That one little thing....

[CharleeVale]

So I'm frustrated....

During the summer I was working on My Mss like crazy. Things were going well. I've completely stopped.

Partly because school is hard and I'm busy, and partly because I'm missing that one little thing. I'm close. I know the way the story has to end (That's new for me). I know the obstacles. But I feel like there's a piece missing. Not a big one, but that one little plot point or motivation that's keeping me from connecting me from Point A to Point B. and it's driving me CRAZY!

*Sad face* I really want to be able to finish the draft. Because I have some great ideas on edits, but I want to finish first! Gah!

Thanks for letting me ooze my frustrations.

CV

[polymath]

For years my narratives short and long languished for the one little thing I couldn't put a finger to, let alone scratch at the edges of. Round and round investigating the SPICED robin I went again and again. I experienced cascading, globe-shaking writing epiphanies when I first passed the threshold into realizing theme as a unifying strategy.

Not a little thing after all, which had been my approach to theme before. Such a seemingly unnecessary and trivial attribute theme is. Yet theme's as relevant and far reaching and influential as setting, as plot, as character, event, and discourse. More so in the sense theme's a filter by which a whole and its discrete parts may be evaluated, considering theme's unifying value to influence readers settling in to a coherent participation mystique experience, and writing with an appreciation for what's relevant and what's not.

From a central theme all things derive, be it a dramatic conflict, causation, tension, antagonism, settings, plot, ideas, characters, events, and discourse. Even an inspiration made creative vision shared with an approving audience niche.

What's the theme? Answering that question might be the liberating one little thing.

[Nicole R]

This might seem like counterintuitive advice, but I'd say get some space from it (not the frustrated "I just don't have time to work on it" space, but a real, purposeful decision to let it be for a while). If you've been hitting the bricks all summer, you might need to get away and let your thoughts and ideas ruminate. It's amazing how often I've stumbled onto "that one little thing" in the middle of the night or in the shower, when I'm not even actively thinking about my book.

The muse has a funny way of showing itself sometimes.

It'll come.

And then things'll start to fall into place and you can finish!!

[AnimaDictio]

I don't know if this qualifies as "one little thing" but I often wonder of my writings: is this funny enough? is this emotional enough? is this suspenseful enough? is this enlightening enough?

And I go back again and again looking for something to throw in to make it Wham! Pow! Zap!

I find those add-ins by meditating on other writings that have inspired me: the bible, romance novels, Kevin Costner movies (don't judge me!), Star Trek (okay, you can judge me), etc.

[dios4vida]

I find those add-ins by meditating on other writings that have inspired me: the bible, romance novels, Kevin Costner movies (don't judge me!), Star Trek (okay, you can judge me), etc.

Star Trek is understandable, but Kevin Costner...?? Just kidding, AnimaDictio. Couldn't help it. (I grew up on Star Trek and married a hardcore Trekkie.)

I'd say that if you know the ending, then go ahead and write it. The one little thing may come to you as you put in those amazing-awesome ideas during editing. To hang up the writing entirely just for than ethereal pazzazz we're all looking for could be dangerous, if it leads to a solid case of Writer's Block.

[CharleeVale]

So I just wrote the ending like you suggested with this new piece of music I found. I. Cried. So. Hard.

Omw guys. Wow. That was hard.

phew.

CV

[Sanderling]

So I just wrote the ending like you suggested with this new piece of music I found. I. Cried. So. Hard.

I love when that happens in writing. Even though, as the author, you know what's coming, you're still so caught up in these characters that as you type it out you can't help but feel it and be moved to tears.

[Cookie]

So I just wrote the ending like you suggested with this new piece of music I found. I. Cried. So. Hard.

I did that with the ending of my ms. I think I cried so hard, I had a migraine the next day.

I was going to suggest maybe trying to get "one little thing" in during edits? Just get through the story now, and as your editing, try to figure out what "it" is. Sometimes that helps.

[GingerWrite]

I cried like that when I finished off the climax of my novel. It was such an emotional release to lead the MC through their greatest adventure. I think I wanted her to succeed as much as she did. If that makes any sense...