Comments on: Ask the editor: Help! I can’t seem to finish my book

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:37:06 +0000

Hi,
I tend to write short stories.
Every time i start a story i am ready to finish it.
I seem to not have the patience to be more descriptive.
…
lazyness, impatience….I get easily discouraged.

By: Aline deWinter

Aline deWinter — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:38:47 +0000

I am still working on my Gothic Horror novel that was called The Golden Stairs but is now called The Roses of the Moon.I have been rewriting it for a couple of months. First I had cut the book in half and re-outlined it ( I love outlines and I do story boards ) and firmed up the backstories. I added 2 new characters, a romance that wasn’t there before, and beefed up three antagonists. Because I cut it in half I had to change the ending.
I think I came up with some great solutions and the novel has all this texture because of all the work I did on he subplots and backstories. At the same time, between the end of Act 2 and the beginning of Act 3-where the subplots collide, I lost the plot.
I got hold of Robert Ray The Weekend Novelist Rewites the Book and he talks about strengthening subplots. it works. It works so well I am amazed. He also gives these rather clinical tools for how to get unstuck right at that 2-3rd Act transition. I haven’t got there yet — the problems involve the the need for new scenes with the new characters. I have gone back to the beginning and will plow through sticking exactly to my outline. The outline is solid and I am so glad I have it to guide me back to the path.The I will use Robert Ray’s tools to make sure they don’t get tangled up again.
Sometimes La Muse is capricious and must be restrained.

Trouble with me is my stories keep going cosmic. That means the story doesn’t want to gel until its taken into account the workings of the universe which means the story isn’t ready until the Gods have spoken or something. I wonder what its like to write about ordinary things.

By: Livia Blackburne

Livia Blackburne — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:21:53 +0000

Just digging through your old posts. These are really great! I’m going to have to spend some time here.

By: pk

pk — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:25:13 +0000

Don’t listen to any advice, that’s what I’d say. Write only what you want to write. Please yourself. YOU are the genius, they’re not. Especially don’t listen to people (such as publishers) who think that you need to write what readers say they want. Readers don’t always know what they want. I don’t know what I want to read until I go into a bookshop and look around at the books other people have written, and the books I enjoy reading most are books I would never in a million years have thought of myself. So the only thing you need to do is forget about pleasing other people, and aim to please yourself alone.

By: Friday Forum: Stickability « Girl Meets Word

Friday Forum: Stickability « Girl Meets Word — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:03:55 +0000

[...] this article to be helpful as well. The Book Deal: An Inside View of Publishing’s article Ask The Editor: Help! I Can’t Seem to Finish My Book is a knowing look at the issue we all face from time to time. Ever go deer in the headlights? I [...]

By: RT

RT — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:09:50 +0000

I’ll admit to having ending-block. I completed my first book, and then wrote 95% of four more. What I finally realized (with some help) was that my own fear was getting in the way of finishing.

My beloved first book, the story I was sure would be an instant best seller and make me millions (no naiveté involved of course), turned out to be crap. I hadn’t seen it coming. I’d believed in the story, the characters, the writing (the writing being the crappiest part). Being hit with the truth caused me huge anxiety. I felt like I couldn’t trust my own instincts. Now, I’m afraid of finishing because I’m afraid of facing that truth again.

The solution for me? I’ve had to work through the fear by talking and journaling. I’ve also sought out opportunities for feedback and rejection so as to build up my tolerance (and improve my craft). It will always hurt, but I suppose taking the risk is part of being an adult. Book number six is right at the 95% mark and I continue to plug away at it.

By: Susan Cross

Susan Cross — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:03:53 +0000

I’m finishing a memoir of a semi-famous musician who played with Ray Charles. Unfortunately, when we started, he was 78 and spoke in stream of consciousness so there was no outline and I was afraid to interrupt his memories with questions. I thought that if I did, he would lose his train of thought and I might miss something important. Now the editing has been overwhelming, putting events into some kind of sensible order without losing some of the funny stories that aren’t related to the key events. Very challenging. I’m almost done but I fear that my first book (this one) won’t be good enough. Good enough for whom? Mostly for me. I’m my own worst critic.

