Soft writing advice.
Keep it simple.
This was a hard lesson for me over the years. I’d want to plan a complex multi-layered story that was grander and smarter than I was. And I’d end up with too much going on, and the story would continue to get more and more complex and out of control. Then I’d lose motivation, I’d lose confidence, and I’d give up. I wouldn’t know how to fix it.
Over the years I found that when writing a story, when starting a story, start with the simplest idea. The most basic bitch idea. And just outline that idea. How to get from the start to the tentative ending you envision.
Because when you start writing, and you begin fleshing everything out with actual story, the idea and the story get more complex all on their own. The story tends to be alive, and evolves as you write. And you’ll often find that the simple story isn’t as simple anymore, but it’s not out of control, it’s not bigger than you. It’ll make itself grander, without you starting it that way. Your confidence in your writing will grow when you are able to complete these stories.
This advice might not work for everyone, and that’s fine. But I hope it helps some writers out there who were like me.
