Creative Writing Help and Discussion Thread

[ACCUNE]

What would be really interesting is to have a story in which the main character was wrong and has to change his or her thinking.That is in the whole save the world plot line.I'm sure there is a story out there like that,I would just like to know the name of one. I try to write everyday,in my journal that is to remember certain events.Though I'm not a Wordsmith or a Grammar king yet I may write a short book,just to say I have written a book.Not in a boastful matter but for self satisfaction.

[Sarah]

Book probably never, I'm just not that kind of person I guess.
I write because its fun. Really whats better than sharing ideas maybe sparking some one else and getting sparked yourself. It can be a very social thing, but still its completely up to you what you do.

[Martzu]

I have tried to reply to this thread so many times, now finally I can make it.

Does anyone want to write books?

Now and then I dream writing a real book. But I don't want to do so actually.

And writing is shitty, totally frustrating, absolutely annoying and yet I keep doing so. Yeah, when it comes to certain things I am a masochist. I write because I have to, I need to and I want to. I cant explained it, it was build in me, a part of me. And I find great joy from it too, it can make me happy like nothing else in life.

Usually I write poems and sort stories. I wouldn't mind writing something longer. But I guess I just don't have what it takes to keep up interest for so long that I actually managed to make storyline for longer piece.

Biggest motivation for me is being sad and depressed. Mainly because then I can sit down and actually think of something and spend some time with ideas. Or just am in a 'right' mood for it.

I have written always, as long as I could write I have tried to express myself with words. And purely for selfish reasons, I only write for myself, if someone else like's what I write, nice. If not, they have every right for their opinion.

Where do you get ideas and how do you sort bad from great! This is probably one of the most difficult thing to learn.

Ideas, well ideas lies inside my head. Also everything and everyone around me is possible source for ideas.

One persons bad idea is another ones good. And sometimes it's hard to separate them, sometimes some idea might at first seem really great, but have turned out to be the worst and opposite way around too.

Yachiru - if you ever need your ego to be 'stroked like a porno scene' I can do it again =P

But seriously, who do you write your texts, to please you alone or someone else?

I've always wondered how other writers go about creating characters? Do you guys create them from spontaneous thoughts or well-planed one's...?

Sometimes character comes out spontaneously and then there are those well planned characters. It depends the story and usage of character how much planning there is involved.

Jack Harkness - I have heard others too comparing writing to masturbation and well, have to agree, nothing compares to the satisfied feeling of work well done =P

Always avoid clichés

I think there is nothing wrong with clichés, it all depends on the approach used. Every story has been told million times already, every storyline basically have been done before, what makes one story different from another is the way it's been told. Narrators voice makes the difference.

[4thseal]

But seriously, who do you write your texts, to please you alone or someone else?

^i won't lie. 95% of what i write is written with some sort of audience in mind. It's kind of like how I'll set up my room thinking of how people will react to the posters or other decorations. No one may ever see them, but I can't help using my perception of their judgment as a tool to decorate my room. The same thing goes for writing--there is always that reader in my head, looking over my shoulder and questioning whatever I type. So, while I'd like to say I write for myself first and formost, that'd be a lie, as I'm always thinking of who i'm writing for when I write.

[Yachiru]

I don't write with an audience in the long run. I'll throw in certain things meant for an audience, such as a comment here or there, but I'm writing for anyone and everyone at the same time. I don't want the same audience to read what I read, I would hate that in fact, which is why I shove so many differing opinions into everything I do. You've got stuff like Ephemeral, with all of these clashing characters, each with a different view of something. I'm, in a sense, writing to every single person who shares those views, but the goal is to have people who don't share them read it.

Everything I write is very "out there" in a way, and this is on purpose, because, in a way, I do hate cliches. But, all the same, I utilize them, because a cliche is identifiable. I like to think it's easy to expect what's going to happen in something I write, but with people mentioning it to me, now it seems more accurate to say that nothing I write ends how its expected to. This is a good thing, and to me that's further proof that I'm not writing to an audience of any particular, because if that was the case, my endings would be much easier to expect.

One of my numerous writing goals is to have someone who has never read anything I've written read something, anything, of mine, and at the end think "that shouldn't have been how it ended." Not in a bad way, but in a way of "at no time did I figure that was the way this was going to end," and in turn, I want that same person to think "alright, I get this style," read something else, and still come out with the same shattered expectation of how I write.

