Pretty much I've been focusing on school. I just have to finish one lab and then I'm finished for the summer. Lately I've been spending a lot of time working on getting things finished for school and also watching some TV. Mainly I've been watching the show Supernatural. I just started watching it last week and I'm hooked. Almost finished with the entire show. There's a recommendation if you don't already watch it.I took a break from writing for a bit, but I'm definitely going to get back into it. I got stuck at a certain part and wasn't sure where I wanted to take the story, but I'm going to get back into it, and figure out where I want to go with it.
Also I've been hanging out with my friends a lot more. So pretty much my social life kind of took over for awhile. I went bowling a lot, and no matter how many times I bowl, I don't seem to get any better. So it's pretty much a guarantee that if we went bowling together, you would definitely win.
That's pretty much it. My life really hasn't been too thrilling, just time consuming. What have you guys been up to lately? Any plans for the summer?
Lately I've been trying to push out my last three writing projects -- I've been having trouble organizing them; however, it will come along fine. Life, spactacular because life is thrilling only when you want it to be. Now as for your writing, maybe you can try using index cards to shape your story. Perhapse, write a brief outline of your story with a few pages just to get the fundamental idea. Write everything from begining to end, simply tell it don't worry about dialogue or spelling, just the overall story. That usually gets things going. Just write and keep writing. One more thing, I don't want to bore you anymore, but try writing on a tablet or notepad whenever you get writers block. Change up the workspace; sitting at a computer for a long time can become uncomfortable. Or sometimes you get writers block because you're hungry, so have some poptarts or hot pockets nearby [I'm so lame.]. Sorry for the long comment. So anyways, great post! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely don't apologize for long comments!! I love reading them. You mentioned Pop tarts. I haven't had them in a long time now, and now I really want some.
DeleteI definitely plan on getting back into the story. I always keep a composition notebook with me in my bag in case I come up with ideas, but nothing has really come to me yet. But I definitely plan on keeping up with this story that I'm working on.
Since you like long comments, then here we go – you asked for it! I figured I’d try to help you come up with ideas. Garnering ideas and inspiration is difficult. However, what I was taught, when you’re waiting for them to come, they usually don’t come when you need them. It’s best to seek those ideas out – dreams – newspapers – personal lives – daydreaming, which is the best thing to do. Put on some music that fits with your story – well in your case you said you like silence, so maybe exclude that – and daydream. Pretend you’re watching your story on the big screen or just in your head. Just create random scenes. You can ask yourself questions. What’s the goal of the characters? Are they archetypical or complex? Is the plot going to be simple and explosive, complex and subtle or a perhaps a combination – complex and explosive? Create random scenes or problems that happen in your story. For example, in one of my stories, I thought of the middle first, which made me want to write the story. It was more of an “action scene,” so I wrote it down. Then based on that scene I asked myself how the heck am I going to lead up to this “action scene?” I started day dreaming and then outlined it and then wrote it. Perhaps you should create scenes, major turning points, or action etc. and fill in the blanks leading up to these major scenes. You’re smart, so I’m sure you know this, you don’t have to write in chronological order you can start from anywhere. So you can create random scenes and then lace them together when the times right. You did say you have a journal, so you’re already doing that.
DeleteAnother way you can progress your story is to sit and write out everything that happens. Like a long summary. Or what I do for my screenplays or novels map out everything scene by scene from beginning to end. And sometimes I write, and when I get stuck start mapping things out from there. Either way works. You can outline the entire story as if it were a summery telling the story from begining to end or outline it by chapters. For example: Chapter one: 1.) Pandora crashes on earth and she has to elude the authorities. 2.) After getting away she befriends an old couple who takes her in. They find out she’s not human and that she’s being chased by Space Hounds (what? Lol) They decide to hide her from the enemy by saying she's their grandaughter. They enroll her into school because she is about fifteen to help her blend in. 3.) At school she finds the people fascinating. Etc. just briefly outline everything that you would want to see instead of trying to punch everything out just as you go. Then based on each point for the chapter, write and expand on it into a story. Or you can use that same method and use note cards. This might also help sort everything out. I bet you already have the entire story in your head, but the result of all the many possibilities you can take your story, the mind might become cluttered with ideas, making it appear you have nothing at the moment. When in reality you just have to sort out your idea. Everything I’m throwing out there I got from a fellow writer (one of my teachers). It helped a lot and she told us, pass the techniques on to other writers and that’s why I’m doing.
Now don't get me wrong, I have A LOT TO LEARN, but I love passing on what I learned from my teachers and other writers that I've met. So I tell you these things modestly... (continued)
...(Continued)
DeleteAlso don’t wait until you’re inspired to write, just write one page a day and you’ll be on your way. John Steinbeck said, “When I face the desolate impossibility of writing 500 pages, a sick sense of failure falls on me, and I know I can never do it. Then gradually, I write one page and then another. One day’s works is all I can permit myself to contemplate.” And to quote Faulkner, “The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Just take small steps and it’ll begin to unfold.
I'm sure your story will come out great because that small example you posted was damn good, my imagination was going haywire, are they running from zombies? Ninjas? The Apocalypse?! So keep at it you'll finish in no time. So if you need help or anything feel free to ask, I’m BlackRoc6 on Youtube. Happy writing, cheers!
P.S. Really, sorry for this long ass comment.