Doubts when creating a story

[Kouneko]

hello people, when you're having problems with the story and also have doubts if you can unfold it and/or it doesn't have potential, what do you usually do?

 

[SailusGebel]

What does, "doubts if you can unfold it" means?

 

[georgelee5786]

Power through them

What does, "doubts if you can unfold it" means?

I think he means doubts that you can probably properly tell the story

 

[SailusGebel]

Power through them

I think he means doubts that you can probably properly tell the story

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

You never get better if you don't try things you aren't good at.

 

[Kureous]

When unsure about my story's direction, I take a break to find the right path.

 

[Succubiome]

I'm just gonna quote Ira Glass again, cause he says it better than I do.

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
― Ira Glass

 

[SailusGebel]

I'm just gonna quote Ira Glass again, cause he says it better than I do.

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
― Ira Glass

Bruh.

 

[LunaSoltaer]

There are some premises you are better off not writing and if you discover you ran into one of those then sure drop.

But if there is any genuine resonance with what you're writing, try to see it through. You will gain valuable experience that you otherwise wouldn't.

There's a proverb about 10 years of experience vs one year of experience repeated nine times (And yes that math is correct.)

 

[expentio]

I don't know. I started with my first story around three years ago and still stick with it. To me it's fine. When I started, my grammar wasn't nearly as good, and it still is far from perfect, but I think I improved. So I regularly go back and edit the old chapters to improve them to somewhat the later quality.

 

[Mortrexo]

Same as expentio. I began my story one year and a half ago. My grammar was very shitty back then. However, nowadays, I've become much better by writing a chapter daily. After a million words into my story, I'm a much better author, but with a lot of room for improvement.

 

[Rhaps]

My story is a Gordian Knot, of course I am untangling this mess I made myself.

 

[thefinal13]

I have one suggestion for you, i.e, write it down.

Don't keep it in your head. Write it down, no matter how absurd the idea sounds. Write it down and then read it like you would read someone else's story. You will understand what is wrong with it.

You have started writing because you wanted to tell a story nobody has told before, or because the stories other people are writing are satisfying enough for you. So write it and read it yourself. Question yourself: Would you enjoy reading such a story?

If yes, then all is well and perfect. If the answer is no, try again.

 

[DubstheDuke]

If you wait for inspiration to come, it will never come.

If you dont know where your story is going, figure it out. Plot. Plan. Prepare. Write.

The areas that I have the most doubts is when I dont know what Im building up to. As writers, if we arent working towards a goal then of course its going to seem pointless or bland. But as soon as we have that goal in mind, how we get there will become much more interesting.

 

[TheMonotonePuppet]

hello people, when you're having problems with the story and also have doubts if you can unfold it and/or it doesn't have potential, what do you usually do?

I do quite a bit actually. I’ll keep doing each of these things one after the other until I find what’s wrong and figure how I can fix it: First, I read it in my head, then I read it out loud, then I switch writing program from Word to RR writing site via copy paste, then to SH, then to Google Doc, then to switching it back to Word via going back and forth and typing a copy by hand, fixing as I go. I’ll also switch to various IRL locations and switch out genres of music. If none of those work, then I trash it because I can’t realize the potential and there is something deeper wrong with it.

If you wait for inspiration to come, it will never come.

If you dont know where your story is going, figure it out. Plot. Plan. Prepare. Write.

The areas that I have the most doubts is when I dont know what Im building up to. As writers, if we arent working towards a goal then of course its going to seem pointless or bland. But as soon as we have that goal in mind, how we get there will become much more interesting.

I disagree. I have found inspiration in many areas, from music to the outside world to history and others’ writing. It depends on the author as to how loud and clear your muse is.

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

My principle is : when in doubt, then it's time to change.

 

[Maldrasen]

My principle is : when in doubt, then it's time to change.

I agree. If you're trying to pound a square peg into a round hole, or something just seems off, take a step back to consider things from another angle. If what you've planned out isn't working, make a new plan.

 

[Syringe]

Hunker down, change it or tweak it enough where you're happy with it. You can always check out other similar stories to your own work and get a feel for how it'll go/be received. Ultimately, it'll come down to your commitment with the story that'll make or break it.

 

[K5Rakitan]

I procreate so I have a child sucking on my nipples several hours a day and no more time to write.

 

[NotaNuffian]

You ask yourself this question then; "what is the work for?"

Is it wish fulfilling like most works?

Is it preachy and bitchy?

Are you a fucking moron for putting harem if ya sausage and or taco ain't gunna be Dora de Explorar?

Do you wanna make Patreon money by doing furry porn?