...for your work in progress? Lest you think this title was misleading, consider how writing a story can be like falling in love.
In the beginning, your fingers tingle to get to the keyboard. Your heart races at the thought of several uninterrupted hours alone with your WIP. A chill runs up your spine when planning the next scene.
However, during the writing process, you can lose that passion for your WIP--just as you might lose interest in a relationship--until you are slogging through to the end just to say you finished or think it sucks so bad you fear it will cause a black hole in space.
Don't give up! Perhaps all you need are some simple steps to re-ignite the passion for your story.
Think back to when you were falling in love with this story. What first attracted you? The hero? The heroine? The promise of adventure? The time period or a particular piece of information? The "fix" may be something as simple as revisiting what originally fascinated you about telling this story.
How long did your passion run high? One chapter or perhaps two? Or did you make it to chapter five or six before your mind started wandering to other stories you could have written? Try to figure out where you lost interest. If it was early in the book, analyze the beginning. Does the story start in the middle of the action or are you falling asleep over yet another scene that describes your heroine eating a burger with her best friend and trashing men? If your story sags in the middle, other authors suggest tossing in an explosion (or a car crash or a dead body or reveal a secret). Do something that turns the world of your hero upside-down and shakes him out of his routine.
Or maybe your problems didn't show up until you spent what seems like a life time with these characters and the end is a let-down. Perhaps you think you've made a terrible mistake and want to shove the whole darn thing under the bed to live with the dust bunnies.
But if this story is a long-term commitment, you don't have to let the honeymoon end! Go back and look at your characters' Goals, Motivation and Conflict. Did they have strong GMC or was everything resolved before The End? Perhaps you need to go back and strengthen the foundation of your story. Or maybe it's a matter of pacing. Don't let the heroine discover the hero's terrible secret until The End is in sight. By then, she has grown enough and loves him enough to work out a solution to reach a happily-ever-after ending.
So what is your passion level for your current work in progress? Are you still feeling the adrenaline rush or is it time to end the agony?
19 comments:
Fun post!
At the moment my passion is high and I can't wait to continue Mae and Beck's story! Alas, I have a 4-H sewing meeting this morning so they will have to wait until this afternoon. But since the contemporary is off to a beta reader, I'm back working on the historical and loving hurtling back in time and cavorting with these two characters.
I'm not sure there's a point where I lose my passion for the characters of the story, but there always seems to be a point where I'm stumped for a bit. Until the characters show me the way.
The passion level for my WIP?
Well, right now, sorry to say, I am cruising the single bars, looking for a hot date. I'm also attending meetings of Bird Watchers International and the Sierra Club plus getting up my nerve to go to a biker bar. I'm making eye contact with strangers, holding interviews with potential BGFs and scouting out locations. Oh, and I'm holding auditions for cute juveniles, please bring no parent or suitable guardian, one will be provided upon employment.
I'm waiting for that first whisper, that first smile, that first touch.
Sometimes, I do fall out of love with my story, but trust me, when that happens, it's not my fault. I think perhaps the difference between now and the beginning of my career is now I don't quit, it's not an option, and because it's not, I entertain no fantasies about cutting the baby lose half way through. Not having the option of a back door is a big step to make when you write and perhaps it's a way to know when your skills and experience have subtly pushed you into a new phase.
Or not.
Fun blog, Genene!
Interesting post, Genene.
Hmm... I don't think I've written enough books to have ever experienced a loss of passion for my story. The only time it sort of happened was my first attempt at writing Chalice's story and I scrapped it because the plot flat out wasn't working. I still loved the characters and the story world I'd created. I made a good choice in kicking that partial draft to the curb and starting over.
I'm not too far into my current WIP, but my excitement increases every day. That's usually how it works for me as I write. I fall deeper in love with the characters and the story. I discover something new every day, and those butterflies just keep coming.
Wow, I think I'd probably stop writing if I ever lost passion for my characters. How horrible! The plot can always be fixed, but the people? Not so much.
Like Paty, I often get stuck in the middle, but not for long. And I never lose my excitement for the story itself. I just have to figure out a new complication to get my story people back on track.
Is it common for writers to lose passion for their books as they're writing them? I wasn't aware that this happens often.
Paty, congratulations on getting your contemporary off to a beta reader! Then "hurtling back in time"--writing can be our own time machine, can't it? Love that!
"...the characters show me the way." How could you lose passion with characters who are such a wonderful experience? Glad you'll get time to write later today!
