How do I decide what to write about? - Writers Forum

Watermouth · 11-08-2006, 10:56 PM

Hello,

This is my first post here, also, English is not my native language, so bare with me on that, please.

I have a big problem, I want to write, but I don't know about what. I want to start on a novel, not a big one, a 150-200 pages one. I've previously written a lot of short-stories, but they've been all over the place in terms of genre. I do however see themes to them, they are certainly often sad, violent, morbid, and humorous in a dark tone.

But for a novel, I can't seem to decide what to do, should I pick a genre first? Or a setting, or a plot? I'm feeling lost.

As for what I like, well, I like everything really. I read fantasy (LOTR, Robert E. Howard's Conan, Wheel of Time, etc.), horror (Lovecraft, Koontz), cyberpunk (Gibson), war stories (Stephen Ambrose). What else... I like Chuck Palahniuk (Survivor, Fight Club).

I know this is probably a lot to ask for, or that it seems like a very dumb question, but it's a real issue for me, I've been writing short stories for a long time, and really want to start on a novel, but can't decide for the life of me it seems, on what to write about. So, any help at all, and tips, I will welcome them with open arms.

CandieK · 11-08-2006, 11:08 PM

You say you write a lot of short stories? Well, my advice on the best place to start would be that very source. Pick one of your favorite short stories and flesh it out.

More background on the characters, how they grew up, what inspired /motivated them to do what they did, etc, etc. Add more dimension and plot twists in need be.

If you want a totally new and fresh idea, just look around you. Pay attention to detail and get inspired by something, no matter how small.

Ilan Bouchard · 11-08-2006, 11:15 PM

You asked how you should best start your novel; I would tell you not to limit yourself any which way until it's done. Your short stories seem to be dark, so perhaps a similar novel would be fitting. From there, I can't tell you how to go, but if halfway through you find that it's actually an inspirational story, go with it. If you begin a plot and something happens while you're writing that you did not expect, try to work it in.

November is National Novel Writing Month, and while you'd be a week behind starting, this might be a good opportunity for you to try your hand at noveling. (See here for more NaNoWriMo details.)

Just try writing the novel however is most natural, and don't worry about completing it. See what works and what doesn't, and then start the novel over, or start a new one.

By the way, welcome to the forums. What's your native language, if I may ask?

Emerson Darkness · 11-08-2006, 11:42 PM

You've all heard this before, but i think it would fitting in this case.

If you could be anyone else, who would you be?

What would you do?

No one wants to be or do anything that bors them, so of course the answers would be something that excites you, correct? Put yourself in the shoes of an exciting character. Think of it as a vacation ffrom your daily rigors and just write. Brainstorm about what would make this person so unique and exciting. What would make her/his world unique and exciting?

Sometimes it even help to ask yourself, "what is the worst possible thing i can imagine happening to someone?"

You don't have to make the worst thing happen - maybe tone it down a little to the second worst thing or something.
You get the idea.

What if is great. Just come up with a collection of them.

mwd · 11-09-2006, 12:41 AM

In my experience, novels are short stories with multiple plot threads and/or a change in pacing. That's it, really.

I mean, you could a short story about a particular character doing a particular thing, for example.

You could change that into a novel if you were a little less focused, maybe had a group of characters affected by a particular thing. In that sense, I guess you could say novels generally have more to do with communities of characters rather than individuals, although of course not always.

Anything you could write a short story about, you could also write a novel about, as long as you flesh things out so that the narrative either covers more things, or covers them at a slower (more detailed) pace.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should start a novel the same you start any of your short stories ... how do you get ideas for those?

