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Post by ntsheep on Aug 29, 2016 12:17:40 GMT -5
I've had plenty of dreams too that turned into good stories for some D&D and D20 Modern games. Muses are always talking to us, we need only but listen.
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Post by Officer Genious on Aug 29, 2016 14:31:35 GMT -5
Think I figured out why I was blocked. I'm adding more to the story now. Thanks guys! How were you blocked? I was writing Captain Roach and got a little lost. Basically, I had no aim to the writing and it was starting to show. I posted around the web a bit and realized that I wasn't showing my character to be the scumbag I needed her to be (a likeable scumbag, but a scumbag). |
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 29, 2016 15:07:58 GMT -5
I was writing Captain Roach and got a little lost. Basically, I had no aim to the writing and it was starting to show. I posted around the web a bit and realized that I wasn't showing my character to be the scumbag I needed her to be (a likeable scumbag, but a scumbag). Ah. I understand now. :thumbup: |
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 30, 2016 2:23:18 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... We are providing lots of tools to add to your toolbox. Use them, modify them, make them your own. Writing anything for 20 minutes a day will help you. Just write. It can be difficult at first, but it gets far better and easier the more you do it. We're here to help. You've only to ask. |
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Post by En1gma on Aug 30, 2016 8:27:45 GMT -5
Zer0Winds, who said you need to start at the very beginning? It's all boring exposition anyway  . If you want to start at the middle or end, at the climax or rising action, then do it. Writing doesn't need to be linear, and thinking like that can be a block in itself.
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Post by En1gma on Aug 30, 2016 8:29:38 GMT -5
Also, look back to the first page of this thread-- I posted a pair of amazing websites that I have made heavy use of over the course of my writing. They're 100℅ worth looking into.
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Post by Officer Genious on Aug 30, 2016 12:29:43 GMT -5
These dialogue scenes are kicking my ass! Now with remember why I stick to action-packed one-shots for fanfiction. 😭 Keeping dialogue interesting is HARD.
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Post by En1gma on Aug 30, 2016 14:47:00 GMT -5
Use the big rock --> little rock thought process:
Figure out the absolutely biggest, most important things you need to convey, distribute them to your characters however seems best and what best suits their personalities.
Once you have that, think about the next most important things, then the least important. Each thing should push the story forward, drive future action, stress an important theme, and/or develop each character as you go.
Dialog is tricky, just try to imagine the conversation unfolding, then give it over to your characters...
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Post by Officer Genious on Aug 30, 2016 20:38:20 GMT -5
Use the big rock --> little rock thought process: Figure out the absolutely biggest, most important things you need to convey, distribute them to your characters however seems best and what best suits their personalities. Once you have that, think about the next most important things, then the least important. Each thing should push the story forward, drive future action, stress an important theme, and/or develop each character as you go. Dialog is tricky, just try to imagine the conversation unfolding, then give it over to your characters... My conversation drives future action, it's just not quite flowing correctly. I kinda run out of things to say and Roach abruptly ends the conversation because of it. I know I can improve it, I just can't put my finger on how. ;-; |
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Post by LordofSyn on Aug 30, 2016 22:06:10 GMT -5
Use the big rock --> little rock thought process: Figure out the absolutely biggest, most important things you need to convey, distribute them to your characters however seems best and what best suits their personalities. Once you have that, think about the next most important things, then the least important. Each thing should push the story forward, drive future action, stress an important theme, and/or develop each character as you go. Dialog is tricky, just try to imagine the conversation unfolding, then give it over to your characters... My conversation drives future action, it's just not quite flowing correctly. I kinda run out of things to say and Roach abruptly ends the conversation because of it. I know I can improve it, I just can't put my finger on how. ;-; Get an SO, a friend, or both...to help you. They do not have to be thespians...but ask them to read a few lines each and see if the dialogue is working. You might be able to tell if it feels stunted once you hear it vocally. Plus, you might get inspiration as to where it can go next or at the very least how it can be improved. Bonus: if they are thespians, you'll possibly get more milage out of it. |
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Post by tenbsmith on Aug 30, 2016 22:09:02 GMT -5
Lots of good stuff here About taking advantage of the momentary muses when they are present. About writing whichever part your ready to write at that moment. About tools and approaches.
Even with all that, I imagine the vast majority of writers struggle at times. I know I do. Sometimes I have to spend a couple of hours thinking and struggling with the concepts before I get the thoughts sorted in my head. And then, if I'm lucky, the prose comes flowing out. Writing can be hard, it can provoke anxiety in me at times as I struggle with what i want to say and how to say. Admittedly, my writing is mostly scientific, a bit different than creative writing.
I see a number of the things people have described here over in the Captain's Log in the Star Traders RPG subforum. It might be fun for people to provide links.
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Post by Officer Genious on Aug 30, 2016 23:36:38 GMT -5
Err, links to what exactly? As for getting people to read it aloud, there's just me doing it. Not complaining, just grumbling because I can't get my dialogue to flow quite right. But I'll get it eventually or just scrap the chapter.
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Post by Zer0Winds on Aug 31, 2016 18:34:17 GMT -5
So, I went on that site you posted at the beginning. It generated some... interesting names. The Seventh Sanctum one.
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Post by En1gma on Aug 31, 2016 19:02:48 GMT -5
Seventh Sanctum is great for some weird things, and where I have gotten most of my names. My favorite part about the site is the idea/concept generators. Gotten a few very unique ideas.
The other one is amazing for really any type of name you could ever need... I love those two sites.
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Post by Officer Genious on Aug 31, 2016 19:41:29 GMT -5
My conversation drives future action, it's just not quite flowing correctly. I kinda run out of things to say and Roach abruptly ends the conversation because of it. I know I can improve it, I just can't put my finger on how. ;-; Get an SO, a friend, or both...to help you. They do not have to be thespians...but ask them to read a few lines each and see if the dialogue is working. You might be able to tell if it feels stunted once you hear it vocally. Plus, you might get inspiration as to where it can go next or at the very least how it can be improved. Bonus: if they are thespians, you'll possibly get more milage out of it. I reread it again and watched some lectures from Brandon Mull today when it hit me-- one of my characters was flat. I had an interesting character talk to a cardboard villain and it was skewing the whole conversation into a "Yes M'am No M'am I'll do whatever you say M'am" conversation. The second character is being manipulated and it didn't make sense that he just went along with it. He's flat. Flat as a pancake. Now if you'll excuse me, I got some characterization to do... |
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. If you want to start at the middle or end, at the climax or rising action, then do it. 
