Writing Frustrations

[flighty_dreams]

Sorry, if you don't feel like hearing a rant, go ahead and skip this. XD There are also a couple excerpts from what I've been writing of Spliced, if that helps.

I don't know why I'm having so much trouble with the next chapter. I started it and it was going okay if really slow, but then my characters hijacked the chapter and went off in this other direction. I stopped once I realized that what I was writing wasn't usable. And besides being frustrated by having to do a rewrite, part of me is also disappointed because well, it had a lot of smut. Good smut, or at least I think it was. But you can judge for yourself, although these are sorta taken out of context. Here are a couple samples:

He stroked Matt’s rigid cock again experimentally, enjoying how much it affected the man. Matt quivered, and he exhaled harshly.

“Stop.”

The same command as before, said just as weakly, while lust and frustration still waged a battle in Matt’s eyes.

Alex stilled his hand, but kept it cupping Matt’s groin teasingly as he observed, “If you really wanted me to stop, you’d push my hand away.”

Or, there's this part:

Alex’s own need was clouding his thoughts, but he knew Matt was much closer to the edge than he was. His fingers danced wickedly, finding a rhythm, and Matt thrust helplessly into his hand. He knew it wasn’t as much contact as the Kartan wanted, but it would be enough.

Between forceful thrusts of his tongue – no doubt imitating what his cock wanted to do to him – Matt was muttering a mix of curses and lewd descriptions of things he wanted to do to him.

Some of them weren’t even physically possible, but that wasn’t the point, Alex thought with a smile. It all told him that Matt was very close, and still very much himself. Most men would’ve been begging him by now; instead Matt was cursing him. Typical.

....And I'm throwing it all out. Done, can't look at it anymore, and I blame Matt for being an ass. I'm over it now, but at the time I really wanted to hit him. >.< Anyways, I'm hoping somewhere further down the line I'll be able to use the smut. But the scene as a whole doesn't work. The porn itself is fine plot-wise, but it heads off in another direction where it doesn't fit. Sigh.

So I started over, rewriting the chapter. Got about 900 words in and I'm stuck... AGAIN. Gah, I don't know what to do. Probably just need to mull it over at home or something, but I'm frustrated because I want to write NOW. What annoys me also is that I DO have a detailed summary for this chapter. But I feel like I want to change it, or expand it, or something. I dunno, and I'm waiting on la Muse to tell me.

Hopefully that happens very soon. I also thought about writing something else, like a flashback to Kristech I've been toying with, but I'm not sure if I want to go there at the moment. We'll see.

Sorry for the random rant. I felt the need to vent.

Comments

[twicet.livejournal.com]

Sorry you are having a hard time with this part. I have to say, I rather hope that "smut" makes it in at some point, I did like it *g*

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the support. *grin* I will definitely try! Something about Matt cursing him and dirty talking at the same time just kills me. In a totally good way. :D

Back to attempting to write...

[ocotillo-dawn.livejournal.com]

I have a long scene in Violet/Tom that is smutty as hell. And gently funny, too. Involves an eggplant.

Restate: I had a scene. It still lurks somewhere, all ~2000 words of it, on a 'deleted scenes' file in the folder for that story.

Sometimes I think that once the story is done, I could turn it into a short. Sort of a consolation for the agony of tossing it.

Er. Restate. It wasn't that tossing it was agonizing, per se... but the nearly full week of rewrites, replaces, stewing, bitching, moaning, whining before I finally realized it had to go, simply because it didn't fit the plot... THAT was agonizing. Feeling like I'd wasted a full week.

But that time isn't wasted. It is time spent learning your characters, I figure.

*sigh*. I so sympathize.

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's where this one is going, saved in some alternate file that won't be seen for a long time, if ever. XD

And yes, I know exactly what you mean. It's not just the act of writing it - which isn't so bad - it's all the other work you mentioned, struggling with it.

And you're right, it is also all time spent learning more about your characters. This is actually my 3rd iteration of this story, and it's come a very long way. I've learned a lot. ;)

Thanks for the sympathy! And good luck with your own writing. :D

[lab-jazz.livejournal.com]

Sorry that Matt isn't cooperating with you :(

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

Well, he exists in Stubborn Mode 90% of the time, after all. I suppose I should be used to it. XD

Thanks for the support! I've made a little progress at least, since posting.

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

Sorry Matt is giving you problems. *pouts*...wants smut please.

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

Oh don't worry, there will be smut dammit. Even if I have to chain them both down to a bed and... er, sorry lost my train of thought there... XD

Ahem, thanks for the sympathy! :D

[freece.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that you're stuck! (Is it too early for smut? Or just the wrong kind of smut? Would it help to talk about the plot issues in a more detailed way?)

I really liked the 'cursing him, typical' line about Matt from the snippet. I would love that to go in somewhere, at some point. :D

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

Oh it's not too early for smut... and the smut itself wasn't the problem... it was the direction it umm... degenerated into. XD Basically, they couldn't stop fighting long enough to even FINISH the sex, and that's just all kinds of wrong. :( I mean, not even angry sex got done! How does that even happen?!

And yes, I am really pleased with that line. Totally gonna use it later. XD

Hmm yeah, it would probably help to talk about plot issues in a more detailed way, but I'll refrain on here. XD Thanks!

[ilovetobefree.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about you (and your "trouble" with writing a new chapter almost all last week, crossing fingers it would work. I'm sorry it didn't.*Sigh*
I'm not writer (you know :)), but as much as I can say, I liked the two parts.(Especially Alex's thoughts. *Smile*)

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

Well, some progress has been made at least, so this week isn't a total waste. Even writing that other scene that I posted those bits from wasn't a waste. I still had fun writing it, just a shame I can't use it right now. Ah well. One day I hope!!

Alex's dirty, dirty thoughts... ahem. ;)

[ilovetobefree.livejournal.com]

Alex's dirty, dirty thoughts... ahem. ;)
*grins*

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

I have spent all afternoon today in Alex's dirty, dirty mind. *grin* 1800 words written today, yay! :D

[ilovetobefree.livejournal.com]

YAY, that's great! *Smile*
I'm looking forward to reading those 1800 words (or more :))