Featherpen

I joined this forum several months ago. I wrote severl small stories poorly and then never came back until now. I wanted to write stuff, and let people read it, but I don't know anything. I don't know the first thnig about writing. Writing well, I mean. I mean, I have lots ideas on somethings to write about, but I can't ever translate thoughts into words, and words into words on the paper. It's a shame I have lots of ideas but no inspiration. or talent. or knowledge. I haven't wriiten enything in months, or hardly ever. I decided however though, that I am going to try to write a couple of small stories I have Ideas of. But, I have a feeling I'll write poorly. which makes sense, i have no knowlegde or talent of what to do. So, I was wondering if someone could give me advice on basics of writing, how to get inspirationed to want to write, and maybe some all around helpful knowledge. Regardless, I'm going to try to do something.
Thankyou

northerain

ok...first of all, you worry too much.let others be the judge of how well you write.secondly, no matter how bad a story is, every single bad-written story contains good elements.you just have to work on the rest.
anyway, my random advice:
1) Unique plot.Sometimes, a good and original plot covers up for various other mistakes a writer may do.Plus, it works like a charm against negativity of the kind ''my writing sucks''.
2)Editing.I shouldnt be giving advice on this, since im horrible at it, but its always good to go back, re-read, and then add or re-write parts of the story.Just dont overdo it.
3)Write as much as you can.Even thoughts could turn into a nice short-short
4)Post here, so you can get advice from the best writers in the world!(errr...yeah)
5) Someone please take over...im useless at this.

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Nij

Featherpen,
I think you've got to look at it as an exercise of progressive development, like learning a foreign language (imagine how long it would take you to learn to speak Italian as fluently as a native - the development of writing skills are measured on a similar, or even longer, timescale) (unless, of course, you already are Italian, in which case my clever analogy falls apart).

Writing a novel is therefore a huge commitment, taking years of practice and hard work, but if you really want to do it then it should be a pleasureable way of passing time.

Since it's a learning process, the first efforts of every author will be bad, so don't worry about yours. The key to success is to (i) never be happy with your own work, and (ii) to keep analysing it objectively with an eye for improving it. Clearly you have already achieved (i), you just now need to work on (ii).

I visited a similar website to this one recently, and found a posting by someone who has written twelve lengthy novels, none of which have been published. This was not surprising, for the sample from the latest effort was utterly dreadful. This is a clear case of writing without learning.

I suggest you write something, make it the best you possibly can, then get it reviewed by someone honest. If you are open-minded enough you can learn the lessons and move on.

Good luck

Penelope

I guess the thing that bugs me most about this post is that the person writing it has so little confidence in themselves. Tell me something....
If you don't have faith in your writing and don't believe in it, why would I read it?
I didn't have much faith in what I wrote but thought I'd see what other people thought. I kept my opinions to myself and waited to see what others thought. When I began getting positive feedback on my poetry and some constructive criticsm, I felt much better.
However, I didn't just post my writing and leave. I hung around. I read other writer's work. I responded honestly to their postings.
It's the whole instead of the singular that creates a meaningful relationship. I can remember cringing when I posted critiques with my impressions of other people's writing. Above all, I was honest. I didn't think what I had to say was important but did so anyways.
I've written this sort of thing many time in response to writers who carry on like this. Have faith in yourself. It's the first step and it's a huge one but many have gone before you with the same trepidation.

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Gundampilotspaz

I've never had faith in my ability to put thoughts into words but I still try. Right now I am doing prewriting for a massive novel and am writing a Fanfic on line at the same time. My point is just do it and improve on what you do. Even J.R.R. Tolkien and Steven King must of started off somewhere.

Farror

Ok, now that we've heard why Penelope thinks she should be the soul survivor, Jenna, why do you think you deserve to win one million dollars?

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Pendulum

I used to be not so good at writing but I have steadilyimproved. I have not posted many here yet but I have just been around for a few weeks and I am working on a sci-fi at the moment. One of the things I used to be terrible at was establishing setting. That's a good way to get readers interested and give a little background. Time and place can be established by weather, way people talk, etc.. It's not too hard to right a story once you have had some practice and, of course, you can get some expert advice here at the forums hope that helps!