Fixed · 11-09-2006, 06:15 AM

Just start writing. You say you have a theme of sadness and dark stuff, well then write about it, whatever great idea comes into your head, jott it down

mammamaia · 11-09-2006, 10:55 AM

if you're short on inspiration, here's what i just posted for someone in a similar quandary:

Quote:

no matter how dull your own life is, things to inspire a writer are all around you!

get out of yourself and start looking at everyone and everything else... read the paper every day... watch the news every day... surf the net and google for sites and blogs on subjects that interest you... go out and watch people in the mall, on the street, at church, wherever you can go on foot or by car, bus, train...

i just can't understand anyone who says they want to be a writer saying they're lacking inspiration... imo, all they are really lacking is the second part of your dual 'lack'... desire!

if you really want to write, have to write, then your only complaint would be having too much inspiration...

potential stories are everywhere you look... all you have to do is pick one... or let it pick you!

love and hugs, maia

Watermouth · 11-09-2006, 05:08 PM

Thank you for all your answers. Good advice!

To the last poster, you're actually on to something here, because I do have too much inspiration, that's why short stories for me is easy, because I can finish them in a short amount of time, and move on to the next. And that's why deciding on what to write a novel about is so hard, because it's something that will take a long time to complete, and have to stay interesting throughout the writing experience. So the subject is of much greater importance here, at least that is how I feel. I also enjoy, and could easily enjoy, writing, in so many genres, so it's hard to decide.

I agree with what you said though.

effervescent · 11-09-2006, 05:14 PM

maybe stories choose us, no?

Imalshen · 11-09-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by effervescent

maybe stories choose us, no?

This would be my case mostly. I don't just sit down and start writing. The story comes to me and spits on my shoe and BOOM it's all I can do to put the pen down.

I get them from my dreams too. I recently had two dreams that have sparked on very deep storyline that's probably already been written while the other is a light-hearted if creepy "alice in wonderland" type story. lol

effervescent · 11-09-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imalshen

This would be my case mostly. I don't just sit down and start writing. The story comes to me and spits on my shoe and BOOM it's all I can do to put the pen down.

I get them from my dreams too. I recently had two dreams that have sparked on very deep storyline that's probably already been written while the other is a light-hearted if creepy "alice in wonderland" type story. lol

well put! ah, now at least i know i'm not alone.

the notion that a writer can somehow pull a story out of thin air is silly. once the idea is there generally inside you, let the art of spontaneous prose tease it out.

Domenic · 11-09-2006, 07:44 PM

That's like asking what to think about. It's kind of not a question...

Watermouth · 11-09-2006, 09:56 PM

If you had taken the time to read my latest post in this thread, perhaps you would understand my question better. I see the first post, and the title of the thread, is misleading. As it turns out, the question is more on the lines of, "How do you decide which idea to go with?". As I am almost too inspired, and have so many ideas to pick from, it's hard to choose which one, when they are all equally attractive to write. And it would require several lifetimes to write them all.

I would think this is actually pretty common, that writers feel unsure which story they should write this time.

So, if you do not have anything positive to say, you can refrain from saying anything, please. I certainly hope this forum is not like the rest of the internet, where there's just a bunch of sad people who hang around and try to bash and flame each other, or be negative towards your human brothers.

mwd · 11-09-2006, 10:08 PM

In that case flip a coin, roll a dice, or go with the first one you thought of. You're asking a question to which there's no answer--we can't decide for you, and even if we could you wouldn't want us to.

When I have more than one idea that I'd like to work on equally, I always go for the one I thought of first. Then I do the one after it, and so on. This is the way I do things. You should do whatever feels most natural to you. If you're in doubt about which way is most natural, pick randomly--anything to get you down to work and writing. Stories are, in my experience, more about execution than ideas anyway.

HarryG · 11-10-2006, 05:20 AM

Why don’t you first of all outline your (long) story in a large notebook, by hand, and then add to it whenever something else comes to mind. When listing your characters, write notes on their attributes and add to it regularly. The main characters should have at least a whole page for each of them.

Personally, I usually have a beginning and end in mind, and some main characters and plot, but everything can change during the writing process. Therefore, before I start with the word processor, I have a thick notebook, full of untidy notes and incomprehensible scribbling (not to me), and everything is open to change as I write. The preparatory process takes me quite some time, at least several weeks.