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Post by En1gma on Aug 25, 2016 20:34:17 GMT -5
It's more about the love for writing in general... I've always had a knack for it, so it's been easy for me to get inspired and write.
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Post by Officer Genious on Aug 25, 2016 20:46:19 GMT -5
It's more about the love for writing in general... I've always had a knack for it, so it's been easy for me to get inspired and write. Lucky. I lost most of that inspiration stressing too much in college. But hey, I'll get back there eventually. |
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Post by Zer0Winds on Aug 29, 2016 0:29:23 GMT -5
I've always tried getting into writing. This thread has given me some ideas actually. I especially like En1gma's Chaos Theorist one, at the beginning.
However my troubles in writing is usually beginning it... as in, the first few pages... can't figure out how it should begin, and stuff. And names. I can't get good names. Characters, places, the story itself...
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 29, 2016 0:59:27 GMT -5
What if a Seer learns the truth to something that would unravel the entire kingdom? A betrayal, or a plot of some sort... I see that Necromancer as someone who never status in one place, but always has his ears to the ground. Should he hear of a wrongful death, or a tragic incident that left little closure he would go and at least try to give it to them, or grant one last evening with their loved one. I could see that going one of two ways: he is feared, hated, and treated as a pariah. Or, and the one he so desperately seeks-- he would be loved for it. He could bring a widow the words she never heard, or a child their father they never met or lost too soon. I kinda want to write about this poor guy... I don't get it. How do you simply want to write something instead of making it an effort to get words on a page? I can get excited just fine, but thinking about putting work into it kills my flow like the Hoover Dam. Allow me to answer this... Sometimes you get a burst of inspiration, but it isn't enough to start a cohesive prose flow. I could be very wrong but I believe it was Stephen King that helped me through those Muse Moments. His suggestion was to carry around a pen/pencil and some 3X5 index cards. Whenever a Muse Moment hits...jot it down before you lose it. Pin that to a wall at home (or corkboard). Gather enough of these and while many/most may not seem like much separately, they could very well be colluded together to form a narrative. The two hardest things for nearly all writers, especially fiction; are 1) getting a story started and 2) continuing a story {especially if there are interruptions}. Maybe this idea will help others. Granted that advice was offered in Danse Macabre (if memory serves correctly) and that was written back in the 80s before home computing exploded and LONG before the premise of a smartphone was thought of. Now, I can use an app like Evernote which will never ever lose these little MMs and I am not limited to just typing! I can use voice to type, draw, take an inspiring picture, etc...and all within the same note. Hope that helps. |
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 29, 2016 1:11:38 GMT -5
For some, the next step after gathering these little MMs will be to write up a very simple outline. You don't have to use typical literary structure and your outline will very well go through drafts as your writing does.
Once you have a (very) rough outline that expands on one or more MM...you should attempt to work on character sketches. I like to give at least 3 firm Does and Don'ts for each character at first. By that, I mean these are closer to Nature and Demeanour...these are the things that your character will always do in some capacity as it is essential to their character and things that your character will never do.
I've found that these character sketches will go through drafts too as you'll most likely want some character development (especially for protagonist and possibly even antagonist). A good visual description or actual picture/painting/drawing, etc may also help to keep that character firmly in mind. Setting those baselines will also help you later in editing so that you don't write yourself into a corner or break your character by making them become unrelatable (even to themselves).
You are most likely not going to need much for more bit or side characters that are only in your story for a short period of time...so just a few sentences that define those characters is all that is necessary.
In fact, while the ideas that I've eschewed here may not work for everyone, I've found myself coming back to these 'routines' for everything from prose to PnP adventure/module design to even the comic book writing I've done.
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 29, 2016 1:14:47 GMT -5
Sorry if I'm posting massive walls of text. I just figured I'd help out others who are already into writing by adding more tools to their toolboxes...and perhaps give insight to others who want to get into creative writing but are baffled on where to begin on a project or find the prospect overwhelming.
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Post by En1gma on Aug 29, 2016 6:35:37 GMT -5
That's why this thread is here!
Evernote is very helpful and is my favorite note taking app for sure.
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Post by Officer Genious on Aug 29, 2016 8:02:21 GMT -5
Think I figured out why I was blocked. I'm adding more to the story now. Thanks guys!
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Post by ntsheep on Aug 29, 2016 10:31:31 GMT -5
I use to worry about how to start a story when I was very young and writing. I always thought that you had to make things up as you went, but then I got some good tips from a book on writing and a friend and changed my style to creating the characters first, then writing the story. If you know the background of your characters, how they act, and make them a part of you, the story then will write itself most times.
A good example is how my captain ntsheep came about here on the forum. I didn't really start out trying to create a story, I just posted a few jokes here and there in the torp war. Then I created the DV Prime spice hall thread. Just really meant it to be for a few silly one liners, but things evolved even more. Soon I had the beginning of a story going on.
My Cyber Knight Lonewolf was the same way. Some one created a thread asking what's the back ground of your knight. So I made up a quick little bit of info and made it look like an old data file supplied by some hacker. I then got thinking about it and poof! Lonewolf Diaries was born. There's no right or wrong way to start writing a story, you just have to find your own way that works and go with it.
