Stuck again

[FelineEyes]

As usual, I'm stuck.
I have this story that's on chapter 4, draft 1 and I'm starting to lose interest in it. I find this distressing, because I was doing so well. I've tried taking some time off from writing (didn't work), I tried reading like crazy (distracting), I've tried going back and rereading (that was good for about a paragraph), and I've tried writing short stories (which soon developed into novels, or ideas of).
So here's my question:
What now?
Do I try and force myself to write?
Do I put it on the back burner where it stands the chance of never being touched again?
Do I try the stort story route again anyway?
Do I just start another novel lenght story?

 

[WriterDoug]

if you have story ideas that want to develop into novels, then consider writing novelettes or maybe even novellas. i was writing a novella awhile back, and it has been completed just recently. how deceptive that was, the actual 'novella' turned into a 300 page novel!

also, it sounds as if youre trying to write a story from A to B in good, old linear fashion. there is an article floating around the Internet somewhere, and it discusses the "candy bar" approach to writing. i do NOT personally recommend it, but it involves you writing all of your favorite or sweetest scenes first and then filling in the gaps later. i suppose it may work for some writers, but it is definitely not for me. some writers also suggest putting together the ending first and then working backwards. my only gripe about this is that it does take away some of the fun in the book; even though you generally know how it will ultimately end, you lose that sweet satisfaction of finally getting to write THE END on your manuscript (and then erasing it a month later becuase publishers do not wish to see it.)

btw, whereabouts in Florida are you?

 

[Aes]

One way to keep yourself interested is to just...daydream about it a lot. If you're losing interest, ask yourself what about it is starting to bore you: character personalities, general storyline, seemingly-pointless side plots, or something else?

Then, take that part and try to make it into something that is interesting again.

 

[cornelius]

I've been typing on my work for two years , a bit every now and then- I'm 87 pages in word so far, not that much, but I have time

take your time, read a little, or do like me and wait till you have exams or something, I always seam to have the most inspiration during such periods

 

[jackokent]

Janny Wurts on her website gives lots of advice you might find useful. One thing she says is that if it's boring to write then it's likely to be boring to read. She recomends trying a different tangent.

When I get bored of my own stuff I find this really helps. I do believe in disciplin however, if you just start something else you might never finish anything. Is it just chapter 4 that's bugging you? If so is it something in the content you could change?

 

[BookStop]

I am famous (well in my immediate family anyway) for getting stuck a couple chapters in. I just go and write something else, and when I get stuck on that one, I'm able to go back and pick the thread on the first story. I guess the key is just to write, write, write every day. Eventually I'll finish something, right?

 

[Marky Lazer]

Writing stories isn't too hard. Finishing them is.

 

[endoftime56]

when i get bored of writing, but want to keep going, i tend to just sit down and write out a skelaton of the rest of the story, like what will happen and who will do what ect. and by the time i am done with that i get so excited about how the book may turn out it makes me writer again. i dont know if this will help you, but it helps me.

 

[cornelius]

find someone who is interested in your story, if some of the excitment springs of to you again, you might be able to continue... doesn't quite work when just your making rubbish

 

[Culhwch]

Wow! You got all the way to chapter four! I wish I had your commitment, Feline. My interest usually wanes halfway through chapter two.... Seriously, though, when this inevitably happens to me, I work on something else for awhile. If it's worthwhile, it'll call you back.

 

[FelineEyes]

I got all the way to chapter four because I had nothing to do but write for about a month. I've restarted this story about four times now, and this is the furthest I've ever gotten on anything. I think I'm just a little stressed right now.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Culhwch]

Maybe we should collaborate. You write till you're bored, give it to me, I'll write till I'm bored, give it back to you, and so on and so forth. I can only imagine how thrilling the final cut would be...