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nogtl7 | writing_train | 0.97 | I’ve realised I’m far more excited by the idea of writing than the reality of it. I love creating narratives and characters and expressing myself through my writing, and mining my vocabulary for the perfect words and then phrasing them in the most ideal fashion to convey meaning........ in theory (or on paper if you’ll pardon a pun) However the reality of actually writing anything substantial is frequently tedious and demotivating. My ADHD certainly doesn’t help much either. I feel sort of like a moth to a flame. Anyhow I assume this is a fairly common situation. Any advice on how to overcome it? | h01h8ym | h00nuiz | 1,622,428,277 | 1,622,411,701 | 4 | 2 | You dont have to be a writer. | I am slowly getting rid of my primary inhibitor: the thought that what I write is not good enough. "Just write" is indeed a good piece of advice. You can't revise it if you haven't written it. | 1 | 16,576 | 2 | ||
nogtl7 | writing_train | 0.97 | I’ve realised I’m far more excited by the idea of writing than the reality of it. I love creating narratives and characters and expressing myself through my writing, and mining my vocabulary for the perfect words and then phrasing them in the most ideal fashion to convey meaning........ in theory (or on paper if you’ll pardon a pun) However the reality of actually writing anything substantial is frequently tedious and demotivating. My ADHD certainly doesn’t help much either. I feel sort of like a moth to a flame. Anyhow I assume this is a fairly common situation. Any advice on how to overcome it? | h01h8ym | h00r7lp | 1,622,428,277 | 1,622,413,466 | 4 | 2 | You dont have to be a writer. | I’m still in the middle of swollowing the pill/solution to this problem. The solution is a mixture of understanding that writing success is mostly marketing…and I can’t wrap my head around the marketing part. | 1 | 14,811 | 2 | ||
nogtl7 | writing_train | 0.97 | I’ve realised I’m far more excited by the idea of writing than the reality of it. I love creating narratives and characters and expressing myself through my writing, and mining my vocabulary for the perfect words and then phrasing them in the most ideal fashion to convey meaning........ in theory (or on paper if you’ll pardon a pun) However the reality of actually writing anything substantial is frequently tedious and demotivating. My ADHD certainly doesn’t help much either. I feel sort of like a moth to a flame. Anyhow I assume this is a fairly common situation. Any advice on how to overcome it? | h01h8ym | h00smsn | 1,622,428,277 | 1,622,414,240 | 4 | 2 | You dont have to be a writer. | Well, that’s you and the rest of the world lmao. | 1 | 14,037 | 2 | ||
nogtl7 | writing_train | 0.97 | I’ve realised I’m far more excited by the idea of writing than the reality of it. I love creating narratives and characters and expressing myself through my writing, and mining my vocabulary for the perfect words and then phrasing them in the most ideal fashion to convey meaning........ in theory (or on paper if you’ll pardon a pun) However the reality of actually writing anything substantial is frequently tedious and demotivating. My ADHD certainly doesn’t help much either. I feel sort of like a moth to a flame. Anyhow I assume this is a fairly common situation. Any advice on how to overcome it? | h01h8ym | h00sy1k | 1,622,428,277 | 1,622,414,413 | 4 | 2 | You dont have to be a writer. | Uhhmmm I’m pretty sure you just described half the “writers” here. | 1 | 13,864 | 2 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbvmke | hvblgtu | 1,643,836,635 | 1,643,832,929 | 9 | 8 | During revision and editing, I try to reduce blocks of text down to a few concise words that paint the image I'm trying to paint. It's amazing how few words it really takes to create a scene in someone's mind, ... their minds are ravenous and feed on any words you give them, it's like they are image creation machines and just a few words is enough to create vivid imagery. I think it is important to use specificity (thanks Shaelin!). In my opinion, the details offered with specificity cause the rest of the image in the person's mind to become even that much more vivid. It's like if you meet a made up woman who is going out on the town and she has one accessory that is some expensive designer piece, .. that makes you see everything about her life in that light, .. the image you have of her life as a whole is affected by it. I think it is the same with specificity, you give a reader one very precise, clear, specific thing, and that helps them to create the rest of the scene in the same kind of fidelity. Then, also, my opinion, don't give too many details, because reader's minds are very good at creating scenes, .. and at some point you give them details that start to conflict with what is already in their head and they become frustrated with your writing. Also, along the same lines of don't give the reader too many details, ... give them details that matter. They don't need to know that the floor is flat, that staircases have railing, that rooms have ceilings, that doors have doorknobs, or that people wear shoes ... unless being very specific about something like that is what is helping to create a vivid scene for a reader. So, for example, if there's something about the ornamentation of the railing at the bottom of the staircase that would invoke in a reader's mind that they are in a French chateau and not a McMansion in L.A., then yeah. Just a handful of words can paint a detailed picture in a reader's mind ... I've used this example before, "... bathed in bubbles, he struggled to the surface ...", that's like 8 words, but with those 8 words you can sense space, temperature, color, hear sounds, feel little bubbles popping all around you, sense a character, arms, hands, feet, legs, sense the flow of time, theorize about what happened before, and what might happen after ... the human mind is a very creative thing and it responds to the least bit of stimulus .. Just my opinion. | Read books with good descriptions. | 1 | 3,706 | 1.125 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbvmke | hvbnxfc | 1,643,836,635 | 1,643,833,864 | 9 | 3 | During revision and editing, I try to reduce blocks of text down to a few concise words that paint the image I'm trying to paint. It's amazing how few words it really takes to create a scene in someone's mind, ... their minds are ravenous and feed on any words you give them, it's like they are image creation machines and just a few words is enough to create vivid imagery. I think it is important to use specificity (thanks Shaelin!). In my opinion, the details offered with specificity cause the rest of the image in the person's mind to become even that much more vivid. It's like if you meet a made up woman who is going out on the town and she has one accessory that is some expensive designer piece, .. that makes you see everything about her life in that light, .. the image you have of her life as a whole is affected by it. I think it is the same with specificity, you give a reader one very precise, clear, specific thing, and that helps them to create the rest of the scene in the same kind of fidelity. Then, also, my opinion, don't give too many details, because reader's minds are very good at creating scenes, .. and at some point you give them details that start to conflict with what is already in their head and they become frustrated with your writing. Also, along the same lines of don't give the reader too many details, ... give them details that matter. They don't need to know that the floor is flat, that staircases have railing, that rooms have ceilings, that doors have doorknobs, or that people wear shoes ... unless being very specific about something like that is what is helping to create a vivid scene for a reader. So, for example, if there's something about the ornamentation of the railing at the bottom of the staircase that would invoke in a reader's mind that they are in a French chateau and not a McMansion in L.A., then yeah. Just a handful of words can paint a detailed picture in a reader's mind ... I've used this example before, "... bathed in bubbles, he struggled to the surface ...", that's like 8 words, but with those 8 words you can sense space, temperature, color, hear sounds, feel little bubbles popping all around you, sense a character, arms, hands, feet, legs, sense the flow of time, theorize about what happened before, and what might happen after ... the human mind is a very creative thing and it responds to the least bit of stimulus .. Just my opinion. | Can you give us some examples? You say you're not good at writing characters, places or objects - does that mean you feel ok with your action scenes or events? Is it just "static" stuff you don't feel comfortable with? | 1 | 2,771 | 3 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbvmke | hvbnw1v | 1,643,836,635 | 1,643,833,850 | 9 | 2 | During revision and editing, I try to reduce blocks of text down to a few concise words that paint the image I'm trying to paint. It's amazing how few words it really takes to create a scene in someone's mind, ... their minds are ravenous and feed on any words you give them, it's like they are image creation machines and just a few words is enough to create vivid imagery. I think it is important to use specificity (thanks Shaelin!). In my opinion, the details offered with specificity cause the rest of the image in the person's mind to become even that much more vivid. It's like if you meet a made up woman who is going out on the town and she has one accessory that is some expensive designer piece, .. that makes you see everything about her life in that light, .. the image you have of her life as a whole is affected by it. I think it is the same with specificity, you give a reader one very precise, clear, specific thing, and that helps them to create the rest of the scene in the same kind of fidelity. Then, also, my opinion, don't give too many details, because reader's minds are very good at creating scenes, .. and at some point you give them details that start to conflict with what is already in their head and they become frustrated with your writing. Also, along the same lines of don't give the reader too many details, ... give them details that matter. They don't need to know that the floor is flat, that staircases have railing, that rooms have ceilings, that doors have doorknobs, or that people wear shoes ... unless being very specific about something like that is what is helping to create a vivid scene for a reader. So, for example, if there's something about the ornamentation of the railing at the bottom of the staircase that would invoke in a reader's mind that they are in a French chateau and not a McMansion in L.A., then yeah. Just a handful of words can paint a detailed picture in a reader's mind ... I've used this example before, "... bathed in bubbles, he struggled to the surface ...", that's like 8 words, but with those 8 words you can sense space, temperature, color, hear sounds, feel little bubbles popping all around you, sense a character, arms, hands, feet, legs, sense the flow of time, theorize about what happened before, and what might happen after ... the human mind is a very creative thing and it responds to the least bit of stimulus .. Just my opinion. | Read and analyze your own writing & whoever you are reading at the moment. What are they doing that you are not? | 1 | 2,785 | 4.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbvmke | hvbp361 | 1,643,836,635 | 1,643,834,288 | 9 | 2 | During revision and editing, I try to reduce blocks of text down to a few concise words that paint the image I'm trying to paint. It's amazing how few words it really takes to create a scene in someone's mind, ... their minds are ravenous and feed on any words you give them, it's like they are image creation machines and just a few words is enough to create vivid imagery. I think it is important to use specificity (thanks Shaelin!). In my opinion, the details offered with specificity cause the rest of the image in the person's mind to become even that much more vivid. It's like if you meet a made up woman who is going out on the town and she has one accessory that is some expensive designer piece, .. that makes you see everything about her life in that light, .. the image you have of her life as a whole is affected by it. I think it is the same with specificity, you give a reader one very precise, clear, specific thing, and that helps them to create the rest of the scene in the same kind of fidelity. Then, also, my opinion, don't give too many details, because reader's minds are very good at creating scenes, .. and at some point you give them details that start to conflict with what is already in their head and they become frustrated with your writing. Also, along the same lines of don't give the reader too many details, ... give them details that matter. They don't need to know that the floor is flat, that staircases have railing, that rooms have ceilings, that doors have doorknobs, or that people wear shoes ... unless being very specific about something like that is what is helping to create a vivid scene for a reader. So, for example, if there's something about the ornamentation of the railing at the bottom of the staircase that would invoke in a reader's mind that they are in a French chateau and not a McMansion in L.A., then yeah. Just a handful of words can paint a detailed picture in a reader's mind ... I've used this example before, "... bathed in bubbles, he struggled to the surface ...", that's like 8 words, but with those 8 words you can sense space, temperature, color, hear sounds, feel little bubbles popping all around you, sense a character, arms, hands, feet, legs, sense the flow of time, theorize about what happened before, and what might happen after ... the human mind is a very creative thing and it responds to the least bit of stimulus .. Just my opinion. | Check out some of Haruki Murakami's work. He's excellent at description. Keep in mind that his writing is not without other problems though | 1 | 2,347 | 4.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbvmke | hvbpnty | 1,643,836,635 | 1,643,834,496 | 9 | 2 | During revision and editing, I try to reduce blocks of text down to a few concise words that paint the image I'm trying to paint. It's amazing how few words it really takes to create a scene in someone's mind, ... their minds are ravenous and feed on any words you give them, it's like they are image creation machines and just a few words is enough to create vivid imagery. I think it is important to use specificity (thanks Shaelin!). In my opinion, the details offered with specificity cause the rest of the image in the person's mind to become even that much more vivid. It's like if you meet a made up woman who is going out on the town and she has one accessory that is some expensive designer piece, .. that makes you see everything about her life in that light, .. the image you have of her life as a whole is affected by it. I think it is the same with specificity, you give a reader one very precise, clear, specific thing, and that helps them to create the rest of the scene in the same kind of fidelity. Then, also, my opinion, don't give too many details, because reader's minds are very good at creating scenes, .. and at some point you give them details that start to conflict with what is already in their head and they become frustrated with your writing. Also, along the same lines of don't give the reader too many details, ... give them details that matter. They don't need to know that the floor is flat, that staircases have railing, that rooms have ceilings, that doors have doorknobs, or that people wear shoes ... unless being very specific about something like that is what is helping to create a vivid scene for a reader. So, for example, if there's something about the ornamentation of the railing at the bottom of the staircase that would invoke in a reader's mind that they are in a French chateau and not a McMansion in L.A., then yeah. Just a handful of words can paint a detailed picture in a reader's mind ... I've used this example before, "... bathed in bubbles, he struggled to the surface ...", that's like 8 words, but with those 8 words you can sense space, temperature, color, hear sounds, feel little bubbles popping all around you, sense a character, arms, hands, feet, legs, sense the flow of time, theorize about what happened before, and what might happen after ... the human mind is a very creative thing and it responds to the least bit of stimulus .. Just my opinion. | >how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? That's the $64K question. It's not something that can be taught; it's a thing you discover on your own. Like, *what makes a book good?