Attempted to write a story last night
Discussion
And, the output is bloomin awful. 
After years and years of procrastination, I finally sat down in front of the PC last night and attempted to write something. Whilst having a bath, I had an idea about a short story involving something appearing outside a small space station.
Post bath and with idea armed inside my head, I fired up Word and began the process of trying to write my first story. It proved to be a disappointing experience.
In total, I spent nearly two hours at my machine. In that time I managed to write about 500 words. The beginning of the story and trying to set the initial scene took me ages. I wrote something, deleted it, wrote something else, deleted it, tried to think of something different, got stuck, tried something different, got stuck again, etc etc.
I managed to press on and had something down before I retired to bed just before 11 pm (later than planned). However, upon reading it again this morning, it seems to be utter rubbish.
I guess only time and more and more writing will help. But, does everyone write rubbish at the beginning?
I think I need to just get everything written first and then edit. As I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I keep editing what I have written to try and make it read better. It's a loop I think I need to get out of as I'll never have anything written.
How has everyone else who is established in this field progressed?
Thanks.
After years and years of procrastination, I finally sat down in front of the PC last night and attempted to write something. Whilst having a bath, I had an idea about a short story involving something appearing outside a small space station.
Post bath and with idea armed inside my head, I fired up Word and began the process of trying to write my first story. It proved to be a disappointing experience.
In total, I spent nearly two hours at my machine. In that time I managed to write about 500 words. The beginning of the story and trying to set the initial scene took me ages. I wrote something, deleted it, wrote something else, deleted it, tried to think of something different, got stuck, tried something different, got stuck again, etc etc.
I managed to press on and had something down before I retired to bed just before 11 pm (later than planned). However, upon reading it again this morning, it seems to be utter rubbish.
I guess only time and more and more writing will help. But, does everyone write rubbish at the beginning?
I think I need to just get everything written first and then edit. As I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I keep editing what I have written to try and make it read better. It's a loop I think I need to get out of as I'll never have anything written.
How has everyone else who is established in this field progressed?
Thanks.
Not a writer but working on a few amateur graphic novels / cartoons which follow a similar creative format IMO
I usually set out my main story (start to end) followed by a timeline with major events I wish to cover. I then simply 'plump up' each event and add filler between events. During this I'll often think of extra ideas/events to stick in
I typically have an A3 piece of paper and put the timeline on there with event 'bubbles' pointing towards a point on the line or sticky notes that can be moved around/edited. It allows me to easily add in more information or remove something that is not working.
That's what I do anyway
I usually set out my main story (start to end) followed by a timeline with major events I wish to cover. I then simply 'plump up' each event and add filler between events. During this I'll often think of extra ideas/events to stick in
I typically have an A3 piece of paper and put the timeline on there with event 'bubbles' pointing towards a point on the line or sticky notes that can be moved around/edited. It allows me to easily add in more information or remove something that is not working.
That's what I do anyway
There are good tools out there (like Scriven) that let you start and stop chapters and storyboard stuff. An idea is just that - it won't help you write a story. I've tried that too, and whilst I wrote a fairly "good" five chapters, I lost my train of thought - like... how does this end? That's when I stopped and decided I had to have Chapter 1, Chapter 10 and Chapter 20 (beginning, middle and end) written first. It doesn't stop you changing them either; just guides you on your way.
Now (and I'm no writer) I try to flesh out my characters first; who are they? why are they in the story? And don't forget to write "what you know". Writing about an ER if you're in IT is most likely going to fail - Sci-Fi is harder still, but most successful writers are military fiction writers first. Or, go completely Fantasy and no one can tell you're doing it wrong.
Kids stuff is easier (well, that's somewhat of a myth) largely as they tend to be visual - if you can't illustrate you either need a partner that can, or be really creative with stick figures
We all have one good book in us, or so I'm told
Now (and I'm no writer) I try to flesh out my characters first; who are they? why are they in the story? And don't forget to write "what you know". Writing about an ER if you're in IT is most likely going to fail - Sci-Fi is harder still, but most successful writers are military fiction writers first. Or, go completely Fantasy and no one can tell you're doing it wrong.
