On Writing : Not satisfied by Fatema Elmahdy

I've been through a situation like this before. When it occurs, I take a few days off. two, tops. So I read everything again to deliver a better result than previously generated, but at the limit of the viable and without destroying the essence of the original.

Not without backing it up first. :) Just in case I need to retrieve it.

Thank you sooo much ..you make me comfortable cause I felt I’m nt alone

Always. Made the mistake of listening to my critique group (who don't read or write in my genre) to start over with my 3rd novel in my series. They didn't like the 2nd attempt, nor the 3rd. I became creatively paralyzed. Lesson Learned: If doing critter groups, do it with writers in your own genre. heavy sigh

OMG, I remember this so well, Fatema Elmahdy ! Right before handing it over to my publisher, I wanted to throw its ENTIRETY into the bin:0 I stepped away for at least a day as I would often type endlessly.

I say that if you haven't felt that once in a while, then you're not really trying.

Yes, many times. But keep pushing!

Winston Churchill once said, "Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public.

I remember reading Life of Pi and how it starts with the author, within the story, saying that he was writing a novel and had written basically an entire draft only to mail it to some random address in like Ireland or something, never to be seen again. I've never experienced that feeling before but the thought scares me.

If you don't like it, toss it. If you don't believe in it, no one else will read it. What helped me is outlining. I don't write a word of narrative until one is complete. It's hard, but afterward, the writing goes fast. Another factor is at my age I forget stuff. The outline keeps me on track.

John Roane, exactly. I outline every novel I've written. Each book structure I've used, whether Hero's Journey or Michael Hauge or other, have received positive reviews. It works for me. That way each day I wake up and know where I am in the story, where my pinch and plot points are, climax, stc. I do the same with my screenplays. Everyone's brain is different and this method works for me.

@John Roane I absolutely agree. I have never written a screenplay without a completed outline. My first novel I intentionally wrote without an outline for the first half, because I had never written a novel before and wasn't sure how I even wanted to approach it, but once I got so far in I outlined the rest.

When I was in my MFA program (grad 2019),

there was an ongoing argument between the "pantsers" and the outliners (planners). I don't think anyone can write a novel, or anything for that matter, without a plan. You don't build a house without a plan or you end up with the Winchester mansion. The creative stream is like a wild and raging river. Jump in, abandon yourself to its power, and make notes. Then take a breath, grab those notes, and make an outline. They say Mozart sat down and music flowed from the end of his pen. I'm not that brilliant. I need discipline, ergo, and outline, to launch the narrative process. When I'm in creative mode, I like to go to my favorite pub and have a Modelo Negro. With legal pad and pen at hand, I kick back and let the river run. The lady behind the bar interrupted me and asked: "are you okay. You looked like you were having a seizure or something." I told her no, I was fine, I was just writing my next novel. She looked at me like I was crazy.

@John Roane, I LOVE that! I completely agree. Sometimes I wish I would have started serious writing and publishing 20 or 30 years ago. But then I wouldn't have had the stories I have now and the way I tell them. Funny you mention discipline. Just watched a talk on that. Self discipline in my view, is the biggest factor in all this. Without it words don't get on the page. On "weak" days when words won't flow, I force myself to move forward with other things, swap a newsletter, take out an ad, do a podcast, etc. Make myself do a To Do list each night for the next day...Write 3K words, revise another novel, etc. I have an Aspie brain, so I have to have structure. I worked 38 years for the feds and they trained and taught me structure and discipline. So thankful for that!

I think some stories you can write without an outline. I've heard that Stephen King wrote The Shining without knowing where the story was going. Still, horror stories and short stories seem to be the only genre that is simplistic but entertaining enough to warrant a lack of strategy. More complicated stories, especially ones that require foreshadowing, can't and shouldn't be done without an outline. If there's one thing the Star Wars Sequels taught us, it's that you have to plan ahead before plunging in.

Stephen King is unusual. The words may well flow from the tip of his pen. But he's been writing for many years. I for one have not. I had two other careers plus raising a family. My entry into the game has been late, so I need help keeping up with my thoughts. I'm beginning my fifth novel and the outline is under construction. Only when that is done will I undertake the narrative. Then I always make a liar out of myself. I have 12 chapters outlined, but have taken a break to write the first chapter. I need information from an anesthesiologist and will send him a rough first chapter for his input.

+John Roane. "Stephen King is unusual". Truer words were never spoken. And sometimes, you do want to adopt the habits of the "masters", but sometimes, the masters have already perfected their craft, so they can allow the training wheels to fall by the wayside. Not so for us commoners. I'm curious what you need from the anesthesiologist.

William: My novel underway now concerns a prominent plastic surgeon with the perfect life who learns he has a son on death row from a previous affair on the Texas border. His guilt drives him to search for the girl he loved and abandoned in the gritty and lethal world of the Mexican/Texas border ruled by the ruthless cartels. The story opens with my character performing surgery. Should be routine, but there is an anesthesia crisis; bleeding, tachycardia, and so on. The purpose is to inject tension in the opening scene and illustrate there is no such thing as the perfect life without problems, both professional and personal. For many years, I performed my oral surgery in the OR and I am familiar with the landscape. But I need to create a believable crisis. I have several colleagues who are helping me. I need the right scenario with the right words, so I can condense into a fast pace, exciting narrative. As the poets say, the shadow of death hovered over all until the indomitable will and intelligence of man banished it and saved the day.

That sounds like a gripping story! Best of luck, and do send me a message when it's available to read!

Can one of the moderators remove "Ella Fitzgerald"? Spamming every single post.

Thank you so much for your support,I published this post from one year ago,I was working on my fifth book,when I have finished it I felt it’s like “nothing”,after reading your words you made me feel”it’s ok”, “it’s normal” , wooow ..I’m not alone