* No one can't teach that. The good thing is that if ***you*** think it's heavy and boring, then you at least have a starting point from which to improve. | 1 | 2,139 | 4.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbvmke | hvbq6cs | 1,643,836,635 | 1,643,834,684 | 9 | 2 | During revision and editing, I try to reduce blocks of text down to a few concise words that paint the image I'm trying to paint. It's amazing how few words it really takes to create a scene in someone's mind, ... their minds are ravenous and feed on any words you give them, it's like they are image creation machines and just a few words is enough to create vivid imagery. I think it is important to use specificity (thanks Shaelin!). In my opinion, the details offered with specificity cause the rest of the image in the person's mind to become even that much more vivid. It's like if you meet a made up woman who is going out on the town and she has one accessory that is some expensive designer piece, .. that makes you see everything about her life in that light, .. the image you have of her life as a whole is affected by it. I think it is the same with specificity, you give a reader one very precise, clear, specific thing, and that helps them to create the rest of the scene in the same kind of fidelity. Then, also, my opinion, don't give too many details, because reader's minds are very good at creating scenes, .. and at some point you give them details that start to conflict with what is already in their head and they become frustrated with your writing. Also, along the same lines of don't give the reader too many details, ... give them details that matter. They don't need to know that the floor is flat, that staircases have railing, that rooms have ceilings, that doors have doorknobs, or that people wear shoes ... unless being very specific about something like that is what is helping to create a vivid scene for a reader. So, for example, if there's something about the ornamentation of the railing at the bottom of the staircase that would invoke in a reader's mind that they are in a French chateau and not a McMansion in L.A., then yeah. Just a handful of words can paint a detailed picture in a reader's mind ... I've used this example before, "... bathed in bubbles, he struggled to the surface ...", that's like 8 words, but with those 8 words you can sense space, temperature, color, hear sounds, feel little bubbles popping all around you, sense a character, arms, hands, feet, legs, sense the flow of time, theorize about what happened before, and what might happen after ... the human mind is a very creative thing and it responds to the least bit of stimulus .. Just my opinion. | I have to not think about it too much. When I allow myself to relax and just describe the scenes as they play in my head, as raw as I can, it becomes easier. That's the only way I can describe my process, idk lol. While I'm not thinking too much about it, I'm paying close attention to everything. | 1 | 1,951 | 4.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbwu4o | hvbnxfc | 1,643,837,062 | 1,643,833,864 | 7 | 3 | 1. You probably need less description than you think. 2. Where possible, introduce description through the action of the scene, rather than as a passive list of details. 3. Your goal with description should be to convey a single cohesive impression to the reader. Each detail you include should work with the rest of convey a unified vision. Don't just list a scattershot of random details. | Can you give us some examples? You say you're not good at writing characters, places or objects - does that mean you feel ok with your action scenes or events? Is it just "static" stuff you don't feel comfortable with? | 1 | 3,198 | 2.333333 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbnw1v | hvbwu4o | 1,643,833,850 | 1,643,837,062 | 2 | 7 | Read and analyze your own writing & whoever you are reading at the moment. What are they doing that you are not? | 1. You probably need less description than you think. 2. Where possible, introduce description through the action of the scene, rather than as a passive list of details. 3. Your goal with description should be to convey a single cohesive impression to the reader. Each detail you include should work with the rest of convey a unified vision. Don't just list a scattershot of random details. | 0 | 3,212 | 3.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbp361 | hvbwu4o | 1,643,834,288 | 1,643,837,062 | 2 | 7 | Check out some of Haruki Murakami's work. He's excellent at description. Keep in mind that his writing is not without other problems though | 1. You probably need less description than you think. 2. Where possible, introduce description through the action of the scene, rather than as a passive list of details. 3. Your goal with description should be to convey a single cohesive impression to the reader. Each detail you include should work with the rest of convey a unified vision. Don't just list a scattershot of random details. | 0 | 2,774 | 3.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbpnty | hvbwu4o | 1,643,834,496 | 1,643,837,062 | 2 | 7 | >how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? That's the $64K question. It's not something that can be taught; it's a thing you discover on your own. Like, *what makes a book good?* No one can't teach that. The good thing is that if ***you*** think it's heavy and boring, then you at least have a starting point from which to improve. | 1. You probably need less description than you think. 2. Where possible, introduce description through the action of the scene, rather than as a passive list of details. 3. Your goal with description should be to convey a single cohesive impression to the reader. Each detail you include should work with the rest of convey a unified vision. Don't just list a scattershot of random details. | 0 | 2,566 | 3.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbq6cs | hvbwu4o | 1,643,834,684 | 1,643,837,062 | 2 | 7 | I have to not think about it too much. When I allow myself to relax and just describe the scenes as they play in my head, as raw as I can, it becomes easier. That's the only way I can describe my process, idk lol. While I'm not thinking too much about it, I'm paying close attention to everything. | 1. You probably need less description than you think. 2. Where possible, introduce description through the action of the scene, rather than as a passive list of details. 3. Your goal with description should be to convey a single cohesive impression to the reader. Each detail you include should work with the rest of convey a unified vision. Don't just list a scattershot of random details. | 0 | 2,378 | 3.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbwu4o | hvbwngz | 1,643,837,062 | 1,643,836,996 | 7 | 2 | 1. You probably need less description than you think. 2. Where possible, introduce description through the action of the scene, rather than as a passive list of details. 3. Your goal with description should be to convey a single cohesive impression to the reader. Each detail you include should work with the rest of convey a unified vision. Don't just list a scattershot of random details. | Why are you describing the object, person, or place? Think about movies for a second. The descriptive moments aren't emotionally neutral. What's focused on, the lighting, the colors, it's all designed to elicit an emotional response from the viewers. Fear, wonder, boredom, whatever, they're going for that feeling. *Close Encounters of the third kind* boy taken by aliens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onuDfST7PRA Don't describe everything. Describe the details that will elicit the desired response in the reader. Use nouns and verbs that support that response. | 1 | 66 | 3.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbnw1v | hvbnxfc | 1,643,833,850 | 1,643,833,864 | 2 | 3 | Read and analyze your own writing & whoever you are reading at the moment. What are they doing that you are not? | Can you give us some examples? You say you're not good at writing characters, places or objects - does that mean you feel ok with your action scenes or events? Is it just "static" stuff you don't feel comfortable with? | 0 | 14 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvci0co | hvbnw1v | 1,643,845,113 | 1,643,833,850 | 3 | 2 | **A few common ways description becomes boring is:** 1. Too many unnecessary details 2. All description packed together in one large chunk 3. Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details 4. Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively **A few ideas to correct these things:** **Too many unnecessary details** * writing is about choosing - you need to choose what to reveal, if the characters are in a room, does the reader really need to know what color the walls are? Why? Popcorn or tile ceiling? Why does this matter? * Basically, start with what objects, characters, etc. you're thinking of describing and ask yourself the following: * What do these details reveal about the character? * How do they play a role in the plot/action? * If these objects don't have much to do with anything, leave them out. You simply don't need to build this amazingly detailed world for people. * Now once you've picked your objects, do the same for the details of those object. * You don't need to describe every petal of a rose, nor even the petals at all. * You've already figured out what objects to describe, now what is was it that made those objects important? Those are the details to describe. * Drop the rest. * You can still list everything in your first draft. Make this questioning process more of an editing technique. With practice it becomes more automatic. **All description packed together in one large chunk** * Chocolate cake is good. Having only chocolate cake for every meal for a month is hell. Same with description. If you do find you need to provide descriptions of tons of people/objects in detailed ways (but you did go through step 1 above), then find ways to split things up. * A few ideas are: * Reveal with plot * describe house but skip kitchen and backyard * next scene has party: describe kitchen here with food and drink * next scene has couple sneaking off to be alone: describe the garden in the backyard they sneak off to * Use character POV (similar to the plot reveal) * use 1st person or 3rd person limited to only reveal what main character can see * as he moves through the world, what he sees will also change * alternate what he sees with his actions, dialogue, etc. * Multiple POV switch * similar to above but use multiple characters, basically switching between different 3rd person indirect views * have the different characters notice different details about the same place, event, etc. * this also helps build characterization, as the reader gets to see what the characters think are important **Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details** * some of the solutions to for the one-large-chunk problem solve this, but even if it's not too large a chunk and still unstructured, you can lose a reader via confusion * so approach what you describe and the details you pick and organize them according to some principle * one way is to approach like camera work in a movie * zoom in: describe things as they appear when distant, then describe same things in finer and finer detail, like you're getting closer to them (reverse for zoom out) * pan: describe things as they appear in space: right to left, up/down, whatever, but make the last thing where the action starts * X things, then Y things: all red things followed by all blue things, all soft things followed by all hard things, etc. * it doesn't matter too much what organizing principle you use, just have one, if that principle can complement a theme or something, even better **Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively** * this is only fixed with practice. Here's some advice I gave others a while back: * start with step 1 above and pick your objects details * Go and pick a tree (in real life). List out the features of that tree, just a list is fine: * *"It has a trunk."* * *"It's got leaves."* * *"It looks brown and green."* * Now take those features and make them the subject of your sentence. Make them do things not simply exist. * *"The trunk stands. The trunk reaches. The trunk grows."* * *"The leaves flutter. The leaves shimmer. The leaves vibrate."* * *"The green shades. The green covers. The green glows."* * Now make those features not simply do things, but have an actual effect on the other things around, or like a painting, create contrast with those other things (foreground and background). * *"The trunk stands alone in the stretching field. Its leaves shimmer in the sunlight as they vibrate in the wind. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun."* * Pick one object every day and work on writing this way until you naturally skip steps one and two. Bring in other senses. Do the same for people. Keep with this simple, concrete language at first. * As you improve, work your way into more suggestive language. Start adding more metaphorical descriptions as you get better. * *"The lone tree reaches to the sun, but can't stop itself from clutching the Earth. The vibrating leaves return the whispers carried by the wind. Whispers of the recent raindrops that left a musty haze coating my skin. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun, but even under the shimmering shadow, the stickiness remains."* TL;DR: You're in a forum for writing; you probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. | Read and analyze your own writing & whoever you are reading at the moment. What are they doing that you are not? | 1 | 11,263 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvci0co | hvbp361 | 1,643,845,113 | 1,643,834,288 | 3 | 2 | **A few common ways description becomes boring is:** 1. Too many unnecessary details 2. All description packed together in one large chunk 3. Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details 4. Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively **A few ideas to correct these things:** **Too many unnecessary details** * writing is about choosing - you need to choose what to reveal, if the characters are in a room, does the reader really need to know what color the walls are? Why? Popcorn or tile ceiling? Why does this matter? * Basically, start with what objects, characters, etc. you're thinking of describing and ask yourself the following: * What do these details reveal about the character? * How do they play a role in the plot/action? * If these objects don't have much to do with anything, leave them out. You simply don't need to build this amazingly detailed world for people. * Now once you've picked your objects, do the same for the details of those object. * You don't need to describe every petal of a rose, nor even the petals at all. * You've already figured out what objects to describe, now what is was it that made those objects important? Those are the details to describe. * Drop the rest. * You can still list everything in your first draft. Make this questioning process more of an editing technique. With practice it becomes more automatic. **All description packed together in one large chunk** * Chocolate cake is good. Having only chocolate cake for every meal for a month is hell. Same with description. If you do find you need to provide descriptions of tons of people/objects in detailed ways (but you did go through step 1 above), then find ways to split things up. * A few ideas are: * Reveal with plot * describe house but skip kitchen and backyard * next scene has party: describe kitchen here with food and drink * next scene has couple sneaking off to be alone: describe the garden in the backyard they sneak off to * Use character POV (similar to the plot reveal) * use 1st person or 3rd person limited to only reveal what main character can see * as he moves through the world, what he sees will also change * alternate what he sees with his actions, dialogue, etc. * Multiple POV switch * similar to above but use multiple characters, basically switching between different 3rd person indirect views * have the different characters notice different details about the same place, event, etc. * this also helps build characterization, as the reader gets to see what the characters think are important **Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details** * some of the solutions to for the one-large-chunk problem solve this, but even if it's not too large a chunk and still unstructured, you can lose a reader via confusion * so approach what you describe and the details you pick and organize them according to some principle * one way is to approach like camera work in a movie * zoom in: describe things as they appear when distant, then describe same things in finer and finer detail, like you're getting closer to them (reverse for zoom out) * pan: describe things as they appear in space: right to left, up/down, whatever, but make the last thing where the action starts * X things, then Y things: all red things followed by all blue things, all soft things followed by all hard things, etc. * it doesn't matter too much what organizing principle you use, just have one, if that principle can complement a theme or something, even better **Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively** * this is only fixed with practice. Here's some advice I gave others a while back: * start with step 1 above and pick your objects details * Go and pick a tree (in real life). List out the features of that tree, just a list is fine: * *"It has a trunk."* * *"It's got leaves."* * *"It looks brown and green."* * Now take those features and make them the subject of your sentence. Make them do things not simply exist. * *"The trunk stands. The trunk reaches. The trunk grows."* * *"The leaves flutter. The leaves shimmer. The leaves vibrate."* * *"The green shades. The green covers. The green glows."* * Now make those features not simply do things, but have an actual effect on the other things around, or like a painting, create contrast with those other things (foreground and background). * *"The trunk stands alone in the stretching field. Its leaves shimmer in the sunlight as they vibrate in the wind. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun."* * Pick one object every day and work on writing this way until you naturally skip steps one and two. Bring in other senses. Do the same for people. Keep with this simple, concrete language at first. * As you improve, work your way into more suggestive language. Start adding more metaphorical descriptions as you get better. * *"The lone tree reaches to the sun, but can't stop itself from clutching the Earth. The vibrating leaves return the whispers carried by the wind. Whispers of the recent raindrops that left a musty haze coating my skin. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun, but even under the shimmering shadow, the stickiness remains."* TL;DR: You're in a forum for writing; you probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. | Check out some of Haruki Murakami's work. He's excellent at description. Keep in mind that his writing is not without other problems though | 1 | 10,825 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvci0co | hvbpnty | 1,643,845,113 | 1,643,834,496 | 3 | 2 | **A few common ways description becomes boring is:** 1. Too many unnecessary details 2. All description packed together in one large chunk 3. Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details 4. Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively **A few ideas to correct these things:** **Too many unnecessary details** * writing is about choosing - you need to choose what to reveal, if the characters are in a room, does the reader really need to know what color the walls are? Why? Popcorn or tile ceiling? Why does this matter? * Basically, start with what objects, characters, etc. you're thinking of describing and ask yourself the following: * What do these details reveal about the character? * How do they play a role in the plot/action? * If these objects don't have much to do with anything, leave them out. You simply don't need to build this amazingly detailed world for people. * Now once you've picked your objects, do the same for the details of those object. * You don't need to describe every petal of a rose, nor even the petals at all. * You've already figured out what objects to describe, now what is was it that made those objects important? Those are the details to describe. * Drop the rest. * You can still list everything in your first draft. Make this questioning process more of an editing technique. With practice it becomes more automatic. **All description packed together in one large chunk** * Chocolate cake is good. Having only chocolate cake for every meal for a month is hell. Same with description. If you do find you need to provide descriptions of tons of people/objects in detailed ways (but you did go through step 1 above), then find ways to split things up. * A few ideas are: * Reveal with plot * describe house but skip kitchen and backyard * next scene has party: describe kitchen here with food and drink * next scene has couple sneaking off to be alone: describe the garden in the backyard they sneak off to * Use character POV (similar to the plot reveal) * use 1st person or 3rd person limited to only reveal what main character can see * as he moves through the world, what he sees will also change * alternate what he sees with his actions, dialogue, etc. * Multiple POV switch * similar to above but use multiple characters, basically switching between different 3rd person indirect views * have the different characters notice different details about the same place, event, etc. * this also helps build characterization, as the reader gets to see what the characters think are important **Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details** * some of the solutions to for the one-large-chunk problem solve this, but even if it's not too large a chunk and still unstructured, you can lose a reader via confusion * so approach what you describe and the details you pick and organize them according to some principle * one way is to approach like camera work in a movie * zoom in: describe things as they appear when distant, then describe same things in finer and finer detail, like you're getting closer to them (reverse for zoom out) * pan: describe things as they appear in space: right to left, up/down, whatever, but make the last thing where the action starts * X things, then Y things: all red things followed by all blue things, all soft things followed by all hard things, etc. * it doesn't matter too much what organizing principle you use, just have one, if that principle can complement a theme or something, even better **Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively** * this is only fixed with practice. Here's some advice I gave others a while back: * start with step 1 above and pick your objects details * Go and pick a tree (in real life). List out the features of that tree, just a list is fine: * *"It has a trunk."* * *"It's got leaves."* * *"It looks brown and green."* * Now take those features and make them the subject of your sentence. Make them do things not simply exist. * *"The trunk stands. The trunk reaches. The trunk grows."* * *"The leaves flutter. The leaves shimmer. The leaves vibrate."* * *"The green shades. The green covers. The green glows."* * Now make those features not simply do things, but have an actual effect on the other things around, or like a painting, create contrast with those other things (foreground and background). * *"The trunk stands alone in the stretching field. Its leaves shimmer in the sunlight as they vibrate in the wind. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun."* * Pick one object every day and work on writing this way until you naturally skip steps one and two. Bring in other senses. Do the same for people. Keep with this simple, concrete language at first. * As you improve, work your way into more suggestive language. Start adding more metaphorical descriptions as you get better. * *"The lone tree reaches to the sun, but can't stop itself from clutching the Earth. The vibrating leaves return the whispers carried by the wind. Whispers of the recent raindrops that left a musty haze coating my skin. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun, but even under the shimmering shadow, the stickiness remains."* TL;DR: You're in a forum for writing; you probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. | >how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? That's the $64K question. It's not something that can be taught; it's a thing you discover on your own. Like, *what makes a book good?* No one can't teach that. The good thing is that if ***you*** think it's heavy and boring, then you at least have a starting point from which to improve. | 1 | 10,617 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbq6cs | hvci0co | 1,643,834,684 | 1,643,845,113 | 2 | 3 | I have to not think about it too much. When I allow myself to relax and just describe the scenes as they play in my head, as raw as I can, it becomes easier. That's the only way I can describe my process, idk lol. While I'm not thinking too much about it, I'm paying close attention to everything. | **A few common ways description becomes boring is:** 1. Too many unnecessary details 2. All description packed together in one large chunk 3. Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details 4. Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively **A few ideas to correct these things:** **Too many unnecessary details** * writing is about choosing - you need to choose what to reveal, if the characters are in a room, does the reader really need to know what color the walls are? Why? Popcorn or tile ceiling? Why does this matter? * Basically, start with what objects, characters, etc. you're thinking of describing and ask yourself the following: * What do these details reveal about the character? * How do they play a role in the plot/action? * If these objects don't have much to do with anything, leave them out. You simply don't need to build this amazingly detailed world for people. * Now once you've picked your objects, do the same for the details of those object. * You don't need to describe every petal of a rose, nor even the petals at all. * You've already figured out what objects to describe, now what is was it that made those objects important? Those are the details to describe. * Drop the rest. * You can still list everything in your first draft. Make this questioning process more of an editing technique. With practice it becomes more automatic. **All description packed together in one large chunk** * Chocolate cake is good. Having only chocolate cake for every meal for a month is hell. Same with description. If you do find you need to provide descriptions of tons of people/objects in detailed ways (but you did go through step 1 above), then find ways to split things up. * A few ideas are: * Reveal with plot * describe house but skip kitchen and backyard * next scene has party: describe kitchen here with food and drink * next scene has couple sneaking off to be alone: describe the garden in the backyard they sneak off to * Use character POV (similar to the plot reveal) * use 1st person or 3rd person limited to only reveal what main character can see * as he moves through the world, what he sees will also change * alternate what he sees with his actions, dialogue, etc. * Multiple POV switch * similar to above but use multiple characters, basically switching between different 3rd person indirect views * have the different characters notice different details about the same place, event, etc. * this also helps build characterization, as the reader gets to see what the characters think are important **Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details** * some of the solutions to for the one-large-chunk problem solve this, but even if it's not too large a chunk and still unstructured, you can lose a reader via confusion * so approach what you describe and the details you pick and organize them according to some principle * one way is to approach like camera work in a movie * zoom in: describe things as they appear when distant, then describe same things in finer and finer detail, like you're getting closer to them (reverse for zoom out) * pan: describe things as they appear in space: right to left, up/down, whatever, but make the last thing where the action starts * X things, then Y things: all red things followed by all blue things, all soft things followed by all hard things, etc. * it doesn't matter too much what organizing principle you use, just have one, if that principle can complement a theme or something, even better **Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively** * this is only fixed with practice. Here's some advice I gave others a while back: * start with step 1 above and pick your objects details * Go and pick a tree (in real life). List out the features of that tree, just a list is fine: * *"It has a trunk."* * *"It's got leaves."* * *"It looks brown and green."* * Now take those features and make them the subject of your sentence. Make them do things not simply exist. * *"The trunk stands. The trunk reaches. The trunk grows."* * *"The leaves flutter. The leaves shimmer. The leaves vibrate."* * *"The green shades. The green covers. The green glows."* * Now make those features not simply do things, but have an actual effect on the other things around, or like a painting, create contrast with those other things (foreground and background). * *"The trunk stands alone in the stretching field. Its leaves shimmer in the sunlight as they vibrate in the wind. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun."* * Pick one object every day and work on writing this way until you naturally skip steps one and two. Bring in other senses. Do the same for people. Keep with this simple, concrete language at first. * As you improve, work your way into more suggestive language. Start adding more metaphorical descriptions as you get better. * *"The lone tree reaches to the sun, but can't stop itself from clutching the Earth. The vibrating leaves return the whispers carried by the wind. Whispers of the recent raindrops that left a musty haze coating my skin. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun, but even under the shimmering shadow, the stickiness remains."* TL;DR: You're in a forum for writing; you probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. | 0 | 10,429 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbwngz | hvci0co | 1,643,836,996 | 1,643,845,113 | 2 | 3 | Why are you describing the object, person, or place? Think about movies for a second. The descriptive moments aren't emotionally neutral. What's focused on, the lighting, the colors, it's all designed to elicit an emotional response from the viewers. Fear, wonder, boredom, whatever, they're going for that feeling. *Close Encounters of the third kind* boy taken by aliens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onuDfST7PRA Don't describe everything. Describe the details that will elicit the desired response in the reader. Use nouns and verbs that support that response. | **A few common ways description becomes boring is:** 1. Too many unnecessary details 2. All description packed together in one large chunk 3. Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details 4. Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively **A few ideas to correct these things:** **Too many unnecessary details** * writing is about choosing - you need to choose what to reveal, if the characters are in a room, does the reader really need to know what color the walls are? Why? Popcorn or tile ceiling? Why does this matter? * Basically, start with what objects, characters, etc. you're thinking of describing and ask yourself the following: * What do these details reveal about the character? * How do they play a role in the plot/action? * If these objects don't have much to do with anything, leave them out. You simply don't need to build this amazingly detailed world for people. * Now once you've picked your objects, do the same for the details of those object. * You don't need to describe every petal of a rose, nor even the petals at all. * You've already figured out what objects to describe, now what is was it that made those objects important? Those are the details to describe. * Drop the rest. * You can still list everything in your first draft. Make this questioning process more of an editing technique. With practice it becomes more automatic. **All description packed together in one large chunk** * Chocolate cake is good. Having only chocolate cake for every meal for a month is hell. Same with description. If you do find you need to provide descriptions of tons of people/objects in detailed ways (but you did go through step 1 above), then find ways to split things up. * A few ideas are: * Reveal with plot * describe house but skip kitchen and backyard * next scene has party: describe kitchen here with food and drink * next scene has couple sneaking off to be alone: describe the garden in the backyard they sneak off to * Use character POV (similar to the plot reveal) * use 1st person or 3rd person limited to only reveal what main character can see * as he moves through the world, what he sees will also change * alternate what he sees with his actions, dialogue, etc. * Multiple POV switch * similar to above but use multiple characters, basically switching between different 3rd person indirect views * have the different characters notice different details about the same place, event, etc. * this also helps build characterization, as the reader gets to see what the characters think are important **Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details** * some of the solutions to for the one-large-chunk problem solve this, but even if it's not too large a chunk and still unstructured, you can lose a reader via confusion * so approach what you describe and the details you pick and organize them according to some principle * one way is to approach like camera work in a movie * zoom in: describe things as they appear when distant, then describe same things in finer and finer detail, like you're getting closer to them (reverse for zoom out) * pan: describe things as they appear in space: right to left, up/down, whatever, but make the last thing where the action starts * X things, then Y things: all red things followed by all blue things, all soft things followed by all hard things, etc. * it doesn't matter too much what organizing principle you use, just have one, if that principle can complement a theme or something, even better **Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively** * this is only fixed with practice. Here's some advice I gave others a while back: * start with step 1 above and pick your objects details * Go and pick a tree (in real life). List out the features of that tree, just a list is fine: * *"It has a trunk."* * *"It's got leaves."* * *"It looks brown and green."* * Now take those features and make them the subject of your sentence. Make them do things not simply exist. * *"The trunk stands. The trunk reaches. The trunk grows."* * *"The leaves flutter. The leaves shimmer. The leaves vibrate."* * *"The green shades. The green covers. The green glows."* * Now make those features not simply do things, but have an actual effect on the other things around, or like a painting, create contrast with those other things (foreground and background). * *"The trunk stands alone in the stretching field. Its leaves shimmer in the sunlight as they vibrate in the wind. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun."* * Pick one object every day and work on writing this way until you naturally skip steps one and two. Bring in other senses. Do the same for people. Keep with this simple, concrete language at first. * As you improve, work your way into more suggestive language. Start adding more metaphorical descriptions as you get better. * *"The lone tree reaches to the sun, but can't stop itself from clutching the Earth. The vibrating leaves return the whispers carried by the wind. Whispers of the recent raindrops that left a musty haze coating my skin. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun, but even under the shimmering shadow, the stickiness remains."* TL;DR: You're in a forum for writing; you probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. | 0 | 8,117 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvc3o8j | hvci0co | 1,643,839,548 | 1,643,845,113 | 2 | 3 | Read, read, read…and then read some more…authors who are masters at painting with words. Read poets. Read a LOT of Cormack McArthy…if you immerse yourself in gorgeous writers, gorgeous writing will deep into your work… | **A few common ways description becomes boring is:** 1. Too many unnecessary details 2. All description packed together in one large chunk 3. Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details 4. Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively **A few ideas to correct these things:** **Too many unnecessary details** * writing is about choosing - you need to choose what to reveal, if the characters are in a room, does the reader really need to know what color the walls are? Why? Popcorn or tile ceiling? Why does this matter? * Basically, start with what objects, characters, etc. you're thinking of describing and ask yourself the following: * What do these details reveal about the character? * How do they play a role in the plot/action? * If these objects don't have much to do with anything, leave them out. You simply don't need to build this amazingly detailed world for people. * Now once you've picked your objects, do the same for the details of those object. * You don't need to describe every petal of a rose, nor even the petals at all. * You've already figured out what objects to describe, now what is was it that made those objects important? Those are the details to describe. * Drop the rest. * You can still list everything in your first draft. Make this questioning process more of an editing technique. With practice it becomes more automatic. **All description packed together in one large chunk** * Chocolate cake is good. Having only chocolate cake for every meal for a month is hell. Same with description. If you do find you need to provide descriptions of tons of people/objects in detailed ways (but you did go through step 1 above), then find ways to split things up. * A few ideas are: * Reveal with plot * describe house but skip kitchen and backyard * next scene has party: describe kitchen here with food and drink * next scene has couple sneaking off to be alone: describe the garden in the backyard they sneak off to * Use character POV (similar to the plot reveal) * use 1st person or 3rd person limited to only reveal what main character can see * as he moves through the world, what he sees will also change * alternate what he sees with his actions, dialogue, etc. * Multiple POV switch * similar to above but use multiple characters, basically switching between different 3rd person indirect views * have the different characters notice different details about the same place, event, etc. * this also helps build characterization, as the reader gets to see what the characters think are important **Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details** * some of the solutions to for the one-large-chunk problem solve this, but even if it's not too large a chunk and still unstructured, you can lose a reader via confusion * so approach what you describe and the details you pick and organize them according to some principle * one way is to approach like camera work in a movie * zoom in: describe things as they appear when distant, then describe same things in finer and finer detail, like you're getting closer to them (reverse for zoom out) * pan: describe things as they appear in space: right to left, up/down, whatever, but make the last thing where the action starts * X things, then Y things: all red things followed by all blue things, all soft things followed by all hard things, etc. * it doesn't matter too much what organizing principle you use, just have one, if that principle can complement a theme or something, even better **Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively** * this is only fixed with practice. Here's some advice I gave others a while back: * start with step 1 above and pick your objects details * Go and pick a tree (in real life). List out the features of that tree, just a list is fine: * *"It has a trunk."* * *"It's got leaves."* * *"It looks brown and green."* * Now take those features and make them the subject of your sentence. Make them do things not simply exist. * *"The trunk stands. The trunk reaches. The trunk grows."* * *"The leaves flutter. The leaves shimmer. The leaves vibrate."* * *"The green shades. The green covers. The green glows."* * Now make those features not simply do things, but have an actual effect on the other things around, or like a painting, create contrast with those other things (foreground and background). * *"The trunk stands alone in the stretching field. Its leaves shimmer in the sunlight as they vibrate in the wind. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun."* * Pick one object every day and work on writing this way until you naturally skip steps one and two. Bring in other senses. Do the same for people. Keep with this simple, concrete language at first. * As you improve, work your way into more suggestive language. Start adding more metaphorical descriptions as you get better. * *"The lone tree reaches to the sun, but can't stop itself from clutching the Earth. The vibrating leaves return the whispers carried by the wind. Whispers of the recent raindrops that left a musty haze coating my skin. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun, but even under the shimmering shadow, the stickiness remains."* TL;DR: You're in a forum for writing; you probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. | 0 | 5,565 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvcfqsq | hvci0co | 1,643,844,208 | 1,643,845,113 | 2 | 3 | Try to describe without describing it. What I mean is to link it to some other things, make it personal for your character. For example, describe a mug. How would you describe it? You can say something like, my father has a mug just like that. See? That immediately makes it personal, and bring back a lot of memories and emotions for the readers just thinking about their fathers. There is a good chance that their fathers are also coffee drinkers and have a mug. Now you can describe a bit more. It has an image of an eagle on it. My father bought it from a gift shop in Montana during his hunting trip some twenty years ago, before I was even born. So yeah, link to other things that your readers already know what they look like. | **A few common ways description becomes boring is:** 1. Too many unnecessary details 2. All description packed together in one large chunk 3. Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details 4. Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively **A few ideas to correct these things:** **Too many unnecessary details** * writing is about choosing - you need to choose what to reveal, if the characters are in a room, does the reader really need to know what color the walls are? Why? Popcorn or tile ceiling? Why does this matter? * Basically, start with what objects, characters, etc. you're thinking of describing and ask yourself the following: * What do these details reveal about the character? * How do they play a role in the plot/action? * If these objects don't have much to do with anything, leave them out. You simply don't need to build this amazingly detailed world for people. * Now once you've picked your objects, do the same for the details of those object. * You don't need to describe every petal of a rose, nor even the petals at all. * You've already figured out what objects to describe, now what is was it that made those objects important? Those are the details to describe. * Drop the rest. * You can still list everything in your first draft. Make this questioning process more of an editing technique. With practice it becomes more automatic. **All description packed together in one large chunk** * Chocolate cake is good. Having only chocolate cake for every meal for a month is hell. Same with description. If you do find you need to provide descriptions of tons of people/objects in detailed ways (but you did go through step 1 above), then find ways to split things up. * A few ideas are: * Reveal with plot * describe house but skip kitchen and backyard * next scene has party: describe kitchen here with food and drink * next scene has couple sneaking off to be alone: describe the garden in the backyard they sneak off to * Use character POV (similar to the plot reveal) * use 1st person or 3rd person limited to only reveal what main character can see * as he moves through the world, what he sees will also change * alternate what he sees with his actions, dialogue, etc. * Multiple POV switch * similar to above but use multiple characters, basically switching between different 3rd person indirect views * have the different characters notice different details about the same place, event, etc. * this also helps build characterization, as the reader gets to see what the characters think are important **Lack of any structure - a shotgun blast of details** * some of the solutions to for the one-large-chunk problem solve this, but even if it's not too large a chunk and still unstructured, you can lose a reader via confusion * so approach what you describe and the details you pick and organize them according to some principle * one way is to approach like camera work in a movie * zoom in: describe things as they appear when distant, then describe same things in finer and finer detail, like you're getting closer to them (reverse for zoom out) * pan: describe things as they appear in space: right to left, up/down, whatever, but make the last thing where the action starts * X things, then Y things: all red things followed by all blue things, all soft things followed by all hard things, etc. * it doesn't matter too much what organizing principle you use, just have one, if that principle can complement a theme or something, even better **Basic poor writing - details aren't vivid and lively** * this is only fixed with practice. Here's some advice I gave others a while back: * start with step 1 above and pick your objects details * Go and pick a tree (in real life). List out the features of that tree, just a list is fine: * *"It has a trunk."* * *"It's got leaves."* * *"It looks brown and green."* * Now take those features and make them the subject of your sentence. Make them do things not simply exist. * *"The trunk stands. The trunk reaches. The trunk grows."* * *"The leaves flutter. The leaves shimmer. The leaves vibrate."* * *"The green shades. The green covers. The green glows."* * Now make those features not simply do things, but have an actual effect on the other things around, or like a painting, create contrast with those other things (foreground and background). * *"The trunk stands alone in the stretching field. Its leaves shimmer in the sunlight as they vibrate in the wind. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun."* * Pick one object every day and work on writing this way until you naturally skip steps one and two. Bring in other senses. Do the same for people. Keep with this simple, concrete language at first. * As you improve, work your way into more suggestive language. Start adding more metaphorical descriptions as you get better. * *"The lone tree reaches to the sun, but can't stop itself from clutching the Earth. The vibrating leaves return the whispers carried by the wind. Whispers of the recent raindrops that left a musty haze coating my skin. A green shade drifts across the grass with the sun, but even under the shimmering shadow, the stickiness remains."