Starting (and Finishing) a Book

September 9, 2008 6:54pm CST
I started writing a book about three or four years ago, just before I graduated. I haven't gotten very far since then and now when I try to go back and finish it I find that the plot eludes me and I can't keep my own story straight. I want to start the whole thing over but I know that I just won't get very far with work and all of the other things that are continually going on in my life. What would you writers out there recommend for me?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@mba4ever (118)
• Malaysia
10 Sep 08
Start writing a book is easy, but to finished it, there are another story all about. My suggestions are:- 1. You need to write down the outline of your book's content. The details one. 2. Write at least one page a day. Discipline on it 3. If you are busy, please do the writing on mobile phone since it's within your reach at all time 4. Go for KJ-Method class, where they thought how to write four books at a time. Regards.
• United States
10 Sep 08
Congrats on the book. I'm still in the process of writing a coherent screenplay. And I've been in your situation before. Don't start over just redo some things until it starts to fall in place naturally. I bet you'll have something twice as good as you did a few years ago. It's better to change things than redo something completely.
10 Sep 08
I think I am going to give it a try both ways. Who knows, if I start over on one and just redo some things on another then I could very possibly end up with two really good stories. Thank you for your input and Good Luck with your own writings.
@Tarrish (562)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Well, have an outline and stick to it. You don't have to make an outline something that is so descriptive small things can't change as you go along. BUT, you want a time line. Something you can follow to keep you focused on the task at hand. Know your characters like they are you're own children. Knowing them may take some stress off of writing the book. All I can say is you need a place where you can get some alone time. If you don't have your own space getting distracted is soooooooo easy. That was my problem. I never had my own place. My dream would be to build a little studio on the outside of my house that was my secret little place to write. That would be sweet. Oh last thing, just have confidence in yourself. Without that you will be stopping yourself even if you have direction.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I'd reccomend instead of starting over, to simply study your own work and work out what parts you might wish to revise, take out, replace in order to make it make sense. Also I'd reccomend some more time spent on what you wanted the message of the book to be about, the story, etc. ..Just to make sure you don't end up disliking it after you're finished working on it for a second time, you know?
• Malaysia
10 Sep 08
Rewrite. You have the openings of the book. Close your eyes and see how it unfolds in your mind. As it does, write what happens down. It might be different from your old draft, but I think your muses will kick in after a walk down memory lane. Let them tell you their story. Hope this helps. I've been in this boat too many times.
10 Sep 08
Thank You for your suggestion. I will definitely try my hand at beginning all over again. I thought maybe that would be the consensus. Thanks again.