Anyone else have this problem?

[Ubik]

I have such a great idea for a book! And I don't mean a short story or a 100 page book, I mean an all-out novel. The thing is, I can't for the life of me transfer my ideas to paper. I'm getting nowhere because I keep going back and rewriting everything because it doesn't sound good, but the core idea is still really good! It's kinda frusterating.

 

[Tariel]

I have such a great idea for a book! And I don't mean a short story or a 100 page book, I mean an all-out novel. The thing is, I can't for the life of me transfer my ideas to paper. I'm getting nowhere because I keep going back and rewriting everything because it doesn't sound good, but the core idea is still really good! It's kinda frusterating.

3 words. Restrain. Your. Inner-editor.

A good idea will be nothing but a good idea unless you write it. Yes, I've had that problem. The best - and possibly only - cure for it is to write and write and write some more, and if it's total crap that's still more than you had in the first place. You see, there's this wonderful little invention called a "second draft." Promise yourself you'll rewrite it all then. Ignore rough dialog or sparse description. You'll get back to it later, and you'll be able to rewrite it better and stronger for having the entire draft in front of you.

 

[DerSchweik]

3 words. Restrain. Your. Inner-editor.

A good idea will be nothing but a good idea unless you write it. Yes, I've had that problem. The best - and possibly only - cure for it is to write and write and write some more, and if it's total crap that's still more than you had in the first place. You see, there's this wonderful little invention called a "second draft." Promise yourself you'll rewrite it all then. Ignore rough dialog or sparse description. You'll get back to it later, and you'll be able to rewrite it better and stronger for having the entire draft in front of you.

That's excellent advice!

Best thing to do is keep your idea/concept in the back of your head and just proceed to sit down and write. Treat it as an exercise; ignore quality of content and focus on quanitity of words written. Eventually, this "flush" of written words will be influenced by your novel idea such that cohesion will begin to develop.

Let the words flow freely - if you find you've written something worth keeping - store it in another folder or file for editing later, but keep writing. At some point, you'll know when it's time to end the free-flow and start the actual composition and editing process.

Good luck bro! We've all been there and we'll all be there again. God bless!

 

[AxionEsti]

It's impossible to write it perfectly the first time. Consider your first draft just that, a draft. You can also outline your ideas and consult that as you write the first draft. Do not edit it until you start on the second draft!

 

[Holten]

I have such a great idea for a book! And I don't mean a short story or a 100 page book, I mean an all-out novel. The thing is, I can't for the life of me transfer my ideas to paper. I'm getting nowhere because I keep going back and rewriting everything because it doesn't sound good, but the core idea is still really good! It's kinda frusterating.

It can be helpful to some people to 'say it' before you try to write it. Record yourself saying your ideas; record yourself telling any of the story floating around in your head. I've found, often, that when people write they - consciously or not - try to 'sound' different than they think and speak.

My wife used to think she had to sound more 'formal' when writing. When she broke that habit and wrote what she was thinking - how she'd say it to her best friend on the phone - her writing got better and much easier for her.

Just a thought.

 

[Tariel]

It can be helpful to some people to 'say it' before you try to write it. Record yourself saying your ideas; record yourself telling any of the story floating around in your head. I've found, often, that when people write they - consciously or not - try to 'sound' different than they think and speak.

My wife used to think she had to sound more 'formal' when writing. When she broke that habit and wrote what she was thinking - how she'd say it to her best friend on the phone - her writing got better and much easier for her.

Just a thought.

I could never do that. I have a difficult time vocalizing any of my story in any way. But hey- whatever works. No two of us write exactly the same way

 

[Kokopelli]

Pretty much, everyone here has summed it up, and any mainstream author will tell you the exact same thing. Write. Write. Write.

Now I'll admit that I have started writing ideas for my latest "cantos," and have quit because it was total dog stuff. My problem, is figuring out the conflict and the antagonist.

My wife says I need to take my ideas and turn them into a romance style of book, similar to what Nicholas Sparks writes about.

 

[Ubik]

Thanks for the advice guys (and gals)!

 

[sunstruckdream]

3 words. Restrain. Your. Inner-editor.

A good idea will be nothing but a good idea unless you write it. Yes, I've had that problem. The best - and possibly only - cure for it is to write and write and write some more, and if it's total crap that's still more than you had in the first place. You see, there's this wonderful little invention called a "second draft." Promise yourself you'll rewrite it all then. Ignore rough dialog or sparse description. You'll get back to it later, and you'll be able to rewrite it better and stronger for having the entire draft in front of you.

