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Writers: Have you ever had an idea for a short story, but you just couldn't get it out on paper?

I'm an amateur writer. I want to write a story. It will be broken up into parts, probably 3-4 parts. However, I'm having a hard time starting the first part, though. I can visualize it, but I can't write it. Does this mean that the story isn't very good? What do you suggest, should I give up writing it?

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    Best Answer (Chosen by Voting):

    Makessense - 66-70 years old - male

    Posted by Makessense Dec 17th, 2012 at 7:01PM

    Write the part (two, three, or four) and then go back. In my novel I had it divided into two parts and often wrote a story in part two and went to part one to fill in a precursor of why the character "acted" as they did in part two. So it helped in continuity and added to the story.

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8 Answers to "Writers: Have you ever had an idea for a short story, but you just couldn't get it out on paper?"

  1. 5thApprentice - 18-21 years old - male

    Posted by 5thApprentice Dec 17th, 2012 at 7:03PM

    Write down the idea and basic outline of that specific part and come back to it later. Or start on another part then come back to the first one. Sometimes it helps just to write everything that comes to mind for a solid hour then edit it. Too often people edit as they write which hinders progress.

    Like (3)

  2. BonnMkII - 31-35 years old - male

    Posted by BonnMkII Dec 17th, 2012 at 7:16PM

    How about story boards as in pieces of loose leaf paper with little doodles of what you think could happen in the future of the book or things that define the characters in it. Chill, instrumental background music... um, pictures! lots and lots of random pictures.

    Like (2)

  3. redmaple - 56-60 years old - male

    Posted by redmaple Dec 17th, 2012 at 7:14PM

    l suggest concentration no distractions and start writing anything even gibberish. Apply self hypnosis into a writing state and self discipline.

    Like (2)

  4. PollySyllabacus - 22-25 years old - female

    Posted by PollySyllabacus Dec 17th, 2012 at 7:05PM

    As everyone else has said, write the parts you have down and come back to fill in the blanks later. Good luck!

    Like (2)

  5. Pumpkinseeds - 22-25 years old - female

    Posted by Pumpkinseeds Dec 17th, 2012 at 7:00PM

    When this happens I usually just write my ideas down on paper or if I have the middle and the ending of the story already formed, I will write that down. Overtime I will get the beginning of the story and then I can edit the whole thing in full as I please.

    Hope that helps :-).

    Like (2)

  6. KeasbeyNights - 22-25 years old - male

    Posted by KeasbeyNights Dec 17th, 2012 at 6:59PM

    Just get it all out on paper, even if it's crap. That's what edits are for. If after editing it a whole series of times you just can't make it work, move on to the next one.

    Like (2)

  7. grayday104 - 22-25 years old - male

    Posted by grayday104 Dec 17th, 2012 at 6:58PM

    I think you're trying to hard just let it come to you

    Like (2)

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