Anyone else have probs finishing stories he/she has started?

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I write fanfiction, and have so many unfinished stories. I just run out of ideas, and never bother to plan the stories from beginning to end, as I'll just come up with a premise. Any advice? What have your experiences been?

I have a similar problem with creating animated movies with powerpoint (very possible). I work on it for such a long time, months, but I get bored and never finish them

Yes, actually, I am a writer and I do have that problem. I remember one time when I started writing a story for a web site and I basically got about half way though it and... um...

...damn, did it again.

Seriously, when I write a longer piece of work, I begin by using a rough outline, just a sketch of the story with basic plot. I will then write a more detailed outline, including character descriptions, precise settings, etc., and only after that will I write the first draft of the story.

Having a detailed outline keeps me on track, because Ii have something to follow that is already well-prepared. Iit gives me something to follow when get stuck or something else attracts my attention.

I started writing a story once and had this same problem.

I've never finished any stories that I've started. That's why I don't even bother to write anymore.

my grandpa once said to me that when writting a story you should start by writting the ending because it helps you finish the story. I tried and actually it helps.

What is this "finish" word in relation to stories?

I finished a book once. It was lost and I only have the ending, and I haven't been able to write backwards either.

Tell me about it. In many things I do, including writing, I get to the 24th of 25 steps and move away or start over or freeze.

I have this problem with every book or short story I have written before, either due to writers block or boredom.
Apparently it's a common problem for aspiring writers.

I have a lot of problems starting anything that I start, and writing is just part of it.

do you have problems keeping it on track? that's whats keeping me from finnishing, i can't kill my darlings eighter.
I have so many little pieces of paper and documents about one story, it's going to drive me crazy soon.
It keeps changing shape and the orginial "plot" is just lost. The sad thing is most of the "angles" are good so i can't kill them.
I can't decide what to do so it all stands still, or the pile builds up...

my classical problem is:
i get piece of a conversation, "a scene", a quote or a sentence ect. And i really want to make something out of it
But it might not match into the story or anyhting else. and yeah i lose interest too..im mostly interested in the latest "stump"
i got in my notebook and make the same old empty promise to make something out THAT instead, take THAT direction instead. I hate it. any advice?

I have the same sort of problem. My guess is that it is a "executive disfunction" problem where making a specific decision and focusing on a single line of action is very difficult.

But most writers, Aspie or NT, have to struggle with this. I think what it comes down to is this is one of the things that makes writing difficult. It's easy to come up with the initial idea. But making it work as a structured story can be very hard. It takes daily effort of figuring out plot elements, character details and scene descriptions. It's a skill that can take 10 or 15 years just to get to a minimum level of acceptable quality.

I think because I had a fairly different view on reality, I could come up with interesting stories and I was able to get by on that for a while. But the hard work of creating a viable structure and characters that seemed interesting just became too much for me. I may dig into writing again soon, but I think it is best done with a lot of discipline and a recognition that it is difficult, lonely work.

I have a problem finishing stories too. I come up with an idea I like and begin writing it down, but after a while I tire of the concept and abandon it. I don't know if it's a symptom of some mental disorder or if it's simply a lack of self-discipline.