By: Alan Rinzler

Alan Rinzler — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:11:48 +0000

Hi bc,

A finished manuscript that needs substantial editing is likely to be more expensive. And the earlier a writer begins working with a developmental editor, the better.

-Alan

By: Mimm Patterson

Mimm Patterson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:47:33 +0000

Perfect timing! I’m in procrastination mode…putting off the ending while I fiddle with earlier chapters…ugh…so NOT the way to get things done! Thank you for the great advice and for motivating me to get back to the real job of writing.

By: Joseph Lane

Joseph Lane — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:15:21 +0000

So much useful information in this. I haven’t put any work into my manuscript for over a year now and my fingers are itching. I reached an integral part of the plot which requires a real-life experience on my part in order to write genuinely. This year long year long quest should be coming to “fruition” within the week so I’ll be able to get back on track after a brief period of reflection. Still, the things you’ve written for us here should help me along the way if I become stuck again. Something I’ve found that helps is this: Just write it. Write something – anything – and if you don’t like it you can always change it later.

By: Southern Fried Chicas » Blog Archive » More Topic Salad

Southern Fried Chicas » Blog Archive » More Topic Salad — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:32:04 +0000

[...] His entire post is worth a read. It’s a keeper! [...]

By: bc

bc — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:49:46 +0000

Just wondering… Is there a substantial difference in the costs of developmental editing between a work that lies basically in an initial outline form and a work that is nearly finished that needs substantial developmental editing?

By: David Wetzel

David Wetzel — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:06:47 +0000

I’m sorry to hear that you will be ending your series of audio critiques. As one of the lucky authors who learned from them, I enjoyed a more personal evaluation from your audio than I was ever able to get in the short comments by agents to whom I’d sent my proposal. It was like sitting across the table from an agent or editor. But, beyond that, your voice adds immeasurably to the points you make. So I’m disappointed–but I’m sure that the new directions you plan to take will be of great service to writers. Only…if you ever long to hit the airwaves again, please do!

By: Josephine Damian

Josephine Damian — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:07:37 +0000

I’ve been shouting from the rooftops about how much easier writing is when you outline. Of course, no one listens. Hopefully they’ll listen to you.

By: Anjuelle Floyd

Anjuelle Floyd — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:10:32 +0000

This is a wonderful article.

I also like the one from January 2009 on 7 techniques for a dynamic plot.

By: lunch hour links for writers – week of 8/25/09 « helluo librorum

lunch hour links for writers – week of 8/25/09 « helluo librorum — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:49:47 +0000

[...] Another super post on organizing your novel comes from Alan Rinzler at The Book Deal with his tips for the writer who is crying: Help! I Can’t Seem to Finish My Book. [...]

By: Shane Durgee

Shane Durgee — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:20:11 +0000

Painting yourself into a corner is one of the best things that can happen to a writer because it forces one to be clever.

I had started my novel with the end. The entire impetus of me writing the story stemmed from an idea that could only materialize at the conclusion of the novel, so I wrote the last chapter first. And then I decided on where this story should begin and I wrote the first chapter.

So I had A and C, but no idea how to write B, particularly in a way that would seamlessly connect A and C. I wrote blindly hoping the two ends would meet, but after two years of persistence, those ends hadn’t met. They weren’t even in the same solar system.

It wasn’t until another year of letting the book simmer, with an occasional rewrite here and there, that I had a eureka moment (while walking mind you- writers should walk a lot when they’re stuck). By simply switching one secondary character for another in that last chapter I not only got through the wall I’d made, but I’d suddenly opened other doors of possibilities, all which seemed to make the story stronger. If I hadn’t written myself into a tough spot I would have never thought to change out the characters. It caused me to rewrite the end entirely (something I’d resisted because the end had been the whole reason for writing the damn thing) but it elevated the story and added a whole new thematic layer to it.

By: Victoria Mixon

Victoria Mixon — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:06:14 +0000

Thank you for your sensible advice and consolation, M.r Rinzler.

I’ve mentioned Dramatic Overwhelm on my professional blog on the craft of fiction. I’d be very pleased if you had an opinion on today’s post on the subject.

I love your blog—particularly your audio critiques of book proposals. You’re an extraordinarily insightful and KIND editor.

best,
Victoria