ok I would like to write a book but...

[sophiejoandbump]

have no idea where to start, I have millions of ideas what sort of things would you read about...

[SandyBits]

Seriously?
How long is a piece of string?
But no blardy vampires, I beg you.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

I would like another book about feminism, please.

[sophiejoandbump]

ha I have soooo many ideas in my head, just wanted to see what other people like reading, Ive always written short stories but would like to extend into a book. I usually write about romance ect, because thats what I enjoy reading.

[Litchick]

This is the perennial problem for writers - too many ideas.
I have so many fighting for space in my head that often I can't focus...
So this is what I do.

I take a few of the most promising and start to plan. This will tell me if they have legs or are just what I call 'twinkles' - bright shiny stories that have no substance.

I jot down as much of the story line as I can think of. I add in notes on my main characters, setting, themes etc.
If I can't get above two pages - it's a twinkle.

Say I can get a few pages, I now decide upon the structure that would best suit it.
This is the single most important decision.
How you tell your story ie the methodology, will make or break it.

If I can't settle on a structure, I put the project to one side. It may be more than a twinkle, and I may come back to it, but it still has no legs.

If I do alight upon the perfect structure for the story - I go for it.

The result is a lot of pages of twinkles - but I would rather that than spend months on a project that ultimately goes no where.

[ninah]

litchick that's brilliant advice, I can see how sensible that approach would be
what happens if a project seems to run out of steam about half to three quarters of the way through? I seem to have hit a brick wall, just when i should be most involved
anything to be done to kick start it?
I have taken a week off ...

[Litchick]

I think a lot of projects hit the doldrums at the half way mark. You're beset with boredom and angst, convinced this is the worst thing you have ever written.
The only way forward is to keep on keepin' on.
Once it's fifnished you often find it's not half bad and what doesn't work can be fixed.

That said, I plan in detail before a project so that I know the plot/MC/structure etc are all in place. I know the nuts and bolts work.

This is anathemea to many writers, though, who feel planning takes the joy out of it. They like to begin writing and see where it ends.

[Litchick]

And give yourself a word count deadline that has to be met each day. No excuses. If the writing feels forced and difficult, don't worry at this point. Push on.

[ninah]

oh that's good to hear it's not uncommon
It is all planned in detail, is def something I want to finish, and I was writing daily min 500 words til I hit the wall
less than 20,000 words left
I will carry on then, am in a tent this weekend but will take notebook and torch in the hope of coming back on to final straight on Monday
thanks