tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post7433965028272317851..comments2023-06-10T08:37:15.879-06:00Comments on Obsidian Bookshelf blog: How to finish writing your rough draft no matter what!Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732605505724248028noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-1388140104981390012014-11-30T22:05:31.809-07:002014-11-30T22:05:31.809-07:00You're very welcome, Kate, and thank you very ...You're very welcome, Kate, and thank you very much for the comment! I'm so pleased that these articles have been helpful to you. Very best of luck with your writing. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10175001333653409734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-43908309204767809302014-11-30T21:41:12.936-07:002014-11-30T21:41:12.936-07:00I went (and still going through) some stressful ti...I went (and still going through) some stressful times. I used to write all sorts of things I have several story outlines that I've never quite finished because of personal issues. But I've finally (I hope!) gotten back to writing and I'm feeling pretty confident about my current novel. :) These topics have helped me out a lot. Especially the descriptive articles. Thank you so much for these. Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-20453543086560233612013-08-29T11:10:04.834-06:002013-08-29T11:10:04.834-06:00Thank you! I'm glad I could help. :)Thank you! I'm glad I could help. :)Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16732605505724248028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-6861933798929893332013-08-28T14:23:26.671-06:002013-08-28T14:23:26.671-06:00Awesome advice! I'll definitely use these tips...Awesome advice! I'll definitely use these tips next time I'm stuck on my WIP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-16148797799970314392013-06-06T14:18:27.561-06:002013-06-06T14:18:27.561-06:00Anissia, you're very welcome! I'm so glad ...Anissia, you're very welcome! I'm so glad I could help. :)Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-13753245895430424182013-06-06T10:36:23.781-06:002013-06-06T10:36:23.781-06:00THANK YOU SO MUCH,Val! Youve been a big help!! Ill...THANK YOU SO MUCH,Val! Youve been a big help!! Ill start right away! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16208718598600367915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-11205492645467528992013-06-05T21:20:14.942-06:002013-06-05T21:20:14.942-06:00Anonymous, you have my sympathy. I have been there...Anonymous, you have my sympathy. I have been there. :) Sometimes it helps to take a break from your writing if you are at the point of utter frustration. You may be surprised how good your rough draft looks when you read it again after taking a break of a few days or a week.<br /><br />The other thing that helps is to think about the novel and figure out which part of it is the most interesting to you. It could be the overall conflict. It could be one certain character. It could be the chance to write about a group of characters who are very different from yourself. Or maybe it could be a certain scene of reunion or revenge or first meetings or something else that you have been looking forward to writing. Or it could be a whole stretch of dialog between two characters.<br /><br />Whatever your favorite thing about the novel is, go to that part and write it (no matter where it falls in your plot). Then see if you can build backward or forward from that point and fill in the rest of the novel. Often the experience of writing something really fun for you will bring the whole thing to life. Very best of luck to you!Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-62506554591651365612013-06-05T06:55:16.147-06:002013-06-05T06:55:16.147-06:00Thank you for making this article (along with the ...Thank you for making this article (along with the others). Ive been writing since the 6th grade, they were mostly children books and short stories but now Ive decided to take up the challenge of writing my first novel. Its been a pain since i constantly get writer's block or just get bored of it. Now i realized that I made so many mistakes that i actually thinking about rewriting the entire story, but i actually like the plot and my characters. Its very frustrating. Please help me. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-85491130926143599422013-04-28T10:42:58.359-06:002013-04-28T10:42:58.359-06:00Anonymous, it never hurts to break off from writin...Anonymous, it never hurts to break off from writing your main project and type a paragraph about each idea into an Ideas File as you think of them. <br /><br />Then you can get back to your main project and put in the daily practice on that, knowing that your new ideas are documented and you won't forget. <br /><br />When you finish your daily wordcount on your main project, you can open your Ideas File and play around with developing the ideas.<br /><br />The important thing is to prioritize your main project so that you keep making progress on that, but to allow a few moments to document those new ideas (and allow some time after your daily wordcount is met on the main project to play with your future ideas).