[Esther]

@writingwren

Ooh, okay this is a really good question, but I think I might be able to help!

First of all, take the pressure off of yourself to find “that project.” Several years ago, when I was just starting to take writing seriously, I heard another writer call her project her “heart novel,” or something along those lines. That put in my mind the idea that I had to have one book that I really really wanted to write and that that would be my book. But that’s not how writing works! You might end up having a favorite project and that’s completely fine. But there’s no need to hop from one idea to the next because you like this idea a little less than another. And your favorite projects are going to change as you change. My first projects used to be my favorites, but as I’ve grown as a writer and a person, I love my current WIP a lot more than I do those old ones. So don’t pressure yourself to find the perfect novel idea. Play around with a few. That’s okay.

Seconding Koshka when I say this, but don’t discredit the writing you’ve already done. I know you want to stick to one project, and that’s really good. But you’ve still written a lot of words, and any words you write are helping you become a better writer. Even if you never use that manuscript again, it’s still helped you learn and grow, and that’s something to be proud of.

Learn your writing process and capitalize on that. This is the hardest part and the part I avoided for a while. But Elishavet and Koshka are right when they say you have to learn yourself, how you write, and where you are right now. I had to humble myself and realize that I didn’t know as much about writing as I thought I did. I thought I had a good system, but really my lack of plotting and lack of understanding of story structure was slowing me down. When I took the time to learn about story and identify the areas I needed to grow in the most, I was able to take the next steps to grow and better myself as a writer.

I know you said you’re a pantser or more of a discovery writer, but I’m going to push against that just a little bit. Let me clarify though, that being a discovery writer is not a bad thing!! But I used to say the same thing, and now I’m plotting before I write almost any story. Before you discredit plotting, I would recommend trying out a few different methods. And here is where short story writing comes in handy!! You can try different plotting methods on different novels, but it’s going to take a while to figure out if that method worked for you or not, just because novels are such big projects. Short stories help with conciseness, and they also give you the opportunity to practice different things in a shorter amount of time, if that makes sense. (I love using flash fiction to practice one small skill, like vivid descriptions or emotional storytelling!) If you’d like, I can give you a few different ways of plotting that I’ve tried and seen people try if that would help. I know you said you tried plotting, but I’d like to encourage you to try it again, and in different ways, before you discredit it entirely. Having a plot and knowing where your story is going keeps you motivated to keep writing and keeps you on track. I could go on forever about how when I started to sit down and plan out my story, I was able to keep it going and finish strong.

Another side of the coin, is that it’s really important to understand story structure. This goes hand in hand with learning how to plot. There are SO many resources out there on story and story structure, so you have a lot at your disposal. I highly recommend anything by K. M. Weiland, either her blog or her nonfiction books. I’m currently in the middle of How to Structure Your Story, and it’s been incredibly helpful. When you understand story and how to craft a story that mimics real life and keeps readers engaged, pantsing and staying motivated both become possible at the same time. Maybe you’ve tried several ways to plot and have decided that it’s not for you. That’s totally fine, because you understand story structure and can roughly keep your story on track. Even if you didn’t plot it out beforehand, you still have a vision of where it needs to go.

Also, identify what you don’t like about your story, and figure out how you can fix it. If there’s a certain thing within your story that you don’t like, and that’s what’s holding you back from finishing it, then do something about it! Don’t like your characters? Take time to flesh them out and learn how to make them feel real. Hate your prose? Practice show don’t tell. Learn how to convey the tone you want through your prose. Don’t like where the plot is going? Change it! This is your story and you can do whatever you want with it.

And then finally, beware of perfectionism. Your novel doesn’t have to be perfect. Every line doesn’t have to sound amazing. Every chapter doesn’t have to be perfectly paced. Just write. One author compared writing to starting up a hose after it hasn’t been used for a while. You have to get all the bad, dirty water out before the clean water starts coming. Same with writing. You have to keep writing and get all the bad stuff out before it starts becoming more refined. Don’t expect perfection from yourself. Just show up every day and put in the work. Keep writing. Because it will pay off! Every line is a chance to practice and become a better writer. So keep going, friend! Don’t give up on your story because it’s not good enough. The only way to get better is to keep practicing. Don’t give up. You got this.

I really hope some of that was helpful for you Wren! I know it was a lot and maybe I totally misinterpreted what you were asking, but I hope you can find some pieces of advice in there that can help you! (Let me know if you have any questions or if there’s something that doesn’t make sense : ) )

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@ellette-giselle

yes we were totally taking over her intro post 🤭 thanks for moving it over here!

Haha I love that!

Oh yes, that’s a very good start hehe 🙂‍↕️ That’s so sweet though!! I hope everything goes smoothly with all the planning and such!

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@ellette-giselle

Awww, I love that!! That’s a short engagement though! (Which is completely fine, I’ve just never seen that before, so it’s really cool!) What do you have planned for the wedding?

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@ellette-giselle

UM EXCUSE ME??!!

apparently I did miss a lot!! When did you get engaged??? That’s so exciting!!! < 33

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@writingwren

I would have replied sooner but every time I tried to log into KP it wouldn’t load 😭

-Hmmmm. Gael, Tavion and Raven.

Cool!! None of those names ring a bell… are they from your WIP or a different book??

-Writing traveling. Getting my charries from A to B. ALSO editing it just AWFUL XD I love draft one…. I just love the whole thing ig. Even tho editing is a bit of a pain.

Yesss, that’s so real! I write contemporary, and most of my stories don’t have a lot of traveling, but when I tried to write dystopian or fantasy when I was younger, getting my characters from one place to another was such a challenge *cri*

No literally! Editing can be so annoying some times! It’s taken me a couple tries to figure out a good way to do it and how to enjoy it.