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Society Blows

gabriella

First, always edit your posts It shows that you really are serious about writing and you really do know what you're talking about. Although I'm sure that you know that "anything" is spelt with an "a" and not an "e." Writing good wherever you go is a lesson of disscipline that all "beginners" need to know - It gives you a lot less to edit when you get in the habit of writing with polished english grammar.

As for inspiration... read some published books. Write some words of encouragement on the ceiling so that when you wake up, you'll get a healthy dose of confidence. Something small and easy to acheive, like "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Maybe "A page today, two tomorrow, and then I'll be done before I know it!" I can't really give you advice on sticking to one story, since I jump around like frogs on lilypads, but find something exciting about your writing, a part you're dying to get to. Set it as a goal, and you should be wanting to write more and more.

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You write by sitting down and writing - Bernard Malamud.

Nazareth

Edditting is for writing not chattin
Gotta let loose once in awhile- all work & no play makes for a poopy day

Fantasia

I always have faith while I'm writing it. It's when I have to get someone else to read it that my confidence falters. But of course, I only feel like a hack for about two seconds.

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"God says he can get me out of this mess, but he's pretty sure you're f%#ked." --Stephen, from "Braveheart"

gabriella

o no i noe, i always talk like a total ditz wen im on msn wit ma friends, i jus neva talk like dat 2 ppl i dun even noe cuz theyll think im an idiot n dey wont listen 2 nething i say.

I always refrain from typing like that wherever I go, unless it's with people on MSN. And in that case I really couldn't care less if they think I'm an airhead because they know I'm plenty smarter than them anyway. So to call me an airhead would only make them worse.

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You write by sitting down and writing - Bernard Malamud.

Sam

After that comment I’d imagine ‘air’ being replaced with a certain other three-letter word

Anyway, Featherpen, the only advice I can give is to keep trying. As I’m currently in a similar rut to you, I can’t really say anymore than try to stay positive.

I intend to focus on one story at a time as I feel this will allow me to be at my most focused. I have quite a few ideas whizzing back and forth all the time, so it’s only a matter of making them culminate into something I’d be happy to keep working on. Sierra is the title of my current project and I’m really into the world I’ve created for it—the setting, while quite fantastical, is being constructed with verisimilitude firmly in mind; I always enjoy things to be plausible. Anyway, I think that if you’re not having fun with your ideas then move onto something else. Theres a long relationship ahead of you, so it’s a good idea to be comfortable with your creations.

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gabriella

I think I have an idea what "three letter word" you're thinking of. I'm not egotistical. Far from it. But a lot of the people I know not only have to go to resource instead of math (about 5th grade math work) they're taking everything applied. And none of them have learning disabilities. They're all just lazy and they don't want to have to work hard. Just because I don't like a teacher I still stay in the class, because in life there will be a lot of people I won't like and I won't always have the opportunity to get up and move. Getting comfortable with having things shifted for my benefiet is, in my mind, not going to help me at all. Everything I'm taking is Academic, and it's damn hard but I'm sticking to it because I'm determined to learn the most I can out of High School. And I refuse to fail any of my courses, either. I think some of my friends are fucking idiots for skipping class when they're marks are well below 30% just to smoke pot. I used to skip but then I made myself a deal when I came to High School: I'll skip when I have the marks to skip, which is an average of 90% to me. And not only that, but I'm a strong believer in the phrase, "You have to know the rules inorder to break them." I know grammar, and I know it damn well. I can talk like an idiot, because I can always prove otherwise when I feel like it. I lose a lot of respect for people who smoke anything, who skip, and generally do shit like that when they don't even have the marks to back them up for it. And it just so happens that alot of my friends fall under those categories. They're great company, and I love them to death, but they know jack about education and most of them won't go very far. I stick tight with the people who are actually concerned about their education, which, thankfully, is most of the percentage of the people I'd call friends. So to summarize all of this, no, I don't think I have a big ego

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You write by sitting down and writing - Bernard Malamud.

northerain

uh...gabriella....we meet again...lol

but what about people who refuse to be part of an idiotic edcational system that proceeds to wipe out any trace of individuality?

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Sam

Sorry, just thought it was pretty apt.

Gabriella, it was just a joke, no need to be so defensive

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Procrastination is like masturbation; in the end you're just screwing yourself.