Interesting topic. I'm at the very beginning of the spectrum when it comes to writing experience. So far, thank goodness, I haven't fallen out of love with my characters.
No, my problems, I think, are even more basic. Falling out of love with the story -- that's my problem at the moment. I'm still struggling to make sure the basic underpinnings are solid, that I've created difficult enough (let alone interesting enough) problems and strong enough motivations for the characters I love.
So I get to a certain point and find myself completely dissatisfied. I go back and rework the story, yet again, trying to salvage bits of what I've already written, but dispairing that I'll ever get it right. I know that I need to get to 'the end' (sooner rather than later would be nice, she says wistfully) and yet I find it hard not to want to rip up everything and start over. New. Fresh. Different. Better? Gah!
My personal bugaboo used to be my internal editor. Ah, the search for the perfect sentence, the exquisite paragraph. *snort* I finally squelched that problem (mostly) by promising her she could come out to play once I actually had a first draft *completed*. Now I'm fighting the "is this *story* strong enough" demon. And somehow, I'm sure that when I get past that, that there'll be some other foe I'll need to slay before I reach the coveted Castle of Completed Works.
Who knew I was on a quest?
Ah, Alice, you're in an interesting time in your story. Birds and biker bars? Sounds interesting. Someone--perhaps in the Portland chapter--connected with some bikers fairly recently who had dogs (yes, the furry, four-footed kind) who rode with them. I'll try to remember who that was.
No "back door" is certainly a motivator, isn't it? It gives the same perspective as "failure is not an option." And, yes, I agree that's a big step in writing. Definitely a new level of skill and experience!
Karen, love that your passion for your story grows each day.
You know, I don't what percentage of writers lose passion for a story. I get frustrated some times--usually when I've hit a point where something isn't coming together. A sure sign I need to go back and review the story to see where things got off track, and really listen to my characters.
I know what you mean by trashing the story but still loving the characters. That's what I did in the half dozen or so rewrites I did with my first book. Those characters still had a story that I needed to tell.
I'm looking forward to progress reports on your current story!
Genene, the biker book with the dogs was Angie Fox's Accidental Demon Slayer - her debut that hit the NYT list second week out. (Thrills me for two reasons...1) because she's a total sweetheart and deserves the success, but 2) because she's with my house and my editor.)
Timely topic, Genene. :)
As most of you know I've toyed with the idea of killing off my hero. The man truly shredded my last nerve along the way. But I can't say I ever lost "passion" for him - it just vascillated back and forth (many times).
The book is "technically" done, and it was a major struggle, one I'm not excited about repeating (but I will...that's why we write, right?). I'm in the editing process, and last night, inonically, I was reading and had one of those, "OMG I wrote this???" moments (in a good way) because I realized this guy I've wanted to kill so long is so totally three dimensional, even with all his flaws. And that's what matters most to me. I don't have to love my characters all the time, but I still need to feel passionate about them. If I lost that passion, I'd lose my desire to write.
The really good part? I may have struggled with him (big time) during the process, but I can honestly say, I'm in total love with this guy. Probably more so than any of my other heroes. And I'm not sure why. Maybe because I DID struggle so much, that makes him that much more special. I don't know. I hope my passion for him translates into readers loving him as well.
Sometimes, I do fall out of love with my story, but trust me, when that happens, it's not my fault. I think perhaps the difference between now and the beginning of my career is now I don't quit, it's not an option, and because it's not, I entertain no fantasies about cutting the baby lose half way through. Not having the option of a back door is a big step to make when you write and perhaps it's a way to know when your skills and experience have subtly pushed you into a new phase.
So true, isn't it, Alice? I DO fall out of love with my books - every one. and it generally happens around the 2/3 mark when I'm having trouble tying it all together or when my characters are giving me trouble (like said hero), or when the end is still fuzzy in my head. If there was one thing I'd tell new writers it's this...falling out of love with your story is NORMAL. It HAPPENS, especially when your book gets hard. Not every writer goes through that, but if you do (and this ties in with what Debbie said...coming up with something new or worrying your story isn't good enough the way you've been writing it), just know that you're not alone. (And just so we're clear, I'm talking plot here, not characters.)
As you know, this book was the first one I've had to write on deadline, and always before when I hit the 2/3 mark I could take as much time as I wanted to finish (and get it right). Since I'm obsessive about finishing things I start, tossing books was never an option for me. But this time, I HAD to finish it, in a timely matter. And you know what? I found I can do it. Even when I'm stressing and I'm sure the book sucks big green donkey whompers. And ironically, now that I'm through and editing, I have to say, I'm so glad I stuck with it. I love this book and these characters, and it I'm pretty sure doesn't suck. (At least I hope that's the case.)
