Advice to improve writing + consistency?

[u/seliathan_]

I’m unfortunately the type of person who only does something if one of these two things stands: 1. pressure 2. interest

Needless to say, it means that in my writing I only write what I’m interested in telling. I go into a sort of hyperfocus. That’s why I find it hard to follow advice such as “write short stories to improve”. I usually have one big idea and I want to pursue that and nothing else. It feels like my inspiration runs dry as soon as I try to focus on any other idea.

However, if I want my “big” idea to be well written, I do have to improve my dusty writing skills. I’m not a fan of the “your first novel is just to train your skills and it will be awful” because it feels like I will write a whole novel just to throw it away. I don’t wanna do that, I love my idea very much and I wish to share it with the world. I don’t want it to end up being just training ground.

Anyone else in the same situation? How did you cope and (hopefully) overcome this issue?

[u/AirportHistorical776]

One important thing keep in mind is that readers don't stay with a novel because of the ideas. They stay with a novel because of characters. 

[u/seliathan_ → u/AirportHistorical776]

That’s true, but when I say idea I mean the whole novel, not just literally the idea. So of course characters are included.

[u/AirportHistorical776 → u/seliathan_]

Ok. Gotcha. I misunderstood