I'd consider myself a decent writer under certain terms.

I don't think my vocabulary is god-awful. I can write decent fight-scenes. I have plenty of plot-bunnies.

But the main reason I never, ever upload any of my cruddy little works is probably because my patience is nonexistent.

Whenever I get one of those crazy plotbunnies in my head, where it's going, "ohmaigawd, dis is such an awesome idea xD xD" I just want to get to the actual action. Or whenever I think of a reasonably original twist, etc etc.

That being said, I always bugger it up, because I forget about all the important steps in between, including character development for the plot development and all that.

Then logic kicks in and makes me cut corners to make it actually possible, and then it all goes to shit.

So basically, the question of this thread is, "When you've got this epic plot bunny and you really, really want to expend it before it blows up your mind and/or spawns another one, how do you make a comprehensive story out of it?"

Other than a oneshot, I mean.

 

Your problem is that you're overestimating the importance of ideas. Drill the concept that 'ideas are cheap' into your head and get over it.

This is something I struggled with initially, The Skitterleap is a prime example of this effect in action. BtDL and CS are short for completed fanfiction for the same reason. The early draft of Valbone definitely had some of this in it too. I was placing too much emphasis on the idea and not forming anything else to go with it.

This is fine if you're planning on writing a oneshot, or a 20-30k word story and then getting bored of it. But if you want to write something of length, you've just got to deal with it. Come up with a set of solid ideas, that is a plot bunny, some character concepts, some themes, plan it out in detail, set a number of words to write per day and just do it.

In future, if you get bunnies, if it can't be adapted to your current work, jot it down in a notepad somewhere and get it out that way, then forget it. If you really can't get over it, write a 250 word treatment and stick it in the Plot Bunny thread, or find some other way to absolve your responsibility of it.

Ideas are cheap. What makes a writer is hard work.

 

I personally find it helpful to keep a notes file running along side any story that I write. Anything I want to add to my story gets a one-shot in the notes file and I wash my hands of it. I go back to writing the story as it should be written and when I finally do arrive at the scene I was so exited for a few months back, I rarely if ever use the scene I already have written, but it's fine, because my story is usually better off for it.

 

In my case I accept fact that I have no ability to produce a good story and focus on projects where I have talent and abilities.

Ideas are cheap, easy, trivial to produce and everybody can do it. Good ideas are cheap, easy, trivial to produce and almost everybody can do it.

To turn it into something usable - it requires work and a bit of talent. There is a big difference "I want story with X about Y and ideas A, B, C" and make this story. In the same way as there was big difference between "it would be nice to land on the Moon" and doing this.

 

Oz and Enembee have the right of it. For me, when I have an idea, I don't write it down. I leave it in my head, let it stew and brew and grow as I add and add to it, until finally I just have to write it down, else my head explodes. All my stories so far have been like that: Shatterpoint had the longest incubation period (about 7 months) and The Last Stand the smallest (a few days).

I never plan my story out on paper - I keep everything in my head - it works - though sometimes I run into problems along the line. I find that my mind is a very efficient storage place for plots and stuff.

My advice - find your own way. I like to talk things out with my beta (CheddarTrek <3), others prefer meticulous planning before writing that epic idea that simply won't go away. With all these steps, there's preparation involved - if you jump in write away and starting writing, more than often you'll flatline later and lose enthusiasm.

 

Your logic is faulty. Why would you want to get rid of a plot bunny when it's spawning others? Reverse course, homie. One plot bunny doesn't make a story anyway.

Say your idea is to have Harry kill Dumbledore. How can proceed to make that totally bad ass without having it forced, cliché, or laughably insensitive? Does Dumbledore want to die? Does Harry feel compelled to do it by someone or some thing or is out of a sense of rebellion and revenge? These are the type of questions you should be asking yourself as you write the fic. It will also give you an opportunity to improve the dialogue and the story-telling in general.

But as you develop this idea of Harry killing Dumbledore, you'll also need to make it believable. Why would he do this? He's out for revenge because he knows Dumbledore's been messing his life up since the early 80's. What did Dumbledore do? He allowed the Dursleys to beat him. Is that Dumbledore's fault exclusively? Does Harry realize that, or is he so incensed he doesn't see reason? Does Hermione and Ron try to stop him, or do they support him, knowing that their friend has been mistreated in the worst way possible? How does Dumbledore feel the moment before he dies?

