Discussion: Q2 Volume 43

Time to start mulling over ideas.

Bumping this back to page 1.

Just whining mournfully.

"Too hard."

Got an algorithm down, while still trying to figure it out.

Punched in some words.

Works, but very much like cardboard.

Of course, once I know it all, I'll have no problem.

But it works.

Interestingly it seems to automatically place a lot of the early things that are usually suggested, name, senses,...

But, well, dah.

It's like being Neo or something.

Only, I think I took a green pill??

And so it begins!

Happy New Quarter everyone

Oooo, new quarter.  

So shiny!  

Happy writing y'all!  

Posted by: @physa

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Oooo, new quarter.  

So shiny!

Yeah, lets trash it.

Storm their defences with heavy infantry amid thundering long range ballistics.

I'm in the mood.

Hooah!

Best of luck to everyone! May this be your quarter! 

A small cheatcode: start with someone interesting doing something interesting somewhere interesting.

Posted by: @ease

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A small cheatcode: start with someone interesting doing something interesting somewhere interesting.

Wait - are you telling me the story has to be interesting !?!?!? That's where I've been going wrong!

1. It's not where you've been going wrong. I've read several of your stories and uninteresting they are not. 
2. I think it's more than a story being interesting, which reads a bit like the plot being interesting. I think all aspects; MC (and/or POV-C), Setting, and introductory plot beat (if not all plot beats) need to be deliberately interesting.

Is it just me, or does nearing the end of a story create all kinds of shiny, new ideas to distract?

Posted by: @babooher

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Is it just me, or does nearing the end of a story create all kinds of shiny, new ideas to distract?

So what happens for you? Do you get uninterested, like the fuel for that story is all burned up? Or just new ideas that you want to explore - before writing the end?

Posted by: @babooher

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Is it just me, or does nearing the end of a story create all kinds of shiny, new ideas to distract?

its not just the end of the story

There is one perfect moment when the universes align and *this* story is *the story*. And then it passes and I get lots of other things I'm excited about. But as long as I am still somewhat excited by the first one, I still write it 😉

I skipped the Q1 for several reasons, but now I think it's time to think about joining you guys again. But now I have quite a fun dilemma: What to submit?
1. A story I have originally written for Q1, that rifght now has a completed first draft. Although in this case I have only a very weak speculative element (that is, nonetheless a key feature of the story)
2. My RWC story is currently waiting for a rejection from Beneath Ceaseless Skies, so I can also look at their feedback, once I get it, rework the story and send that. 
3. A new idea I really, REALLY want to write out.

@haganenoedward 

Huh. Naturally I can't pick for you, but if it were me, I think I'd choose the third option. Cause you seem really excited about it and it seems to me, if it's an idea you're really excited about, you'll channel all that enthusiasm into the story. Which will translate into your writing. You have plenty of time before Q2 to write the new story if you do choose that option, and that way, you'll have two other stories already on the backburner, if necessary, for Q3 and Q4! But I think writing the new story while the passion and excitement for it are there is a good idea. Just my two cents, though!

@dagnir I am actually equally excited for options 1 and 3. But also, just now I got another idea that might be really great 🤣 😓 . And I'm currently the most excited about writing my second novel, but properly continuing the story there sometimes feels like pulling teeth, even though I have the ending and some key scenes from the middle already thought out.

@haganenoedward 

I feel that! I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head that sometimes it's hard to pick one. I'm not much of a short story writer, to be honest. I like writing books more, but I switched course to enter this contest. I've got a few ideas I'm bouncing between.

I think I'd still say to at least write the third option while the excitement's there, since for the 1st one, the story's already written even if it needs some revision. Plus, by stepping away from it to work on something else, your mind might be clearer when you do decide to write the final draft.

Like, you could write the story for the 3rd option, then pick whichever one you like most for entering into Q2. And have something for Q3, besides. ^_^

I missed last quarter, unfortunately.  Too much travel, sickness, and chaos in my life 😅 I'm determined to make it this quarter though. I have 3 ideas that I like, and I keep bouncing between all of them when it comes time to write.  We'll see which one makes it to the finish line 😆 At least it will give me a head start for the other quarters this year.

Posted by: @babooher

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Is it just me, or does nearing the end of a story create all kinds of shiny, new ideas to distract?

I think there's a certain stage where everything is inevitable in the story. I know what's coming, so it isn't as exciting. Then today, I'm finishing the story and it feels like the last 3 minutes before you get home from college or some long trip. It's kind of on autopilot and you're kind of ticking off the things you know have been there while you were gone.

@dagnir The ideas I actually want to write are mostly novels, but I got a combination of worldbuilder's disease and possible neurodiversity, so it's really tough for me to actually finish one. I got like 5-6 that I started, but almost always got too overwhelmed a few chapters in. And even with the first draft I actually finished, I kinda "cheated" (I basically threw One Piece with a mix of Indiana Jones into electricpunk/steampunk-ish space and watched what would happen). I need to REALLY start focusing on actually finishing novels (I have two projects now going on, which I believe I can finish, but the more ambitious one has been frozen for about a year, mostly because I still have not developed the process of how to work on larger narratives😓). 

TBH, I think focusing on short stories/novelletes for about a year has been a blessing and a curse. It feels great to finish something, getting feedback from markets, improving with each story and growing in general, but I'm currently trying to apply the more "gardening" approach I have for short fiction on the novel, and it's fun, but the writing is SLOW. But I'm also using my short stories to expand upon worlds and characters I plan to use later, and for me, this is working much better than "dry" notes in a document for worldbuilding.
I am actually quite intimidated by the third option, because the story is actually one of these and requires some significant research to pull it off how I want (it is one of those connected to my novel ideas), but I guess you're right, and this quarter I should just do it. 