* TL;DR: You're in a forum for writing; you probably took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. | 0 | 905 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvck0ch | hvbnw1v | 1,643,845,925 | 1,643,833,850 | 3 | 2 | Try writing a story instead of descriptions. | Read and analyze your own writing & whoever you are reading at the moment. What are they doing that you are not? | 1 | 12,075 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvck0ch | hvbp361 | 1,643,845,925 | 1,643,834,288 | 3 | 2 | Try writing a story instead of descriptions. | Check out some of Haruki Murakami's work. He's excellent at description. Keep in mind that his writing is not without other problems though | 1 | 11,637 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvbpnty | hvck0ch | 1,643,834,496 | 1,643,845,925 | 2 | 3 | >how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? That's the $64K question. It's not something that can be taught; it's a thing you discover on your own. Like, *what makes a book good?* No one can't teach that. The good thing is that if ***you*** think it's heavy and boring, then you at least have a starting point from which to improve. | Try writing a story instead of descriptions. | 0 | 11,429 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvck0ch | hvbq6cs | 1,643,845,925 | 1,643,834,684 | 3 | 2 | Try writing a story instead of descriptions. | I have to not think about it too much. When I allow myself to relax and just describe the scenes as they play in my head, as raw as I can, it becomes easier. That's the only way I can describe my process, idk lol. While I'm not thinking too much about it, I'm paying close attention to everything. | 1 | 11,241 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvck0ch | hvbwngz | 1,643,845,925 | 1,643,836,996 | 3 | 2 | Try writing a story instead of descriptions. | Why are you describing the object, person, or place? Think about movies for a second. The descriptive moments aren't emotionally neutral. What's focused on, the lighting, the colors, it's all designed to elicit an emotional response from the viewers. Fear, wonder, boredom, whatever, they're going for that feeling. *Close Encounters of the third kind* boy taken by aliens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onuDfST7PRA Don't describe everything. Describe the details that will elicit the desired response in the reader. Use nouns and verbs that support that response. | 1 | 8,929 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvck0ch | hvc3o8j | 1,643,845,925 | 1,643,839,548 | 3 | 2 | Try writing a story instead of descriptions. | Read, read, read…and then read some more…authors who are masters at painting with words. Read poets. Read a LOT of Cormack McArthy…if you immerse yourself in gorgeous writers, gorgeous writing will deep into your work… | 1 | 6,377 | 1.5 | ||
siyn8k | writing_train | 0.9 | How do you write consistent and not boring descriptions? Well, I have a problem: I don't know how to write descriptions of objects, people or places without the reader falling asleep. I have been recommended several times that of: "Show and not tell", but the few times that I tell it becomes monotonous and very heavy. I mean, how do you make the description of an important character or a key plot point not feel heavy or boring? | hvcfqsq | hvck0ch | 1,643,844,208 | 1,643,845,925 | 2 | 3 | Try to describe without describing it. What I mean is to link it to some other things, make it personal for your character. For example, describe a mug. How would you describe it? You can say something like, my father has a mug just like that. See? That immediately makes it personal, and bring back a lot of memories and emotions for the readers just thinking about their fathers. There is a good chance that their fathers are also coffee drinkers and have a mug. Now you can describe a bit more. It has an image of an eagle on it. My father bought it from a gift shop in Montana during his hunting trip some twenty years ago, before I was even born. So yeah, link to other things that your readers already know what they look like. | Try writing a story instead of descriptions. | 0 | 1,717 | 1.5 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdybswx | cdyasb1 | 1,386,693,241 | 1,386,690,732 | 45 | 10 | I started writing when I was about your age (I'm 22 now), so I'll share with you my personal experience. In all honesty, in the future you'll likely look back on your writing and find it to be utterly underwhelming (at least that's how it is in my case, recently finished a ~140k word novel, have to scrap most of it). But the very fact that I recognize it as crap was worth the effort. I can't say I'd be any better now if I hadn't started in the first place. Every hour you spend writing is practice, regardless of quality. The more you practice, the better you will get. In my opinion, the best age to start writing is as soon as you feel inspired to. You're probably not going to be the best out of the gate, but the experience is invaluable. | Here's the trick: people say honesty is the most important aspect in any work of art and these feelings are the exact reason. You will never have enough perspective to sit down and write a book that tackles real issues the right way because their isn't a right way and real issues are a matter of perspective. Kurt Vonnegut went through some shit before he started writing, Jack Keroauc went on the road, but that doesn't mean you need to. I wouldn't sit down and pretend to write this all-knowing perspective (unless it's about Lady Gaga, in which case I know way too much), but if you sit down, write the truth as you see it, and relentlessly focus on making your work an honest portrayal of how you see life right now, you'll be LEAGUES ahead of many wonderful writers. Bottom line, don't wait around. It's great that you understand your own naivety, so fucking use that shit to your advantage! | 1 | 2,509 | 4.5 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdycypl | cdycuz2 | 1,386,695,860 | 1,386,695,632 | 3 | 1 | I know how you feel. I've been writing for as Lon as I can remember and all my old stuff was obviously written by someone with very little experience. One of my more successful pieces (it actually won an award!) I wrote was when I was in my early 20s writing from the perspective of an even younger person. You might play around with that. Try writing from the perspective of someone young and then any of the "young-ness" you have will be totally genuine and it will work in your narrative. I agree with the other commenters and I think you shouldn't wait until you're older. Write now. Write often. Fitzgerald was only 23 when he published his first novel, and as we all know, a novel isn't written in a day. If you haven't already, join a writers group or start one with your friends :) | Greetings! You remind me quite a lot of myself, I must say. I have three verbose thoughts for you, if you would be willing to read them, that is. First: Just write. If you have a story, write it down. Or just write down notes. Might I recommend Scrivener, if you do not use it already? I literally open it as soon as I log onto my computer, and then just flip over to it every once in a while, jotting a note, writing something up. I have one big project where I store all of my random thoughts and notes, and at the end of the day I'll move anything I added to the specific project it belongs to, if necessary. I find this way of organization helps me do just as I suggested: just write. Now, second: You'll find that "just writing" is going to be hard, and it is going to suck. Yes, your writing shall likely sucketh the big one; mine still does. But keep your writing, and keep writing. Make sure to edit *long after* you have your ideas and general story down on paper. Edit on days when you feel like editing; write on days when you have that story--that intense and glorious feeling--and keep writing like that until it subsides: then, suddenly, you'll have plenty of content to edit, and even more suddenly you'll be prepared to actually pursue getting something published and read by others. That leads to third: Never just delete a whole page or story *because* it sucked. There was an idea there, albeit a bad one, but an idea is an idea; you might come back to ideas. I wrote throughout high school--terrible little poems and crazy slew of consciousness narratives; I have went back and used every one of them that I kept in some way. I rewrote likely nine-tenths of them, but I used at least their ideas. This made them better, truly, as I could spin them in an all new way with my decade of new ideas and learning to stack on top of them. I wish you the best of luck, myself the younger, keep that story in your heart, but make sure to let it see some ink, too, and soon! It would be an unforgivable act, indeed, to not act. | 1 | 228 | 3 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdycuz2 | cdyh73z | 1,386,695,632 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | Greetings! You remind me quite a lot of myself, I must say. I have three verbose thoughts for you, if you would be willing to read them, that is. First: Just write. If you have a story, write it down. Or just write down notes. Might I recommend Scrivener, if you do not use it already? I literally open it as soon as I log onto my computer, and then just flip over to it every once in a while, jotting a note, writing something up. I have one big project where I store all of my random thoughts and notes, and at the end of the day I'll move anything I added to the specific project it belongs to, if necessary. I find this way of organization helps me do just as I suggested: just write. Now, second: You'll find that "just writing" is going to be hard, and it is going to suck. Yes, your writing shall likely sucketh the big one; mine still does. But keep your writing, and keep writing. Make sure to edit *long after* you have your ideas and general story down on paper. Edit on days when you feel like editing; write on days when you have that story--that intense and glorious feeling--and keep writing like that until it subsides: then, suddenly, you'll have plenty of content to edit, and even more suddenly you'll be prepared to actually pursue getting something published and read by others. That leads to third: Never just delete a whole page or story *because* it sucked. There was an idea there, albeit a bad one, but an idea is an idea; you might come back to ideas. I wrote throughout high school--terrible little poems and crazy slew of consciousness narratives; I have went back and used every one of them that I kept in some way. I rewrote likely nine-tenths of them, but I used at least their ideas. This made them better, truly, as I could spin them in an all new way with my decade of new ideas and learning to stack on top of them. I wish you the best of luck, myself the younger, keep that story in your heart, but make sure to let it see some ink, too, and soon! It would be an unforgivable act, indeed, to not act. | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 9,232 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdydft3 | cdyh73z | 1,386,696,902 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | Shut up and do the impossible. | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 7,962 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyh73z | cdydtjw | 1,386,704,864 | 1,386,697,725 | 2 | 1 | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | You may not be old enough to write your story now, but wouldn't it suck to finally be old enough to write it and be super rusty at writing? I'm sure there's more stories in you that you can write now. Even if what you write isn't very good the goal of a writer should always be to create a body of work not just one really good piece. You'll never know how good you are in the future without looking back at your work from the past. | 1 | 7,139 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdye1n1 | cdyh73z | 1,386,698,202 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | If you start writing at 17, you'll fail. If you start writing at 27, you'll still fail. It's the failing that'll make you better, and there's no better time to get better than right now! These issues you're having are gonna manifest themselves no matter how old you are. Hell, if you start now, you'll probably be surprised about how much not having any "real issues" of your own really matters! | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 6,662 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyebcg | cdyh73z | 1,386,698,778 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | I understand the feeling in retrospect. I'm 19 now and just published my very first novella- that took me eleven months, and was the end result of years getting comfortable as a writer. I have another book, and it's my "baby", in a way. I'm not going into many details because keeping it secret is, for me, a special kind of fun, and it's... Not exactly traditional. I wrote it a couple of years ago, and looking back at it, I realize how far I've come as a writer. I need to edit and re-write and redo and rework and replot and rethink most of the book now- my book is such an ambitious project that I suspect I won't finish it until I'm on my deathbed. Frankly, if you think you've got something big inside you, don't be scared of it. Let it out. It'll probably have some issues, but you can work those out. It's a mistake, as a writer, to stop writing. Imagine what happens to an athlete if he stops exercising. Don't worry about having few issues or troubles in your life, you'll experience them soon enough. Meanwhile, practice your writing, keep *reading*, and never give up. | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 6,086 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyh73z | cdyek73 | 1,386,704,864 | 1,386,699,297 | 2 | 1 | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | Don't stop writing while you're waiting for insight or self-actualization or whatever. Keep writing for the practice and the skill-building and just for the hell of it, even if what you write never sells and you look back on it later and cringe. > How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? Research, interview, talk to people. Make learning about the world and people part of the process. Too many writers don't get out of their own heads, and only write about their own issues. | 1 | 5,567 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyelmv | cdyh73z | 1,386,699,379 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | I've heard two\* different perspectives from authors on this: 1) Write it now, get it out of your system. As you grow as a writer and strengthen your internal idea-generator, you'll come up with better things. 