What Am I Doing This For?

[Enjen]

Good day everyone!
This is my first post on the forum, it's a pleasure to meet you all (or maybe not a pleasure directed at a select few). I come here today to ask for some guidance. We all walk different paths of life so I value different perspectives from my own.

I am writing a web novel (like most of you are or have already done) and I am just so stuck! Ideas whirl in my head all day everyday, but when it comes to tell it as a story on my blank doc, my mind is just as blank! I begin to write, get a paragraph or two down and then erase it because it doesn't flow or it's got too many useless details or just doesn't advance the story to the main plot at all!

I've read Tempokai's Dao of Worldmaking, which has helped me have structure, even if my understanding of the principles is pretty limited, but I just don't know how to progress. It makes me think: Do I not want this enough? I think my world is fascinating and a fun sandbox to imagine scenarios in, but is that all I want it to be? I would love for others discuss my characters with me, or take my universe and create scenarios in this sandbox I've created as well! So I know I want to share it, but maybe it's just my lack of Storytelling knowledge, therefore a lack of confidence, that is holding me back.

I've never written a story, and am second guessing myself at every turn. I know the advice will be "Just write" "Leave the mistakes and fix it later, that's what Editing is for" and that's probably all I need to do! But, I can't seem to leave a bad paragraph alone unless it has some semblance of what I want to convey.

I don't really know what my question was or what I need guidance in but that's where I'm at. Thanks for reading :)
- Enjen

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

Good day everyone!

Good day!

This is my first post on the forum, it's a pleasure to meet you all (or maybe not a pleasure directed at a select few). I come here today to ask for some guidance. We all walk different paths of life so I value different perspectives from my own.

I am writing a web novel (like most of you are or have already done) and I am just so stuck! Ideas whirl in my head all day everyday, but when it comes to tell it as a story on my blank doc, my mind is just as blank! I begin to write, get a paragraph or two down and then erase it because it doesn't flow or it's got too many useless details or just doesn't advance the story to the main plot at all!

Ah that sucks, but i am sort of in the same boat.

I've read Tempokai's Dao of Worldmaking, which has helped me have structure, even if my understanding of the principles is pretty limited, but I just don't know how to progress. It makes me think: Do I not want this enough? I think my world is fascinating and a fun sandbox to imagine scenarios in, but is that all I want it to be? I would love for others discuss my characters with me, or take my universe and create scenarios in this sandbox I've created as well! So I know I want to share it, but maybe it's just my lack of Storytelling knowledge, therefore a lack of confidence, that is holding me back.

A sandbox is for games, a story is for showing something to others. Figure out what it is you want to show to others. Nobody will he as into it as you are until you show them why you are so excited about it. (Even then don't get your hopes up).

I've never written a story, and am second guessing myself at every turn. I know the advice will be "Just write" "Leave the mistakes and fix it later, that's what Editing is for" and that's probably all I need to do! But, I can't seem to leave a bad paragraph alone unless it has some semblance of what I want to convey.

There are different ways to approach writing.
Some will do as you said and just go, fixing it up later. (All writers will need to fix up)

Then there are some who write their most desired scenes first, then fill in all the lead up and connections later.

Yet another way of writing is to intentionally leave certain parts out (like dialogue/or action, whatever you struggle with) so that you can get the frame set up and come back later to tackle the hard stuff.

I'm sure there are plenty of other ways, but these are a few that came to mind for me.

I don't really know what my question was or what I need guidance in but that's where I'm at. Thanks for reading :)
- Enjen

Thank you for posting.

 

[Enjen]

Ah that sucks, but i am sort of in the same boat.

Oh what a shame! Tell me about it, what are you dealing with right now and what are you plans to "get out of the boat"

A sandbox is for games, a story is for showing something to others. Figure out what it is you want to show to others. Nobody will he as into it as you are until you show them why you are so excited about it. (Even then don't get your hopes up).

