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Hey Parimis!

So, as some of you may remember, many moons ago I was working on a  long fantasy series called The Alpha Saga, but set it aside towards the end of August for various reasons. I outlined those reasons here. I also mentioned that I was working on a new standalone novel, set some goals I had for completing it, and fully intended to tell you all about it shortly after. But… I never did. I could name a myriad of excuses for that, but the main two being that I was busy (and so was everyone else), and that after about a month or so of working on it, I didn’t feel that I was connecting with the characters and the plot didn’t interest me, so I dumped it.

The reason I’m posting is…well…I’m in desperate need of help. I’ve been writing and telling stories since I learned how to form my letters, and yet I have only ever finished a draft of three of them—one when I was six, one when I was nine, and Forgiving Footprints, which I stopped working on almost exactly a year ago. I just can’t seem to find a story I can stick with. I work on them like crazy for a short while, and then I completely lose all interest in them. Forgiving Footprints and The Alpha Saga are the only two that I feel ever became special to me, and one I stopped because I decided I outgrew it (talking cats and dogs and foxes…xD), and the other I set aside because I wanted more practice and experience before I attempted to tackle what I thought was my best idea.

I’ve long had this problem with finding a story that really means something to me, and sticking with it. I also struggle with getting overwhelmed by all the possibilities and things I need to consider for my story. As I began to focus more on honing my craft, that became more of a problem. I thought that setting aside the long series would help, but I continue to struggle.

Since August, I’ve gone through several ideas, but none of them have really clicked with me. I felt like I was forcing them out, and I have been totally unsatisfied with what I’ve come up with. I kept thinking maybe I just hadn’t found the right story, so I kept starting over with new ideas. And the cycle just keeps repeating.

I’m stuck. I’m struggling with so many things in my story, and I just want to quit. I’m outright discouraged, but I’m still desperate to find the right story and write. Whatever creative power I had in me seems dead, and I’ve spent the past several months getting almost nothing done writing-wise. Most of this is due to school. There’s very little time left after homework and chores, and the stress has drained my energy. I sit down to write, but nothing comes to me except despair. I feel so trapped in this cycle, and I don’t know what to do.

I know everyone experiences something like this at some point, so what do you do when you want to give up, when inspiration eludes you for months on end, and you are feeling overwhelmed in your struggles to write? I didn’t want to bring this up because I don’t want to make this all about me, and I don’t want to complain. But if there’s anything God has taught me in my writing journey, it’s that I can’t rely on myself to sort out my problems. I need Him, and I need you other writers, because it’s impossible to do this alone. What do I do? Do I pick a story, and keep fighting through it, even if it doesn’t seem to mean anything to me? Do I try to find something else? Do I force myself to take a break, even though I’m desperate to keep going?

Thank you so much for listening to me ramble. I’m thankful beyond words that God has led me to this community. You’ve been a huge encouragement to me, and I pray I can do the same for you.

@j-a-penrose @evelyn @ariella-newheart @pursuewisdom @taylorclogston @julia @cassie-hartfinh @anyone