Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

What writing challenges are you facing today? Let's talk about them.

I'm stuck. I have the basic tale...but it needs some more punch. And when I sit down and read it it...nothing comes to me....sigh

If you're stuck, think of what elements might revolve around the story, side issues, maybe one or more additional story lines that could move this one along. Do you need more characters?--fewer characters? If you have a main character, there might be someone who opposes that character, or that character's goals. Just a few suggestions...

'Writing advice' over the web, always sounds so generic. How can a doctor treat a patient at a distance?

Feliks, you are comparing carrots with milk. People go to online writing courses, so giving advices in the same manner is not too far fetch.

Really though, unless you are talking about 'one-on-one tutoring sessions' where live, individual assistance is rendered (and an instructor reads the material submitted by the student and tailors their advice accordingly) nothing generic found online will help much. Advice like, 'make your characters pop off the page' translates into no direct, applicable change in one's writing.

It's always good to know that you have others who are willing to listen and maybe offer a solution to your challenge.

My challenge is having time an energy! When I finally have time, often I'm too tired to be creative. So I check my email.

One word R.A. will be a solution...Coffee.

My challenge actually is the same. Balancing time and projects/personal life can be a big challenge. I also have challenges currently with my really big projects. Anyone ever come up with a project so big it seems you may never have enough time to complete it?

No. It's not more characters I need,,,it's the story is too passive at the moment...I need something to ratchet up the tension....I think I have an idea...I just need to rewrite a bunch....(and dang...this is the second book in a series so I am familiar with the environment, etc )

My problem these past three weeks is the time my creativity hits. It usually happens at work and when I finally get home, that creativity/drive is gone. I try to do some work on my lunch break but it's so short, it doesn't really help.

I know that feeling. My creativity spark is usually just before bed, 11pm till 2am. Drives me nuts.

Ooooh those sneaky before bed ideas (that might sound worse than I want XD)! They drive me crazy too!

I've taken to jotting down ideas when I get them so I can see how they fit in later. Looking over them a couple times before I start writing them helps my subconscious come up with new connections and 'what could happen' ideas while I don't have time or energy to actually write. For some TV shows they have a board of ideas, where people can add them. Then writers look at the board and pick a couple ideas, think about how they can work them together into a show, and then write the story. I sometimes do something similar on a smaller scale, including ideas that fans/friends give me. Not all the ideas get used, but having them there to mix and match helps get creative juices flowing. For me, at least.

My challenge is to decide what to write about next. I'll start by pulling up a story I wish I could finish. If I get any inspiration at all I will write. Not holding my breath.

I'm working on finishing a sports inspirational book. The biggest thing I'm having trouble with is getting credible sources. Has anybody dealt with this before?

-Nihar
www.niharsuthar.com

For me ideas are easy to get. Of course I don't know how good they are. Anyway, if they are good enough for me then I use them.
I am careful about holes or discrepancies. But I know that other readers find new ones. Not many because I am careful. However, different people think differently.
At the end I write for myself. That is the only way I know.
Then comes the real problem. Making the book visible to the public and of course selling.
The good part is that many people like my books. But of course for the wrong reasons.

My biggest writing challenge right now is finding the time and inclination to write. I work full time five days a week, and my job is pretty demanding and stressful at times, so when I come home from work, the idea of facing another computer screen is not very appealing. And, on the weekends, I want to spend time outdoors with my hubby and furry child.

The other challenge I face is WHAT to write next. I have two huges boxes full of partial manuscripts and completed manuscripts that need a lot of polishing before they can be published, plus tons of ideas for new stories. But, which one do I spend my time with? I suppose, though, that's a better dilemma to have then not having any ideas at all!