Kids stuff is easier (well, that's somewhat of a myth) largely as they tend to be visual - if you can't illustrate you either need a partner that can, or be really creative with stick figures
We all have one good book in us, or so I'm told
willisit said:
There are good tools out there (like Scriven) that let you start and stop chapters and storyboard stuff. An idea is just that - it won't help you write a story. I've tried that too, and whilst I wrote a fairly "good" five chapters, I lost my train of thought - like... how does this end? That's when I stopped and decided I had to have Chapter 1, Chapter 10 and Chapter 20 (beginning, middle and end) written first. It doesn't stop you changing them either; just guides you on your way.
Now (and I'm no writer) I try to flesh out my characters first; who are they? why are they in the story? And don't forget to write "what you know". Writing about an ER if you're in IT is most likely going to fail - Sci-Fi is harder still, but most successful writers are military fiction writers first. Or, go completely Fantasy and no one can tell you're doing it wrong.
Kids stuff is easier (well, that's somewhat of a myth) largely as they tend to be visual - if you can't illustrate you either need a partner that can, or be really creative with stick figures
We all have one good book in us, or so I'm told
Thanks.Now (and I'm no writer) I try to flesh out my characters first; who are they? why are they in the story? And don't forget to write "what you know". Writing about an ER if you're in IT is most likely going to fail - Sci-Fi is harder still, but most successful writers are military fiction writers first. Or, go completely Fantasy and no one can tell you're doing it wrong.
Kids stuff is easier (well, that's somewhat of a myth) largely as they tend to be visual - if you can't illustrate you either need a partner that can, or be really creative with stick figures
We all have one good book in us, or so I'm told
I like sci-fi. I read pretty much purely sci-fi stuff (with science and history related items thrown in). I'm hoping nobody can tell me what I'm doing is wrong.
The golden rule is to write the kind of story that you would enjoy reading.
Imagine if you went into your favourite book store. Would you pick your book off the shelf if it was there?
Forget trying to write the perfect sentence just write the damned story! You can edit it to death later!!
The most important thing is the story.
The story is what keeps the reader turning the pages. Think of all the best sellers published in recent years. Some of the writing is total rubbish, but you don't see that if the story's great!
Imagine if you went into your favourite book store. Would you pick your book off the shelf if it was there?
Forget trying to write the perfect sentence just write the damned story! You can edit it to death later!!
The most important thing is the story.
The story is what keeps the reader turning the pages. Think of all the best sellers published in recent years. Some of the writing is total rubbish, but you don't see that if the story's great!
funkyrobot said:
because it isn't planned, it's like I am reading it as I go along.
I think that's where the problem lies. You haven't defined the end point so you have no idea where you are going or how to get there. It's like a journey - at the moment you're out for a drive and just taking side roads at random to see what happens. Keep that up and you'll run out fuel in the middle of nowhere.
You really need to define the start and end, and a few key events in between, in order to keep moving your plot along.
This approach also has the benefit that if you have a good idea you can see where it might fit, and add it to your plan, rather than discarding it because it doesn't fit where you are right now.
Edited by marshalla on Thursday 28th April 10:50
marshalla said:
I think that's where the problem lies. You haven't defined the end point so you have no idea where you are going or how to get there.
It's like a journey - at the moment you're out for a drive and just taking side roads at random to see what happens. Keep that up and you'll run out fuel in the middle of nowhere.
You really need to define the start and end, and a few key events in between, in order to keep moving your plot along.
This approach also has the benefit that if you have a good idea you can see where it might fit, and add it to your plan, rather than discarding it because it doesn't fit where you are right now.
I was going to post something suggesting the OP finds his own way of working and ignores internet advice. Then I saw this and agreed completely.It's like a journey - at the moment you're out for a drive and just taking side roads at random to see what happens. Keep that up and you'll run out fuel in the middle of nowhere.
You really need to define the start and end, and a few key events in between, in order to keep moving your plot along.