2) Save it for later, after you've written a bunch of other things and lived life some, so you can do it justice as an experienced human in general and writer in particular. The takeaway from either perspective, though, is don't let the way you're feeling dissuade you from starting to write *something* right now. Only you can really be the judge of whether it would be better to do it now or try again later. \*I guess there's also 1.5) Write it now and just keep editing it for the next decade or so until you've got the craft and life experience to make it work, which some have done very successfully. Just don't quit your day job, hehe. | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 5,485 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyh73z | cdyeofy | 1,386,704,864 | 1,386,699,543 | 2 | 1 | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | Best advise I ever got: "don't make it precious". You're afraid to fail at something that only exists in your imagination. Cut it out and make typie sounds! If you do destroy your, currently nonexistent, story then you'll just have to think of another one. Volume baby! get crackin'! and don't make it precious! | 1 | 5,321 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyh73z | cdyeq7w | 1,386,704,864 | 1,386,699,643 | 2 | 1 | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | Just write. Write as much as you can. There are a dozen or so Young Adult novels that I read as a (young) teenager that focused around other teenagers and the things they do. There was one that was about a trio of girls and the problems they had fitting in at school. It was great. There are the Sweet Valley High books, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and so on. You don't have to write things that are targeted young audiences like those books (although those are still entertaining to read, so maybe that would be fun to tackle), but you CAN write real-world novels based on things you know: school, friends, relationships. Start off with short stories, I'd say. Write a dozen of them. At least one of them will really speak to you, and maybe you can extend it to a series of short stories about that character/setting/theme. Just write, and don't stop writing. Everyone crawls before they walk, everyone walks before they run. Just write. The kind of real-world experience you're talking about... I'm 31 years old and I don't think I have the "real-world" experience you're talking about -- and I've gone through some major shit! Your current experience is enough. Just write. | 1 | 5,221 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyeu8t | cdyh73z | 1,386,699,879 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | Everyone's answers are super long and I don't want to read them to see if this has already been said, so I'll just say it. Just write. If you feel like you have a story in you, write it. If you get writer's block, go live your life and come back to it later. I started writing short stories when I was around 13. Granted they were pretty much Daniel Pinkwater books, but at least I wrote. I wrote enough that at my young age now (22), I've developed somewhat of a voice. I still have plenty of work to do though. My favorite piece of advice I've ever heard is this: You have to be a bad writer before you can be a good one. It takes practice, my friend. Edit: I went back and read everyone else's answers. Good advice. | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 4,985 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyfad7 | cdyh73z | 1,386,700,816 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | Someone (Gaiman?) once anecdotally said that it takes a million written words to start producing 'good writing'. You get there sooner than that? Good for you! 17's as good of a time to get started on that as any. The main thing is not to set your expectations of yourself or your work too high. Enjoy the process, write to write, and when you're older and looking back, you'll be thankful you put that time in. :) | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 4,048 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyh73z | cdyflal | 1,386,704,864 | 1,386,701,455 | 2 | 1 | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | The author of *Black Beauty* was only ten when she wrote it...anything is possible! Write about feelings/issues you have now, or use your imagination. | 1 | 3,409 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyh73z | cdyfmes | 1,386,704,864 | 1,386,701,521 | 2 | 1 | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | What about your fish? | 1 | 3,343 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyfmke | cdyh73z | 1,386,701,530 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | Start writing something that takes place in this world. Who cares if it sucks? Then write something else. Still sucks? Who cares? Write something else. Every writer does this, but by starting at 17, you get a head start. You'll be writing way less sucky stuff at 22 than someone starting the process at 22. But I agree with you that you can't write effectively about until you live life, so get some research. Do stupid things for stupid reasons and every day get out of bed with the intention to do something, one thing, brand fucking new in the name of life experience. But never stop writing and don't waste your head start. Edit: Everyone else is saying their age and I'm looking old here, so maybe I should say I am 32 if that gives you context. I'm rewriting my fourth novel at the behest of my agent, but I'll never stop with the life experience. I lied about my experience to get into a boxing match just to feel that fear and pain. I have a two year old and know that undying love coupled with massive annoyance. You just gotta go do this stuff to broaden your horizons. I think living the breadth of life and not just the length makes me a better writer. | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 3,334 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyg5k9 | cdyh73z | 1,386,702,650 | 1,386,704,864 | 1 | 2 | Spend your twenties doing the stuff you'll write about in your thirties. | A piece of advice you've probably gotten a million times: write what you know. Write about a bored teenager stuck at home with no trouble to get into, no sense of adventure, and no understanding of the world. This will help your writing flow from your fingers a LOT easier, which will help you practice, get your confidence up, until you're finally able to step outside the boundaries of "what you know." Don't you dare say you're too young to write. By starting now, you'll get years of practice on others. That's time you'll never get back. | 0 | 2,214 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdycuz2 | cdym62h | 1,386,695,632 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Greetings! You remind me quite a lot of myself, I must say. I have three verbose thoughts for you, if you would be willing to read them, that is. First: Just write. If you have a story, write it down. Or just write down notes. Might I recommend Scrivener, if you do not use it already? I literally open it as soon as I log onto my computer, and then just flip over to it every once in a while, jotting a note, writing something up. I have one big project where I store all of my random thoughts and notes, and at the end of the day I'll move anything I added to the specific project it belongs to, if necessary. I find this way of organization helps me do just as I suggested: just write. Now, second: You'll find that "just writing" is going to be hard, and it is going to suck. Yes, your writing shall likely sucketh the big one; mine still does. But keep your writing, and keep writing. Make sure to edit *long after* you have your ideas and general story down on paper. Edit on days when you feel like editing; write on days when you have that story--that intense and glorious feeling--and keep writing like that until it subsides: then, suddenly, you'll have plenty of content to edit, and even more suddenly you'll be prepared to actually pursue getting something published and read by others. That leads to third: Never just delete a whole page or story *because* it sucked. There was an idea there, albeit a bad one, but an idea is an idea; you might come back to ideas. I wrote throughout high school--terrible little poems and crazy slew of consciousness narratives; I have went back and used every one of them that I kept in some way. I rewrote likely nine-tenths of them, but I used at least their ideas. This made them better, truly, as I could spin them in an all new way with my decade of new ideas and learning to stack on top of them. I wish you the best of luck, myself the younger, keep that story in your heart, but make sure to let it see some ink, too, and soon! It would be an unforgivable act, indeed, to not act. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 19,148 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdydft3 | cdym62h | 1,386,696,902 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Shut up and do the impossible. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 17,878 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdydtjw | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,697,725 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | You may not be old enough to write your story now, but wouldn't it suck to finally be old enough to write it and be super rusty at writing? I'm sure there's more stories in you that you can write now. Even if what you write isn't very good the goal of a writer should always be to create a body of work not just one really good piece. You'll never know how good you are in the future without looking back at your work from the past. | 1 | 17,055 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdye1n1 | cdym62h | 1,386,698,202 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | If you start writing at 17, you'll fail. If you start writing at 27, you'll still fail. It's the failing that'll make you better, and there's no better time to get better than right now! These issues you're having are gonna manifest themselves no matter how old you are. Hell, if you start now, you'll probably be surprised about how much not having any "real issues" of your own really matters! | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 16,578 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyebcg | cdym62h | 1,386,698,778 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | I understand the feeling in retrospect. I'm 19 now and just published my very first novella- that took me eleven months, and was the end result of years getting comfortable as a writer. I have another book, and it's my "baby", in a way. I'm not going into many details because keeping it secret is, for me, a special kind of fun, and it's... Not exactly traditional. I wrote it a couple of years ago, and looking back at it, I realize how far I've come as a writer. I need to edit and re-write and redo and rework and replot and rethink most of the book now- my book is such an ambitious project that I suspect I won't finish it until I'm on my deathbed. Frankly, if you think you've got something big inside you, don't be scared of it. Let it out. It'll probably have some issues, but you can work those out. It's a mistake, as a writer, to stop writing. Imagine what happens to an athlete if he stops exercising. Don't worry about having few issues or troubles in your life, you'll experience them soon enough. Meanwhile, practice your writing, keep *reading*, and never give up. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 16,002 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyek73 | cdym62h | 1,386,699,297 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Don't stop writing while you're waiting for insight or self-actualization or whatever. Keep writing for the practice and the skill-building and just for the hell of it, even if what you write never sells and you look back on it later and cringe. > How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? Research, interview, talk to people. Make learning about the world and people part of the process. Too many writers don't get out of their own heads, and only write about their own issues. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 15,483 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyelmv | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,699,379 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | I've heard two\* different perspectives from authors on this: 1) Write it now, get it out of your system. As you grow as a writer and strengthen your internal idea-generator, you'll come up with better things. 2) Save it for later, after you've written a bunch of other things and lived life some, so you can do it justice as an experienced human in general and writer in particular. The takeaway from either perspective, though, is don't let the way you're feeling dissuade you from starting to write *something* right now. Only you can really be the judge of whether it would be better to do it now or try again later. \*I guess there's also 1.5) Write it now and just keep editing it for the next decade or so until you've got the craft and life experience to make it work, which some have done very successfully. Just don't quit your day job, hehe. | 1 | 15,401 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyeofy | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,699,543 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | Best advise I ever got: "don't make it precious". You're afraid to fail at something that only exists in your imagination. Cut it out and make typie sounds! If you do destroy your, currently nonexistent, story then you'll just have to think of another one. Volume baby! get crackin'! and don't make it precious! | 1 | 15,237 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyeq7w | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,699,643 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | Just write. Write as much as you can. There are a dozen or so Young Adult novels that I read as a (young) teenager that focused around other teenagers and the things they do. There was one that was about a trio of girls and the problems they had fitting in at school. It was great. There are the Sweet Valley High books, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and so on. You don't have to write things that are targeted young audiences like those books (although those are still entertaining to read, so maybe that would be fun to tackle), but you CAN write real-world novels based on things you know: school, friends, relationships. Start off with short stories, I'd say. Write a dozen of them. At least one of them will really speak to you, and maybe you can extend it to a series of short stories about that character/setting/theme. Just write, and don't stop writing. Everyone crawls before they walk, everyone walks before they run. Just write. The kind of real-world experience you're talking about... I'm 31 years old and I don't think I have the "real-world" experience you're talking about -- and I've gone through some major shit! Your current experience is enough. Just write. | 1 | 15,137 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyeu8t | cdym62h | 1,386,699,879 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Everyone's answers are super long and I don't want to read them to see if this has already been said, so I'll just say it. Just write. If you feel like you have a story in you, write it. If you get writer's block, go live your life and come back to it later. I started writing short stories when I was around 13. Granted they were pretty much Daniel Pinkwater books, but at least I wrote. I wrote enough that at my young age now (22), I've developed somewhat of a voice. I still have plenty of work to do though. My favorite piece of advice I've ever heard is this: You have to be a bad writer before you can be a good one. It takes practice, my friend. Edit: I went back and read everyone else's answers. Good advice. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 14,901 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyfad7 | cdym62h | 1,386,700,816 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Someone (Gaiman?) once anecdotally said that it takes a million written words to start producing 'good writing'. You get there sooner than that? Good for you! 17's as good of a time to get started on that as any. The main thing is not to set your expectations of yourself or your work too high. Enjoy the process, write to write, and when you're older and looking back, you'll be thankful you put that time in. :) | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 13,964 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyflal | cdym62h | 1,386,701,455 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | The author of *Black Beauty* was only ten when she wrote it...anything is possible! Write about feelings/issues you have now, or use your imagination. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 13,325 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyfmes | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,701,521 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | What about your fish? | 1 | 13,259 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyfmke | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,701,530 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | Start writing something that takes place in this world. Who cares if it sucks? Then write something else. Still sucks? Who cares? Write something else. Every writer does this, but by starting at 17, you get a head start. You'll be writing way less sucky stuff at 22 than someone starting the process at 22. But I agree with you that you can't write effectively about until you live life, so get some research. Do stupid things for stupid reasons and every day get out of bed with the intention to do something, one thing, brand fucking new in the name of life experience. But never stop writing and don't waste your head start. Edit: Everyone else is saying their age and I'm looking old here, so maybe I should say I am 32 if that gives you context. I'm rewriting my fourth novel at the behest of my agent, but I'll never stop with the life experience. I lied about my experience to get into a boxing match just to feel that fear and pain. I have a two year old and know that undying love coupled with massive annoyance. You just gotta go do this stuff to broaden your horizons. I think living the breadth of life and not just the length makes me a better writer. | 1 | 13,250 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyg5k9 | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,702,650 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | Spend your twenties doing the stuff you'll write about in your thirties. | 1 | 12,130 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyhi4c | cdym62h | 1,386,705,483 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Write whatever you want, but don't be discouraged if it's not good. I started writing in earnest when I was about seventeen or so, and looking back on that writing is amusing, but not painful. Remember that as a writer you don't have to provide answers for questions you raise in your work. You can, but the job of a writer is first and foremost to tell stories. Don't write about issues or ideas, write about stories and people. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 9,297 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyhm1l | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,705,705 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | My advice is to not stop. You may think that your "too young to write" but you should always be practicing. Take this time to work on your writing style and improving. Go out and experience life, then when you feel you are ready to write the novel that's in your head you can do it. Though I don't think age matters when it come to writing. I started writing at an early age and never stopped. It worked out fine for me so I don't think its a matter of at this age you are experienced enough in the world to write now, the only one who can tell if your ready is yourself. Don't give up, keep writing. | 1 | 9,075 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyhoo6 | cdym62h | 1,386,705,858 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Stop attributing writing skill to *"life experience"*. Everyone goes through the initial pain period whether they start at seventeen or fifty-seven. You say you feel too young? Write about that. Make these fears and doubts you have obstacles that your protagonist must overcome. Once he figures out how you'll find that you have too. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 8,922 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyhzar | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,706,459 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | Hey, Amelia Atwater Rhodes started publishing in her teens. if you have ideas, you can write. Start working from your experiences. Think about the people you know. Learn to think of things from multiple perspectives. Read as much as you can. | 1 | 8,321 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyi12v | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,706,556 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | Don't worry about the authenticity of what you're writing right now. Your goal should be putting things on the page to practice the pure art of writing - dialogue, setting, whatever. To use a metaphor, when I started playing guitar, it was because I wanted to learn how to play my favorite songs, not because I wanted to write the most amazing song ever. You're going to spend some time just trying to understand the mechanics, and eventually stories will suggest themselves. | 1 | 8,224 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdym62h | cdyj9v2 | 1,386,714,780 | 1,386,708,992 | 2 | 1 | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | Write it! | 1 | 5,788 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyjl3s | cdym62h | 1,386,709,611 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | I started writing at 8. I was working on my first novel at 14. And I was terrible! You're going to write bad things. It's inevitable. If you wait until you're 25 you'll write bad things. If you wait until you're 40 you'll write bad things. Write now. Write now and write lots. It will be bad. But! But when you're older and have more life-experience to pour into your writing, by then your mechanical skills will be refined. Start now, by the time you know life well enough to write good things you'll have the writing skills to do justice to those ideas. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 5,169 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyk6ne | cdym62h | 1,386,710,771 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | At 33 I wish I had tried earlier. As long as you're willing to take the lumps and accept feedback gracefully, you can never start too soon. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 4,009 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyl3ae | cdym62h | 1,386,712,542 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | I would say that there is a story for every age, but I don't want to because it blows my mind that you didn't include your age so that we could actually understand where you're coming from. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 2,238 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyl4l6 | cdym62h | 1,386,712,610 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | I'm 43 and started getting serious last year. I enjoyed some writing in my teens and early twenties, and had dreams of being a writer. Then I listened to the more practical influences in my life and became a software developer. I make a decent living, no major regret that way, but that desire and drive to write and create never went away. So, now with even more to say than ever, I'm stuck without the necessary skill set to write what's in my head. Not yet anyway. I'll get there, but I do regret putting it on the back burner all those years. So, just keep writing if that's what you feel like doing. If you produce some crap, so what. Everyone does. Think of a photographer and the thousands of shit pictures they never show anyone. Writing isn't much different in that regard. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 2,170 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdyljli | cdym62h | 1,386,713,467 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | Try keeping notes rather than a diary. Write down interesting stories people tell you. Observe people's behaviour and describe it. I've done this for a while and it's really helped me develop a wider perspective on the world. It's so much more valuable than self-absorbed navel gazing in a diary. Trying to describe what you see around you helps you to develop your writing style and you'll also end up with tons and tons of material for stories. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 1,313 | 2 | ||
1sjug0 | writing_train | 0.81 | I don't think I'm old enough to write a story/novel. I can't explain it, but I feel like I have a story in me. There's been a novel in me for years now, but I don't think I'm old or mature enough to write one. I'm only seventeen-years-old. I really don't have any real problems and I have little to no understanding of how the world works. Up until now, I've only written fantasy because I don't have to worry as much about getting things wrong, but I'm sick of fantasy and I want to write something that takes place in this world. The problem is, how can I? How can I write about real issues that people actually go through when I have little real issues of my own? At what age should I actually start writing again? | cdylrvn | cdym62h | 1,386,713,955 | 1,386,714,780 | 1 | 2 | This interview of John McPhee gives some pretty decent advice on the subject: > But writing teaches writing. And I’ll tell you this, that summer in Firestone Library, I felt myself palpably growing as a writer. You just don’t sit there and write thirty thousand words without learning something. Now, John McPhee writes literary nonfiction (or whatever you'd like to call it) but I think the point still stands. The thing is, write now even if it isn't as meaningful as you would wish it to be. The more you do it, the better you'll get at it. As far as experience, the proverbial "they" always says to write about what you know. I heard once (I forget where) to write about what you *don't* know when you're young instead. Through this, you learn via research and also garner a more interesting perspective on the world. This can even be "I'm 17, and I hate going to school" changing to "The standards of education???" and then write about that. You can look for a story in the facts. Stories are in data and statistics as much as they are in imaginations. For example, I heard a really lovely short story at a reading which I can't seem to locate. This woman wrote a story about Neil Armstrong (she had no experience in space research) but talked about what he might have been feeling while in space, etc. | Mary Shelley was 16 when she wrote Frankenstein. | 0 | 825 | 2 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8w47k | ib8vqf3 | 1,654,432,685 | 1,654,432,433 | 408 | 271 | Every writer hates the process sometimes. It can’t be wine and roses all the time. But if you always hate it, try something else that scratches the creativity itch. It can be as simple as trying a different form, like flash or 100-word stories, or you could try screenwriting. Or you could abandon writing and try painting - still very creative, perhaps less stressful for you. The world isn’t lacking stuff to read, so the only reason to do it is because you want to. | >Should I stop writing ? Technically you can't stop something you haven't started yet. | 1 | 252 | 1.505535 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8t27v | ib8w47k | 1,654,430,561 | 1,654,432,685 | 29 | 408 | I don't think you should stop, nor do I think you should push yourself to continue. In my experience, when I force myself to write the story it can turn into a tiresome process, frustrating even. But when I keep playing with the story, musing over events and characters playfully, the story basically starts to write itself. My advice is figure out what kind if writer you are and let the story come to you. | Every writer hates the process sometimes. It can’t be wine and roses all the time. But if you always hate it, try something else that scratches the creativity itch. It can be as simple as trying a different form, like flash or 100-word stories, or you could try screenwriting. Or you could abandon writing and try painting - still very creative, perhaps less stressful for you. The world isn’t lacking stuff to read, so the only reason to do it is because you want to. | 0 | 2,124 | 14.068966 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8u6jr | ib8w47k | 1,654,431,368 | 1,654,432,685 | 7 | 408 | Definitely can relate to this. I have probably spent over a decade trying to unsuccessfully write stories but not finishing due to procrastination and lack of focus. I'd be really hard on myself while writing my first draft and wouldn't be able to continue because I didn't love what I was putting down. I don't think that's a reason to stop writing. Honestly, I think you have to just write for your first draft. Don't be critical of yourself and just put down whatever comes to mind. The actual forming of the story and patching up mistakes should happen in your second and third draft Also, don't be afraid to mix up your writing styles. For me, I found out a few years ago that I'm better writing newsletter/blog profile and feature stories because it is short and I find it easier to go through the editing process. Keep trying different things and don't give up! | Every writer hates the process sometimes. It can’t be wine and roses all the time. But if you always hate it, try something else that scratches the creativity itch. It can be as simple as trying a different form, like flash or 100-word stories, or you could try screenwriting. Or you could abandon writing and try painting - still very creative, perhaps less stressful for you. The world isn’t lacking stuff to read, so the only reason to do it is because you want to. | 0 | 1,317 | 58.285714 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8vqf3 | ib8t27v | 1,654,432,433 | 1,654,430,561 | 271 | 29 | >Should I stop writing ? Technically you can't stop something you haven't started yet. | I don't think you should stop, nor do I think you should push yourself to continue. In my experience, when I force myself to write the story it can turn into a tiresome process, frustrating even. But when I keep playing with the story, musing over events and characters playfully, the story basically starts to write itself. My advice is figure out what kind if writer you are and let the story come to you. | 1 | 1,872 | 9.344828 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8u6jr | ib8vqf3 | 1,654,431,368 | 1,654,432,433 | 7 | 271 | Definitely can relate to this. I have probably spent over a decade trying to unsuccessfully write stories but not finishing due to procrastination and lack of focus. I'd be really hard on myself while writing my first draft and wouldn't be able to continue because I didn't love what I was putting down. I don't think that's a reason to stop writing. Honestly, I think you have to just write for your first draft. Don't be critical of yourself and just put down whatever comes to mind. The actual forming of the story and patching up mistakes should happen in your second and third draft Also, don't be afraid to mix up your writing styles. For me, I found out a few years ago that I'm better writing newsletter/blog profile and feature stories because it is short and I find it easier to go through the editing process. Keep trying different things and don't give up! | >Should I stop writing ? Technically you can't stop something you haven't started yet. | 0 | 1,065 | 38.714286 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8t27v | ib90421 | 1,654,430,561 | 1,654,435,187 | 29 | 134 | I don't think you should stop, nor do I think you should push yourself to continue. In my experience, when I force myself to write the story it can turn into a tiresome process, frustrating even. But when I keep playing with the story, musing over events and characters playfully, the story basically starts to write itself. My advice is figure out what kind if writer you are and let the story come to you. | The vast majority of people who want to write a novel fantasize the idea of being a writer but not actually doing the hard work part! | 0 | 4,626 | 4.62069 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8yply | ib90421 | 1,654,434,334 | 1,654,435,187 | 16 | 134 | You can train yourself to get better at it. Try to write short stories first, 1000 words or so, then write longer and longer pieces. Figure out what type of stories you enjoy writing the most. For me, I enjoy writing awkward/funny scenes. When everything turns serious, I have the same problem as you. Figure out weaknesses in your writing. Improve them. Once you write well, and know what you enjoy writing, you will faster and enjoy it more. | The vast majority of people who want to write a novel fantasize the idea of being a writer but not actually doing the hard work part! | 0 | 853 | 8.375 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib90421 | ib8u6jr | 1,654,435,187 | 1,654,431,368 | 134 | 7 | The vast majority of people who want to write a novel fantasize the idea of being a writer but not actually doing the hard work part! | Definitely can relate to this. I have probably spent over a decade trying to unsuccessfully write stories but not finishing due to procrastination and lack of focus. I'd be really hard on myself while writing my first draft and wouldn't be able to continue because I didn't love what I was putting down. I don't think that's a reason to stop writing. Honestly, I think you have to just write for your