It can be a bit cumbersome, but that's how you get 100,000 words in a story. Every single thing that happens in your story should also have an effect within the story. You won't spend thirty minutes writing about Harry getting dressed in the morning, because honestly, no one wants to read about that, and Harry as a character would never pay that much attention to getting dressed. Ginny or Hermione, on the other hand, may actually spend time combing their hair and applying makeup for the purpose of impressing Harry or Ron. These are basic things, but a lot of fanfic writers tend to focus solely on small details or forget them entirely in favor of ACTION ACTION ACTION or ANGST ANGST ANGST. Do not slip into that trap.

Also: I say put your shit up in WbA regardless of how you feel about it. We might send it straight to the shitcan, but you'll get an honest opinion instead of cleverly-worded responses that may or may not apply to you.

Good luck, dude!

 

I kind of have your problem too. I usually write in short intensive bursts whenever the inspiration strikes, then slowly, slowly, grind out a few words in the moments in between.

Try dividing your story up into smaller segments and treat each the way you would a one-shot whenever the inspiration strikes ya.

 

Comprehensive story comes from hard work and persistence, nothing else.

But there are ways to spread the load, a bit. One of the techniques I use involves keeping a writing log, so I can track - to the number and time - my progress on a draft.

Here's a link to my blog post and a template: http://joeducie.net/2013/07/19/on-keeping-a-writing-log-part-deux/

Basically, I'm embracing the power of a streak and finishing what I start. Consistency is key. The best idea in the world still needs a foundation to build upon.

 

This happens to me all the time. I've got hundreds of plot bunnies, I start writing them, and then once the one scene is finished that I really wanted to get to, I get bored and start on the next one. I've probably got over a million words written, some partially completed fics of upwards of 50k words, but I can never finish anything, or every polish up enough to be satisfactory enough to post.

 

That's why you've got to expand you plots, create that next awesome scene you want to get to and write.

 

My own problem is that I can never figure out how to properly open the story, nor how to end them. Once I get going I can just keep writing with ideas flowing out of me, but when I try to write a beginning I just can't make it fit. I've never managed to finish a story, and I've never actually posted what I've written, because they have a terrible beginning and no ending.

As soon as I get an idea I just start writing, even though I have no intention of following it through to the end. It's nice to have it written down so I can come back to it, but since I never actually finish I just have dozens of outlines with plot details saved here and there. I just write so it's all out of me, rather than getting bugged by plot bunnies throughout the day.

I never keep details, either. I have a really good memory for things I read and write, and very rarely do I need a recap, even if it's been six months.

Find a system that works if you really want to grow as a writer (I don't - as I've said, nothing I have is or will be posted. My writing is for me, and nothing I've written would be highly rated anyway), and experiment with different writing styles so you can find your own, I guess.

 

I read this as 'steak' and just carried on. No wonder, with how often you've been mentioning scotch and steak.

 

And, if you need proof of that, I have hundreds of thousands of words of fan fic on my hard drive, with not a single bit of it in presentable condition, that says enembee is right on the money.

 

Totally nicking that spreadsheet, Joe. Cheers!

 

I don't, I write about nine pages of utter drivel, then spend the following two days re-working it into something worthwhile, then post it on FF.net, leave it for three months, writing short snippets every so often before finally shamefully deleting it.

Hope that helped.

 

My process is more of a ritual. I play a game or read a book or watch a movie and think "I have an idea for a story I could do with that." I proceed to fill a couple Word documents with character stuff and a vague structure of a plot and some backstory elements. Then, just before I'm about to actually start writing the story, I remember I'm talentless and worthless. My depression catches up with me. I go back and endlessly tweak what little I've already done or just mope. Then I finally cease all activity and, to stem the depression once again, I play a game or read a book or watch a movie. Rinse and repeat.

 

I'd wager it's still a hell of a lot more presentable than 99% of what's on FF.Net. And probably a lot of WBA.

Seriously, Warlocke. You mention your backlog of unreleased fanfic every now and then. Why, exactly, don't you post it in WBA? If it's as bad as you imply (which I doubt) then posting in WBA could help make it good, or help the next thing you write be good. Don't let pride get in the way.

If it's good and you're being a perfectionist... then don't. Perfectionism is all well and good - it's a great drive - but there's a point where it does more harm than good, when it cripples rather than motivates. No writer can grow in a vacuum. If it's good then you deserve to be praised, encouraged, and pointed in the direction of further improvement. You're only limiting yourself by holding yourself back.

If a lack of completeness is the problem, consider that feedback can be a powerful motivator to write more of something. Nobody is above that little glow of pleasure you receive when something you've created is well-received.