I need a writing tip. (Not help with a story)?

I've struggled with this problem, too. And I've been told by quite a few people that my novels are publishable, although they're not quite good enough for my taste yet.

I have two recommendations--two different approaches that might help you:

1. Plan to write for a month or two for an hour or two a day. Work on just one story idea--the one you think you can most easily execute. It shouldn't necessarily be the idea you like the best--in fact, it probably won't be. You should choose the simplest story of the ideas you're fond of...the story that'll require the least research, possibly with the least number of characters, or at least with the characters you understand best.

You should force yourself to work on that one story every day until it's finished. Don't allow yourself to write any other story or even to make notes on other stories. Start at the beginning and write it all the way through. Do not go back and revise anything, although if you don't like a scene here or there, you can cut that scene and start over. But don't go two chapters back and change everything for two complete chapters. Even if everything doesn't make perfect sense, remember that it's just a rough draft.

This is the approach I used to finish my first complete novel, which several of my writer friends still insist I ought to try to publish. At the time I was writing that first draft, I often though, "Ugh. This is awful." But after I finished it and let it sit for a while, I saw that parts of it were really good. So, yeah...you sound like you have a perfectionistic streak in you that prevents you from finishing projects. You need to beat that.

2. Plan out the story from beginning to end before writing it. When you just can't stand to plan it out in any more detail, *then* begin writing it. By that time, you should have a firm grasp of all the characters and the central conflict and the plot. This is the method I use now to write my stories. I still work on other stories when I get hung up on my current one, but I'm not writing those other stories. I'm just taking notes on them, planning ahead for later projects.

Again, be careful not to let perfectionism or an overly critical eye distract you from finishing the story. You should plan it out in such detail that you feel you have a firm grasp on each scene before you ever start writing. And when you understand the story in that much detail, you'll hopefully find that putting the words on the page is much easier than when you're making up the story as you go.

If you plan out the story in enough detail before writing, the story will ideally almost write itself.

Good luck.

Here's the thing about writing:

Some people are just born to do it and others well, aren't.

I was a published author at 15 and while I understand not everyone is going to have that joyous experience, I believe whether I was born in this age or 1000 years ago, id still be writing. For me, it's a lifestyle not a hobby. One that I don't think I would've chosen if I had a choice but one I also can't get to go away.

Perhaps writing just isn't for you.

Try something different. Painting drawing photography. Good luck xoxo

One thing I did when I decided finally to actually finish the first novel I wrote was to change suddenly certain aspects of what went on and then continuing the story from s different perspective. I did not rush things and after two years I finished. Then, I took s somewhat similar approach with my second novel and that took six months. The other three... the rough draft and final polish took less than a month each.

Maybe you're right--maybe they're not such good ideas. It's very difficult to write well. Not everyone can do it. That's OK; it's better to admit it than carry on like some of these "authors" here on YA do.

You are jotting those ideas into a notebook or digital folder, right? As we grow older, the ideas can be harder to catch and easier to lose.

All I can suggest is play with them. Have fun with them. Turn them inside out. Even if you lose interest, you've stimulated your brain and your imagination, and that's a gain. Besides, one just might go the distance.

you need to focus and finish the story no matter what.

you sound like you edit as you go along and start listening to the negative voices. so what if other people will not like it. you need to write for yourself.

write the story for your own enjoyment and don't worry about editing until you are done. then you can edit and re edit and so on. trust me you will have to proofread and edit your story several times. but remember you are writing this for yourself not for others.

to practice you can try writing prompts such as those at

http://www.writersdigest.com/prompts

http://www.creative-writing-now.com/story-starters...

at writers digest you can actually post your short story and get feedback. sometimes they talk about your story and sometimes they don't. do not get discouraged. the point is to actually finish a story.

it is hard to stay on task and finish, especially with those negative voices. you just have to focus and overcome them. it will take sheer will but i have faith that you can do that.

good luck and happy writing

Maybe find something else to do?