Does writing novel longer make us lose our ideas and exhausted?

[thegingernut]

There's a certain kind of writer who writes an establishing scene and then writes episodic stories until they run out of them. If profession obligates them like in the case of Ranma ½ then when they run out of ideas or are canceled by executives for poor performance, they'll write a weak ending that answers the initial question of the show, without really considering all that happened in between. Without shareholders to appease, they'll abandon the project without ceremony.

Personally, I don't care for that. I actively avoid incomplete stories on scribblehub because I don't trust their writer to finish them. To me, a perpetually unanswered question is an act of intentional malice, designed to keep me coming back for what usually turns out to be a disappointing answer when they finally deign to reveal their lore. And I decided that if I'm going to write something, I better know how it ends before I start. As for how that's going… well stay tuned because the debts of my foreshadowing just came due.

If I never write a longform story again after this, well at least I'll have ended on my terms.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Writing in English. You can still write in Tagalog or Visayan.

I've been given similar suggestions before, but you underestimate the Filipinos' love for reading, or rather, the lack of it.

Yes, there may be market for Filipino novels, mainly Wattpad-like stories, consumed mostly by females, written mostly by females. And many of them come from upper-middle class families who have access and TIME to read online. For me, whose students come from public schools? They'd rather spend their money on food and other necessities, or tire themselves following TikTok trends, than give time to read books, or what I wrote.

Someone even said I 'create' my path/way, suggesting I do something like Mark Twain or other established authors did, like found my publishing house, or teach students the love for reading. A noble idea, but with our economic situation back here, it's close to impossible, especially if you're alone in your advocacy.

Spoiler: For that Flip who choose to 'correct' me...

Addendum: Now, if some random Flip would contest my claims here, lemme tell you I've been forced to 'volunteer' in the ARAL Program--the Philippine Department of Education's flagship program to help Filipino students improve their literacy. And I'd say now, I love books and reading, but the months I was there were PURE HELL. I was on the front lines trying to help the failing Philippine education; you're not.

So, manahimik ka.

 

[BearlyAlive]

You guys actually write stuff?!?

 

[Dawnathon]

Writing a longer novel is only a bad idea when the story doesn't need it and it's being done of some sort of self-imposed obligation. If anything, writing a single long novel makes it infinitely harder to run out of ideas, because you'll always be working in the same general framework and setting. It's a great idea to branch out solely so you can experiment with story ideas that wouldn't fit in with your main novel(s).

 

[Sylver]

Any task takes its toll over a period of time, don't be afraid to call for a break now and then. Burnout and writers block are the most common reasons for writers to pause their work it happens.

Getting started on a new story and taking a break is easy.

It's getting back from your break and finishing the story that's the hard part.

 

[TheKillingAlice]

You guys actually write stuff?!?

I'm shocked as well, sometimes.