I'll start to write a story, but I can never finish it.?

Question

I always have these ideas and I always want to write a little story or one-shot or whatever and I start and get a little less than halfway and realize how horrible it is and I just quit.

How do I get over this and just write something through until it's finished?

Answer 1

You sound just like me! One day, I'll sit in my room for like 3 hours, writing away, and then I'll pick it up and read it a few days later, and be like "Why did I write this? Its horrific!" and then never look at it again.

Are you a perfectionist or very detail oriented? I am. Maybe thats what it is.

Answer 2

What I usually do is sit down and freewrite for a while. Once I've cleared my mind of everything, then I am able to concentrate on writing something I want to.

It comes out better the first time. I also write so it will be read, not just because I want to. I expect someone to read it.

Answer 3

You could try working backwards, in a sense. Instead of trying to begin by introducing a story and gradually unfolding it all the way through to its conclusion ... how about start by devising the ending FIRST? That is, instead of starting by thinking up a premise for a story, try thinking up an ending instead, then go from there.

(You'll have already figured out "the end", leaving you to decide "the means" -- how your story gets there.)

I'm reminded of how I sometimes used to write lit-analysis essays; I would write the body of the paper first, then write the introduction last. I'm of the conviction that going (writing / thinking) out-of-order can force a change in how one approaches the whole writing process.

Answer 4

This happens to me all the time too! it's an awful feeling to read through something you were really excited about and feel like it's c**p. What works best for me is to read through the pages I've written as least as possible and just keep writting even when there's really rough patches that don't flow. By the time you get to the end you'll probably have a lot of pieces in your story that you don't like, but then you can go to work editing (everybody's absolute least favorite part :( and work on it until you feel happy with it.

Also, this might sound kind of funny, but try not to think of yourself when you're reading through it. Try to get into the feel or mood of what you're writting and forget yourself.

Answer 5

Don't quit a story because you think it stinks.  Set it aside for a few days then revise it.  Editting is 95% of the writing process for me.

Answer 6

try making list of ideas of yours in categorizes

Answer 7

As with any kind of art - you'll look at it and hate it.  Put it aside for a few days, weeks, whatever.  Don't throw any of them out - ever.  Go back to them later - and you'll see that you had something good going after all.  

I did a couple of paintings and absolutely hated them.  I was embarrassed that I was the one that painted them.  I hid them - for several years.  I recently pulled them out and thought - geesh these aren't so bad!  In fact, I might even frame them and hang them!

Answer 8

try to finish it its a very wonderful thing to do in your life and to let your sons and their sons too see that you are something in literature