– Ooooohhh boyyyy. Thats hard to answer. Farenheight 451 or a Voice in the Darkness… idk ToT

I need to read Fahrenheit 451!! What did you like about it??

 

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@writingwren

Welcome to KP, Wren!!

I’m Esther, a homeschooled senior, lover of stories, and writer of contemporary YA. I’ve been a member for about 4 years now, but it’s been a hot second since I’ve really been active. I’m excited to see so many new people joining though!

Now some welcome questions!!

~ if you could spend a day with any three characters who would they be?

~ what’s your biggest writing struggle? and what do you love most about writing?

~ anddd, what’s a book you could read over and over again?

Excited to get to know you better, Wren! < 3

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@bilbo-baggins

GASP. QUESTIONS.

Well yes!

In writing, I think I struggle most with focusing on the small details on the story, and keepings things consistent throughout. I picture the story and the characters in my head, but then I write it down and always seem to miss the small details (though, I do think I add too much noodle fluff). I am also struggling with actually staying committed to a project, because I have multiple that have just sadly been long abandoned. My favorite part of writing is being able to express my feelings, if that makes sense. I also like having my own characters and building the world (which is pretty generic 😆)

No that makes so much sense! Sometimes I struggle with remembering the little things too. And if you need help staying locked in on a project, I’m open to being your accountability partner if that’s something you’re interested in! (It always helps to keep me focused when I have someone I have to report my progress to)

Yes that also makes sense! The ability to express yourself through writing is such a blessing!

I’d say that I struggle most with plot structure. I can write cute little scenes or good dialogue, but keeping my story on track and structuring/pacing it the right way has been difficult for me. My favorite part is character creation though!! I love crafting characters and getting to know them as I write from their POVs.

If I could visit any story world, I would visit two: the Lost Cities and Keeper of the Lost Cities and Middle Earth in LoTR (specifically Rivendell and the Shire 😊).

Oooh okay fun!! So are you a KotLC fan?? (I read the first book a while ago and then gave up during the second book. I can’t remember why 😭)

Ok but going to Rivendell or the Shire would be so cool 🙂‍↕️

This is a hard question for me since I don’t read a lot of speculative fiction, but I feel like going to Avonlea (like in Anne of Green Gables) would be so fun and whimsical ✨

My best bro Thorin Oakenshield. But seriously (since I’m not actually Bilbo. I know, you totally thought I was Bilbo), Thorin Oakenshield is my favorite.

Ooooh okay, okay 🙂‍↕️ Wait you mean you aren’t actually Bilbo??? 😬 Oopsssieessss🙈

Lowkey not sure if I could answer this one, because I watched the movie a while ago and I barely remember the book 🫣 But maybe Fili or Kili?? I feel like I remember liking their characters from the movies (feel free to rant about which is better, the book or the movies, because I don’t have a strong enough opinion for it to bother me 🤭)

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

Welcome to KP @bilbo-baggins!!! So excited to see a new face!

I’m Esther, a homeschooled high school senior and lover of stories. I’ve been a member for 4 years but have sadly been quite inactive for the past year or so 😭 I’m trying to change that by starting with welcoming our new members!

Now I have some questions for you because why not

~ what part of writing do you struggle with most? and what’s your favorite part?

~ if you could visit any storyworld, where would it be and why?

~ who’s your favorite dwarf??

Excited to get to know you better! ✌️

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

Welcome to KP @renegade!!! So glad to have you!

I’m Esther, a homeschooled high school senior and lover of stories. I’ve been a member for almost 4 years now, but the past year or so I haven’t been very active at all 😭 So we’re changing that by welcoming new friends!!

Okiii, some questions for you!

~ if you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

~ which author (or two, or three…) would you love to talk to irl? what would you ask them?

~ and finally, what is your biggest writing dream??

Excited to get to know you better! 👋🏻

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@savannah_grace2009

Ok so first of allllll, sorry for replying an entire month late 😭

Second, I think Jonas made some really great points! I totally agree with him.

I’d also add that there’s a reason cliches and tropes exist–and that’s because they work. Oftentimes they can be overdone and end up boring and predictable, but they can also be used as tools to enhance the story and make it interesting.

Readers of certain genres go into a book within that genre with certain expectations. And if you make your story too unique, people won’t like it. I’m not saying to use a bunch of cliches and tropes, but don’t worry so much about making your story so unique. I think the more you work on what Jonas was talking about–incorporating your “cliche” more deeply into the plot and giving it a purpose–the more your story is going to sound more like itself, while still fitting into basic reader expectations.

(As a quick example, my readers have certain expectations coming into a contemporary ya novel. I’m not going to throw in a unicorn or a dragon just to be unique and make my story different. 😂 I know that’s a drastic example, but hopefully that helps you understand what I’m trying to say)

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@princesachronicle22

Okay yay!! I think I’ll introduce them later today! <33

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@savannah_grace2009

This is really good, Sara!! It’s not like super confusing with a ton of political stuff going on that doesn’t make sense, but it’s not so simple that it’s not realistic. I actually think it’s really realistic and something I could totally understand happening in our world (and I think it actually has before… War of 1812 anyone??)

I don’t really have anything else to add! I can tell you’ve spent a lot of time on this and it’s been fleshed out really well!!

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

Is this RP pretty active?? And is there a place I can jump in?? I have a new couple from my new WIP that would be fun to play around with 😝

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@whalekeeper

Hey, how are things going?? 💕

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Esther]

@whalekeeper

Oh my goodness, Hannah 🫂 I’m so sorry, that’s so hard. I’ve experienced a similar situation, so I understand some of the thoughts and feelings rn. 🥺 Sending hugs and lots of prayers ❤️‍🩹💕

Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende

[Author]

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