Writing Passionates discussion
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How To Write
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message 1:
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Lucille
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Aug 21, 2008 09:40PM
Hey guys! I really have this desire to write. But, whenever I get a pen and notebook, all the ideas seem to go away. I couldn't write anything. It happened a couple of times already. What can you guys say about this? Appreciate your comments, suggestions and pieces of advice.
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hum, I dunno. Perhaps... perhaps type? Haha, kidding...
Anyway, perhaps you can try and turn the ideas around in your head for awhile, before you start putting them on paper? Develop them before you put them down?
And maybe practice writing first paragraphs of things, it may get ideas flowing. Start out with a sentence, any sentence and go from there. It doesn't have to make any sense, or have any story to follow along with it. Just write it.
And perhaps that'll give you some ideas, perhaps you can write them down.
Yeah. Also, learn from stuff in life. Just think about things. How something became what it is, alternatives to history even if you want. It all helps. :D
Yay, I hope that I had some alright advice in there, yay! ^.^
Mod
i know it's annoying waiting for an idea to pop up, but you have to be patient. it'll just sneak up on you when you're not expecting it. you could be sitting in math class and suddenly you start envisioning something...
at least that's the way it works for me. i'll be sitting around doing nothing, and suddenly I'll get this picture in my head of a character, in some strange situation. and the story starts writing itself from there.
so i guess the best advice i can give you is... wait. XD i hope that helps... ?
Maybe, before you even begin to write something, just make lists. Lists of ideas, characters, places, scenes. And they don't even have to be lists, maybe even just random notes to yourself jotted on scraps of paper. Then, when you decide to write and the ideas disappear, you can at least look at what you wrote down previously.
Wow! This is all great advice! I know how you feel to an extent, Lucille. Often I'll have ideas and I sit down to write them and suddenly they fly away. I'll sit for hours, my fingers drumming the keyboard. Here's all I can figure: THEY'RE NOT THE RIGHT IDEAS. So like Brigid said, waiting and patience works, but if you're like me, I can't stand just sitting there. I brainstorm in my mind. I don't know if you ever do this, but I replay conversations, thinking how much cooler they could've been. I imagine ninjas crashing in the roof and me fighting them off in the middle of math class or an actual conversation with my crush where we laugh and maybe actually eat lunch together or something. And BAM ideas come! Even if you're not crazy about something, WRITE! Jsut write! Write essays, poetry, notes. Make up a language. You can't get inspiration if you're not constantly thinking of writing. And in order for me to constantly think of it, I have to constantly write, even if its in my head. Crazily, I will imagine words spilling onto an actual page in my mind. Maybe I'm insane, but that's my blurb of advice. : )
What? I write in my head too, yay! I often do that before I ever write anything at all down. ;D
Yay Tate! I'm not a freak!! Hehe... maybe... I'M NOT ALONE!! : )
Hey guys! Thanks for the pieces of advice. They're all very helpful. Brigid, I really like you're advice. Maybe, I am pushing things too much, pressuring myself to write. That's why I always get mental block whenever I have my pen and paper with me. i think I am gonna wait for inspirations and ideas to flow. And, let it be natural. I also think that i should always have a pen and paper with me like E.C suggested. Thanks a lot guys! These are great pieces of advice. I hope there are more to come... hehehe! :)
Hey Tate! You're funny. But, maybe you're right. Maybe, I should type. ;)
Mod
hmmm... i agree with you people that different things work for different people. EX: If i am working (hard--like I am right now on a novel) and I let myself write something else, I won't get back to the novel. Here's the truth: when revising and editing and suffering, we're distracted by new, shiny ideas that are so much more fun. But in time they become just as edit-prone and revising-hard and we start that new bright idea... so in order for me to finish anything, I have to discipline myself. Sure, I write notes on ideas I have so I don't lose them, but I won't let myself write them. Of course, I break my rule alll the time, which isn't so good. Hence the fact that I've only finished (counts fingers....) about five? things... yeah... so just find out what works for you. I don't know if I've given you this before, but there is this amazing website you might find helpful! Here it is:http://notforrobots.blogspot.com/
Mod
in two days my first ever book will be officially two years old. yipeee!!
haha yea brigid!!! I don't remember when I finished my first novel... it was one I wrote due to writers block that I couldn't stop writing... it was finished in a week. I started Sunday and finished the next Sunday. Revisions are still a go-go on that one.... haha
this is an awesome website! I'm going to have to read it when I get more time!
Laini Taylor is amazing... seriously... if you haven't read her book, put it on your list, especially if you like fantasy. Superb!
Mod
it is called Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer. And you are very welcome, Brigid! : )
