Ever felt the tension of sitting in an examination hall with a blank sheet and no idea what to write because suddenly, you feel like there’s been a memory wipe and all you read is gone?

The same scenario occurs two-seat down your aisle but the student doesn’t panic, rather he begins with the ones whose answers can be found in the question paper, then pulls the thread from there until the floodgates of information open up and the answers begin to pour forth.

That’s how it is with crafting a story.

Attacking your story without pulling at the tiny threads, listening to your characters, falling in love with your plot, letting your story lead, acknowledging the importance of listening to the needs of your story other than yours, then there’s a high tendency you are on a collision course with frustration, burn out, mind wipe and creative exhaustion.

It is of great importance to note that, your manuscript has a life of its own. The minute you begin to think about a story, it becomes a separate entity with a mind and abilities of its own. That is why, no two-story – even with the same title – can ever be the same.

Wanting to create the perfect story without allowing the process to lead and guide your writing journey, then there will undoubtedly be a problem in a long run.

Here are 5 Reasons Why Crafting Your Story Is A Struggle and You have found it difficult to connect with the process - An Excerpt From My Ebook: Let Your Manuscript Speak

1. You Are Not In Sync With Your Script

Frustration starts early when your story begins to feel daunting and you cannot figure out how to advance your plot.

Writing without connecting with your script is a colossal waste of creative energy – just like sitting in that examination hall with a blank sheet and deciding to scribble the first thing that comes to mind.

Building sync with your script is simply allowing it to drive your creative energy, piecing together the plots as it occurs and pushing it upward from there.

Do not insist to write out a character, infuse a scene or import a subplot when the story doesn’t call out for one, it may eventually create a gaping hole in your plot that will be staggering to refill in the long run.

2. Not Paying Enough Attention To The Needs Of Your Story

Neglecting to figure out what your story needs at every turn of a chapter and simply forcing your thoughts onto its pages, is as good as shooting yourself in the foot.

Begin the next chapter based on the chapter before it or two chapters before it. For multiple character narration stories, it could take different forms, depending on who’s turn is it to show up and continue their story.

Always listen to what your story needs at every turn – should it be exciting, sad, emotional, adventures, corny, or evil – not just slap on a new page and expect the words to flow like magic.

I’m afraid, that even magic may not help you turn that story into a meaningful work of art.

3. Trying Too Hard To Force Your Ideas Into The Story

Great stories are challenging and demand you follow their lead.

Remaining rigid and begrudgingly refusing to accept these changes is a script bomb waiting to explode.

Why insist on a romantic scene when the characters aren’t showing signs of advancing towards one yet? Why make your character suddenly decide to act out of proportion without proper motive or actions that suddenly changes his character archetype?

The point remains, that if you’re struggling with your manuscript, then you’re doing something wrong.

4. Reluctant To Form An Alliance

You own your story, your script owns itself.

Invariably, it is the boss of you and demands to be heard. Write all you want, but if you do not listen to what your script is preaching at every point, you'll always struggle with advancing your plot.

As an entity on its own, there is a need to build collaborative energy between yourself and your WIP, without which one end would try to dominate over the other.

This is where plotlines can be tweaked to suit both partners and drive the story in an unexpected, spicy, and breathtakingly suspenseful direction that will keep your audience glued to their seats and take their breaths away because they’d never see it coming.

5. Fear of Changing Your Drafted Plot

This has got to be the worst of the worst.

Sticking to the tee by the plot on your draft board is a good way to throw the door wide open and welcome frustration in. It is also a great time to buy more waste bin bags because it’s going to rain crunched papers soon enough.

The one constant thing is change, both in life and in any profession. It is the same with crafting your story.

When your story leads, it is written with heart and soul in it; but when the board leads, it is written on a monotone dial that may or may not give room for the perfect synchronization between author and story.

To gain mastery of how to write a story with considerable ease, create a meaningful connection with your script, and craft stories from your heart, I recommend you get a copy of this Free Resource Ebook to Learn more.