"A sandbox is for games..." true! I feel like that's the hardest part. Figuring out which parts the reader should know about my story. Which parts interest, which parts hook. It's easy to think of the world because I have all the context in my head, but when it comes to writing it down my train of thoughts just goes and goes and goes and... well lol then back to worldbuilding.

Yet another way of writing is to intentionally leave certain parts out (like dialogue/or action, whatever you struggle with) so that you can get the frame set up and come back later to tackle the hard stuff.

Perhaps I would benefit from outlining then? Write it bare bones. Only the main points and fill in the details and transitions for later.

Thanks for your reply Greed! Not sure if you're living up to your name hahahaha! I appreciate your input.

 

[Tempokai]

Verse 81
Words born of the mind are not true
True words are not born of the mind

Those who have virtue do not look for faults
Those who look for faults have no virtue

Those who come to know It
do not rely on learning
Those who rely on learning
do not come to know It

The Sage sees the world
as an expansion of his own self
So what need has he to accumulate things?
By giving to others
he gains more and more
By serving others
he receives everything

Heaven gives,
and all things turn out for the best
The Sage lives,
and all things go as Tao goes
all things move as the wind blows
​

You already know what you need. You’re just afraid to believe it. Sit with it. Don't explain it. Don't argue with it. Just write, and let the wind move your hand. And only then, after all is done, edit.

 

[Pasta-Gal]

I've found what works best for me, is to set myself hard deadlines. I made this account originally to force me to keep writing a story consistently. Setting deadlines helps to solve 2 problems.

1. over editing/analyzing, once that deadline is hit, that's it no more editing just submit and move on.
2. The second problem is procrastination, if you only have a soft deadline of "oh its done when its done" if you procrastinate like I do, it's never going to get done.

But anyway that is just my approach. Its worked wonders for me, I've written over 60,000 words(the most I've ever written) since December when I first started keeping myself accountable.

 

[Enjen]

I've found what works best for me, is to set myself hard deadlines. I made this account originally to force me to keep writing a story consistently. Setting deadlines helps to solve 2 problems.

1. over editing/analyzing, once that deadline is hit, that's it no more editing just submit and move on.
2. The second problem is procrastination, if you only have a soft deadline of "oh its done when its done" if you procrastinate like I do, it's never going to get done.

But anyway that is just my approach. Its worked wonders for me, I've written over 60,000 words(the most I've ever written) since December when I first started keeping myself accountable.

Thank You Ms. Pasta! I think having a deadline would help me. Help me to bring everything to a close and stop being so critical at every step. Again thank you for your advice c: I'm sure it'll aid me on my journey.

Verse 81
Words born of the mind are not true
True words are not born of the mind

Those who have virtue do not look for faults
Those who look for faults have no virtue

Those who come to know It
do not rely on learning
Those who rely on learning
do not come to know It

The Sage sees the world
as an expansion of his own self
So what need has he to accumulate things?
By giving to others
he gains more and more
By serving others
he receives everything

Heaven gives,
and all things turn out for the best
The Sage lives,
and all things go as Tao goes
all things move as the wind blows
​

You already know what you need. You’re just afraid to believe it. Sit with it. Don't explain it. Don't argue with it. Just write, and let the wind move your hand. And only then, after all is done, edit.

I didn't realize I'd needed guidance from Lao Tzu, a pleasant surprise. It's opened my eyes, and I feel it applies to my life and my situation in more ways than one. I'll take what you have given me and sit with it for awhile as you've suggested.

It would seem your living his teachings well. I've seen you give a lot on these forums. Thank you for your words Tempokai. Truly

 

[Soumiyya]

My motto is "I'm cringe and I'm free" because once I really took to heart that it's okay to be cringe and bad at stuff so long as I'm having fun everything came way more easily!
So when I write the first draft I just write what makes me excited, what I want to see happen, what I wish I could read- I don't think about the wording or worry about repeating the same thing more than once or it being dumb sounding, I just write how I read- which is to say I forget there are even words and am just viewing a story in my head and typing it onto the doc without much thought and I never go back and re-read anything at this early point. I sort of think of it as I'm back in middle school and writing a really awful fanfic cos I don't have to show that first draft to anyone ever if I don't want to, it is all for my own sanctification.
Then once I get like 20-30 chapters in I usually go back and re-read what I wrote at that point and make a list of parts I though were rushed or events I need to insert between others to make it flow more or chapters I want to just take out completely, most of the time it's actually fun to read what I wrote when I'm that far in because since I really pulled the whole story out of my ass I don't even remember what I wrote and it's like a whole new story

