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Writing help?

PostPosted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:41 pm
by fielddranzer
I've got this slight problem that I'd like some help with, if possible.

I basically like writing, I simply love doing it. I've got the ideas, kind of, but I just can't sit down and write. I lack the absolute motivation to start writing. I know how to start a sentence, but I can't get myself to start writing.

Is it possible to get help "fixing" this problem?
I really don't wanna stop writing stories - or lose some "skill" if that's a thing - just because I can't get myself to start.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 12:26 am
by Zeus Kabob
I had the same problem. The way I "fixed" it is by writing small less meaningful things.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 2:08 am
by BlueLight
The solution that always works for me is just write something. You don't need to worry about logic, and common sense. Just let every stupid idea enter you mind and write it down with no intention of censoring yourself.
after a couple pages you should go back and clean it up. When writing a story i doubt your first draft will ever be perfect. It seems counter intuitive to not aim for perfection but that's my suggestions.

Fail faster! Every idea is silly when you get down to it so you don't need to worry about doing it right the first time. It's the polish and execution which makes things great.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:36 am
by Duplicity
Like Blue and Zeus said, just write and do not worry about grammar, tense, plot and such any more than you have to.
Like many art teachers quote 'Spew then clean'. Basically it means to go mad and paint/write whatever you want and worry about the details later.

If you can, set yourself a quota of words to write or time to write. Maybe even write on paper so the distraction of a computer (which is intense) is taken from the equation.
Maybe try for 500 words a day, or 30 minutes of writing. You can even take the weekends off. But it is important to stick to a schedule, to write even when you do not feel like it. Because like with weight loss/fitness every time you use an excuse it is harder and harder to stick to the schedule and easier to fob off the work.

Most of all, write the genres you like with the plots you like and characters you like. Do not worry about what is popular, just write what you want.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 4:11 pm
by fielddranzer
I didn't really expect these kinds of responses, mostly due to me never really thinking too much about it.
The prospect of just writing rarely cross my mind, and while it is true that writing on a computer may be faster, I do go back to the basics with a sheet of paper and a pencile. The thing is, for the past six or so months, I've basically been writing what most People Call "smut" while not liking to call it that myself. My stories are just that. They're stories.

I really appreaciate the help, and from this point on, I'll truly give it what I've got simply to write, not necessarily "porn" but keep going with the ideas I started out with.
Also, just so it's said, most of my stories are the first and only draft. No seconds for you.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:53 pm
by BlueLight
You should always assume your product when written (From point A to B is done in writing terms.) is just a draft. It's going to have grammatical errors, vocabulary errors and logic errors. Reread it and fixes those points. While it's nice to write without these cropping up, i always assume they exist and when just writing i ignore them until after i start checking my work. I also reread my content when ever i make a change.

If i'm not at a loss for words, i'll fix them as i write if i notice them but assuming i'm at a loss for words i'll just continue writing.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 10:02 am
by Duplicity
I write smut and normal stuff. Though I am on a smut writing hiatus, I do not know if I will regain the motivation to start writing smut again.
I find writing smut much harder to write and much harder to edit and draft. Despite the normal stuff being ten times longer and intricate, it has an easier flow.

By the sounds of things you are writing erotica rather than smut. Stories with explicit sex, but with a story line and such. Nothing wrong with writing smut or erotica.

One advantage to writing pencil to paper is when it is time to type the piece up, you are already doing a line edit as the second draft.

I suppose editing and drafting all depends on what you want to do with your writing. Do you want to sell or display it somewhere? If so editing and drafting are necessary.

But if you are writing entirely for yourself and are happy just finishing a story, then do as you please. There is nothing wrong with finishing a story and leaving it as is if it is for your own consumption.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 6:18 pm
by fielddranzer
I'll take the advice provided to me to heart. It's probably not just me, but I feel like asking for advice here on this forum is both better and faster, rather than ask teachers and what-not.

Today I remembered an old, old idea that I've always wanted to write, but I've always had the poor judgement that "I'm not good enough" or some bullshit like that. I'll start drafting it around this week, and to be fair, it's an idea that just snuck inside when I was writing a random idea that just plopped into my mind. A lot of the stuff I've used to want to write will probably be a bit fucked up, but hey, nothin' wrong with that.

And as for drafting and such, I've always had the complexion that "If I don't finish in one go, then the motivation to continue later slowly dwindle." So I'll try working around that by drafting here and there.

So, as for an overall thing. Thank you. Plain and simple in it's own right, thank you for helping out, it does help and it's greatly appreaciated to boot.
*Scratches head*
Gee... Gettin' a bit sentimental on my end...

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:53 am
by BlueLight
Even in media your first attempt at a story doesn't have to be your last at that story. Digimon had a movie with one of the parts containing a Virus that was literally trying to eat up the entire internet. Point being is that the guy behind that story segment went to create an anime called Summer war which is basically just that segment.

Re: Writing help?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 2:39 pm
by fielddranzer
Yeah, the past two days now I've been trying something I've always struggled doing.
I almost always finish a story the day I start it, mostly due to the fact that I slowly lost the will to finish it.
So, right now I'm trying to write a story, and consciously not finish it in one day. Tryin' not to be a quick-shot after all. And of course, it ended up having a woman in it... and kind of sexual themes/actions, but hey, one step at a time.

Also, I remember that movie, loved it as a kid, still love the original Digimon series for that matter. And I didn't know he made an anime based on that segment, gotta check it out it seems.