While other stories, the ending simply doesn't hold up, and that has to be rewritten--or worse--the ending isn't written at all and the story sits there in USB purgatory. Oh, and on an unfortunate note, my USB stick broke and all my "in-progress" stories were lost. Some I was able to recover from emails, but yeah, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars to get them off a broken USB. So lesson learned: finish your stories...or do a better job at backuping.
Anyway, there always seems to be that one issue, the Achilles' heel that prevents the story from being "good enough" to allow editors to see, or could potentially lead to the death of the story (literally, if you're like me and fail to backup).
So, to expand this out to you few followers, do you have an Achilles' heel in your story/stories? Doesn't have to be an actual issue with the story itself; low self-esteem about your writing can also be an Achilles' heel.
I'm so sorry you lost all of your "in progress" stories! I feel your pain!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Fortunately, I have a pretty decent memory.
DeleteOne vote for low writers-esteem. I believe that to be the greatest plague of unwritten best sellers. Sorry about the USB stick. Though I love the phrase USB purgatory :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a shame about low self-esteem; I see it eat up a lot of writers who quit before they ever really get started.
DeleteMine has got to be ENDINGS. I really struggle with knowing how to wrap up a tale -- probably because in the back of my mind, every short story I write is a potential novel-length work in the making. At least I hope so.
ReplyDeleteI hate when that happens; you start out with a short story and it winds up being a novella.
DeleteI have had problems with endings myself, periodically. I think it's because a lot of times I start with one piece of a story (character/s, idea, voice, whatever) but not the whole thing. I "trust" myself to work through it as I go. And sometimes, especially at flash length, I can pull that off. But a non-trivial percentage of the time, I don't.
DeleteFortunately, I have some awesome people that I trade stories with who are able to help me see that problem when it occurs and nudge me to work on it. What I really want to do, though, is get to the point where *I* can see it happening and improve on it all on my own.
I'm actively trying to do that with one story idea I had this morning. I have a character set in mind, and the life issues which face the MC -- but I need to figure out the main problem he'll be facing and bringing to some kind of resolution for it to actually be a satisfying story.
Oh -- and congrats on meeting your W1S1 goals, which is what I first stopped by to discuss. :)
Losing work in progress can spoil one's day. Looking for one's Achilles' Heel might ruin an entire week. So sorry to hear you’re enmeshed in both.
ReplyDeleteThe problems you state may be symptomatic of how you go about your writing. Some stories are exercises in logic, some are retellings of familiar journeys; others are flights of fancy, while others may be excursions through the labyrinth. There are those that demand your attention as they write themselves; and those that proceed in a convoluted fashion in the manner of dreams; et cetera. The trick is to know what it is that you are doing while you’re doing it and let the story evolve on its own terms.
Unless, of course, you are a one trick pony. In which case you have my condolences until the day you capture the public’s fancy with your trick, at which time you have my attention, and possibly my respect. That is to say, the consuming public is rather shallow these days, often demanding a writer or artist repeat himself indefinitely. In that case, your work becomes more of a product that an expression of your art. Still, there’s something to be said for owning a Bentley and having a wine cellar.
It’s good to know why you write. There are so many reasons. Best to be true to as many of them as you can claim.
Cheers,
PLB
Thanks for stopping by and sharing some advice, Paul. :)
DeleteMost times, my stories write themselves and those are the ones that actually get finished. Other times...I dunno, it feels as though I hit a roadblock, either with the story or the writing itself. Like one story I was working on just kept going and going, and I wasn't sure where it would end, so I had to step back from it and think it over. Problem is when you think too long on it, and the story is shoved behind other stories. But I do think it's good to let some stories stew for a bit to get them all sorted out, hopefully.
Personally, I'd hate to write the same thing time after time. One of the joys of writing is to play around with different worlds and characters, stretch your imagination. I may have trends in my writing--I'm starting to notice that many of my female characters are supernatural entities, while my male characters are regular guys--but I think that's natural for a writer to have their own style, like a signature.
Hi :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on W1S1.
I find that my main problem is that a) most of my writing is shit. b) there is always one more stupid internet game to play instead of writing. c) peanut butter on toast.
I need to go and work on the last one.
Where's that toaster gone???
...AND well done on meeting and beating your March W1S1 goals into submission. 3 months down, 9 to go!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making your W1S1 goals this month!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say it is asking myself the right questions about each story/novel, whether it is character development, the conclusion, backstory, etc, and then being able to execute it well. I don't always let the story cool enough and the layers tend to tangle sometimes rather than braid nicely.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on you W1S1 goals and good luck in the future months.
PS - my word chart includes one novel, a novella, several short stories/flashes. Thanks!