Struggling

[ARGHtoAHHH]

Hello

Not sure why I am posting, but maybe if I write out what I am struggling with I can work out where I am going wrong and find a solution. If anyone writes a reply, its a bonus - and thank you in advance if you do

I am trying to turn a short story into a novel. I wrote the short story (400 odd words) a while ago, and its just been sitting there doing nothing.

Now that I am trying to "fill it out" I am struggling with the finer details of the character, where she has come from, what she is going through. I can't even decide her age! She stared off at 11yo, now I am thinking she should be 17. Her voice has become too mature for an 11 year old child. In fact her voice has started to become very muddled. Perhaps I should consider third person.

I can't even work out what era she is living! Or whether she goes to school or not (truant? or was never registered with a school - i.e. her parents kept her indoors, as a sort of secret child - is this even possible? And if so, where does her beloved grandfather come into it?)

In the short story, her late grandfather was her rock, the only person who loved or understood her - but then again, if that is so, why would he allow her to be treated in the way her parents treat her?

I honestly feel like completely giving up

Try drawing a basic picture on some paper of the central character and "interviewing" her about her life, her interests, her ambitions.
Sounds crazy, but once you view her as a whole person it'll be easier to write her story.
I'm working on a sequel to my first novella, and have lost momentum after a good start. I need a kick up the bum to get it written too. Perhaps we could egg each other on?

That's a really good idea, SpareTime. Thank you. I will try this technique and hopefully get to grips with the character. It was so bloody easy when it was a short story!

I really struggle with not going back over stuff I've already written, too. I get stuck on grammar and wording - its like i have to get everything perfect before I can move on. I have to fight the urge to go back to the beginning section and start over. I have done it 3 times already! Its just a waste of time, and means I will never get to the end.

Good idea with the egging each other on. I have a tendency to get fed up and stop writing altogether but if I have you kicking me up the arse, I may just get there

Once you have the basic plot of the story pinned down, write the chapter headings, then summarise what happens in each chapter (do it in bold type or another colour if you're worried about it ending up in the finished story).
I find the blank page more daunting than anything else when it comes to writing, my first aim is always to get something, anything down even if it's drivel. I can always take it out later.

Okay - written the basic plot, and have started the character "interview".

Basic plot does have a few holes - will have to work on that. It doesn't sound convincing as it is right now.

The "interview" - struggling a bit to be honest. I feel like I really don't know my character. I know what drives her, but the personality traits I think she should have in regards to what she has been through (she should be meek, scared, introverted, downtrodden); is not the personality traits I want her to have (creative, bolshy, strong). I am also considering that she may be on the autistic spectrum - her voice, as it is now, seems to be that way somehow.

I don't know what her hobbies are - she isn't really allowed to have hobbies or friends or have individual thoughts (she is oppressed by her abusive father).

This is hard.

In her position, I'd probably develop a strong inner world, an imaginative place to escape where my oppressor could never reach me. This would be consistent with how Aspergers presents in females (there was a thread on it yesterday). I'd advise researching autistic spectrum presentation in girls/women to make sure you represent the condition sensitively yet accurately.

good call with the inner world - that's what I was thinking of but the thought never quite congealed in my mind - so thank you.

Yes I have done a lot of reading and researching about autism and aspergers recently, on a personal level (I suspect one of my nephews has it, and also an adult I know). I don't know a great deal about women/girls on the spectrum, I read one article about it recently, I will have to read a lot more. I would hate to misrepresent it.

I don't think her condition would be spoken about or mentioned explicitly; she definitely will not have been diagnosed. But I can try and portray her traits in a more subtle way.

I'm off to find the female aspergers thread again (I did start to read it yesterday but lost it)

SpareTime - thank you for being here