All of this to say that, as a perfectionist myself (which I'm trying to get better about lol) I've found that making something intentional helps a lot- such as in my case I have made half-assing or just brain dumping a story the purposeful first step in my process, then I decided 2nd draft is for straightening out the plot a bit more and refining characters, and then 3rd draft is for the nitty gritty like not repeating words and making sure grammar and sentence flow is good, etc. Being intentional with your process and convincing myself its part of organizing your story maybe might help? Basically focusing your perfectionist tendencies in another part of your writing instead of the writing itself? I hope this rambling made sense or helped even a little ?

 

[Enjen]

My motto is "I'm cringe and I'm free" because once I really took to heart that it's okay to be cringe and bad at stuff so long as I'm having fun everything came way more easily!
So when I write the first draft I just write what makes me excited, what I want to see happen, what I wish I could read- I don't think about the wording or worry about repeating the same thing more than once or it being dumb sounding, I just write how I read- which is to say I forget there are even words and am just viewing a story in my head and typing it onto the doc without much thought and I never go back and re-read anything at this early point. I sort of think of it as I'm back in middle school and writing a really awful fanfic cos I don't have to show that first draft to anyone ever if I don't want to, it is all for my own sanctification.
Then once I get like 20-30 chapters in I usually go back and re-read what I wrote at that point and make a list of parts I though were rushed or events I need to insert between others to make it flow more or chapters I want to just take out completely, most of the time it's actually fun to read what I wrote when I'm that far in because since I really pulled the whole story out of my ass I don't even remember what I wrote and it's like a whole new story

All of this to say that, as a perfectionist myself (which I'm trying to get better about lol) I've found that making something intentional helps a lot- such as in my case I have made half-assing or just brain dumping a story the purposeful first step in my process, then I decided 2nd draft is for straightening out the plot a bit more and refining characters, and then 3rd draft is for the nitty gritty like not repeating words and making sure grammar and sentence flow is good, etc. Being intentional with your process and convincing myself its part of organizing your story maybe might help? Basically focusing your perfectionist tendencies in another part of your writing instead of the writing itself? I hope this rambling made sense or helped even a little ?

No yes your absolutely right! I love to visualize my world and can see the scenes playing out. I'll give your method a try as well ^-^
Writing it as I see it without worrying about how it sounds and then going back once I'm a few chapters in (I can't even get one chapter down mind you).

Thank You Soumiyya!!

 

[DeoxyNacid]

Good day everyone!
This is my first post on the forum, it's a pleasure to meet you all (or maybe not a pleasure directed at a select few). I come here today to ask for some guidance. We all walk different paths of life so I value different perspectives from my own.

I am writing a web novel (like most of you are or have already done) and I am just so stuck! Ideas whirl in my head all day everyday, but when it comes to tell it as a story on my blank doc, my mind is just as blank! I begin to write, get a paragraph or two down and then erase it because it doesn't flow or it's got too many useless details or just doesn't advance the story to the main plot at all!

I've read Tempokai's Dao of Worldmaking, which has helped me have structure, even if my understanding of the principles is pretty limited, but I just don't know how to progress. It makes me think: Do I not want this enough? I think my world is fascinating and a fun sandbox to imagine scenarios in, but is that all I want it to be? I would love for others discuss my characters with me, or take my universe and create scenarios in this sandbox I've created as well! So I know I want to share it, but maybe it's just my lack of Storytelling knowledge, therefore a lack of confidence, that is holding me back.

