I got Nuthin' - Page 2 - Writers Forum

volanis · 08-27-2006, 04:37 PM

you know what mike, i can take criticism, but dont be suck a prick about it. You're definately showing yourself up to be one here, hiding behind your computer and throwing around insults. Very brave of you. I have'nt been spending 23 years thinking of something to write. I've been out working my ass off but now that I have the time I thought I would give it a shot. I just came here for advice not smart ass sarcasm

Mike C · 08-27-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volanis

but all this time I've never really been able to think of something original to write about. I mean not even semi-original.

You asked a question, I gave my opinion. We all work our asses off, nobody has access to a silver spoon here; I'm currently working 80+ hours a week. Don't ask for advice if all you want is for people to tell you nice stuff to make you feel better.

Once again, if you've managed to get this far in life - having aspired to being a writer since you were 13 - and still failed to come up with something to write, you either really aren't trying very hard, or you're severely lacking in imagination.

You don't write by asking others what to do, you write by connecting ass to seat and fingers to keyboard. Try it.

volanis · 08-27-2006, 06:49 PM

"Don't ask for advice if all you want is for people to tell you nice stuff to make you feel better"

I can take constructive criticism but not outright rudeness which you seem to be well versed in.

KyleColorado · 08-27-2006, 07:49 PM

Hmm... Well, this argument aside, as for the original topic (not being able to come up with a story), I've battled with the same problem... Actually I think everyone has at one point or another.

But I've also discovered a two part solution (that works for me).

The first part is thinking of a scene. This is much easier than thinking of an entire novel.. Think of a setting, and your character(s).

The second part is to sit down, like Mike said, "put your ass to the seat and your fingers to the keys." Write that scene the way you would want it to be written, the way you would want to read it.

The level of your writing will depend on you, and how hard you devote yourself to it. But the ideas, they will come, as you become more invested in your characters as the scene moves along. And probably, by the end of the scene, you'll have a few ideas of where you want to go in the next scene.

It's like eating an elephant: one bite at a time.

Aqua · 10-01-2006, 09:10 PM

Wow - this thread went off topic fast. I actually had the same question though, or something to that effect. I'm very good at using ideas, but not so hot at coming up with them on me own from scratch. For example, the last thing I wrote was a story involving a lady and a body of water, which came after watching Schymalan's movie and wondering how else a person could spin the theme. It came out completely differently, and I loved it. But in terms of getting that initial spark - it can be tricky.

Mike C · 10-02-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua

But in terms of getting that initial spark - it can be tricky.

That's kind of the point - if writing was good and easy, everyone would do it.

As it is, everyone seems to think it's easy and thinks they can write a book.

aspiring · 10-02-2006, 02:19 AM

Although Mike has a way of blundering in, he does have a point.

I am constantly in despair at the number of people who want 'to write a novel' but who think they don't have to do any practising beforehand.

It's like a non-musician saying 'I want to play Mozart's Horn Concerto' but refusing to do anything except learn the notes for the piece.

Writing, like anything, is a skill that needs to be practised. Write a diary, write down funny things that occur to you, write about household objects, write about the time you got your heart broken - but for God's sake just write. Original ideas don't just come out of nowhere - you have to go looking for them. And the best way to do that is simply to WRITE.

Your first novel will probably be abysmal. Possibly your second too. Your third might be approaching publication standard.

I have now written something in the region of 80 stories. Some of them are good, some of them are original; most of them are awful. By this time next year, I shall have five books on the shelves at my local bookstore. I estimate I've probably written over half a million words altogether in my writing career, and I'm just starting to think that my work is OK.

If you put off writing because you 'can't think of anything' then as Mike says, you'd almost be better off not starting at all.

