grartx

I have an idea of what I want to write, but everytime I try to write, I keep having writer's block. I keep getting confused about having more than one protagonist, and I'm not sure which characters to eliminate. I'm writing a fantasy story, but I have never written anything like these before, I'm used to those literature and really formal writing. So how is fantasy different from literature, and how is it different? And how do you just START!! And how do you pick the names for your characters, because most fantasy characters have really weird names right? And what about the title?????!!

crzywriter

first off, i think you need to calm down.

then, after you've taken a deep breath, pick one of your characters, your favorite, and start writing about him/her. don't worry about the name, that'll come to you later. just put words on paper. (or type them, whatever). most important, though, is if you keep worrying, you will most liekly never finish or even start.

~Crzy

Talia_Brie

Ha. That's funny.

Try scratching out an outline for the novel. That's probably where you need to start. Once you've done that you'll know which characters you can keep and which you no longer need. You'll also know here to start.

Once you've got an outline, come back and let us know.

And crzy's right about the names, forget about them for now. Give them normal names if you have to. You can always use "Replace All" later on.

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demonic_harmonic

I have to seriously say I don't always like the wierd fantasy names. I think it should be a mix. Or normal names just spelled differently. I had a character named Haervii once. (Harvey) And Blhaeike (Blake). It was just fun.


And I think you can have more than one protagonist if you work it out right.


By the way, help us out here, what do you want to write about?

Scratches

... Literature? Confusing.

I loathe fantasy character names. As mentioned, just call them Char1 and Char2 until the name springs out at you. Replace All is a divine function.

I wouldn't worry about the character's relevance to the plot, either. It will come naturally. And the beauty of computers is, you can go back and delete all those parts you don't find necessary.

Yes - breathe

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Never get so attached to a poem
you forget truth that lacks lyricism
and never draw so close to the heat
that you forget that you must eat
- En Gallop, Joanna Newsom

Lord Raiden

You can obviously do all of what was suggested above, which I recommend, then apply a small trick I learned with some of my writing. A lot of times when I'm writing a book I don't have the entire book thought out in a linear fashion that will allow me to write it straight through from beginning to end, so I end up doing sectional writing. Like if I know something else is going to happen later I write that section, then I might back up and write a previous section, then part of the climax, then the prologue, etc. IE I write it in pieces and eventually tie it all together and clean up the small problems that show up due to the mixing of separate sections. I've found this to be a great way to write when all you have is random bits of the story, but nothing solid yet. I'd say up to half of my books are written this way, one of which got published, so the technique, if done right, works great.

Also, keep a pen and paper handy at all times, or even a small dictation device that you can record your ideas with. I've found that ideas come at the oddest of times. Heck, I've been in the shower not even really concentrating on my story and have an idea perk up, then my mind plays with it a bit, then suddenly a light goes on and I'm scrambling for my computer to get it notted before I forget. Don't stress over your story. If you can't come up with a working or workable idea, just relax and walk away from it. Stressing over it will only make your writers block worse.

Talia_Brie

I used to think sectional writing like Raiden has just suggested was cheating.

I'm on medication for that now.

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level9

I've never tried this but you may be on to something. I have read about many writers doing just this. They are not sure how to start a story, so they start in what they think is the "middle".

I think the other advice Talia gave is good as well. You can even carry an outline further. With one of your characters, really flesh him/her out. For example, what is it that is great about your character? What is heroic or interesting? What is their hobby? What got them started in that hobby? Maybe the hobby became something useful that they end up using, like a boy who learned to tie knots because his father was a sailor or something.
Was he/she raised by one parent or two? Etc.

In other words, all real people have history. This is what makes them interesting. Really consider what makes your characters real. (or believable if we are talking fantasy or sci-fi, but even then, its those real qualities brought to life that makes the reader identify with them.)

Think about if I told you to write a story about James Bond. You could probably sit down and write tons of stuff, off the top of your head, because we know so much about him. You get the idea! I'm babbling, sorry.

Keep going with it!!

crzywriter

yeah, i write short stories about my main characters' lives. it makes them seem much more human. i find out things i never knew about them and i understand them so much better. get to know your characters and they'll tell the story for you.

~Crzy