erm... hi!

[jelly_bean]

I say, this is a good place for me to try and get advice for writing!

whenever I try to write a story, I can't seem to finish it. I can't seem to come up with a good solid storyline. is there anyway to know if a story will work out or not? ANY advice would be helpful, writing is a hobby, and I love writing poems (silly ones) too.

 

[GodFlute2]

You just kind of have to pick one thing and stick with it. I'm in slow spot in 2 of my stories right now and having trouble moving through(Part of it's a time issue). Sometimes you just need to move on and come back to it.

 

[NINGirl]

It's cool to see you on this forum, jelly_bean!

I don't particularly have any advice (I'm an amateur writer myself), but there's a great advice thread a couple topics down. You should check it out. I learned a lot from it.

 

[jelly_bean]

okay! thankies

 

[chrislife]

I get the impression that every writer's answer to this dilemma is different. A lot of pros have said that they come up with a solid character and let the character write the story... what would this person do in this situation. Sometimes the writer doesn't even know how it will turn out till the end. On the other end of the spectrum, some say they can't possibly proceed without a firm outline and plot details already in place before they begin writing. I think it depends mostly on your personal style and what works for you.

 

[gentlegiant]

hey jelly!!!!!!!!!!!!
well, im an ameture of however ya spellit writer too.
i like writng stories, like...um, im writng a play, a horror\suspense kinda story, and an action\christian story all at once!...cant seem to finish any of' em

 

[Nikoel]

HERE and HERE are two really good sites that helped me stick to writing with my first novel

There are always times when you get stuck, I would put that piece aside for awhile and brainstorm where you want it to go

 

[TheDandyMan]

Focus on finishing the story and not making it good. Tell yourself that, yes, the story may be bad, but it's finished, and it can be revised.

 

[heron]

Jelly Bean, You love writing poems--they have quicker closure. That's probably your forte.

Sometimes we get bogged down in stories simply because they're so big. Make some visuals for yourself--clay sculptures of your characters, photos of the setting...I like to change my desktop graphic when I start a new story, to keep me focused visually.
Ending them....maybe some day you'll have a collection of unfinished stories that you can end, refine, and put together for fame and fortune. When I started writing, I didn't feel ready to say anything, but I kept writing and not finishing. Now I finish, and amaze myself.

 

[jelly_bean]

Jelly Bean, You love writing poems--they have quicker closure. That's probably your forte.

Sometimes we get bogged down in stories simply because they're so big. Make some visuals for yourself--clay sculptures of your characters, photos of the setting...I like to change my desktop graphic when I start a new story, to keep me focused visually.
Ending them....maybe some day you'll have a collection of unfinished stories that you can end, refine, and put together for fame and fortune. When I started writing, I didn't feel ready to say anything, but I kept writing and not finishing. Now I finish, and amaze myself.

I can only hope my stories get an ending!

I just have a hard time even finding a just basically GOOD storyline, at all. but this has inspired me

thank you for your replies, everyone!

 

[heron]

Do you really have 6,330 posts? You definitely have the patience to write!

 

[jelly_bean]

sure, the patience, but I just can't seem to stick on one solid subject! XD

 

[heron]

..so much more depth to bring to the table that way. (-;

 

[mochagirl]

I would say...just write. I have the same trouble, believe me, and I haven't finished a story in years, but I keep reading the same thing: write, write, write. Don't mess with rewriting, or fixing this or that, until you've finished the first draft completely. It's hard to put into practice (believe me, I know...I still haven't gotten that permanently ingrained in my brain...fixing a sentence here or there is soooo tempting when I read over what I've written...and then I find that all this time has passed and I'm still no further in the story than I was two hours ago, or whatever... And then there's the whole sticking with one story and not playing ping-pong with multiple stories...I do that a lot. It's a bad habit I need to change...), but I've come to the conclusion that that is truth. Stick with one thing and keep writing it without looking back until you've typed the last words.

Now if only I could do that myself..... Hehe.