Fixed · 10-02-2006, 03:32 AM

although Mike is harsh, what he says is true, you just can't expect a magic formula or magic pen that will get you writing, if you have wanted to be writing for 23 years and didn't even write anything, it either means you hardly tried at all or you simply aren't born for writing

Oh, and since you accuse Mike of insulting you, it was only because you trigerred it, he did it only to make you realise the facts which you probably didn't realise yourself, now don't think writing is something easy because it's not but if you give up because of what this board told you then it just proves that every bad thing said to you was true.

Mike C · 10-02-2006, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring

Although Mike has a way of blundering in, he does have a point.

Blundering? Blundering?

I thought i was quite deliberate and explicit!

I read a few days ago that at any given time there are around 6 million novels on submission. Probably ten times that many being written as I write this.

Which means probably 60 million people have worked out what it takes to write a novel (whether it's any good or not is a separate issue).

Writing seems to be the 'poor relation' as far as the arts are concerned, because we all have the essential skill - being able to string a few words together. Therefore - unlike painting, sculpture, music, etc - everyone thinks they can write a book, and that it's not that difficult.

How many times have you told someone you're writing a book, only to be told "I have a good idea for a book, I'll write it some day".

How often do you hear the same thing said about a symphony?

G. Palmer · 10-02-2006, 08:54 AM

It's even more annoying when you mention you've written half a novel and they just say 'Oh that's not hard'. That annoys me.

CroZ · 10-02-2006, 09:04 AM

At least volanis is looking into the possibility of an original work, whereas most writers tend to sit back and straight out decide that nothing is original so they shouldnt even try. And then tell other less experienced writers to give up too.

mammamaia · 10-02-2006, 10:43 AM

ok, croz, but how 'original' can it be, if he can't come up with a plot and has to get ideas from others, before he even starts to write the whatever?...

i have to agree with the gist of mike's posts, if not the 'tone'... all the points he makes are valid ones and seem to apply, hard as it may be for volanis to accept... i might have put it less harshly, but he sure did call it as i, too, see it...

AdrienneW · 10-02-2006, 04:11 PM

While mike can tend to be a little harsh (sorry mike), he does make a good point.
Let me explain it to you this way. I too have been wanting to write since I was very young, and I have written off and on for all these years. I never sit and wonder "what should I write about" because honestly I can't shut off the ideas that go thundering through my head. There are so many, and they come so often, some good some not, but they are CONSTANT, never ending, and I have note book after note book where I scribble down a new thought so I won't loose it among the hundreds of others in my head. I wake up at night with and entire story, I got to sleep fleshing out the details of a new idea. I can't write ENOUGH!
I honestly can't see how some one could write, especially fiction, could not have origional free flowing ideas.
Now. Having said that. I would "like" to be able to play music. But I realized very young, I don't have the skill or talent for it. I still like music, I still listen to others who play it, I would still like to be able to do it, and sure I could memorize notes and postioning on keys of a piano or a flute and I could play a song...but I can't write music, I can't PLAY music. That's just not my talent.
I accept that.
You have to realize that your not the only one in the world who would like to write a book. LOTS of people would like to write books. Many of whom, have the same questions you do. They come to a forum and they ask, how do I write a book, which too many who do write, it probably makes it seem like the person is downplaying the artistic nature of being a writer. That writing is simply something you can do with practice, like a paint by number, or coloring inside the lines...but its not.
So, please-please-please don't take the passion of some one like Mike, personally. And believe me, it's passion that Mike feels!

Mike C · 10-03-2006, 07:41 AM

It i indeed soething I feel passionate about.

I used to teach a SF masterclass to gifted kids a few years back. We'd talk about what SF was, different aspects, how it had changed, what it could be used for, then the kids would write furiously for an hour followed by an hour of discussion and critique.

Regardless of their ability level (and they ranged from fairly poor to "Oh my god, if he's not published a novel 10 years from now there's something wrong with the world") and age (12-16) not one of them ever said "What shall I write?"

Rhea · 10-12-2006, 06:57 AM

You could also look at random people in the street and try and contruct life stories for them - like, why are they in a hurry? Or why do they look so downcast...could get your creativity going?