Why Writing Fiction Is So Difficult

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[SuperMooshrooms]

One of my favourite things about writing is the fact that 100 years from now some Russian guy might go into a hotel after a drugdeal gone bad and find a old dusty copy of my book and read it to forget his troubles. things like that inspire me to become a author

[pianystrom]

Creating a character that you fall in love with is a good idea. Let that person dance around all the ideas you have. No matter how crazy, you want to see what happens to them.

[Glicksman]

Pia Nystrom commented: "The best characters are the ones that we fail to control."
My reply to Pia is: Well, "control" has many meanings; however, the best ones truly do often influence us to a great degree.
While recently writing I would occasionally "speak" to a character or two and ask them how they were feeling and thinking about what was happening at the moment and what happened next, as if I was a reporter inquiring of a witness, which, of course, I was. They invariably answered me, and what they told me appears in the story. As I have said before, the story tells the writer.

[MyrmidonGaming]

I don't agree that that's always the case. You can intend a scene to unfold in a certain way that will be surprising and exciting to the reading. Having control over your novel isn't damning, it just means that that's how you work. Not everyone has the same mindset or strategy for writing. Gardeners or Architects, do you plant the seed, water it and let it grow, or build brick by brick until it's finished? No one writer writes the same.

[Juan_kerrigan]

Characters tell the writer their story! Thats an amazing thought!! Nice ;)

[plutotheinsomniac]

I swear I can draw similarities between art and writing (no pun intended) I prefer writing over drawing, but somehow look at drawing tips anyway because why not. Lots of people say with drawing, your style will improve and become more individualized the more you draw, and I believe that's the same with writing. I looked back at pieces I wrote in February and wonder why I thought it was quality writing while writing things that I think is quality while I'll cringe at it in about 8 more months. So I would say use many of the tips seen in drawing tips videos, though not really, I'm not even a professional with a degree, so idk :/

[Doomanoid]

Good advice. Some teachers and writers of 'how to' books I have read emphasise the importance of a rigid plan. I like the idea of this almost musical, improvisational approach to writing.

[Selrisitai]

If you know neither yourself or your enemy, you will succumb in every battle. - The Art of War

The answer to your question of "What questions might I ask?" or, "What makes a story good?" is, "Whatever you're attempting to achieve."

[kevinbeattie]

I would venture to say that Tarantino's screenplay's attempt to answer that question for writing, as comedians have for comedy with "was it funny"? They seem to have it all. Humor, sadness, happiness, a moral imagination, pure entertainment. Shakespeare was brilliant in his works for the simple realization of "Dramedy" in them. Stories that implore a huge amount of drama, intermixed with lighter comedy, visceral entertainment, and a lesson in the end to take away from the story, giving it a "point" or "meaning" as nonfiction has inherently. I would say as a writer your goal is try and get it all in there. Star Wars is regarded as the 'greatest story ever told' by some, because simply, it has it all. And because it is carefully based upon the classic human story telling 'pieces' that we have gathered up over time, greatly inspired by Greek classics. But to conclude, the stories I find myself reading, or watching over, and over again, are those which at least seem to encompass every aspect of the human experience. Shows like The Wire and movies like Stand by Me. 

[Shrddrk]

One this I've learned about writing is that you are always your own worst enemy. The worst of the mistake you can make is to procrastinate.
If you have an idea, write it down. If you get interrupted by another idea, make a note, but don't let your momentum stop.
OCD sent me into an endless editing loop where I only got my book half done. I still can't seem to move past it, either. So, if you want to write, heed the warning. Don't let your momentum stop!

[garyhorsman]

Foer is obviously a pantser (an author who writes fiction without an outline). If you prepare in advance with a compelling outline, you will have a sense of how good (or not good) a story is before committing long term to getting it out. But this does not constrain you from making radical changes in plot or direction. A well-constructed outline will tell you whether wandering off the original path is doable without the hazard of painting yourself into a literary corner.

[travislawrencemusic]

For me, as a nobody amateur, the hardest thing about writing is quitting it. Ultimately, everytime I try to abandon my stories and distract myself with other interests, it's the "life" of my characters that keep calling me back to write them into some semblance of existence outside my head. I don't really even enjoy writing that much, and I loathe the snobbery of the writing community, but I love bringing my characters to life. I love seeing them develop and interact. I love that their lives culminate in some kind of meaning or point, even if no one else but me will ever care.

[yohanneszelalem]

i have a very creative mind. i thought of over 70 stories for storybooks. but, i find it very hard to put it on paper.

[Atraice]

Writing is a release. Characters tell the writer their story. Writers need to listen to those characters and by doing so the story will pretty much write itself. Writers are the "Mediums" that release it to the page. Listening to the characters, from their minds, (not the writers mind) is what makes a good read.

[Glicksman]

Writing fiction is only free when contemplating the story. Once you begin you are in it and it will pull you along in ways you cannot imagine. If it's any good, your story and the characters you create will take on intrinsic integrity. If you can easily make wild changes to it, it's probably not worth continuing to write it. The story tells the writer.

[Kalydosos]

I am from the UK, Black I write as a hobby for myself mostly I like to read my stories when the Internet is down or simply for fun, I live in Africa sometimes I take famous genres like Star Trek, GOT and write stories around the characters. Sometimes I make the characters biracial or Black, other times I write completely different fantasy or futuristic stories where in the very distant future Black people are powerful not begging for aid, thugs, whores, disdainful of knowledge. Or overly religious I like writing because you can create worlds and people from nothing without some pimple head looking over your shoulder pointing the finger.

[MrUndersolo]

He nailed it here. Fiction makes demands that nonfiction does not ask for.

[jamesp]

For me, my stories always come most clearly while I'm in bed, just before falling asleep.

[kthx]

I know I can write DARK stuff. The problem I have is writing about LIGHT, INSPIRING stuff. My characters always have to die. Why can't they live, fall in love, be happy?

[Rizzporsiempre]

Writing fiction comes easily to me. If its any good is another matter.