I'm trying to

Chatterbox: Inkwell

I'm trying to

I'm trying to write a novel, but I can't make myself work on it. Whenever I go back to it, I will find something that's wrong with it and get really discouraged. I've had the idea for this novel since I was about 8 and have tried several different versions. I will get a few chapters/the prologue/an outline done and then I will lose interest, go away from it for a while (once it was several years) and then find everything wrong with it!!! Help!!!

P.S. I think the Chatterbox is having a couple problems... when I hit preview it said for the subject, I'm trying to. Weird. Also it mixes up dates a lot so I can't tell when something was actually posted.

submitted by Hannah R., age 13, New York
(August 13, 2008 - 12:03 pm)

back to the Inkwell

Just write it. don't read over what you've writen until it's completed. 

submitted by The Man For Aeiou, age 12, Museica
(August 13, 2008 - 8:54 pm)

Yeah, that seems to be my problem.  I guess I always seem to want to read it over.

 

Also, in the post the computer fixed what I was trying to show.  It said for the subject in the preview, "I & # 3 9 ; m trying to." sort of. you probably see it.

submitted by Hannah R., age 13, New York
(August 14, 2008 - 11:44 am)

I don't know what's with the numbers, but it uses the first few words of a post as a title.

submitted by Emily L., age 13, WA
(August 14, 2008 - 7:11 pm)

It's an HTML problem.

submitted by The Man For Aeiou, age 12, Museica
(August 15, 2008 - 10:34 am)

There seem to be a lot of those.  Like, the weird times.  And how it sends you back to the Cricket home page when you send a post.

submitted by Hannah R., age 13, New York
(August 15, 2008 - 11:01 am)

It doesn't do that to me.

submitted by Emily L., age 13, WA
(August 16, 2008 - 12:57 pm)

Hi,

I just wanted to say, if you want to start a new thread, you might want to make the first sentence a title, then go down a line and type the actual comment. That way when someone's browsing them, they can tell what it's about.

Thanks!

submitted by Grace, age 12, SC
(October 5, 2008 - 8:37 pm)

I have that problem with the story I'm trying to write. Apparently, I have this uncontrollable need to fix any problem I find in my writing (and sometimes, that means rewriting the whole thing). I haven't found a solution to this problem yet, and so far the only thing I've been able to do is squeeze my eyes shut, quickly scroll past the previous work and start typing as soon as I open my eyes. (I'm aware that this seems mildly psycotic.) Good luck, and if anyone should find a solution, be sure to let me know!

submitted by Hannah M., age 12, Ohio
(August 16, 2008 - 12:42 pm)

Yup, that's the only solution I've found too.  The main problem with it is that I will then need to check something that I wrote previously and will want to change it.  If I actually start writing at all.

submitted by Hannah R., age 13, New York
(August 17, 2008 - 6:46 pm)

Just write it all, and then go over it all! Don't erase what you did-improve it! And it would probobly help to make an outline. Know what you want to do with the story, write it-or at least a little, and if you don't like it, fix it. Maybe you should specify to your self why you don't like what you wrote.

submitted by Alexandria L., age The most u, Earth some of t
(August 18, 2008 - 3:41 pm)

Hannah R.,

I have three very important words for you: DON'T GET DISCOURAGED!!!!! When you look your story over, don't find the things that are wrong with it, find the things that you really like about it! If you can't help but notice something that you don't like, either erase that bit and write it over again, or just change a few things. Just changing a few words could make a big difference. And don't be worried if you can't get back to the story right away. Sometimes you get stumped for a while and can't think of a fresh, new idea. If you really want some inspiration, read one of your favorite books. This will not only give you some ideas, but will want you to finish your book and be an author even more! I LOVE to write books, and always have. I was once working on a fairy tale novel on the computer and was only a few pages away from the ending, when the computer shut down and everything erased, including my story. I was really upset about it for a little while (I didn't have any other copy of it), but in a couple of months I got a new idea and started writing a new book, which I am working on now. It's even easier to write it then the last one, because I have those old ideas and some new ideas! And remember, when you get even the smallest hint of a story idea (a name, a plot, a joke, even just a title), make sure to write it down! Every good writer should have a writer's notebook.:) I hope that this helps you to continue writing!

submitted by Kimberly B., age 12, California
(August 19, 2008 - 8:09 pm)

Don't read what you've already written unless you absolutely need to for a reference or something. Do what we do in NaNo: think "quantity" not "quality". Revise later. :)

submitted by TNÖ, age 15, Deep Space
(August 31, 2008 - 4:18 pm)

Don't think, write. Sometimes you have to start over completely. Try a new idea if this one isn't working. And good luck.

submitted by Phoenix, age 12, The U.S.A.
(September 3, 2008 - 4:39 pm)

Maybe you should try writing it in a different way. Like, instead of doing it in 3rd person, try doing the diary of one of the characters. Also, is it just this story you have the problem with, or with all your other ones, too? If it's just this one, you may want to try just starting another story, to get your writing blood flowing. Good luck!

submitted by Allison P., age 12, Orlando, FL
(December 10, 2008 - 7:22 pm)