Questions about writing

[cybermathwitch]

A question for all the writers out there, because I have an incredibly talented f-list (if you like Doctor Who, you must check out fahye's newest fic (I will try to post a link later - am on my mom's computer and the touchpad on the laptop is giving me fits.))

I'm working on a BSG fic (you all probably already know that, cause I've only been talking about it for two weeks (3?)). Currently I'm at a little over 12,000 words and I'm probably about 2/3 to 3/4 done. I've printed off what I have so far so that I can scribble on it and work on tightening up what I've got so that I can tell what I still need to add.

My question is, does anyone else ever get sick of working on a story, and if so, how do you deal with that? I don't want to give up on it, or even put it aside for awhile, because a. I'm afraid I'll never finish it, and b. I really do love and feel good about the story. I know I've got a good fic here. But it feels like i've read and reread what i've got so much I'm not even really seeing it anymore.

So how do you handle that sort of over-saturation? Do you have any tips or tricks for getting a fresh perspective on your writing? Or would my best move at this point be bringing in another reader to look at it with fresh eyes even though the entire first draft isn't done yet?

Comments

[traveller.livejournal.com]

the only time i wrote something that long, jenne browbeat me every night until it was done.

i am a short story writer. very short.

that said, i find the best way to get excited again is to walk away and come back a while later. sometimes it's an hour, sometimes, a week or a year. it all comes back to me eventually.

*unhelpful*

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Fresh eyes often help, yeah. I'd say the best thing might be to set yourself a quota, though. 400 words a day got me through my novel very nicely.

Plus, one of the best pieces of writing advice I ever saw was Neil Gaiman comparing your first draft to Wile E Coyote running across the canyon. You just have to keep moving forward--soon as you stop to look down you're dead.

[holde-maid.livejournal.com]

Even though I've written some VERY long stuff, I don't really get sick of writing. However, sometimes I run dry and feel fresh out of ideas. If rereading doesn't help, I put it aside for a while.

You could try and make a summary (and possibly do a synopsis of the summary again to make it tighter), if you don't want to put it aside. That would work for knowing what's missing and such-like.

If you feel you don't see grammar mistakes or typos anymore (which happens all the time, of course, because we as writers already KNOW what we've written, so we can't help skipping a lot), then reading the thing backwards is helpful. Either word by word (last word, one but last, etc.) for spelling or sentence by sentence (last sentence, the one before, then the one before that) for grammar concerns.

Not sure if this is the advice you wanted?

Writing woes

[wodentoad.livejournal.com]

This is what I like to call the plateau. As a knitter, you understand when you reach that point in a project and you are just utterly tired of working on it because it's become boring. Well, any creative pursuit, including writing, is no different.

So what do I recommend? Well, since my worlds are wholly in my head and not on TV, I sometimes watch TV, but my favorite thing to do is go outside into the sunlight and explore. I love to DO things and see things. I'll sit in a restaurant by myself and just watch the people as they pass quietly before me, or make up on the spot a story about the creepy old house down the street or that strangely painted, beat up car. Creativity is like a muscle. It has to be exercized and allowed to rest, then exercized again. Go for it, and have fun.