We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve the issue. [Updated 3:30 GMT]

You are viewing a clip of this video, click to Join. Members, click to Log in.

Bandwidth: Low < >
Share:

Once I start writing, I keep getting ideas. How do you stop writing a story? - Question/Answer Now Playing


Once I start writing, I keep getting ideas. How do you stop writing a story?

Feb 14, 2011

This is a Sample Member Question and Answer Page. Click here to become a member.

Once I start writing, I keep getting ideas. How do you stop writing a story? - Question/Answer Q & A Discussion


Add Comment
at Feb 19, 2011 - 10:20 PM
Dr., you MUST see the movie "Wonder Boys." It's about a writer with the same problem- "I don't believe in writer's block," he says... because he has this 2000 page manuscript that just keeps going and going. Most inspiring movie ever!
at Feb 19, 2011 - 10:18 PM
In "Story" there's the sentence about creative choice ratio- 4:1, 5:1, 10:1... and you say, "perhaps 20:1" ahaha and that really tempts one to say, "welll howw about 30, 40, 50, 100 to one!" NOW that could be a great movie!
sunbird1942: Interesting Question & Great Answer
at Feb 17, 2011 - 11:52 AM
My experience to date is that I start with a beginning and an end... and the fun is writing/creating the story between the two. It sounds oxymoronic but the rigidity of the beginning and end, allows me to indulge in flights of creation and letting the characters take me to where they need to go.
Bass wrote
at Feb 15, 2011 - 9:36 PM
McKee is right on the ball here.

In my personal experience, I find that I am an unending font of ideas and choices when I don't know what my story is about. Makes sense; if I knew what it was about, I'd be able to make choices. But until I know, everything seems possible.

Once I know what the story, a scene, or character (or whatever) is about, I suddenly find the opposite problem happens - I can't come up with anything. Every idea I have isn't good enough or expressive enough or just wrong in some way.

So, I think (and McKee mentions this) the 'can't stop writing' feeling is a symptom of not knowing what the story is about.
at Feb 14, 2011 - 9:12 PM
One day I will finish something, I promise. I bought that book, The War of Art, at one of your seminars. I think it is time to re-read it!

In order to contribute to Storylogue, you must have a membership.
Create an Account

*
Please enter the username used when registering for Storylogue
*
Please enter your password
or Create an Account
Forgot Password?

Forgot Password?

If you cannot find your password, enter your email here and we will send you a new password.
*
Please enter the email you used to sign up on Storylogue
or Cancel

This document or video is available
to active members only.

OR