[SL.x]

Well, this is actually not the begging this is just me seeign whether or not I will follow through with this and how far. Anyways, we all know the purpose of writing is to have others read it and enjoy it. Well, I always enjoyed developing characters, and putting them together, making them interract develop different aspects off that. I often wanted to stick them somewhere where they can't excape and develop their relationships. So here it comes, it some what of a Lost concept, people stranded and all blah blah blah, all that jazz. Here is the question would anyone be even interested in anything like that, seeing that there is a perfectly great TV show already doing the same concept?

[Sasuke's Legacy]

Why not??

Don't try to handicap your creativity lol. You'll never know how bad or amazing it could have been unless you do it. It could be something pretty hard to write that continually frustrates you, and it may not be your best work (figuratively speaking), or it could be the most successful peace of writing you've done. Who knows what could happen lol.

I know that sounds kind of cheesy and hypocritical, but really, only can decide wether your willing to let your imagination take flight. And remember that it's only cliche if you do it in a very similar fashion to something before.

[4thseal]

Moved here, because you're not really asking for specific advice but just curious what other creative writers think of your plot.

Anyway, to answer your question:

it some what of a Lost concept, people stranded and all blah blah blah, all that jazz. Here is the question would anyone be even interested in anything like that, seeing that there is a perfectly great TV show already doing the same concept?

^why wouldn't someone be interested in reading that. The "stranded island" theme is not only very old in terms of tv (Gilligan's Island) but also in literature (The Blue Legoon, The Lord of the Fly's and so on.) And, it's always been a popular them. So, you shouldn't worry about whether something's been done before, it all has, just in different ways.

Really, if it's well writen and interesting the situation, in this case an secluded island or whatnot, doesn't matter to me much.

And, like SL said, you don't really need anyone's say so to dive into your creative mind--just go for it^^.

As long as it's brought up, I'm wondering how much setting and situation matters to the rest of you...?

[kai0x]

I personally love settings because I like writing them. The setting sets the mood, invites the reader and ultimately affects the characters. Plus I just find it easier to start writing a story with beginning with a setting. But then other times, the setting is completely irrelevant if the situation and characters are good. I enjoy a good read if the story for example is all in the character's head or something.

[LONGTIME]

I write when I get in the mood. I don't write for anyone else besides myself. I would like to write a book someday but have yet to find a idea that sparks my imagination long enough. Haven't really tried either.

I have trouble seeing things as cliche, mostly because I play all the events through in my head beforehand. In fact, everything I have written story wise I could illustrate thoroughly, assuming I had the patience and skill of course. Which I don't anymore.

And Stevie, I hope you didn't think I was disappointed that Avery was different from Ephemeral, I wasn't. It is refreshing to see. You do so well at writing grim things that you writing about something less sociopathic is a sign of growth.

[batman555]

Originally Posted by 4thseal

As long as it's brought up, I'm wondering how much setting and situation matters to the rest of you...?

I don't...get it. Can you elaborate? ><

[4thseal]

I guess what I'm asking is--how important is it when you write a story to have a setting of high value and that's dominate in the sotry or a situation that's the dominant aspect in the plot?

For instance, in sci-fi and fantasy it is the setting seems to be often very importance, and in romance the situation the characters find them in is important to the plot.

I think for me the setting and situation aren't really important. The characters are usually what first comes to my mind when i write and i enjoy entertainment with more character ephasis than anything else.

[batman555]

Ohhhhhhh...okay.

Judging on what I've done so far, I appear to put more emphasis on characterization. I didn't even think about it until now. But I guess it makes sense. I'm more into character development and interaction than describing the "soft breath of the wind tickling my ear" or whatnot. I probably turned to characterization to compensate for my weakness in imagery.

[4thseal]

^idunno, i think character development can be very heavy in imagery at times, like wonderful sentence you just wrote^^

[Frostbitten]

Meant to get around to this when I could.

Does anyone want to write books?

I suppose I do, only because the ideas I have in my head will die when I do. As such, how will anyone know if they are good or bad. As such I want to, Not Applicable is my first attempt at one though progressing hella slow. lol

But seriously, who do you write your texts, to please you alone or someone else?

