I really need some story advice, please? - Comments

@ NeverWakeMeUp
Yeah. I'm sure after some practice I'll be able to find what works for me hopefully. I'm gonna stay optimistic.

@ xMandiblesx
*claps hands* YAY!!!!

@ xMandiblesx
I completely get it. I go through phases that are like 'addictions' to the site and sometimes I just have to force myself to put the computer away and not touch it. It' kills me but I'm usually 10x as productive when I come back, even if it's only a few days later.

@ NeverWakeMeUp
Yeah that's true. Honestly I've written in a note book a few times when I was stuck bored somewhere and I was able to concentrate pretty well. I dunno what it is about sitting down to my computer to write that just feels like such a chore. Even on my lap top. I need to work on just slowing down in general I think. I always get a head of myself in everything.....

I really admire authors on here who update regularly and it's a really smooth story and everything flows. I'll have to check Two Months out.

@ xMandiblesx

I completely understand getting addicted to feedback, trust me! LOL

Not sure if you've read any of my stories or not, but when I wrote Two Months I was actually having issues with my eyes and couldn't stand staring at the computer screen. I wrote most of it in a notebook (the first 5 or 6 chapters) and I couldn't believe how well it flowed because I didn't feel rushed to get the next chapter out. It actually got me really excited and reminded me why I loved writing so much because I wasn't pressuring myself to get something out just because others expected it. I've kind of adopted the thought that if people really like my stories they will come back to read them whenever I get them updated. Some I update more frequently than others just because that's how my brain works and I write when I have ideas and the urge to. After thinking about it I figured out that if I wasn't posting my best writing then the feedback wasn't really all that helpful to me (when it's useful and people are honest).

@ NeverWakeMeUp
Actually I've been wanting to try that method out. I just always feel so horrible because I haven't updated my stories on here. I feel like I want to post something so badly but it's never what I want to write at the moment on my existing stories ya know? I know I should take things more slowly and write the scenes I want and just not worry about when I post them but I get addicted to the feedback. A lot of times it's kind of the "inspiring push" I need to keep going.

I'm definitely going to start making an outline though. I can always go back to that and remember where I had originally wanted to take things and like you said....I can tweak things I want to add and what not.

@ xMandiblesx

No problem

I do the same thing sometimes too, getting way ahead of myself. Sometimes I find it helpful to write down the big events on a separate paper/document that I know I for sure want to happen. For some reason seeing a bit of an "outline" makes it easier for me to fill in the blanks or enhance the climaxes in the plot that I know I want to build. I don't know how you write/your method, but I type my chapters up and save them in word and then just copy and paste to the site when it's finished. That way I can go back and re-read/tweak it and it just feels more comfortable than typing right into MIbba.

I'm always up for sharing what helps me and hearing what helps others with writing! It's the main reason I joined this site

@ NeverWakeMeUp
Yeah. Like I've tried just starting smack dab in the middle of the action and gradually adding in background bits and pieces but my biggest problem is.....I get a head of myself WAY TOO MUCH. I'll be on one scene and then this song or story will inspire me to write a scene LATER in my story and it distracts me from finishing what I was working on but I'm afraid if I don't do the scene I just thought of now, I'll forget it or lose inspiration later. My mind races too much. It sucks.

But as for Filled With Syn.....the story plot and the rest of the outline is exciting enough for me to STAY inspired. Plus I'm past the beginning of the story so now it should be smooth sailing. I'm about to post an update now. I've got to get over this writer's block hump and just accept that every word I write doesn't have to fit the "perfection" expectation I place on my own writing.

Thanks so much for the advice too! It means a lot.

@ Embracing Shadows
I'm working on it dear! I'm excited!

I miss Filled with Syn :)

OH, and I LOVE Filled with Syn! I can't wait to see where you take that story!

When you say you hate beginnings, what exactly do you mean? It sounds like you might be putting constraints on yourself and causing unneeded stress.

I think it's common for most writers (including me) to think that the beginning of a story needs to start with a couple meeting or friends falling in love for the first time, but who's to say that a good story can't start with the couple already being a couple? I think if you would provide enough background info (maybe a short chapter or like the beginning half of the first chapter) you can dive right in to where you see your story being able to develop from now. If you think this might be the issue with the Matt story you want to write I suggest taking a step back and trying to look at it from a different view. Maybe after thinking about it for a bit you can come up with a way to provide background info on your characters without having to write chapters and chapters of leading up to where you really want the story to be.

Hope this helps!