I Have Problems Too

I hope no one ever comes under the illusion that I have writing completely figured out. And after posting so many tips telling people how to improve their writing, I really hope I don't give the impression that I think I'm the perfect writer. Because I am really not. As a matter of fact, right now I'm going to share one of my ongoing problems with you guys.

I absolutely love detail, especially when I'm writing. I can't help adding all these little plot twists and character relationships, even after I tell myself that I need to keep it simple. Why do I always do this? I don't know. I think it's because I somehow feel accomplished when I write in those dimensions.

Accomplished or not, I always end up with what I like to call 'a plate of spaghetti'. It's so tangled that you look at it and groan, "How on earth am I ever going to make them connect?"

And that's the main point of a book. It has to connect. It can be as complicated and accomplished as the author wants it to, but if the factors don't add up all you have is a jumbled, senseless mess.

'Jumbled, senseless mess'--that's exactly how you can describe so many of my projects. Every time I start rewriting, I tell myself to stick with the simple necessities. A couple chapters later and I have so much detail that I'm extremely confused.

Folks, if the author of the book is confused it's guaranteed that the reader will be too.

As I write, something pops into my head and I think, "Oh, that's sounds cool!" and I add it in. The next thing I know, I have to change the whole gist of my plot so that little detail will connect. A couple more, and my plot doesn't even end up at the same place that I intended it too.

Yeah, there's the whole 'let the story unwind and go where it wants to' point, but that goes only to a certain extent. It destroys the whole purpose of writing a book--to connect--when your story gets so overgrown you can't sneak through it without getting completely tangled.

So, that's my problem. Ahhh...it felt really good to get that off my shoulders in this rambling post. Now, here's my question. Two of them, actually.

Do you guys ever have this problem?

Do you have any suggestions for me?

Any opinions or thoughts?

Okay, so that was three. Official proof that I can't count.

Yours without wax,

Izori