I got Nuthin' - Writers Forum

volanis · 08-25-2006, 12:31 PM

hi all. im here for help and advice. for the longest time, even back when i was 13yo (i'm now 36), i've always wanted to write. i spent a couple of years as a feature writer with a magazine, but the money was terrible so i moved on. My point is, i think i am well able to write, but all this time I've never really been able to think of something original to write about. I mean not even semi-original. Does this mean I'm just not a writer? If someone laid down a plot for me, I'll write it, but i want to do that part myself. Do any of you have any advice on thinking up a story? I mean, In some ways I have a great imagination, but when it comes to an idea for a novel, I got nuthin'.
p.s. what about software like dramatica pro or newnovelist etc? are they helpfull?

mwd · 08-25-2006, 12:37 PM

Don't start with novels, start with short stories. Make a list of everyday objects or events. Things like "a phonecall", "a briefcase", whatever. Then write stories about those things. I'm pretty sure I read that this was what Ray Bradbury did when he was starting out. He made a list of stuff, then went down the list writing stories about each thing. The creativity didn't come in through planning, it came in through the act of writing itself.

In my experience it's not that people don't have ideas. I think everyone has ideas. But some people censor their ideas. Maybe you have things to write about, but for whatever reason don't think they're "good enough". You say that you can't think of something original. What about unoriginal things? How can you spin them so that they're uniquely yours?

volanis · 08-25-2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwd

Don't start with novels, start with short stories. Make a list of everyday objects or events. Things like "a phonecall", "a briefcase", whatever. Then write stories about those things. I'm pretty sure I read that this was what Ray Bradbury did when he was starting out. He made a list of stuff, then went down the list writing stories about each thing. The creativity didn't come in through planning, it came in through the act of writing itself.

In my experience it's not that people don't have ideas. I think everyone has ideas. But some people censor their ideas. Maybe you have things to write about, but for whatever reason don't think they're "good enough". You say that you can't think of something original. What about unoriginal things? How can you spin them so that they're uniquely yours?

thanks for the advice although I always had a problem with short stories. I mean to have a beginning and an end in say, 30-50 pages seems just as tough for me.

mwd · 08-25-2006, 12:52 PM

Fair enough, although I still think the second paragraph of my post applies. It's just that when it comes down to it, short stories are a good way to experiment. They take a lot less effort than a longer work, so you can afford to write tons of throwaway stories, in the hopes of getting the intuition and creativity flowing.

If you're dead set on writing a novel, write one of your unoriginal ideas. It might surprise you, in that once you get going you do things that are original and unexpected. Besides, if it's your first novel it probably won't be publishable anyway. Hemingway threw his first novel off a boat. The most important thing is that you get used to the work of putting words down on paper, IMHO.

For me, stories are the easiest way to do that. That's maybe just because I like reading short stories. If you don't enjoy them then it probably won't work. If you do enjoy them and just don't really get how to write them, then read more. Pick up some short story collections by the greats, read through them all. I guarantee you'll learn something. That is, if short stories do it for you. If they don't, then maybe you should bash out that first novel, whether or not it's good or original.

FrankBlissett · 08-25-2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

all this time I've never really been able to think of something original to write about

Originality is irrelivent.

I'm sur most of the people who post here and are dedicated writers can give you a list as long as Capone's rap sheet to prove it.

Besides, even if you really, really want to write something "original" - even if it's your number one goal - what are you going to do when it comes? If you don't have experience writing then it won't come out.

So, write about UNoriginal things. If it grates on you to do this, then think of it more as "practice" writing than "real" writing.

But again, originality is irrelivent.

-Frank

Glfralin · 08-25-2006, 04:37 PM

I agree, you're trying too hard on the original thing. I imagine just about every topic under the sun and above it has been given a note on a piece of paper or papyrus somewhere in time.

Set down and just start writing about anything and don't stop until your fingers do. Just let whatever is in your head flow. Then look it over and find something that you think could be of interest and do a focused free write on that in a prose or short story or something. Your originality will be more in developing your own style and way of approaching a topic, and what you have to say about it that may be different.

imrhati · 08-25-2006, 07:00 PM

just becuase someone already wrote something liek yours doesn't mean you can' write it. If two writers were told tpo write the same story it would be almost completely different. If you are having trouble find something that you liek and add your own spin to it like MWD said.

volanis · 08-25-2006, 08:11 PM

ok guys the advice is great. actually I do have a story. I wasnt confident enough to embark on it, but i think i will start this weekend. i may even post an exert on the forum to see what you all think
thanks again

FrankBlissett · 08-25-2006, 08:33 PM

Glad we could give you a bit of a kick in the butt!

Good luck.

-Frank

Mike C · 08-26-2006, 01:51 PM

In 23 years you've not come up with anything original?

Give up.

volanis · 08-26-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

In 23 years you've not come up with anything original?

Give up.

thanks for the advice mike

Soccah · 08-26-2006, 05:41 PM

Don't start with novels, don't start with short stories, don't start with anything but an idea, then just ride till the end.

Mike C · 08-27-2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volanis

thanks for the advice mike

well what do you want? You're an adult. When I ran creative writing workshops for gifted kids I'd occasionally get a 12 year old come and say "What shall I write?" But not often.

If you don't have the wit or imagination now, do you think you ever will? Or do you think someone in here will magically say "Volanis, the magic trick that turns you into a writer is..."

Or did you think there's a formula?

volanis · 08-27-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

well what do you want? You're an adult. When I ran creative writing workshops for gifted kids I'd occasionally get a 12 year old come and say "What shall I write?" But not often.

If you don't have the wit or imagination now, do you think you ever will? Or do you think someone in here will magically say "Volanis, the magic trick that turns you into a writer is..."

Or did you think there's a formula?

no, you're absolutely right. I run a construction company and make 100-150k a year. i just wanted maybe to occupy myself at nights far away from the site, but maybe i should just be happy with what I've got and forget about it......

Mike C · 08-27-2006, 04:06 PM

Try the TV.

Or watercolours.