Posted by: @tj_knight

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Posted by: @babooher

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Is it just me, or does nearing the end of a story create all kinds of shiny, new ideas to distract?

I don't know about just you, but not me for sure. Once I near the end I get a turbo boost to finish. That's when I know what'll happen next and I just have to type it out as fast as possible.

I think it's closer to this for me as well. Momentum builds going to 'the end', whether its Union Station or a broken bridge. Once I see where and how it ends in my mind, and know it's inevitable, I have to get there.

Posted by: @babooher

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Posted by: @babooher

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Is it just me, or does nearing the end of a story create all kinds of shiny, new ideas to distract?

I think there's a certain stage where everything is inevitable in the story. I know what's coming, so it isn't as exciting. 

Just the opposite for me... When I finally know what's coming, I want to get it on the page, make it real, memorialize it. I wonder if this is a gardener vs architect difference?

Posted by: @babooher

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I think there's a certain stage where everything is inevitable in the story. I know what's coming, so it isn't as exciting. 

I get this a bit. I always thought it was my ADHD - once I've enjoyed the story in my head, it's much harder to get down to the nitty gritty and real "work" part of it that it takes to get it on the page. Sometimes I have to cut myself off from thinking about a story idea too much, until I'm in front of a page and can write things down. I think it's part of why I'm stuck on my novel. I can see my ending, and I know my way from point A to point B, but actually walking that long road is quite tedious.

@bootzenkatzen my wife (the accountant) keeps telling me I have ADHD, and our son's neurologist slipped up and said I did, too. Maybe that's what it is.

In any event, draft 1 for my Q2 submission is finished. Gonna let it marinate and then do some cutting.

@haganenoedward 

Ooh, I see! I don't really know anything about One Piece, but a sort of cyberpunk Indiana Jones sounds interesting! For your worldbuilding, do you have one world specifically that you've built over time, or multiple different unconnected worlds? I have one specific world that I've built up over years.

I've heard people say the 'gardening' type of writing works best for them, and I can certainly see its merits! If that's working better for you, then that's fantastic.

Speaking purely for myself, I'm an architect to the bone. I can't just write whatever. I have to plan it down to the last letter. It can be maddening, honestly, but that's just how my brain works. I can't write one chapter without already knowing what comes after. I have my entire first book planned and structured, I just need to actually write it, you know? But thoughts sometimes bounce around in my head so much that I can't grasp any particular one long enough to settle down and write. I've found music that complements the mood of the particular chapter I'm working on does wonders to settle my mind enough to write.

When it comes to writing short stories, I'm with you in that I've found writing short stories that take place within my world helps me expand it in ways notes never could. Makes it breathe. Feel more alive. You know? The short story I wrote for this contest takes place in a small corner my world and I'm already trying to pick what other tiny aspect I might want to show and expand on for the next short story. 

If you ever need help with your ideas or just trying to settle on one in particular, feel free to shoot me a message. And whichever option you ultimately choose to go with, I'm wishing you the best of luck! 🤗 👍 

@dagnir I’m a Sanderson fan, so naturally it’s several connected universes:D. I know it’s way too big for an unpublished author, but I’m also ok with telling these stories purely to myself or my friends. 

Btw is it possible to read some of the short stories you wrote? 

Posted by: @bootzenkatzen

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Posted by: @babooher

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I think there's a certain stage where everything is inevitable in the story. I know what's coming, so it isn't as exciting. 

I get this a bit. I always thought it was my ADHD - once I've enjoyed the story in my head, it's much harder to get down to the nitty gritty and real "work" part of it that it takes to get it on the page. Sometimes I have to cut myself off from thinking about a story idea too much, until I'm in front of a page and can write things down. I think it's part of why I'm stuck on my novel. I can see my ending, and I know my way from point A to point B, but actually walking that long road is quite tedious.

I think about what I'm excited about as much as possible and whenever a cool scene or dialog or character comes to me I write it down as quickly as possible (so I don't forget). 4 out of 5 times I use those notes, and if I use them it's on the belief that they've made the story better. 

Terry Brooks's method was to think about a story for 2-3 months, then write it in one. He built as much as he could in his thoughts then got it out as fast as possible. 

Posted by: @tj_knight

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I write it down as quickly as possible

I fear thinking too much about it, in case I then forget it.

Writing it down is good insurance, but if you do remember, you don't need it.

Supposed to be writing now, but for a power issue, so no computer.

Came up with a story in the shower. 

Just thinking of a computer game that's basically just a famous film franchise with a twist. Thought of some cool films of a theme, then added the twist. Then a tv show scene about the theme, which added another twist.

Wow, I'm happy with it.

Should be a film.

I feel that's a pretty good way to come up with ideas.

If I think about it, I will only discover more details and entire plots and new characters.

But if you wait until your at your medium of choice, you may come up with nothing.

Stephen King says not to take notes, as it only preserves bad ideas.

You do lose a lot of darlings that way, through forgetting what you came up with, when it comes time to write it down.

That can be troubling.

@babooher It does tend to run in families! I think a lot of people from the 90's/00's and earlier got missed, since they didn't look too closely if you had passing grades.  We have a much better understanding of things now too, and teachers know what to look for, so it gets picked up sooner in this generation.