I've never written a story, and am second guessing myself at every turn. I know the advice will be "Just write" "Leave the mistakes and fix it later, that's what Editing is for" and that's probably all I need to do! But, I can't seem to leave a bad paragraph alone unless it has some semblance of what I want to convey.

I don't really know what my question was or what I need guidance in but that's where I'm at. Thanks for reading :)
- Enjen

Well, how about this from a novice who has written every day for 4 months. Do not strive for perfection. Your writing improves as you do it.
I am part of discords that say abondan stories if they don’t get popular in first couple chapters. I mean maybe, but on RR, I hit rising stars at around chapter 50.
Enjoy yourself, take in feed back, and just write.
If you have tons of ideas, join sprints. The competitive part helps me a ton for dumping words on page.
Edit later.
And as someone who is still trying to catch up.
Build a back log of like 30 or so. It helps a ton.

 

[Deleted member 128077]

Ideas whirl in my head all day everyday, but when it comes to tell it as a story on my blank doc, my mind is just as blank! I begin to write, get a paragraph or two down and then erase it because it doesn't flow or it's got too many useless details or just doesn't advance the story to the main plot at all!

I can't say for sure what your problem is, but here is my advice. Don't world build, just write. I got stuck for a while once because I spent so much time developing my world's lore that every time I started to write I felt like I had to somehow incorporate those ideas. It become a mess. So I deleted everything and started over with just the core idea and nothing more. You can still 'world build' but do so as you write.

All that said, make sure you already know the core information before had. The information that will heavily effect your story, like magic system, sci fi tech, ect.

 

[Enjen]

I have been taking everyones advice into account and have written more pages than I have in months (maybe even yesrs tbh )

I have a new analogy. I think I was going about it in the wrong way. My characters feel like dolls handcrafted by myself, and I had more fun sewing them together, adding the button eyes and coloring all their features, choosing which yarns and stitches to piece them together rather than actually playing with them. I do this for enough dolls, dollhouses, and Villas that I eventually have a chest or closet full of my creations but simply get bored when I try to play with them.

I think I need to stop building and just start telling the story. I need to separate the worldbuilding (the act of creating my dolls) from the story I want to tell. Work on telling the story. The method that's working for me right now is to just write it. Write it ugly, write it sloppy, write it raw and see where it goes. Put what's in my head for scenes and episodes on paper and then go back and trim.

Again, thank you to everyone whose replied. You've given me a newfound perspective and I really have confidence that I can prosper.

 

[soupsabaw]

You are thinking wayyyy too harshly about your work. If this is your first work that you're beginning, it will have it's flaws. No one can create a masterpiece on the first try. Writing includes making mistakes and correcting those mistakes just as every other thing does.

My story I'm publishing currently is not my best work. I know it. A hundred percent. Not even really a bit fan of the plot, but I love the universe and the characters. I wanted to create it to push myself to see what I could do and create and what my limits were on things. It was fun! I genuinely had a good time writing my first book and posting it on here. I'm not upset at all of how poor the quality is because I got the experience of dipping my toe into something new. Not only that, but I've made mistakes, seen them, and will grow from them. That's the beauty. Since I love my universe I created, my next book I'm working on will literally be in the same universe. Why throw it away? You don't have to. People make alternate stories or side stories all the time.

Don't delete what you make. Never. Ever. You won't be able to see your growth! Hell, I look at fanfic I wrote years ago and cringe, but I don't delete it. It's a part of my growth as a writer that I appreciate.

All you need to do it work on it. Write, write, and write. You will grow. If you want to talk about your universe and characters I can give you my discord. I'll tune in, and if you want, I can help with writing. Not that I'm amazing or anything... but having a second pair of eyes is always nice.

 

[Fairemont]

Pull the delete button right off of your key board. It is clearly interfering with progress.

 

[RainingFish]

Sometimes when I've been struggling, I find using bullet points helps. I write a short sentence given a few important details of events that happen in the story in a sequential list. This helps me solidify the plan for what I'm going to be writing, but I'm not a very good writer so my advice might be questionable.