Too many starts, absolutely no finishes
Mornin'
Another new guy, Brian, 23, from Ireland.
As you might have guessed from the subject I have the, what I imagine is a, common problem of starting a load of different writing projects but never finishing any.
I've a terrible attention span. Once I get a new idea the old one just isn't shiney anymore.
I also find it very hard to work on short stories. They tend to spiral out of control, get bigger and bigger until I get distracted and start something else.
Just wondering if anyone has any advice other than "just finish something you feckin eejit!" 
(even though I know that's probably the soundest advice going)
B
welcome.
i don't know what to tell you except the advice you already gave yourself.
maybe you'll find some help here in the cult though... here's to it.
Maybe you aren't writing truly enough. By the time you get well into a story, you can't identify with it anymore. Find something that won't dwither with time. To you. Write about that.
I can never finish anything.
just end them, you know without a convential wrap up, just stop mid-story, thats what i do.
I have the same problem. And I guess I'm not in much of a position to be giving advice but if I really can't think of a way to end a project (which is almost always) I set it aside and just write whatever comes to mind not caring what it's about or if it's in anyway related to my current story. Sometimes I trip over something interesting that I'll save away for a later project. Sometimes it ties into my current project.
Now that I think of it, this advice is probably exactly the type of thing that will excuse the problem rather than solve it. Hmm...I don't know what the trick is but I'd like to figure it out as well.
Thag, what the hell is "dwither"?
There is hope, but not for us.
Welcome, Brian.
I am sure many writers here will understand your issue. Best wishes in getting some support and tips on the site - I am sure you've located some great resources looking around here.
Enjoy yourself!
Good coffee is like drinking Rock and Roll.
i feel your pain
i lot of times i'll start writing a reply and then get
Hello, welcome.
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?
Welcome to the Cult.
When I am writing I start from the end. I know where I want to end up so I just have to fill in some interesting ways to get there.
For example, right now in real life I know I'm going to hell, but I'm just figuring out the most interesting way to get there.
"well she's either a cruel horny bitch or she might actually like you." - audreythirteen
[QUOTE=jane s.;929719]Thag, what the hell is "dwither"?[/QUOTE]
It's a word I made up just then! You can use it if you want.
dwither is the opposite of embiggen
[QUOTE=nathaniel parker;929828]dwither is the opposite of embiggen[/QUOTE]
:banana:
yes yes, very cromulent use of dwither...
As for writing, try something short. A one pager. Think of a problem (person A needs this now and here's how they go about getting it). Write until you finish the story. It'll seem like torture, all the more reason to keep it short. Finish it without editing. Voila! You've finished something. Now get to work on the next thing. Don't cheat yourself. Don't get online, don't play games, when you're at the desk to write, write.
[QUOTE=Thag;929829]:banana:[/QUOTE]
hahaha! He is totally dancing in time with [I]The Spirit of the Radio [/I]by [B]Rush[/B]!
[QUOTE=monkeywright;929835]yes yes, very cromulent use of dwither...
As for writing, try something short. A one pager. Think of a problem (person A needs this now and here's how they go about getting it). Write until you finish the story. It'll seem like torture, all the more reason to keep it short. Finish it without editing. Voila! You've finished something. Now get to work on the next thing. Don't cheat yourself. Don't get online, don't play games, when you're at the desk to write, write.[/QUOTE]
Had to google cromulent and embiggen to remember what that was from. In my head I heard it in John Clease's voice at first. Ah well.
Aye, good advice. Sort of is my current plan, but not even getting feckin one pagers out.
Been dumping fragments on LJ - [URL=http://brianmanton.livejournal.com]http://brianmanton.livejournal.com[/URL]
No structure or anything, random stuff, satire bout my job, stream of consciousness crap and just plain brain spittle.
Contemplating building up to a novella on there, bit by bit. Sort of an online installment plan 
B
hello and welcome,
Im sure you will get plenty of advice here. What part of Ireland are you from?
Could "dwither" be a combination of "dwindler" and "wither"? Or maybe "dither." I dunno.
There is hope, but not for us.
[QUOTE=jane s.;929953]Could "dwither" be a combination of "dwindler" and "wither?"[/QUOTE]
Yes. I think it is. They have similar meanings, but neither seemed right at the time.
[QUOTE=Barca Boy;929949]hello and welcome,
Im sure you will get plenty of advice here. What part of Ireland are you from?[/QUOTE]
Limerick
[QUOTE=Thag;929965]Yes. I think it is. They have similar meanings, but neither seemed right at the time.[/QUOTE]
I think dither and wither. You're so busy dithering you start withering, so much so that you don't have time to use both words and have to combine.
to wither is to waste away while to dither is to be frivilous, as in dithering about. they don't match.
Ive got nothing for you... i have the same problem. I think it's part of being a slug.. maybe we'll get over it one day, though, eh? Welcome, though.