first draft. Don't be critical of yourself and just put down whatever comes to mind. The actual forming of the story and patching up mistakes should happen in your second and third draft Also, don't be afraid to mix up your writing styles. For me, I found out a few years ago that I'm better writing newsletter/blog profile and feature stories because it is short and I find it easier to go through the editing process. Keep trying different things and don't give up! | 1 | 3,819 | 19.142857 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8xeby | ib90421 | 1,654,433,511 | 1,654,435,187 | 7 | 134 | Writing is a long slog even for those who love it. It sounds like a mostly mental effort, but there's a good bit of physical effort involved, too. I'm sure we've all dreamed of the magical typewriter that types the story exactly as we picture it in our minds... Anyway, two options: 1) Collaborate with someone to write your stories, or 2) Find some other way to bring those stories to life--a way that might be more engaging to you: a webcomic, perhaps. \[EDIT\] Or maybe a blog or podcast, where you tell the story to an audience, freeform. | The vast majority of people who want to write a novel fantasize the idea of being a writer but not actually doing the hard work part! | 0 | 1,676 | 19.142857 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib97ta7 | ib98foa | 1,654,439,456 | 1,654,439,776 | 38 | 85 | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | 0 | 320 | 2.236842 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib98foa | ib8t27v | 1,654,439,776 | 1,654,430,561 | 85 | 29 | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | I don't think you should stop, nor do I think you should push yourself to continue. In my experience, when I force myself to write the story it can turn into a tiresome process, frustrating even. But when I keep playing with the story, musing over events and characters playfully, the story basically starts to write itself. My advice is figure out what kind if writer you are and let the story come to you. | 1 | 9,215 | 2.931034 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib90xn7 | ib98foa | 1,654,435,667 | 1,654,439,776 | 21 | 85 | Start with sitting down to write. Grab coffee, open up whatever you can type words into. Make that a part of the day. Sit and think about your story, with a page open you could type into, and a cup of coffee (or whatever) and nothing you have to immediately go and do for fifteen minutes or so. Once you're making room in your life to write, and thinking about writing, it ups the chances of actually writing. Remember, the first draft of your first book is you telling the story to yourself, so you don't forget what you were imagining would happen. It's allowed to be terrible. Like carpentry, you have to learn to do the thing by doing the thing, not reading about or thinking about doing the thing. Polished first drafts come way, way after finished first drafts, which come quite some time after writing at all, which comes after sitting down to write. It's not a fail until you've entirely given up. Once you find a way that works for you personally, you won't look back. | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | 0 | 4,109 | 4.047619 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8yply | ib98foa | 1,654,434,334 | 1,654,439,776 | 16 | 85 | You can train yourself to get better at it. Try to write short stories first, 1000 words or so, then write longer and longer pieces. Figure out what type of stories you enjoy writing the most. For me, I enjoy writing awkward/funny scenes. When everything turns serious, I have the same problem as you. Figure out weaknesses in your writing. Improve them. Once you write well, and know what you enjoy writing, you will faster and enjoy it more. | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | 0 | 5,442 | 5.3125 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib98foa | ib9788x | 1,654,439,776 | 1,654,439,147 | 85 | 13 | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | You have 2 options: 1) Realize that posting this kind of stuff on reddit helps literally no one and is just another excuse so that you can procrastinate longer. Get a reality check and start actually writing and stop making excuses, because no amount of reddit posts are going to magically finish a book for you. 2) Give up and keep your daydreaming to yourself. No one cares how many cool ideas or whatever you have, everyone has them but other people actually do something with them. | 1 | 629 | 6.538462 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib98foa | ib8u6jr | 1,654,439,776 | 1,654,431,368 | 85 | 7 | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | Definitely can relate to this. I have probably spent over a decade trying to unsuccessfully write stories but not finishing due to procrastination and lack of focus. I'd be really hard on myself while writing my first draft and wouldn't be able to continue because I didn't love what I was putting down. I don't think that's a reason to stop writing. Honestly, I think you have to just write for your first draft. Don't be critical of yourself and just put down whatever comes to mind. The actual forming of the story and patching up mistakes should happen in your second and third draft Also, don't be afraid to mix up your writing styles. For me, I found out a few years ago that I'm better writing newsletter/blog profile and feature stories because it is short and I find it easier to go through the editing process. Keep trying different things and don't give up! | 1 | 8,408 | 12.142857 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib98foa | ib8xeby | 1,654,439,776 | 1,654,433,511 | 85 | 7 | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | Writing is a long slog even for those who love it. It sounds like a mostly mental effort, but there's a good bit of physical effort involved, too. I'm sure we've all dreamed of the magical typewriter that types the story exactly as we picture it in our minds... Anyway, two options: 1) Collaborate with someone to write your stories, or 2) Find some other way to bring those stories to life--a way that might be more engaging to you: a webcomic, perhaps. \[EDIT\] Or maybe a blog or podcast, where you tell the story to an audience, freeform. | 1 | 6,265 | 12.142857 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib98foa | ib96h6e | 1,654,439,776 | 1,654,438,752 | 85 | 3 | Creative arts seem to be plagued with the notion that the work shouldn't feel like work. I don't know why we apply this to writing, painting, etc and not other professions - you'd never hear a car salesman going, "I love the idea of selling cars, but when I'm actually convincing someone to buy a car I don't love the process, maybe car sales isn't for me". Writing is work, friend. It's going to feel like work. The promise of writing as a career isn't that it will never feel like work, it's that at least the work is fun to dream about, even though it's not fun to do. The best thing you can do for your writing is to stop romanticizing the idea that it will be magical and easy. | I never finished even a first draft of a story until an idea hit me on several levels at once and wouldn't let me not write it down, terrible as that first attempt was. I'm still working on it--turns out writing what I most enjoy reading is actual work on many levels--but I think I might've hit on the worst problem to fix. Maybe what you need is a great idea. Ideas are the easiest part. But an idea that will not let you go, that's your writing engine. It has to be worth learning how to write, which is work. I'd guess you don't know what kind of writer you might be, so you'll learn. Writing is experimenting! Example: I draft messy with an idea and characters, but no outline. I tried planning out another idea, to see if I could cut down on the number of drafts from zero to finished manuscript, and when I ground to a halt, annoyed and bored, I set it aside. When I've forgotten most of that, I'll try again. Lesson learned. I need to run headlong into the dark, not follow a well-lit, paved and clearly marked path. | 1 | 1,024 | 28.333333 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8t27v | ib97ta7 | 1,654,430,561 | 1,654,439,456 | 29 | 38 | I don't think you should stop, nor do I think you should push yourself to continue. In my experience, when I force myself to write the story it can turn into a tiresome process, frustrating even. But when I keep playing with the story, musing over events and characters playfully, the story basically starts to write itself. My advice is figure out what kind if writer you are and let the story come to you. | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | 0 | 8,895 | 1.310345 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib90xn7 | ib97ta7 | 1,654,435,667 | 1,654,439,456 | 21 | 38 | Start with sitting down to write. Grab coffee, open up whatever you can type words into. Make that a part of the day. Sit and think about your story, with a page open you could type into, and a cup of coffee (or whatever) and nothing you have to immediately go and do for fifteen minutes or so. Once you're making room in your life to write, and thinking about writing, it ups the chances of actually writing. Remember, the first draft of your first book is you telling the story to yourself, so you don't forget what you were imagining would happen. It's allowed to be terrible. Like carpentry, you have to learn to do the thing by doing the thing, not reading about or thinking about doing the thing. Polished first drafts come way, way after finished first drafts, which come quite some time after writing at all, which comes after sitting down to write. It's not a fail until you've entirely given up. Once you find a way that works for you personally, you won't look back. | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | 0 | 3,789 | 1.809524 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8yply | ib97ta7 | 1,654,434,334 | 1,654,439,456 | 16 | 38 | You can train yourself to get better at it. Try to write short stories first, 1000 words or so, then write longer and longer pieces. Figure out what type of stories you enjoy writing the most. For me, I enjoy writing awkward/funny scenes. When everything turns serious, I have the same problem as you. Figure out weaknesses in your writing. Improve them. Once you write well, and know what you enjoy writing, you will faster and enjoy it more. | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | 0 | 5,122 | 2.375 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib9788x | ib97ta7 | 1,654,439,147 | 1,654,439,456 | 13 | 38 | You have 2 options: 1) Realize that posting this kind of stuff on reddit helps literally no one and is just another excuse so that you can procrastinate longer. Get a reality check and start actually writing and stop making excuses, because no amount of reddit posts are going to magically finish a book for you. 2) Give up and keep your daydreaming to yourself. No one cares how many cool ideas or whatever you have, everyone has them but other people actually do something with them. | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | 0 | 309 | 2.923077 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib8u6jr | ib97ta7 | 1,654,431,368 | 1,654,439,456 | 7 | 38 | Definitely can relate to this. I have probably spent over a decade trying to unsuccessfully write stories but not finishing due to procrastination and lack of focus. I'd be really hard on myself while writing my first draft and wouldn't be able to continue because I didn't love what I was putting down. I don't think that's a reason to stop writing. Honestly, I think you have to just write for your first draft. Don't be critical of yourself and just put down whatever comes to mind. The actual forming of the story and patching up mistakes should happen in your second and third draft Also, don't be afraid to mix up your writing styles. For me, I found out a few years ago that I'm better writing newsletter/blog profile and feature stories because it is short and I find it easier to go through the editing process. Keep trying different things and don't give up! | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | 0 | 8,088 | 5.428571 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib97ta7 | ib8xeby | 1,654,439,456 | 1,654,433,511 | 38 | 7 | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | Writing is a long slog even for those who love it. It sounds like a mostly mental effort, but there's a good bit of physical effort involved, too. I'm sure we've all dreamed of the magical typewriter that types the story exactly as we picture it in our minds... Anyway, two options: 1) Collaborate with someone to write your stories, or 2) Find some other way to bring those stories to life--a way that might be more engaging to you: a webcomic, perhaps. \[EDIT\] Or maybe a blog or podcast, where you tell the story to an audience, freeform. | 1 | 5,945 | 5.428571 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib96h6e | ib97ta7 | 1,654,438,752 | 1,654,439,456 | 3 | 38 | I never finished even a first draft of a story until an idea hit me on several levels at once and wouldn't let me not write it down, terrible as that first attempt was. I'm still working on it--turns out writing what I most enjoy reading is actual work on many levels--but I think I might've hit on the worst problem to fix. Maybe what you need is a great idea. Ideas are the easiest part. But an idea that will not let you go, that's your writing engine. It has to be worth learning how to write, which is work. I'd guess you don't know what kind of writer you might be, so you'll learn. Writing is experimenting! Example: I draft messy with an idea and characters, but no outline. I tried planning out another idea, to see if I could cut down on the number of drafts from zero to finished manuscript, and when I ground to a halt, annoyed and bored, I set it aside. When I've forgotten most of that, I'll try again. Lesson learned. I need to run headlong into the dark, not follow a well-lit, paved and clearly marked path. | "I hate writing. But I like having written." This is a popular feeling among even many great writers. First heard it myself from Lawrence Kasdan. | 0 | 704 | 12.666667 | ||
v5btm1 | writing_train | 0.94 | I think I love the idea of writing a story, but not writing a story I love the idea of create a full story with amazing characters, story with plot twists on themes that I love (police investigations, time travel) but I'm not sure if I like the writing process. It's very hard for me to stay focus when I start to write something, I procrastinate a lot and I often block because I lack imagination. How do I deal with that ? Should I stop writing ? | ib90xn7 | ib8yply | 1,654,435,667 | 1,654,434,334 | 21 | 16 | Start with sitting down to write. Grab coffee, open up whatever you can type words into. Make that a part of the day. Sit and think about your story, with a page open you could type into, and a cup of coffee (or whatever) and nothing you have to immediately go and do for fifteen minutes or so. Once you're making room in your life to write, and thinking about writing, it ups the chances of actually writing. Remember, the first draft of your first book is you telling the story to yourself, so you don't forget what you were imagining would happen. It's allowed to be terrible. Like carpentry, you have to learn to do the thing by doing the thing, not reading about or thinking about doing the thing. Polished first drafts come way, way after finished first drafts, which come quite some time after writing at all, which comes after sitting down to write. It's not a fail until you've entirely given up. Once you find a way that works for you personally, you won't look back. | You can train yourself to get better at it. Try to write short stories first, 1000 words or so, then write longer and longer pieces. Figure out what type of stories you enjoy writing the most. For me, I enjoy writing awkward/funny scenes. When everything turns serious, I have the same problem as you. Figure out weaknesses in your writing. Improve them. Once you write well, and know what you enjoy writing, you will faster and enjoy it more. | 1 | 1,333 | 1.3125 |
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