Writing anyone ever get burnt out from planning?

Shamiko

Ur resident demon gurl <333
Joined
Sep 20, 2022
Messages
83
Points
93
Just curious tbh. I constantly find myself yearning for the moment to start writing the actual story after I understand the world I'm writing the story in, the characters to an extent, and the general plot and themes.

Plot twist: I have a really hard time getting to that point LOL. ig i js get overwhelmed from all the information that pops up as I get inspired and the fact that the process takes a little while.

idk anyone else experience this? any tips maybe? js a thought
 

Yamemai

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
63
Points
58
Same, get inspired & jot down notes of the setting and world, and as the inspiration wanes, struggle to continue. -- Kinda like I juiced all I could.

No tips to help, but maybe, try to figure out what inspired you, what you use to build the setting, etc, and build up knowledge related to it?
 

Agentt

Thighs
Joined
Oct 8, 2020
Messages
3,546
Points
183
Planning is a very exhausting process mn.

You could maintain notes of every individual character about their traits, motivations, goals etc.

You can make some check points in your story to act as short term goal. Like mini bosses to defeat within an arc.

Mnh, art of any kind is sadly something that can never be finished. Art can only be out down. So if you keep obsessing over completing things to perfection: you will never start. Sometimes you just have to appreciate that completing something is more important than doing it perfectly.
TLDR: just start writing and go into flow state
 

Fondofwisdom

New member
Joined
Nov 15, 2025
Messages
12
Points
3
I get where your coming from, I like planning the background of what I'm writing a lot but it becomes hard when all those pieces are on the board for the actual story.
 

Agentt

Thighs
Joined
Oct 8, 2020
Messages
3,546
Points
183
A thing you can do darling, and while this may sound boring: this is as valid form of writing as any is;

If you are super into world building like that and all;

You can make your story behind like a history book. Or an encyclopedia. Focusing on the world instead of individual characters.
 

Shamiko

Ur resident demon gurl <333
Joined
Sep 20, 2022
Messages
83
Points
93
A thing you can do darling, and while this may sound boring: this is as valid form of writing as any is;

If you are super into world building like that and all;

You can make your story behind like a history book. Or an encyclopedia. Focusing on the world instead of individual characters.
yesss I was actually thinking of doing that it seemed fun and helpful
 

Paul__Michaels

Just a below average author.
Joined
Feb 9, 2023
Messages
542
Points
133
Just curious tbh. I constantly find myself yearning for the moment to start writing the actual story after I understand the world I'm writing the story in, the characters to an extent, and the general plot and themes.

Plot twist: I have a really hard time getting to that point LOL. ig i js get overwhelmed from all the information that pops up as I get inspired and the fact that the process takes a little while.

idk anyone else experience this? any tips maybe? js a thought
I mean, it depends on what type of story you are writing. Like, if it is something that needs realism or is a mystery, you need to iron out a lot of logistics of the story or it won't get the desired ending or satisfying conclusion. But if it is a learn as you go type of fantasy, then if you leave it vague enough to fill in the blanks with the MC, then you don't need as much RnD. I love the discovery part of writing, a fish out of water scenario where we learn about the world through the MC's eyes.

But I get that not every writer likes to come up with things on the fly. So, do what you got to do to help you get your story put together.
 

LiteraryWho

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 22, 2022
Messages
218
Points
103
I'm rather the opposite. I love planning and world building, but don't really like writing narrative. I could probably spend years planning a story, only to get the the part where the actual work has to start and start dragging my feet.
 

melchi

What is a custom title?
Joined
May 2, 2021
Messages
2,886
Points
153
I thought shamiko and agentt were the same person....
 

CharlesEBrown

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2024
Messages
4,733
Points
158
No - but then, decades of running roleplaying games made me understand how overplanning can backfire badly.
 

eagle_360

New member
Joined
Mar 11, 2026
Messages
14
Points
3
Just curious tbh. I constantly find myself yearning for the moment to start writing the actual story after I understand the world I'm writing the story in, the characters to an extent, and the general plot and themes.

Plot twist: I have a really hard time getting to that point LOL. ig i js get overwhelmed from all the information that pops up as I get inspired and the fact that the process takes a little while.

idk anyone else experience this? any tips maybe? js a thought

I have found that eventually, as much as you plan. Things would probably slip through and need to be caught embarrassingly by beta-readers.


So just don't think of too many info, instead just write an mini end goal that the story would reach in four-five chapters. Then once the goal is reached, make a new one.



This is how I like to prep and put in breadcrumbs to get to the mini end goal:

End goal 1 (5 chapters later) : The group find a dragon hiding in a barn with a birthday cake
- A villager mentions hearing a loud roaring noise
- Find a lot of burn marks in a clearing
- The local blacksmith smells a lot of cake batter in his forge at night
- The group finds droppings of huge sizes with a recipe of a birthday cake along a trail
 
Top