When it comes to poems, I write them to get emotions out of my heart and mind and it eases whatever pain I'm in at that time. So, mainly to please myself.

As for stories, I do it for other people mostly.

I've always wondered how other writers go about creating characters? Do you guys create them from spontaneous thoughts or well-planed one's...?

The core characters I create are premade and evolved over the course of brainstorms. However some of my best characters, are the ones that just pop up and fit beautifully with the story.

Always avoid clichés

If they fit the need, why not use clichés? I mean sure, there are plenty of orphans who save the world or kids who get bit by strange objects and get superpowers; for that matter pulling out swords from stones. But in all honesty, they work for a reason.

Settings

Depends on the importance of the setting in question. If its a lush countryside, I'll go into detail about it for maybe a half a page at most. Or if its a setting that I'll use regularly, then I'll go into detail for a page and go back to reference things in my setting. Personally though, I don't want to go into twenty pages describing a mountain range, I get bored afterwhile.

[nidaba]

Does anyone want to write books?
I started writing short stories as a child and became addicted after winning a few (small) writing contests. Then I took a break from writing while in junior high and early high school.

I started writing again when I was about 16 or 17, but by then I was more interested in writing books. I wrote a few starting chapters, but didn't continue on with anything for a bit. An idea finally took hold and I started churning out pages pretty quickly. Once I got to about 45k words I got excited and started shopping around for an editor or looking at what companies took unsolicited submissions (almost none). Plus, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my writing was probably not nearly as wonderful as I assumed. I became really discouraged and the writing slowed down.

Then when I was about 19 I was browsing some writer forums and found a letter someone had shared saying an editor was accepting submissions for an erotica book. I'd never written anything like that before, but I decided to try it. I submitted the story and a few months later was contacted and told it has been accepted! It was amazingly exciting for me. I had never imagined myself writing erotica, as science fiction and fantasy were my main loves. Seeing your story in print though is addicting. =] So I've kept up with the short story writing and have been published in a few anthologies. My dream is still to write novels eventually, but for now writing a short story when I can keeps me happy.


Where do you get ideas and how do you sort bad from great! This is probably one of the most difficult thing to learn.

Inspiration can come at any time. I think it is really important to pay attention when something hits you. I was at a Bela Fleck concert one time and suddenly got inspiration from a comment I overheard someone say about milk. I found an old receipt in my purse and scribbled the story idea on the receipt for later.

As for separating good from bad, I don't even try at first. I write down every single plot that occurs to me and then sit down and flesh out some basics when I have time. If after doing that I see that the idea is pretty wonky I work on something else instead, but I save it just in case.


I've always wondered how other writers go about creating characters? Do you guys create them from spontaneous thoughts or well-planed one's...?

I'm a bit odd, I create characters from dialogue a lot of the time. I will think about the story idea, and then imagine a scene in it and just start writing what might be said. The characters often reveal their personalities from how they respond. :p

Otherwise, I take my plot and then slowly work things out. Normally the plot idea for me includes character basics, so I just imagine that blank character in various scenes and write down how they would react to flesh it out more.

My problem is that I don't write when I'm super happy or when I'm super sad. I write during my in between times, which sadly haven't been happening much this past year. :p I'm trying to be more disciplined with my writing but it has been hard because I haven't liked anything I have written lately.

[Sasuke's Legacy]

Alright, I'm in a bit of a stump. Although I've been writing a good amount lately on my own, I'm loosing inspiration to continue writing at all. Sometimes I'll feel like I'm in the mood to write but that's usually for school or an occasion other than leisure.

Any tips on getting my rhythm back? I also feel like my writing skill and style has been completely thrown off track. Everything I've done recently doesn't match my original settings at all, which could possibly be a good thing when you think about it, but when I read what I've written it just seems to go down hill in quality.

I have an idea for a new series I want to start, but I'm just not motivated to do it because I'm scared of fucking it up. And the same with Dear Dorothy. I know what I want to do but every time I try to put it in words it just slips away and turns into something else entirely.

[Insin]

Writing, um... It's not my forte and I don't really expect anything out of it. I do it because it passes the time and can be enjoyable. It's also nice to sometimes create something, and then destroy it lol. I can appreciate poetry, but I don't care to write it.

Most of what I write, is because 4thseal nags me. So if you like anything I've ever posted, you should thank him more than me.