BlueLucario

I want to say something but i can't say it properly, it's hard to explain, see? This happens both verbally and in writing.

Is this normal?

BlueLucario

please delete this thread I meant to post a new topic.

S1E9A8N5

This is a new topic...

As for not being able to write down things properly or writing things as you see them in your head, I have the same problem.

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BlueLucario

Is there any solution for this?

Mr Sci Fi

Read, Write, Read, Write, Read some more, Write some more.

Only through experience can you hope to achieve improvement. There's no magic wand that you can wave over your manuscript. You need to work at it. You don't need advice, you need experience.

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The Backward OX

Ok, let’s see now. I’m even less of a psychiatrist or neurologist than a writer but I’ll have a go at unravelling what you’re getting at.

(That response from Mr Sci Fi is on a par with what I expect to see from a majority of posters on this site. He appears to have made no attempt to understand you, so I can safely say “Ignore it as meaningless”.)

I find it hard to comprehend that you can’t put something into words.

Let’s try this:

Think of an apple. What your brain does, is associate the word with an image, and your mind’s eye sees an apple. You have a mental image - an idea - of an apple.

Next, write down what your mind sees - write down this mental image, this idea.

With me so far?

If you can do it with an apple, you can do it with anything.

One guess I’d make is that your mind may be working too quickly. Images may be flashing through it too rapidly, one tumbling over another, for words to formulate. However, I only base this guess on the way you worded your topic - “Is it normal for someone to have an idea, but can't put it in words?” To be certain of where you’re coming from, I’d need to talk to you and question you closely. That of course is impossible, so I’m left with guessing.

If you think I might be correct, firstly practice deep breathing. That’s d-e-e-p breathing, slow, real slow. In and out, slow, real slow. Or sit quietly and look at a tiny spot on the wall and concentrate on it. Either of these activities should slow your mind enough to bring it under control. Maybe both together might be even better.

Next, why don’t you separate out, in your mind’s eye, the various “scenes” of one of these “ideas” of which you speak, then break that scene down still further to individual words or phrases and simply write them down? Then, when you have a few things written down, you just join the dots.

I’d be pleased to hear if you think I’m crazy or if it works.

Cheers.

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Mike C

The flippant part of me would say yes, it is normal, it's called not being a writer.

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The Backward OX

And if you don't think I'm crazy AND it doesn't work, go back to the previous post.

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Non Serviam

Almost all of us think in a combination of words and pictures. Some people tend to think more in pictures, others more in words. It's quite normal for someone to have a problem putting a picture into words.

MikeC's flippant side is right: someone who thinks more in pictures than in words isn't normally going to be successful as a writer. There are exceptions--some people are good artists as well as good writers--but those are very rare.

Even someone who thinks in words can experience difficulty with phrasing, though. It might take several attempts to come up with the most elegant or economical or punchy way to phrase something, which is why writers tend to re-draft each piece several times.

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JohnN

You just have to keep going at it, maybe take a break and go for a stroll. But eventually you just have to put it down and edit, write and edit until you get it right. There is no ready made quick solution for this I am afraid.

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Mr Sci Fi

And I'd say you're completely out of line and full of hot air. You can't explain to somebody how they should write. The advice of read and write is meaningless? That's a new one to me.

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Mike C

I find it hard to comprehend that you can't comprehend. If the route from imagination to paper was as simple as you suggest it must be, we'd all be writing best-sellers.

I also find it hard to comprehend that you can dismiss scifi's suggestion; it's obvious, and it's correct. If we were talking about carpentry, we'd tell the OP to cut, carve, whittle, use the tools, do it over and over, gain experience and expertise. Scifi was suggesting just that - practice using the tools.

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BlueLucario

Just keep writing? It's normal? I thought it was just my autism. Sorry. The same thing happens verbally

Throughy

Every time you say/think that you 'can't', you reinforce that you 'can't'

Don't see the words. It is not about the words.

First see the story and let the words flow out from there to express it.

Maybe start by sitting down, write out by hand four questions that interest you intensely. Then let the answer unconsciously write through you, without any interference as to what you 'want to write' and with a clear mind.

You might be amazed. Answers can come though much abbreviated, with dimensional truths. This can start stream-of-thought writing.

DavidGil

From a personal standpoint, I believe the hard part with saying what you mean is when it comes down to telling vs showing. I could quite easily say something via 'telling' phrasing but struggle to do so in a show manner.

That and I worry what I've said in a showy manner instead of straight up telling it, is actually correct.

But then again, it comes with being a writer I suppose. Is what I said above, kinda what you meant?

In any case, I spent a while trying to find a while to work out how to put into words showing someone feeling sick rather than coming out and saying it: he felt sick.

I cracked it anyway I think. Hopefully you meant you have a problem in showing what you wanted via words.

So I guess, like others have said: The key is to keep writing and reading. It should help with those sort of problems.

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