<br /><br />If you feel like giving up, you're probably putting too much pressure on yourself and need a short break. Not to worry. When you come back to it, writing will seem like fun again. :)Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-28635245555582562372013-04-28T09:58:51.769-06:002013-04-28T09:58:51.769-06:00I got so many ideas just waiting to be typed that ...I got so many ideas just waiting to be typed that it's hard to really focus on my plot and my main characters and other things.I want to type all the new ideas I have out but I'm afraid that it might ruin the story. so I am just giving up -I don't have anymore good ideas anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-41307503497064696282011-07-19T20:54:42.798-06:002011-07-19T20:54:42.798-06:00Hello, Anonymous, and thanks for your comment. I c...Hello, Anonymous, and thanks for your comment. I can totally understand what you describe. I think the act of communicating an idea verbally takes away from the momentum to communicate it in writing. It's always awful when this happens. I'm with you -- I try not to talk about the idea too much either at first. :)Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-22551258953625139972011-07-19T15:50:22.559-06:002011-07-19T15:50:22.559-06:00I realized recently that talking about my ideas ki...I realized recently that talking about my ideas kills them instantly, and I'm forced to shelf them even if I really like them. I even tested it out - I had an idea for a book based around dreams, and refused to tell anybody about it. Then one day I told a friend, and I instantly lost interest. It sucked. Nowadays, I don't even tell people whether I'm working on an idea or not. It seems to be working so far.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-25915420444745980422011-05-07T10:17:57.871-06:002011-05-07T10:17:57.871-06:00Hello, Faith Estelle, you're very welcome and ...Hello, Faith Estelle, you're very welcome and thank you for the comment! I'm glad the articles help. You sound the luckiest of all writers -- all those ideas! Definitely take notes so you don't forget them, and then keep writing on the best one. <br /><br />That's an interesting problem you describe about the written idea losing the overall feel that it had in your mind. Maybe there is a way to recapture that feel on the rewrite? Hmmm. Food for thought.Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-90098183925450270482011-05-07T01:10:49.043-06:002011-05-07T01:10:49.043-06:00This article, like all the rest, was really great!...This article, like all the rest, was really great!<br /> Ever since I began to want to write stories when I was 10, I've been having a lot of problems. Right now, I have a million drafts all over my room, and all of them from different stories I gave up on. It seems that every time I get a story outline in my head, a lot of ideas about the plot of that story comes running in, so I always edit my story and end up with a completely different one. I can't seem to settle on one :/ <br />The other problem is that while I have so many different scenes in my head, I can't seem to pen them down! When I do, they lose the feel that they had when they were still living in my mind. Ugh!<br />Your article did help quite a lot though. Thanksya!Faith Estellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-35185546143120077582011-02-14T11:02:58.163-07:002011-02-14T11:02:58.163-07:00Cole, that's wonderful! I didn't know that...Cole, that's wonderful! I didn't know that you were interested in writing fiction, and I'm very happy to hear that these articles are helping. I hope you'll keep us posted on your novel!Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-71882644609498877692011-02-14T01:00:50.246-07:002011-02-14T01:00:50.246-07:00Hey Val, I just wanted to thank you for all of you...Hey Val, I just wanted to thank you for all of your writing information. I used to write a lot, but I haven't for about 5 years and this is helping me start back up seriously. I'm writing my first novel now and this is really helping me out. Thanks :)Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02277201083316005835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-17072915627117552062010-07-25T17:42:05.665-06:002010-07-25T17:42:05.665-06:00Bless your heart, Chris! I'm having a hectic f...Bless your heart, Chris! I'm having a hectic few weeks, but I'm going to get back to full time reviewing by the middle of this week. :)Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-73677731204896965832010-07-23T18:52:25.917-06:002010-07-23T18:52:25.917-06:00Val! I miss you!!!!! *sniff*Val! I miss you!!!!! *sniff*Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959009113795804133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-14471737449662443402010-07-21T11:14:23.674-06:002010-07-21T11:14:23.674-06:00Thanks. Good luck with your story!Thanks. Good luck with your story!Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-91925727642652938172010-07-20T17:49:44.300-06:002010-07-20T17:49:44.300-06:00Wonderful article and great ideas (comments includ...Wonderful article and great ideas (comments included). I have problem with writing in linear fashion. The story I am working on started out very linear, until I started taking a notebook with me when I went to the laundromat. At that point I had two parts I worked on, one was at the end of my story and one was a way to explain how and what happened to my main character prior to meeting Ivan and Donovan. I am still trying to figure out how and exactly where to incorporate that part into the story but at least I have it in the notebook ready to be added when I can type it in.Stourmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01196272943937321495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-51596464506709903382010-07-20T16:55:46.966-06:002010-07-20T16:55:46.966-06:00Hi, Ozakie! I'm so glad I could help. I think ...Hi, Ozakie! I'm so glad I could help. I think that's awesome that you're interested in writing m/m fiction! I look forward to reading it. :)Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-69519068623491392132010-07-20T09:10:51.659-06:002010-07-20T09:10:51.659-06:00Val,
Thank you so much for this post. I emailed i...Val,<br /><br />Thank you so much for this post. I emailed it to my inbox as well as printed it. Hopefully, your advice will serve me well when I finally gather the courage to begin writing M/M<br /><br />OzakieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-27193363304037701122010-07-19T20:27:06.405-06:002010-07-19T20:27:06.405-06:00Hi, Clare and Tam! Thanks for the comments. You bo...Hi, Clare and Tam! Thanks for the comments. You both have some great feedback to add here.<br /><br />Clare, you're so right about the one day at a time approach. Angelia's version of this with 5 words is great -- it gets us around all that guilt and procrastination. And you're right, the blocked feeling will pass, and it does help to remember that we've come through it before. <br /><br />That stopping in the middle of a chapter or scene technique (even though I know how it ends) really does seem to "prime the pump" when I sit back down to write the next day. I wish I could take credit for that advice, but it's something I heard somewhere before. I've even heard advice to break off in the middle of a line of dialog, but I think I wouldn't be able to remember specifically how it should end. Breaking off mid-scene seems to work.<br /><br />Tam, I know just what you mean. I find it subtly irritating when I can't do the scenes in linear order. It's very hard to jump ahead and write the ending first like some do. I do work with outlines, so I can do this (write scenes out of order) if I have to, but it does feel awfully weird. :) Good luck with that circus story! I want to read it.Average Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03955137026396047753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-21083303833679650752010-07-19T07:49:39.103-06:002010-07-19T07:49:39.103-06:00How about a combination. LOL I am always going bac...How about a combination. LOL I am always going back and reading over what I wrote and changing it, adding a comma, etc. It helps me I guess "remember" where I've been, so those parts are fresh in my mind because sometimes it may be weeks (or days) between writing jags. <br /><br />I also sometimes get stalled out when I'm not really sure how I want the next little bit to go. I know what came before, I know what I want to come after, but the bridge is looking murky. However I CAN NOT be one of those people who hops over the divide and continues on writing then goes back and builds the bridge. Just can't do it. I've tried it for bits and it grates on me so I have to go back and fill it in or it just sits there bugging me and I can't focus on the next part. Call it a quirk. :-) I also can't use an outline I discovered. I tried, got to page 10 and it all went to hell. Not my thing I guess.<br /><br />I've kind of stalled out on my circus story for that reason. I need to let it sit and gel maybe so I wrote something else completely different that's been nagging at me. I'll be on vacation then I'll come back and hopefully the supplies for the bridge will be waiting. Because writing is not my career or income source, it's just something I piddle around with, it doesn't matter if I don't write for weeks. LOL And sometimes that happens. *shrug*<br /><br />Great advice though with some hand tips.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15495571402942021799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937658685163119346.post-42252039659862534342010-07-19T03:14:26.404-06:002010-07-19T03:14:26.404-06:00Excellent help for this perfect specimen we call M...Excellent help for this perfect specimen we call Ms Stalled Momentum :(. <br /><br />If I'm even remotely overtired or stressed - work or family or anything other than writing - the whole thing grinds to a halt. I find it helps to REMIND myself at these times I'm under the influence of this, and it will pass. Then I lower my expectations for that day - a day at a time, right?! - and look forward to starting afresh the next day. I think that may be a bit like taking Stourmy's advice.<br /><br />And, goodness, but #3 is the exact reason I'm stuck at the moment with my current WIP. I stopped neatly at the end of a chaptere - now I'm strugging to get my 'voice' back! :)<br /><br />I like the 'just 5 words' approach.Clare Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392142798976142547noreply@blogger.com