So relatable! I think we've all gone through this at some point, and I think that's probably why there are so many abandoned WIPs on AO3, which I really wish people would WARN for in giant neon letters or something. Every now and then, I don't notice the chapter counts and am half way into a wonderful fic before I realize it's actually been abandoned. And then I'm all sad and frustrated.
But, I think the thing you have to do is decide on an actual story to tell. And maybe come up with a vague-ish outline or perhaps a list of possible scenes that make your ideas into a story and figure out a few things out first. When I write something, I always ask myself a couple of questions. Does someone have a secret? Does that motivate them? How? And in order to create tension, I need a 'ticking clock' - something that creates a need for the story to move forward and then to be resolved. I find that those two things alone help define most stories and give me a framework to work with. Otherwise, I do exactly as you have said above, and the story never gets written. But, you know, there's also a lot of joy in that, and you learn something about writing even if you don't finish a story. :)
no subject
But, I think the thing you have to do is decide on an actual story to tell. And maybe come up with a vague-ish outline or perhaps a list of possible scenes that make your ideas into a story and figure out a few things out first. When I write something, I always ask myself a couple of questions. Does someone have a secret? Does that motivate them? How? And in order to create tension, I need a 'ticking clock' - something that creates a need for the story to move forward and then to be resolved. I find that those two things alone help define most stories and give me a framework to work with. Otherwise, I do exactly as you have said above, and the story never gets written. But, you know, there's also a lot of joy in that, and you learn something about writing even if you don't finish a story. :)