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 29, 2016 11:28:31 GMT -5
Exactly. When I started The Nautilus (which I absolutely promise I intend to finish... I've had a lot of life changes since it lost some steam), I had the premise in mind and worked out a small character sketch but the story continued to flow as almost stream of consciousness writing, until I seemingly wrote myself into a corner that I wasn't sure was character or plot based. It is not my normal routine of writing, but at the time...it was muse inspired and I went with it. It hasn't been that often in the last decade that I've been able to get that far into one story using SoC writing and I had to ride that train for what it was worth.
The muse is still here, but seems to be suffering from ADHD lately.
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Post by ntsheep on Aug 29, 2016 11:36:27 GMT -5
Exactly. When I started The Nautilus (which I absolutely promise I intend to finish... I've had a lot of life changes since it lost some steam), I had the premise in mind and worked out a small character sketch but the story continued to flow as almost stream of consciousness writing, until I seemingly wrote myself into a corner that I wasn't sure was character or plot based. It is not my normal routine of writing, but at the time...it was muse inspired and I went with it. It hasn't been that often in the last decade that I've been able to get that far into one story using SoC writing and I had to ride that train for what it was worth. The muse is still here, but seems to be suffering from ADHD lately. That's probably the reason why I can create so many people in my mind. I also act out the characters I think up. Try to speak like them. Think like them. I become them all the way. Lets hope I never decide to do a serial killer story. It's bad enough that lab sheep number 3 loves Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill  |
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Post by ntsheep on Aug 29, 2016 11:37:27 GMT -5
Think I figured out why I was blocked. I'm adding more to the story now. Thanks guys! I think the reason rabidbite carries a chainsaw is for writers blocks  |
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 29, 2016 11:40:59 GMT -5
I absolutely agree that most of my writing is character based and with good reason.
Relatability. As long as you have some relatable qualities and traits in your character(s), then you can keep ahold of your readers. Sure, a plot device can be the initial hook that snares them...but if you want to keep them on that hook there has to be something they can relate to so that they can envision the plot happening to them or buy into the plot better because they can buy into a character easier than a plot.
Especially in our contemporary period where many readers/viewers believe they've seen it all. Chances are, they may have in one form or another. As a writer and creative, I cannot buy into the adage "There is nothing new under the sun." While there are many stories that get rehashed with new wrapping and whatnot, it's how you make it your own and strive to tell your own tale.
Write for yourself first. Don't get arrogant or cocky. Just because you may think it is brilliant doesn't mean others will too.
With The Nautilus, I put myself out there in front of you all as a multi tiered experiment. I hadn't read ever submitted a rougher draft for others to read so soon (I almost never do...it is easy for others to pick up and then retweak slightly and quickly publish) leaving me without any rights to the creative work therein. I also hadn't ever tried to produce in a serial format. That's the simplest way I can explain it.
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 29, 2016 11:49:01 GMT -5
Think I figured out why I was blocked. I'm adding more to the story now. Thanks guys! How were you blocked? |
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Post by En1gma on Aug 29, 2016 12:07:24 GMT -5
I fully agree that character creation should be one of the very first things decided. However, take inspiration wherever it strikes, and make sure you write it down, as they are quickly lost, particularly when part of a dream.
I had a dream (where most of my best ideas come around...) that started with me (main char) and a few others sitting on a terrace overlooking the city (Romanesque, but futuristic) We were looking at our tablets as the instructor was droning on about whatever subject she was teaching (a study on language, IIRC). As one's mind does, I looked wistfully over the skyline (we were on a hill, and could see the city sprawling before us.) and as I did, the skies darkened and the military klaxons sounded.
As we watched in terror, what appeared to be a meteor shower began to fall, raining fire down over the once beautiful city. Panic turned into a fight for survival as a squadron of soldiers came into the courtyard terrace and demanded that we follow them. As we ran through the city streets, I looked up and watched the city's defensive shield begin to envelop the city, meteors exploding on its surface as it stretched its way to the ground.
It was too late to stop several hundred from slamming into the ground, and as we continued to run to shelter, we came to one of the massive marble staircases, easily 30 yards wide, and below us we saw several bipedal beings moving in squads of their own. Our soldiers opened fire, descending the staircase and advancing on the strangers. It seemed the entire city was burning, and over the raging fires we heard the shots of gunfire ripping the very air to shreds. I followed the soldier who had first spoken to me on the terrace and he kept me safe until we reached the center of the city some half hour later under constant gunfire.
He patted me on the head just before he walked through the closing bulkhead, meaning to rejoin what remained of his squad. I never saw him again.
This is where my dream ended, and where I started my very own sci-fi story. It's still in planning, but from just a vivid dream I got the entire groundwork for a future novel.
--Sometimes you get a character (like the necromancer above) and build a story and world in which they live and act.
--Other times you get a concept, an event, or a setting, and you come up with someone who has to deal with whatever is thrown at them (My main character above)
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