This is exactly what I would have said if Tariel hadn't beat me to it

I started my first draft over two years ago. It's done now, and I'm in the rewrite/second draft phase. You know what? A lot of my first draft is crap. I love the plot, but there are contradictions, awkward sentences, syntactical problems, unjustified character choices, and lots of little flowers and character outfits sketched in the corners and margins. But you know what? That's okay! I made a full-blown list of things that need attention, and now that I'm plowing through it and writing it again, it's getting easier and stronger as I go. Sure, I have a messy draft, but I have a draft, and that beats the heck outta an empty page.

So just go for it. Plow through it and let things go until you hit the end. Then make your own ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE list and keep going.

 

[MrBF1V3]

I could never do that. I have a difficult time vocalizing any of my story in any way. But hey- whatever works. No two of us write exactly the same way

Interesting, that's one of my editing things. I read out loud what I've written, and often find the dumbest mistakes. For some reason I didn't catch them by just reading silently.

To the question at hand, Ubik. You're getting good advice here. The best way to learn how to write is to write, it also helps to get meaningful feedback. As much fun as it's not, you need to find people who will tell you how bad your writing is, sometimes.

And remember, the first million words are practice.

B5

 

[sunstruckdream]

I could never do that. I have a difficult time vocalizing any of my story in any way. But hey- whatever works. No two of us write exactly the same way

Yeah, that doesn't work for me either. Oddly, what does work is when I either print something out or transfer it to a different window. For some reason, getting away from the glaring white of Microsoft Word helps me catch things my eyes were evidently numb to beforehand. I don't know why, and I can't explain it, but in order to edit something, I either print it or email it to myself in plain text. I catch the most mistakes that way.

 

[skatepixie]

I used to struggle with that so much, and I still do to a degree. Nanowrimo nearly cured me of it, thank God.

You need to learn to turn off your inner editor. If you think you're writing crap, fine...crap is better than nothing. You can edit crap, you can't edit a blank page (or screen, as the case may be). So leave it, write the story, and come back and make it better later.

Good luck!

 

[noworktoday]

I use to think that I had to write point A to point B to get to point WXYZ, but one day
I had such a great scene for a screenplay that I had to write it down fast
while the Spirit was still bubbling within me.

Then I had to figure out where to put the scene ...

Then I had to start using cut and paste to make it fit ...

Then I realized several years ago that I could write the ending first ...

Flesh it out, make those characters come alive ...

Watchout how you edit yourself ... I would rather edit a second draft and just let the first draft roll.

Precept upon precept, rule upon rule ... inch by inch is a cinch, yard by yard is hard.

 

[DamagedNothing]

I have such a great idea for a book! And I don't mean a short story or a 100 page book, I mean an all-out novel. The thing is, I can't for the life of me transfer my ideas to paper. I'm getting nowhere because I keep going back and rewriting everything because it doesn't sound good, but the core idea is still really good! It's kinda frusterating.

I know I'm chiming in late here, but yes.. I can relate. It's taken me years - YEARS - to get to chapter 2. I'm supposed to be working on it right now, but instead I'm here, looking to accidentally get distracted. (It worked.)

 

[sunstruckdream]

I know I'm chiming in late here, but yes.. I can relate. It's taken me years - YEARS - to get to chapter 2. I'm supposed to be working on it right now, but instead I'm here, looking to accidentally get distracted. (It worked.)

haha...gotta love when that happens...in fact, i got on my compy to do some editing, and somehow ended up here...so i relate

 

[Tariel]

haha...gotta love when that happens...in fact, i got on my compy to do some editing, and somehow ended up here...so i relate

yepp - somehow I always end up on here during my writing time

 

[LadyMarion52]

I have such a great idea for a book! And I don't mean a short story or a 100 page book, I mean an all-out novel. The thing is, I can't for the life of me transfer my ideas to paper. I'm getting nowhere because I keep going back and rewriting everything because it doesn't sound good, but the core idea is still really good! It's kinda frusterating.

I agree totally with Tariel. Write down the idea you have and then start writing. Think of what kind of book you want. Then start doing some research on what kind of characters you want in your book. Also if you write fantasy, as I am doing, then you have to think of do you want other races and then make notes on that. Also once you have the idea about what you want in the novel start writing. A lot of times just doing the research gets me going. And sometimes I have to back off for a few and think out what I want. Where I want it to go and who I want to do what. Remember you can do it the guy who wrote Eragon was only 17 and he did a great job so can you. Believe in your self. Also I said to myself. Ok.........God created writing. It's a gift from Him so He can help me with ideas and plots and drafts and everything so I call on Him a whole lot. Just my thoughts I wish You lots of blessings..... Lady Marion