This approach also has the benefit that if you have a good idea you can see where it might fit, and add it to your plan, rather than discarding it because it doesn't fit where you are right now.
Edited by marshalla on Thursday 28th April 10:50
Stick with it OP; everyone I have spoken to who writes experiences The Doubts.
funkyrobot said:
marshalla said:
I like that.I thought i'd have it easy, (well easier) as my story is already written, and its in 20 years worth of diaries currently sat next to me at the side of the sofa. The problem is like you i'm also a perfectionist and just kept reading stuff back through, over, and over again, changing this, that and the other. I was thinking this has to much content, or that, doesn't have enough content, and so on, and on.....
Luckily, people here said, just get it put down first and worry about the other stuff later
Just under 1200 words written this afternoon. Had a good go at it whilst my daughter was asleep.
I have completely dropped any worry and concern about how I'm writing, and have just got on with it. Amazing how once you free yourself from over analysing, everything just flows.
I have now written a bit of the beginning, a bit of a section about two thirds of the way through the story, and the ending. Now that I have done this, I don't really feel that it is a good ending. I may have written something that will prompt people to think 'what the hell?'. Anyway, it's the first thing I have ever really done and I'm doing it as I enjoy it. So, if it is rubbish, then so be it.
I've occasionally made money from fiction. Everyone has different things that work for them.
For me I don't buy the write what you know thing at all. I only write what I want.
In the early stages I think noodling over every sentence before beginning the next is counter productive as you've already discovered.
It's way more satisfying to squirt out something complete even if there are sections where you literally write 'and then this happens'. You can then revisit, fill in, prune and refine at your leisure.
Some writers like to map out the entire tale before they even start the first sentence. Others find it as they create it. The latter's a bit more alarming but you might find it more fun. The odds are considerably higher that you finish up with a squelching mess but that's all part of the fun of experimentation.
Having a look into dramatic structure might give you some ideas. Some regard it as a straitjacket, others think it's very helpful. I dig the sequence approach myself which breaks a story down into a series of mini dramas that build on the main one.
A prime toy in many a writing armoury is playing hope off fear. You have the reader constantly hoping for an outcome but at the same time they're in fear of the very opposite happening. The more your story sets up a ping pong game between those two emotions the more hooked they'll be.
And for me editing is the most enjoyable bit. I love compacting a bunch of frilly paragraphs into a single one with real punch. I think that's where most writers don't apply themselves enough.
For me I don't buy the write what you know thing at all. I only write what I want.
In the early stages I think noodling over every sentence before beginning the next is counter productive as you've already discovered.
It's way more satisfying to squirt out something complete even if there are sections where you literally write 'and then this happens'. You can then revisit, fill in, prune and refine at your leisure.
Some writers like to map out the entire tale before they even start the first sentence. Others find it as they create it. The latter's a bit more alarming but you might find it more fun. The odds are considerably higher that you finish up with a squelching mess but that's all part of the fun of experimentation.
Having a look into dramatic structure might give you some ideas. Some regard it as a straitjacket, others think it's very helpful. I dig the sequence approach myself which breaks a story down into a series of mini dramas that build on the main one.
A prime toy in many a writing armoury is playing hope off fear. You have the reader constantly hoping for an outcome but at the same time they're in fear of the very opposite happening. The more your story sets up a ping pong game between those two emotions the more hooked they'll be.
And for me editing is the most enjoyable bit. I love compacting a bunch of frilly paragraphs into a single one with real punch. I think that's where most writers don't apply themselves enough.
Definitely "just write". If you fixate on the details you'll never get the full story right. Think of it like a painting - the brush strokes are just a means to get to the picture.
Now it may be that on reading it back it sounds terrible, but at least you'll see whether it hangs together as a story and is worth the effort.
I'm 51,000 words in and I'm still not sure it's worth the effort.
Now it may be that on reading it back it sounds terrible, but at least you'll see whether it hangs together as a story and is worth the effort.
I'm 51,000 words in and I'm still not sure it's worth the effort.
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff