That sounds normal to me.
I’m currently at an ADORABLE bookshop/cafe and slowly wanting and feeling the nudge to get back into the creative groove.
You’re making me want to drive out to a cafe and do the same thing. That’s so fun. ;p
I’m also…just struggling sometimes with this book. The concept, plot, characters, etc are good. I like it…but at the same time at points it feels flat…It needs more, I already have notes for things I need to add but its a little overwhelming…
You might feel like this has to be a really good first book. And the depth isn’t there yet. Maybe you subconsciously feel like this book has to be good, or else the rest of the series’ drafts will suffer. Like a domino effect.
I feel the same sometimes. I’m working on this post apocalypse fantasy, and I’m worried the tone is going to fluctuate. There are themes I’m worried I’m not skilled enough to communicate. And what if the next draft is still shallow? What if I never accomplish what I want? What if it’s just… never good?
This is what I like to say: Trust yourself.
If you realize your story is shallow right now, that doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. In fact, I think that makes you better than many writers.
You’re self-aware.
If you can see mistakes in your work, and you care enough about fixing those mistakes, you will fix them. You know what you want. It’s just a matter of time and effort.
With this book it was kind of like… Oh man…I don’t have as many ideas how do I make this a good full book? Cuz it needs to be one!
I can see how this book might be harder because you don’t know what ideas you want to flesh out. This is where you need passion. Is there anything you can add to this first book that you feel passionate about?
Is there a real thing happening in your life that you want to explore through fiction? Is there a topic you love? What inspires you?
If you don’t care as much about this book, find things to put into the story that make you want to rant about this book.
This is where KP can help. We can brainstorm with you. It’s easier to feel passionate about something when you’re discussing it with people and making breakthroughs.
Also yeah, like @elishavet-pidyon said! Writing calls! I’m not sure how to make it accessible to everyone because not everyone uses Google chat. Which is what I normally use for calls. But we can figure it out.
Oh girl, that’s rough. I hate it when I want to write but can’t (or the evil nemesis, needing to write, but not wanting to).
As for when words won’t word…I don’t know if any of this will apply or be helpful, but, since I’ve always struggled to get words on a page, I’ve had to learn methods to get myself into writing. Specifically how I–as a human with brain and body–write best.
- I can’t just open a doc and try to type. That doesn’t work point blank. However, if I set my brain up for writing beforehand, I can usually start off with decent wording (for me this often looks like making a cup of tea, settling in with computer and notebook, sitting for a while with the screen off just thinking about my characters ect., then taking a moment to read over the last paragraph or two before trying to type.).
- I set a bare minimum limit of time spent. I can go over if I want, but the limit is there. Typically, it takes me about 15-30 minutes to get into writing/start a decent flow of words on the page.
- Low word goals, especially when getting back into writing. Seriously. If I get 200 words down in one sitting, I may not be thrilled, but I am satisfied. My usual goal for one sitting is 150. In January I went through two weeks where my goal was like 50 words just because I was trying to touch my writing daily.
Anyways…that was a long post.
A cup of tea is cheaper than therapy.
I would be up for a writing call. XD
A cup of tea is cheaper than therapy.
@koshka @whalekeeper thank yall so much for the advice!!
I’m already feeling better. 😊
I don’t wanna procrastinate but I do feel like I need some parts more fleshed out-maybe I can get some advice/ideas there…
right now I’m really struggling with the beginning. I know those are always the hardest, and is apt to change (and mine has many times over the course of this book’s drafts) but I feel I can’t get much done if I don’t have at least a fairly solid beginning or idea for one…and I’m struggling…
So a lot of my struggle is coming with Arabella…the reason is because Ara has mostly inner conflict. Her outside conflict comes at the inciting incident, and is more a “Oh no I have to do this before bad thing happens…have to stop it”
but even that roots back to her inner conflict. She’s very inner focused, and I’m finding that difficult for me…I think it’s because I’m struggling to actually introduce HER and HER WORLD, and her is attached before introducing all of these inner things.
November is much easier- he has inner conflict, but he has a lot of outer conflict that shapes him and his story too (bullying, prejudice, an abusive father, a crush/adoration for Ara) which helps me tie back to his inner conflict and get us invested in him
im struggling to do that for Ara who is my starting POV and MC…
Ara’s conflicts are a bit…Ara-made. They’re made by her anxiety and things she’s dealing with.
dreams/nightmares (which we later learn are actually visions), a fear of needing to be perfect despite her imperfections which stems from past mistakes, guilt from avoidance of her family and keeping them in the dark but also fear of being more imperfect if she told them what was happening.
its a lot of internal stuff. I can get some of it across outwardly-the avoidance of family, the secretness between friends, forced perfection, but it’s more difficult for me then November’s.
Especially starting…I feel disconnected from her and we don’t get a good hold on Ara like we do November.
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebSo you’re trying to present Ara’s world to the reader before the inciting incident happens, and you don’t know how to translate the inner world to the outer world?
If so, wait a minute. We have the same problem. I’m trying to write the same thing. XDThe best I can say is to come up with a meaningful, but normal situation that reveals Ara’s inner belief system. From what you’ve said, these things might be true:
– Ara lies in front of her kingdom in order to look good, believing it’s more important to look confident than to be honest
– She solves problems alone without the help of her family, even though she needs support
– Her nightmares make her paranoid and she makes decisions based on that
At the beginning, Ara needs to believe she’s “winning,” essentially. Idk what’s happening at the beginning of your book, but let Ara act and make poor decisions that seem to be working. Maybe those decisions kick her in the butt later.
As for what that situation is… Here’s a random idea. This is Ara’s first day of holding court. Her parents want her to hear from kingdom’s citizens and help them out. It’s interesting to read, which is what the reader needs, and you can explore Ara’s beliefs.
…
I have a couple other ideas if you still feel disconnected from Ara
– This is only if you have the time! You can join a roleplay and tinker around with her voice. That helps me a lot. I have this female character I was struggling with, and after roleplaying for a month or so, I practically couldn’t stop writing her and now she’s my favorite. XD It might help you connect with Ara’s motives and actions.
– I’ve found a trick to enjoy my protagonists is adding more “fun” traits to write. Think about what you like. I often dig into my characters’ neurodivergence, or come up with silly everyday facts about them that say something about their personality. How can you make Ara more fun to write? (To be clear, I don’t think she’s boring!! I’m asking this in case it helps.)
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