Comments on: Ask the editor: Help! I can’t seem to finish my book http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/ A veteran publishing insider's views on how to get published in today's marketplace Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:53:12 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ann http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-7298 Ann Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:37:06 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-7298 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. 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-5517 Aline deWinter Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:38:47 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-5517 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. 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1768 Livia Blackburne Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:21:53 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1768 Just digging through your old posts. These are really great! I'm going to have to spend some time here. Just digging through your old posts. These are really great! I’m going to have to spend some time here.

]]> By: pk http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1688 pk Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:25:13 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1688 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. 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1499 Friday Forum: Stickability « Girl Meets Word Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:03:55 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1499 [...] 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 [...] [...] 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1494 RT Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:09:50 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1494 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. 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1492 Susan Cross Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:03:53 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1492 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. 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 Alan Rinzler Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:11:48 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1477 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 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1466 Mimm Patterson Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:47:33 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1466 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. 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 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1465 Joseph Lane Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:15:21 +0000 http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/08/23/ask-the-editor-help-i-cant-seem-to-finish-my-book/#comment-1465 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. 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.

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