Hi, Debbie! A quest is a wonderful way to think of the adventure of writing stories!
And yes, if you stick with it, you will get it "right." But what is right? It's different for every writer--and that's one of the beauties of writing and reading. You've probably seen posts and comments on this blog that say you can give a dozen writers one scenario and come up with a dozen different stories. I've seen this happen at workshops and am still in awe at the creative minds of writers.
But don't be harsh with yourself. A friend of mine compared writing our first stories to going to college. It's our time for learning our craft/career. College is generally four years. So you can think of writing drafts and going to workshops and writing and taking online classes and writing and reading how-to books and writing and research, etc. as your "writing college."
Is it better to write straight through? Stop and revise as you go? Write part way through, then review and edit? Depends on what works best for you--which will also be a journey of discovery and may be different with each story.
And through all this, remember the passion that started you on this writing journey. Keep that and your stories will shine, even though they aren't completely polished!
Debbie, I think we're doing a critique meeting this month. Rather than bring something to critique we could take a few minutes and see if we can help you with the blocks you're having in your plot or whatever you feel is your stumbling block.
Thank you, Eli, for remembering it was Angie's experience with the bikers. Her name was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't remember for sure and didn't want to say that without checking. You've saved me some research time and maybe saved Alice some trips to biker bars--though it sounds like Angie had some very interesting experiences.
I'm so glad you didn't kill off your hero. And I'm really curious about this guy that drove you so nuts. But this is the third book, right? Which means we have to wait a couple years to see it in print? Argh!
Interesting how your perspective changes when you're writing on deadline, isn't it? The things Alice has said--quitting isn't an option, no back door--helps you work out scenes that aren't coming together or characters that don't cooperate. More growth, more skills, more tools for the writing workbox!
Paty, I believe the critique meeting is next month.
Debbie, you've got lots of willing ears and a little experience lurking out here: ask any questions you think might help. I think Eli and Flo were right -- it's totally normal and to be expected that you will stumble as you learn. Still, it may be one of us has information that could help you.
Pretend you're in a friendly place -oh, you are -- and can ask anything you want.
Alice, You're right it is November. Sorry, Debbie. ~shrug~ I was a month ahead. I'm sure glad it's still October. Must be the threat of snow that has me jumping ahead.
I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year and the website is fantastic! They have several articles by published authors in a section called "Pep Talks." Since 2008 NaNo won't start until Nov 1, there are no 2008 pep talks posted yet, but you can read the pep talks from 2007. You've got to read the one by Neil Gaiman. It fits this blog topic perfectly! Here's the link:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/node/1065561
Paty, the threat of snow? Yikes! I have a gaping hole in one side of my house. But by November it will be a beautiful new bathroom!
Hey, Karen! That is a good article!
Each year when NaNoWriMo time comes, I think about joining in just to prove to myself that I can produce that many words. But right before the holidays? Usually not a very productive writing time for me. Though my September and October writing time is getting used up by house and yard projects, so NaNoWriMo might be a good way to catch up.
Jumping in late to what has been a fascinating conversation.
I am a serial monogamist. There I admit it. All of you without the 7 chapter itch that creeps slowly up on you probably won't understand the allure of being free, free, free. It starts slowly. An idea here and there for the purple book. Harmless. A rogue outline. Daydreams about other characters. Suddenly, I need OUT of the relationship RIGHT THIS MINUTE, but hey, I promised till HEA and eternal life thereafter in editing hell. I start seeking an annulment because I need absolution for my sins. Next time I will make it work. THE END won't be such a struggle. I've done it 3 times after all, but it's been a grisly struggle each time, and I'm pretty sure I killed the relationship just to move on to the next story.
Lack of passion tends to accompany my tendency to prolonged blocks, so much so that I wonder which is the chicken and which is the egg. Right now, I'm trying to divorce the WIP that will not go to it's eternal resting spot or somehow manage to stick it out through a little more editing hell.
Karen, I'm contemplating doing NaNo again. I've done it 3 times, and hey, I've got 3 finished WIPs. You do the math. I'm not sure if I will though b/c I've been so incredibly sucky at meeting even small goals the past year (okay 18 months), that I'm not sure my heart can endure another broken promise.
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