Manipulating Poor Concepts
In the world of writing, even the most imaginative minds can encounter planning issues that threaten to derail a novel. Chloe-Anne Ross, a student in Glasgow and a recovering coffee addict, shares her experiences and offers valuable advice for writers facing such challenges.
Ross, who is currently working on a series, has only completed Act 1 of the first novel. She admits to often having to scrap ideas or change most of the novel, warning others not to follow her example and get trapped in an endless cycle of plot planning.
One of the signs that a writer needs to rework or restart a novel due to planning issues includes losing one’s way in the story, lack of momentum especially in the middle, persevering with bad drafts, and feeling stuck or experiencing writer's block. Ross has faced these challenges herself.
To overcome these hurdles, Ross suggests shifting one's mindset. Accept that the first draft is just about getting ideas down, even if it’s rough or ugly. Writing is a process of gradually refining your "Frankenstein’s monster" novel.
Another tip is to use mindmapping. Dump ideas on paper without judgment to explore new directions and connections in your story. This can inspire fresh insight and solutions to planning problems.
Writing exercises can also help warm up creativity, stimulate new ideas, and help you see your story from different angles. Ross recommends spending a few days writing about settings to help clarify scenes and figure things out for the story.
If you find yourself stuck, Ross advises going back to the beginning. Starting fresh when the writing isn't satisfying can help you regain creative freedom and clarity. In her own words, she expects to get a new novel from the ashes of the old one.
Investing in post-it notes can aid in organizing character life stages and changes. Using post-it notes for character life notes can be helpful in keeping track of a character's development throughout the series.
Seek and interpret feedback carefully. Use beta readers to identify weak spots in the novel but remember they point out symptoms, not always causes. Look for patterns in their comments and keep a thick skin while deciding how to fix issues your own way.
Engage in real-life research or experiences related to your story. This can enrich your worldbuilding and inspire new ideas or emotional depth.
By embracing process over perfection, breaking down barriers to writing, and using feedback constructively to reshape their novel effectively, writers can overcome planning issues and bring their stories to life. Ross plans to re-work the plan for her series and is hopeful for the future of her writing journey.
Spending a few days writing about home settings and gardens might help Ross clarify some scenes and figure things out for her series, as she recommends focusing on writing exercises to stimulate creativity and see stories from different angles. When feeling stuck, Ross suggests going back to the beginning, starting fresh when the writing isn't satisfying to regain creative freedom and clarity, similar to investing in post-it notes to organize character life stages and changes throughout the series.
