Coaches Round Table

Ideas how to start and continue my stories?

(I wasn't sure which category this question fell into...) I have a immense love for books. Everything seems to play an interest in me, therefore I want to accomplish writing a novel. I have a lot of good ideas, but I can never begin or continue them. They just remain at their basic level. Any tips on how I can think up a good idea for a book and then never loosing interest in the middle of writing it? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. Omg. I have the EXACT same problem as you. I always start writing stories and really enjoy it but half way i just stop. The only time i ever finish stories is for school. Sometimes you just can't start to write a book that you will finish. You may have to wait for the right time.
2. I did that all the time. I am now working on chapter 10 of my current novel. Well that's 9 chapters longer than any of my old ones. Try outlining. Some people hate outlines. I say if nothing else is working, it's worth a shot. Many google references can help you with novel outlines, because there are no hard rules. For me, writing as much detail about the story and planting information strategically was the best method. For others, it is just simple sentences describing different scenes. Some people write whole paragraphs as an outline The point is, you get your whole story and conflict in mind. Then you can set goals. My first point of conflict was what kept pushing me. My character's love interest is my next goal that keeps me going.
3. David Morrell (man who created Rambo) has a written conversation w/ himself. that's how he eliminates writer's block. He also writes that the only thing u need for a story is conflict. His formula is "plot= conflict + motivation". that's all there is to it. Someone has a desire--doesn't matter how trivial--and someone or something else tries to stop them from achieving it. It's just that simple. a man wanting to paint a house can be as compelling as a woman wanting to be the first astronaut to land on Mars so long as you dramatize how important the goal is to that person.