Writer Doubt

[GabrielTenma]

I've been kind of doubting some of my latest chapters. I kind of write with an overarching idea in mind while coming up with some stuff when I need to.

Now that I've reached more than 30 chapters I feel like any new chapter I write is going to derail something and then throw my overarching idea into disarray.

Anyone face anything similar before?

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

Ah yeah, at that point just dew it. If you are a pantser you can easily just make a new tunnel somewhere.

 

[GabrielTenma]

Ah yeah, at that point just dew it. If you are a pantser you can easily just make a new tunnel somewhere.

Just go with what I've been doing then ig. Unclog the toilet when it clogs approach. Thanks

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

Just go with what I've been doing then ig. Unclog the toilet when it clogs approach. Thanks

Good. And remember that any good story has a plot hole...Or seven.

 

[dummycake]

Good. And remember that any good story has a plot hole...Or seven.

JoJo is a swiss cheese but it's one of the best stories of all time.

 

[l8rose]

I've been kind of doubting some of my latest chapters. I kind of write with an overarching idea in mind while coming up with some stuff when I need to.

Now that I've reached more than 30 chapters I feel like any new chapter I write is going to derail something and then throw my overarching idea into disarray.

Anyone face anything similar before?

All of the time. Like. Obsessively so. I occasionally doubt my chapters so much that I cripple my ability to write.

My advice is to write a part of the overarching idea. Even if it's something that won't happen for ten, twenty, fifty chapters. Just that idea of what will happen (whether it's dialogue, little notes or whatever). It'll help spark ideas and confidence in the new chapters because you will have a better idea of where you're going with your overall idea. Plus, that future bit isn't set in stone so you can tweak it or get rid of it completely.

Or at least, that's how I got through writing some of the really bland chapters for SfAL. I knew I was going to reveal one hell of a spoiler in an upcoming chapter but getting the characters there was painful. So I wrote it out with who was present which helped me make other decisions in earlier chapters.

 

[GabrielTenma]

JoJo is a swiss cheese but it's one of the best stories of all time.

To be Fair, So much stuff happens in Jojo to the point that plot holes are the least of your worries until maybe the 5th rewatch

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

Well, just think of RPGs a lot of times the side quests are more fun than the main ones. We get lost in side quests, and that's fine. As long as you eventually find your way back.

 

[GabrielTenma]

All of the time. Like. Obsessively so. I occasionally doubt my chapters so much that I cripple my ability to write.

My advice is to write a part of the overarching idea. Even if it's something that won't happen for ten, twenty, fifty chapters. Just that idea of what will happen (whether it's dialogue, little notes or whatever). It'll help spark ideas and confidence in the new chapters because you will have a better idea of where you're going with your overall idea. Plus, that future bit isn't set in stone so you can tweak it or get rid of it completely.

Or at least, that's how I got through writing some of the really bland chapters for SfAL. I knew I was going to reveal one hell of a spoiler in an upcoming chapter but getting the characters there was painful. So I wrote it out with who was present which helped me make other decisions in earlier chapters.

I do something similar to this. I write what a chapter should be from the title and then write using the title

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I've been kind of doubting some of my latest chapters. I kind of write with an overarching idea in mind while coming up with some stuff when I need to.

Now that I've reached more than 30 chapters I feel like any new chapter I write is going to derail something and then throw my overarching idea into disarray.

Anyone face anything similar before?

Yeah, I'm currently going through one right now. I keep thinking that maybe Arc 4 is subpar compared to my previous ones, and it spilled to Arc 5, which I'm currently writing.

For that, unless it's really 'pronounced', I continue to write then check for plot holes after I completed the manuscript.

 

[GabrielTenma]

Well, just think of RPGs a lot of times the side quests are more fun than the main ones. We get lost in side quests, and that's fine. As long as you eventually find your way back.

True, I just feel like I'll bore my readers in any side quests I make

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

True, I just feel like I'll bore my readers in any side quests I make

If it isn't boring to you then the readers will also not find it boring by proxy.

 

[GabrielTenma]

Yeah, I'm currently going through one right now. I keep thinking that maybe Arc 4 is subpar compared to my previous ones, and it spilled to Arc 5, which I'm currently writing.

For that, unless it's really 'pronounced', I continue to write then check for plot holes after I completed the manuscript.

What I'm getting at is just write and worry later

 

[Obsoleteness]

I've been kind of doubting some of my latest chapters. I kind of write with an overarching idea in mind while coming up with some stuff when I need to.

Now that I've reached more than 30 chapters I feel like any new chapter I write is going to derail something and then throw my overarching idea into disarray.

Anyone face anything similar before?

Going through it right now. All my edits have thrown the coming plot points into disarray and I hardly know how to fix it

 

[GabrielTenma]

If it isn't boring to you then the readers will also not find it boring by proxy.

Also True, RepresentingEnvy you're really knowledgable! (Not that I thought you weren't but thanks for all the advice!)

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

What I'm getting at is just write and worry later

Yeah, it's what I do. Though, before I release my work, I edited and quality-controlled it to my standards and satisfaction before I upload, so that only the big mistakes (if any) are noticed.

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

Going through it right now. All my edits have thrown the coming plot points into disarray and I hardly know how to fix it

You will be fine, and if all else fails, you just have Luna beat up the plot. She could probably eat the plot hole.

 

[GabrielTenma]

Going through it right now. All my edits have thrown the coming plot points into disarray and I hardly know how to fix it

Don't worry, you'll get it sorted out soon.

 

[Obsoleteness]

You will be fine, and if all else fails, you just have Luna beat up the plot. She could probably eat the plot hole.

-Climax scene after months of buildup-
*This part of the chapter is missing because Luna ate it*
-Issue resolved-

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

-Climax scene after months of buildup-
*This part of the chapter is missing because Luna ate it*
-Issue resolved-

At least you are taking very clever, in-chapter notes.