*weeps with frustration*

[serai]

Herein you shall find a cry of pain, from the depths of a soul who really WANTS TO BE CREATIVE GODDAMMIT.

I know I have a few new friends on my list from the newly minted ST fandom. (SIDE NOTE: Hi, guys!! So glad you're here. You are welcome in my house. Do me a favor and keep the cat off the altar if you see her up there. She just WON'T leave it alone.) And I know that, along with my pals from the LOTR and actor fandoms, at least a couple of you are fic writers. I'd like to hear from those of you who write (if you're inclined to respond), especially those in the ST fandom, since you're involved with the stuff I am these days. (Readers too if you have any thoughts!)

This problem has come up before, but I'm feeling it acutely right now. Have you ever been working on a story, you know the shape of it, the currents running between the characters, where the eddies and rapids ought to be, and you're banging away at it...and it changes? Either a character does something unexpected, or an emotional shift happens that pushes the narrative in a different direction, or something else equally disconcerting? What do you do in that situation?

I'm working on a fic that I really love (but which I'm not sure anyone else will, LOL), and I've found myself in just such an impasse. The problem is two-fold: the aforementioned emotional shift, and a very sudden ending. Not that the story ends, but the fic seems to. The words come to a close, and I'll be damned if I can see how to write past it.

And it's LONG! This is a long fic ! (For me, anyway.) I'm on my fourth page, and I'm dead certain there's more to this thing. ARGHARGHARGH

What would you recommend here? Has this happened to you? How did it affect you, and what did you do about it? Should I do anything about it? Maybe I should let it sit. But I lose fics that way! I'M ON A GODDAMN ROLL HERE.

HEEEEELLLLPPP!!!

Comments

[elderberrywine.livejournal.com]

Ah, for me, a fic will do what a fic will do. Including ending where they will. Hell, I've no say in the matter. Never been much for plotting out a story - I just jump-start it, and see where it takes me.

ST fic, eh? *makes grabby hands*

[biting-moopie.livejournal.com]

Keep writing. If you know that there's more to the story but the words/ideas just won't come, then what I do is keep writing. Sometimes I change the setting, like going to a cafe, and I take out my pen and start. It can mean that the first paragraph will be something like "Well, I'm here to write this fic and I really don't know what's going to happen and it's driving me crazy because I know Character X should do this and Character Y should do that..." and I just keep going. Sometimes I'll start by writing down the lyrics to a song that's in my head. But I keep my pen moving and don't stop. Then what happens is that you just start getting into the story and before you know it, you've written the next section.

What can also happen is that you find yourself writing about something else but that just means you had all that extra stuff in your head that was getting in the way of the story. So don't worry if this happens.

I've used this technique on fanfic, original stories and presentations/projects for work. If I need to write something but am not inspired, I just start writing anyway. The first words you write might not have anything to do with the subject at hand. But once you relax and get into the flow and let the words come, you'll be amazed at what comes out.

Hope this is helpful! If you're on a roll, stay with it. Good luck writing! *sends happy writing energy*

[lindmere.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been working on a story, you know the shape of it, the currents running between the characters, where the eddies and rapids ought to be, and you're banging away at it...and it changes?

YES. I admit I'm brand new and supremely naive about this writing thing, but I have read interviews with authors where they say the characters "spoke" to them or had minds of their own and....yes.

For the abrupt ending...is there a way that you can continue without making the next paragraph the very next thing that happens? Maybe jump forward in time, or put a frame story around it, or switch to another characters POV? Or it could be that your ending is fine. Maybe you've said all you need to say.

I find shifts in mood/tone more problematic, because it seems my narrative voice changes when I write at different times. It can be hard to keep the tone consistent throughout the fic (unless you're lucky enough to be able to finish it all at one sitting). In that case I tweak what's already there instead of writing new stuff, and often I fall back into the rhythm. But it's scary--I presume professional writers have REALLY good control of their voice and style to make it all the way through an novel without changing midstream.

[magpie-2.livejournal.com]

This is coming from a visual art pov, I go with the changes but keep sketches of the original plans. I try to keep things fluid as long as possible.

Always great to hear you are writing, whatever you decide keep writing.. you aren't wanting to be creative, you are a creative soul *stomps feet*

[shoesparks.livejournal.com]

What I have done was to copy all that made it end and save it into another document and continue writing...then go back and decide which I want or like best...