AboutSusan Rand Expertise I can answer questions about the elements of fiction and non-fiction writing: how to get started, writing techniques, re-writing, etc. I will NOT write for you, do critiques except from my website at http://pygmypress.com, or give you ideas. I will not answer home-or-schoolwork questions in any category. If English is your second language, please say so, and I will make an exception. Please submit no more than one or two questions at once, as I tend to go into detail in my answers.
Experience I wrote my first book in 1957 and have been writing and studying writing since. I have a BA in Written Communications, and have taught writing both privately and through adult education for 15 years. Have also edited (fiction books) for an online publisher and edited/wrote more than 100 articles for realsexed.com. Currently writing web content and mentoring beginning writers.
Question Dear Susan, I'm a published writer here in Indonesia. I'm currently on the making of my second novel, and I have a serious problem I can't solve alone. It's about the idea incubation.
So here I've incubate my idea for nearly 5 months. I think it's too long, really. I usually incubate my idea for 1 week or so. But this is a special case. I haven't got my final idea until now!
My criteria of "final idea", is something that could make me write non-stop, full with exploding enthusiasm, and hence, with that kind of spirit, usually the story will reach the finish line. So I usually choose not to start writing until I get the final idea.
Now, when I don't have that final idea, I can't write my second novel, and it's frustrating. People told me that it's writer's block. But I have tried many ways to overcome writer's block--reading, watching TV/movies, talk to people, but still I failed to get the final idea.
I read a book that said, "Let the idea incubate itself. Don't push yourself to write until the idea reach the final form."
But it has been too long, don't you think? What should I do? Should I keep waiting, or should I write anything I have on my head, even those ideas couldn't give me the exploding enthusiasm?
Oh yes, and P.S, I just accepted a prestigious writing award recently in Indonesia, so you can tell that my name's kinda hot now, and my readers always plead me to release my second novel ASAP! I'm in deadline here! Thank you for the answer.
Answer Hello Faida:
Congratulations on winning the award! It appears that you are an accomplished writer.
I don't believe you are suffering from writer's block, but from taking too seriously information you get from books. Such books of advice are meant as guidelines - suggestions only, not as hard and fast rules. Don't ever take them too seriously. If a suggestion results in problems for you, drop it! Pay close attention to only those suggestions that move you along, and forget those that stop you in your tracks. This one is particularly damaging - who knows when the idea will finalize itself? How long are you supposed to wait, a month? A year?
Nonsense.
By all means, write! Write whatever comes into your mind about your story. Write action scenes, dialogue, description, whatever you like. Your "final idea" will no doubt finalize itself through the writing of these fragments, which when put together, will make a first draft.
Instead of watching TV and movies, why not join a good writing forum to get inspiration? I recommend worddistillery.com. The people there are bound to inspire you.
I hope this has helped. If it has, a nice rating would be greatly appreciated. I am proud of my high score over 1300+ questions answered.
And good luck with your writing!
PS: For more help, visit my website at http://pygmypress.com, and thank you for writing!
