TGRF's Fan Fiction Chronicles - Entry #61

Since being forced some five-odd months ago to pause my writing and take a much needed long look at certain things, I've gone what feels like lightyears forwards in my understanding of writing. I've outlined much of what I've learned already, so I won't go back over it here.

In my last FFC, I was coming to realize that despite everything I had learned (and perhaps partially because of it), my writing was suffering. As far back as Ragnak, my inability to craft the middle of a story had surfaced, and it has stuck with me ever since, surfacing in basically everything I've written.

That's always been a problem. It's been THE problem in fact, the single largest problem, the biggest cause of failed drafts and scrapped stories. Nothing has destroyed as many stories as that problem has.

So you can imagine my elation when I finally figured out what's causing it, and better yet, how I can start...

TGRF's Fan Fiction Chronicles - Entry #60

A few days ago, I was visited by a desire to scrutinize my fan fiction folders. Not being one to deny what was so clearly an invitation to find something wrong with my writing, I obliged.

On my computer, under the massive 'Heroscape' folder, there is a fan fiction folder. Within this ancient and vast collection are various subfolders, one for each fan fiction I have written - or have tried to write. There are a lot of them. But, as I had suspected, there was a pattern.

One of the first folders was dedicated to my first forray into the wonderful world of writing, the original Valhalla Reborn. I wrote chapter to chapter, with no plan or goal in mind.

The next folder is for The Quest for Valhalla, where I first tried my hand at plotting and planning in advance (which in this instance meant jotting down a ton of events and battles with unchanging characters). Sequels quickly followed, with...

TGRF's Fan Fiction Chronicles - Entry #59

One of the things I've found true about writing, is that the methods are always changing. As a writer, there's always something you haven't discovered, some technique you haven't learned.

I am not yet 'back'. I'm getting close though. I recently was able to actually outline part of a story for the first time in months (the story in question fell apart unfortunately). While I haven't yet written anything, outlining is something I wasn't able to do either, so this is a promising sign.

But while I've been mysteriously unable to write, I've still been studying writing. I wanted to fill you in on some of the things I've discovered, so that you'll know what to expect when I do finally get back to writing. Because at this point, my writing could be vastly different from what it was.

I now know that I learned the writing process backwards. The first book I picked up on how to write was centered...

TGRF's Fan Fiction Chronicles - Entry #58

So. It's been a week or so under two months since I said I was taking a break from writing. In that time I've been able to address some things which really required addressing. Most of that stuff still isn't remotely resolved, but writing, at least, seems to be coming back.

Very, very slowly.

But it is coming back. While I say that, I'm aware that I have not yet actually written anything, so this is all based off of my reliably-unreliable intuition. But I'll take it. Here's what's going on:

Writing is going to happen. I am once again sure about this. What I am NOT sure about is the format that writing will be in (fan fiction, novel, something else, etc.).

I've always assumed that once I had written enough fan fiction, I would create my masterwork of a novel, send it to an agent, get published, and make a million bucks. Or something along those lines. I'm... not so sure...

TGRF's Fan Fiction Chronicles - Entry #57

No, I'm not back.

I've been wanting to update you on what's been going on, but I haven't been able to for two reasons: Things keep changing, and I myself don't really know what's happening or where I'll be in the next weeks.

I can tell you what I DO know, however.

The college plan is still there, but it has been delayed by a year and a half. My current plan is to start with some general courses in the spring (If I can get through this blasted math placement), and then start the program the following fall. All, some, or none of that may happen. Right now I'm just going through all the various application processes and I'll see where I'm at when those are done.

I am not writing. At all. I have some vague ideas for stories, but nothing solid. Additionally, on the few occassions I've sat down to write, things did NOT come together, and I really felt like my attention should...