Well, perhaps you're approaching things the wrong way...

It's been said before and I'll say it again: you can't force good writing.
It simply is impossible.  You have to find that one idea, stick to it, and
write it all out the way it wants* to come out (but nothing like Aliens,
right?).  Sure, it sounds cliched, but sometimes that the way it is.

How are you approaching your writing?  I've spoken to you before, and
sometimes it sounds like you're trying to do too much simultaneously...
But then again, who am I to talk?

Stick to it, but don't force it, would be my advice.  As others have said
before me, writing fanfiction is an endeavor in personal passion.  You
have to find the idea.  Trust me, you'll know when it is.  It's the one
that's going to break your skull open if you don't write it.

Giving up is the last thing you should od.  Having problems writing is
natural.  Try something different to get your mind off of it, or simply do
something to help bring things together...

While writing my current project, I found myself stumped tons of times.
Most of the time, it was at a crucial point that didn't want to work
itself out, or it was at a passage I couldn't write out for the life of
me...  At that point, I went back to what I'd written, read it once over,
and then stepped back for a break.  By the time I'd gotten back to
writing, it just came out.  Still stumped?  I went to drawing character
sketches to help solidify character images and to help direct the mood and
flow of the story.  Still not working?  Change the atmosphere of the room.
Still not working?  Go to bed.  Let your subconcious do the dirty work.

If all else fails, give it to someone who can help.  Someone with
experience.  Something they say might start everything up again.

Don't give up.  That the slowest and dumbest way of getting a fanfic
done...


	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
                                  
Ethan Tsai                                                       
Carleton College                         
One North College Street           
Northfield, MN 55057              
*Email:                           
 TSAIE@Carleton.edu                 
 TSAIE@Gridley.acns.Carleton.edu           
tel#:(507)646-4902
HTTP://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html